My husband and I are starting a course in which we will be mentored for the next 8+ months. We are very excited!
Besides for the Sonship material - which is the course itself - we have two required reading books:
From Fear to Freedom: Living as Sons and Daughters of God
and
Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
Have you read one? What did you learn?
If you haven't, perhaps you can join us. This is what I will be doing for the next few weeks. Check them out!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Body of Christ or a Cheesy Sci-Fi Plot?
This is not going to be a well written post.
I'm not going to sit back and think of the best way to say this, or research which Scripture would best fit to make it interesting and motivating. My thought process will not be well organized and you're lucky that spell check shows up in bright read- otherwise there would be a lot of those mistakes as well as the grammatical ones I'm sure you'll find. I'm merely going to write from the passion which is erupting from my heart right now...
Why do we, as Christians, not act as though we are one in Christ Jesus?
We have our own little groups (cliques) too much: Denominations, preferences, age groups, interest parties, factions, ethnic, social status, learning style, and minute theological idiosyncrasies. Because we try so desperately to group together with those "like" us as opposed to those in the body of Christ we have found the Christian church to be disabled. Instead of working together for God's greater glory and the spreading of joyous Good News, we are instead licking the wounds of our dis-formed bodies. We look rather like a B-rated sci-fi film: Attached heads rolling around, bodies made of nothing but legs, arms, eyes, and other singular pieces. If we are lucky there might be a body with arms and legs, but no head. One of Head, heart, and eyes, but no legs. We are incomplete. And we suffer for it.
Now don't get me wrong. I love the body of Christ. That is why I'm so distressed. I'm burdened heavily with her well being! I see groups hurting and longing for help that is right there for them- if only they would reach out beyond their "ritual". God is not going to leave you alone to suffer without encouragement and others to gather in prayer around you- But, you have to reach out to them!
Not all churches are completely broken either. There are many healthy ones all around. But many of them still have to struggle with the burden of those who should be helping, not requiring the same basic needs over and over. It makes me think of what Paul said to the Hebrew people in Hebrews 5:11-14 :
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it's difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Why do we portray to the world that we despise one another so?
When we refuse to get along, that is what the world sees. Jesus said that the world would know we are His disciples by the love we had for one another. John 13:35 So how does this work together? Does this mean we are not truly His disciples if we don't show love for all our fellow Christians? Not just those in our local body and those in another country we'll never have to meet face to face here on earth?
Are there churches that are Scripturally wrong? Yes. I'm not saying that we assume they love God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27) just because they have Church tagged on to their organization, or happen to be in the same "denomination" as us. We have to actually take the time to listen to them, discern through the Spirit, and care. Then we will know. And this is on a very individual basis. But let me tell you, if many people you talk to from a particular church are very much in love with Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him, OR if they are full of... "...sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5: 19-21
We need to care about one another. We need desperately to support, uplift, encourage, correct, and hold one another accountable. This needs to be done both to those you already love and to those around you. Reach out.
I'm not going to sit back and think of the best way to say this, or research which Scripture would best fit to make it interesting and motivating. My thought process will not be well organized and you're lucky that spell check shows up in bright read- otherwise there would be a lot of those mistakes as well as the grammatical ones I'm sure you'll find. I'm merely going to write from the passion which is erupting from my heart right now...
Why do we, as Christians, not act as though we are one in Christ Jesus?
We have our own little groups (cliques) too much: Denominations, preferences, age groups, interest parties, factions, ethnic, social status, learning style, and minute theological idiosyncrasies. Because we try so desperately to group together with those "like" us as opposed to those in the body of Christ we have found the Christian church to be disabled. Instead of working together for God's greater glory and the spreading of joyous Good News, we are instead licking the wounds of our dis-formed bodies. We look rather like a B-rated sci-fi film: Attached heads rolling around, bodies made of nothing but legs, arms, eyes, and other singular pieces. If we are lucky there might be a body with arms and legs, but no head. One of Head, heart, and eyes, but no legs. We are incomplete. And we suffer for it.
Now don't get me wrong. I love the body of Christ. That is why I'm so distressed. I'm burdened heavily with her well being! I see groups hurting and longing for help that is right there for them- if only they would reach out beyond their "ritual". God is not going to leave you alone to suffer without encouragement and others to gather in prayer around you- But, you have to reach out to them!
Not all churches are completely broken either. There are many healthy ones all around. But many of them still have to struggle with the burden of those who should be helping, not requiring the same basic needs over and over. It makes me think of what Paul said to the Hebrew people in Hebrews 5:11-14 :
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it's difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Why do we portray to the world that we despise one another so?
When we refuse to get along, that is what the world sees. Jesus said that the world would know we are His disciples by the love we had for one another. John 13:35 So how does this work together? Does this mean we are not truly His disciples if we don't show love for all our fellow Christians? Not just those in our local body and those in another country we'll never have to meet face to face here on earth?
Are there churches that are Scripturally wrong? Yes. I'm not saying that we assume they love God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27) just because they have Church tagged on to their organization, or happen to be in the same "denomination" as us. We have to actually take the time to listen to them, discern through the Spirit, and care. Then we will know. And this is on a very individual basis. But let me tell you, if many people you talk to from a particular church are very much in love with Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him, OR if they are full of... "...sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar, about which I tell you in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5: 19-21
We need to care about one another. We need desperately to support, uplift, encourage, correct, and hold one another accountable. This needs to be done both to those you already love and to those around you. Reach out.
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8 There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "So who am I struggling for," [he asks,] "and depriving myself from good?" This too is futile and a miserable task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Seeker Beware
The Bible is the only written source for God's Word to us.
One of the wonderful privileges of living in today's technological society is the plethora of information available to us. It is also one of the most dangerous aspects. There are so many great teachers, speakers, and writers, that it's hard to keep account of who is saying what and in which fashion. One of the difficulties is when those in these influential positions begins to go astray as well. They may start out with correct teachings only to wander off onto a dead end road of society's preferences over truth. We, as seekers and followers of Christ, must keep all outside teaching (anything not purely Scripture) in it's proper place. It is not Scripture. They are human- and they may fall.
Please take some time to read the following article. It brings to light a case of what can happen. I've seen much of this material in my local LifeWay as well as in other Christian stores. We must remember to take everything we read - no matter where we get it - with a grain of salt. Compare everything you hear and read again Scripture- solely.
Rob Bell: Universalist?
One of the wonderful privileges of living in today's technological society is the plethora of information available to us. It is also one of the most dangerous aspects. There are so many great teachers, speakers, and writers, that it's hard to keep account of who is saying what and in which fashion. One of the difficulties is when those in these influential positions begins to go astray as well. They may start out with correct teachings only to wander off onto a dead end road of society's preferences over truth. We, as seekers and followers of Christ, must keep all outside teaching (anything not purely Scripture) in it's proper place. It is not Scripture. They are human- and they may fall.
Please take some time to read the following article. It brings to light a case of what can happen. I've seen much of this material in my local LifeWay as well as in other Christian stores. We must remember to take everything we read - no matter where we get it - with a grain of salt. Compare everything you hear and read again Scripture- solely.
Rob Bell: Universalist?
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