The Normal Christian Life...

What is the Christian experience all about?  Is it just about being orthodox and dogmatic and infallibly correct in all your doctrines and have a legitimate credo?  Is it about being a so-called good, moral, upright, and decent person?  Is it about having a good philosophy or worldview and being active in geopolitical or social movements?  These things are "necessary, but not sufficient."  You can be a great student of theology and not know your Lord hardly at all, or you can know very little of the Bible and really have a dynamic relationship that is even contagious and a good advertisement for Christ. All these things work together.  Is it also about the sum total of your relationships?  The Christian life is like a tram that can't go horizontal unless it is plugged into a vertical power source.  We need both a relationship with God and with our fellow man; especially the fellowship of the body of Christ.

There are two extreme positions among believers:  antinomians who are lax on morality because they feel so secure in their salvation and don't believe genuine faith produces fruit (the axiom is that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone), and the legalist who feels compelled to narrow his choices by strict interpretation of the Bible.  The stronger believer needs to grow stronger in love and the weaker one in knowledge.  The strong believer is limited by the conscience of the weaker brother and doesn't have free rein to do as he likes.

I cannot stress enough that the normal Christian life is an obedient one:  taking part in the fellowship of a local body of believers, studying, meditating, and/or reading Scripture, witnessing on a regular basis, having a vital and active prayer life The summation of the new life is simply "follow me."  He has learned to handle temptation and shuns evil and of course, knows the difference between good and evil.  It's not normal to be overtaken by a fault or to let a sin rule over you.

Remember that the Devil's chief strategy is to "divide and conquer."  Relationships break down when you have is a failure to communicate--you must keep in touch and not let it slip away.   If you claim to have a prayer life with God and can't even talk to your friends, you are fooling yourself--what do you think it's all about?  Recently I have refined, revived, and developed a relationship with my mom that seems to make her my "significant other"--We must know God and all else is the icing on the cake.

 We must first "seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness," as Jesus said in Matt. 6:33.  Are you a kingdom seeker and working for God's kingdom and glory or your own? God has given us the kingdom of God--let's learn how to use it for His glory!   You may be content or proud of your intellectualism of the faith (there is no place for an intellectual elite or privileged party in the brotherhood)  and be very good at doctrine or be able to comprehend the deepest truths (the incomprehensible Trinity or providence of God, the definite or limited atonement,  infralapsarianism, and supralapsarianism, for example) and fail our God.  Jesus said to have eternal life is to "know God." This means an ongoing, living relationship--not just being family with facts or theory.  I really don't care about a believer's philosophy, what I want to see is faith in action by the good works and fruit that is produced--you shall know them by their fruits.

 You most likely know the cliché that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship--but have you ever thought of the consequences of this assertion?  If you claim to know all the dogma and teachings of the Bible and are a failure in life's relationships (e.g.,  siblings, spouse, extended family, friends, relatives, comrades, or associates,) you have fallen short.  When you can be so close to someone that they believe in you and you believe in them you will get my drift.    You can get out of sync and not know what has happened, but if you "walk in the light, even as He is in the light, you will have fellowship one with another...."  When you cultivate a relationship and you become simpatico or have camaraderie you will realize that that is a reward in itself.   The biggest lesson I have learned about friendships is that "iron sharpens iron" according to Prov. 27:17.

God wants you to swallow your pride in always wanting to be right (religionists are more concerned about being right because they have a relationship or infatuation with doctrine, not God--we are all in this together as members of one winning team in Christ-- and interested in winning the argument more than in arriving at the truth--if you are not willing to admit you could be wrong, you will never attain to the truth!   In science, you must be willing to go where the truth leads to unconditionally if you want to arrive at it.  If you have your mind made up already and don't want to be confused with the facts you will never know the truth "that will set you free."   I realize what it is like to be accused of it all being in my head and being an egghead (a great thinker with no passion or zeal for the Lord), so I know whereof I speak.

I look back on my life and now realize the value it was to my Christian experience to have had a relationship with my grandmother, who was a devout and faithful lady (in small things, have you).  Now that I am older and wiser, I realize how wise my mom is and value my fellowship and relationship with her more than with anyone else--you could say that right now she is my "significant other" because I am divorced and have no girlfriend.  We have gone past the threshold of mother-son relationship to friend and confidant, which is very unique.  I relate to King David who had a "bosom friend" in Jonathan and said it was better than the love of women, too, because I have been there and done that if you follow me.

Who do you think Jesus is, if not manifested in the body of the church and our brethren?   It is not normal to be a "holy joe" or be so pious that we are just trying to outshine our brother and see everything as completion or rivalry.  I am not a "holy roller" and I am proud of it; I do not go on all day with my head in the clouds or being "religious."  I believe you can be a Christian without being religious!  

The day we are set free and realize that it is not about our performance in daily devotions or piety that counts, but what God accomplishes through us that matters.  It is not a human achievement, but a divine accomplishment that is worthy of a reward.  "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."  You can be Jesus to someone and fulfill your calling, and, whether you realize it or not, you are a witness, whether good or bad.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Lessons From A Family Tiff

Disclaimer:  I do not claim "infallibility" like the popes in Rome do, even though they contradict each other.  We all have feet of clay and have weaknesses not readily apparent. There is an upside to a hard lesson:  We learn something the difficult way.  Everyone sooner or later "plays the fool."   There is a downside to being dogmatic or ideologically oriented:  There will be disagreements. I deplore the family quibble I have found myself involved in and am writing this to ameliorate it the best I can.  (Let us never forget that we are in the body and members one of another; we all need each other, as Barbra Streisand sang, "People who need people are the happiest people.")     Nevertheless, this is my point of view; I am not trying to pontificate or speak ex-cathedra like the pope.

NB:  I am not totally innocent, am not trying to point the finger, but I believe that in any quarrel both sides are culpable to some degree, whether they admit it or not--"The Lord's servant must not strive," says the Word. Satan's strategy is to divide and conquer!  I have to agree with the psychologist that said it was good to feel so bad--because I have learned from this ordeal.   We must always remember to show mercy because Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." "Love covers a multitude of sins" (Prov. 10:`12).  "A man's wisdom gives him patience, but it is his glory to overlook an offense'  (Prov. 19:11).    I can't  forget the Disciple's Prayer that says to "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

I bemoan the fact that we become too subjective, relying on emotion and personal opinion, rather than objective, and seeing things from God's point of view--though only God is perfectly objective!  We must also refrain from striving about the meaning of words:  sometimes it is just better policy to find out what they meant and not what they said, what is their definition and not necessarily what the dictionary says, unless it's not a word you're familiar with--so don't jump to the conclusion that someone said something that he may not have, and resolve it.    Remember,  we should avoid foolish and godless controversies, but ones that are real issues are important to resolve and settle.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Family disharmony can have unintended consequences:  Especially when religion or politics is involved.  We must learn not to get confrontational, aggressive, or condescending, and turn it into an ad hominem argument.  It is natural to be defensive and feels we are on the hot seat like Jesus with the legal experts when put on the defensive, but one shouldn't go into attack mode consequently.  Many times there ensues a "failure to communicate."  Sometimes we are cynical and "don't get mad, we get even."  Both parties can feel compelled to want to say the last word and cut the other off, closing the door, but I do not believe in doing that, but in resolving the issue and only ending the discussion when both sides have said their peace.

Sometimes when we argue we try to get the advantage over the opponent by citing some ace in the hole, or are tempted to brag about that we think will give us an advantage (this is a fulcrum to throw the other one off balance).  How do I know we shouldn't give up?  Let them quit, but don't give up:  God doesn't give up on us according to Phil. 1:6 and we are all works in progress--no one has "arrived."  Too often our arguments (any attempt to prove the other person wrong) end up in a face-off where we get emotional and lose our cool. Patience by definition is the endurance that goes to the breaking point and doesn't break.    Remember to take insults like a man:  Even Jesus endured insults and this is part of the cross we all must bear.

We should not assume an air of superiority or monopoly on wisdom, or that we have cornered the market on truth, even if we are wiser (even Solomon made mistakes ) and realize that God can speak even through the voice of a child.  (I only cite Augustine, who claimed God spoke to him via a child's voice.)   I have a Pentecostal background, though I do not adhere to all their dogma, and you have a right to dissent, disagree, or protest.  But I say any believer, filled with the Spirit, can utter a word of wisdom (a word to the wise is sufficient) and we shouldn't despise prophesying, no matter who it comes from.  Sometimes we wonder:  Where's your patience?   Our patience can be tried to the extreme; we must recall that God is longsuffering toward us and we should be likewise.

One can be wise in the ways of the world, have business sense, or be well-educated, but not have spiritual mojo or know the Lord. Look at Donald Trump who is an infidel.   Just because one is saved doesn't mean he knows the Lord very well--this takes walking with the Lord.  One can also, conversely, be very astute spiritually and have much spiritual insight and even be blessed with special epiphanies, and not know his way around the block,  or know  the scoop, be naïve, or even have no  common sense--much wisdom comes from growing up in the school of hard knocks and experience.  One can be savvy about the Bible and not be applying it, too.

We should never get confrontational or be antagonistic.  We should refrain from being a bully, and being bitter, or angry with our brother, (Jesus  gave a stern warning against being angry with our brother in Math. 5:22.),  but remain filled with the Spirit and "speak the truth in love."  I like the words of Gen. 13:8:  "Let there be no strife between us, for we are brethren." As far as boasting or bragging, the Bible says that if you want to boast, boast in the Lord (what He has done through us) and "let another praise you and not your own lips."  As believers in the body, it is common to think that people "owe" us, but we all need and owe each other, and no one is an island.   I do not believe in making implied ultimatums, threats, warnings, or cautions,  but in being patient (we may need to pray for it!).  Sometimes it's right to "let go and let God."    We must be willing to let God's will be done, not ours.

People ask me where I get my so-called knowledge (like asking me how I know the Bible so well) and how I just know things (sometimes, it seems fortuitous), having never been "trained," but my pastor told me I had the gift of knowledge.   I just know things and am a good person to ask questions because of this gift.  I do not claim to be a genius, know all the answers (if I did, I would be on a game show!), or even  be a learned or scholarly man, (I am mainly self-taught, mentored, and have no formal education in the Bible), but I know that I have a gift and that God uses me as a vessel of honor and glory in His kingdom.

When treated unfairly or insultingly, we should not return the favor in-kind (the so-called "brazen rule" says to treat unto others the way they treat you), but remember that Paul says  not to "recompense evil with evil, but overcome evil with good."  "Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me" (Prov. 24:29).  "Iron sharpens iron" is the principle to remember.   We should be willing to take whatever someone dishes out like a man.  "Brace yourself like a man..." (Job 38:3).   It is very important to "test the spirit" and respect our brother's "opinion" and realize he has the right to believe that.  We should always remember not to be hypercritical  (feel we have to debate everything--we should see what the Spirit wants to say), overly analytical,  or hypersensitive (wearing our feeling on our sleeve).  Boast in the Lord, says Jer. 9:23.  What hath God wrought?   Finally," we glory in Christ and not in ourselves", says Gal. 6:14.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Doing Things The Right Way

When I was in the Army I was always reminded that there was "your way, my way, and the Army way."   Don't forget:  Jesus is the way! It is the same with the Lord:  Doing God's will our way is not commendable.  Our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees who insisted on finding their own way of doing things and making it into traditions and binding laws.  Someone here at the Vets Home was upset that he was not allowed on the bus, even though there were plenty of seats (the policy is only 20 per trip); what did he do?  He reacted and lost his temper, practically cursing everyone.   It talked to him later and told him that if he was against the policy (it wasn't the driver's fault!) that he should go to the administrator of the Home and do things the right way:  "Refrain from anger, forsake wrath...."

We need to trust in the Lord, unlike King Asa who sought the physicians in his illness and God afflicted him and he never did get healed--the rest of his career spiraled downward.  The first place we need to go with our problems is  God (and the Bible), then our spiritual leaders--and prayer is not the last resort, but the first avenue of divine intervention.

If it seems that prayer doesn't work, we should not give up and seek the wisdom of the world (I do not seek the advice of the psychologists here because they have an evil worldview because there is a curse on anyone who takes advice or counsel from the wicked per Psalm 1:1.  We may seek medical help, which is the gift of God after seeking God; but if we do, we are not to give up on God.

Money is not the answer to our problems and we are not to think we have an advantage over less affluent people because we can merely afford it.  Are we seeking our will?  We don't want our will, but the Father's, because we will screw things up.  We should be glad God doesn't answer all our prayers in the affirmative!   We need to continually ask ourselves if this is what Jesus would do (and we are all going to mess up sometimes). 

In sum:  "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way"  (1 Cor. 14:40, NIV, emphasis mine).   Soli Deo Gloria!

Deliver Us From Evil...

Or what Jesus meant in the Disciple's Prayer was the evil one.  In my experience growing up in Christ, I am starting to be more aware of evil (evil intent masquerading as good) and evil ones or wicked ones.  Hebrews 5 says that a mature believer has learned to discern good and evil and only he is ready for the meat of the Word.  Don't ask God to eliminate all the evil in the world, because He'd have to eliminate you, too--only God is good!  Jesus said, "You, being evil, know how to give good gifts...."   The Bible exhorts us to put away the pointing of the finger because when you do that three are pointing back at you.

Let's get down to earth, so to speak:  all religion is evil, not just Islam--Christianity is not a religion, but a faith relationship getting to know God and is a religion of salvation and "saviorhood."  This may sound like a cliché to some but nevertheless, it must be stressed:  religion is man's attempt to gain the approbation of God and to find Him, while Christianity is God reaching down to man and saving him--He found us like a good shepherd looking for a lost sheep.   We never would've found Him had he not first sought us, says Blaise Pascal.

There is a controversial verse in 1 Peter 2:17 that talks about honoring the "king" or in some translations "emperor" and if an American were writing the Bible he'd say the President and one could apply it to whatever sovereign one's country had, whether prime minister or what have you.  It is hypercriticism to say that Peter was referring to King Herod and not to Nero--believe you me he was not writing from some ivory tower!

There does come a point when it is our duty to do civil disobedience and even participate in an assassination plot like Dietrich Bonhoeffer did against Hitler and was imprisoned.  But no Christian in his right mind would have agreed with Hitler had he known what he was up to and of his involvement in the occult and pagan religion and his hatred of Jews turned into the "final solution" of en masse extermination in concentration camps by inhumane means even.

To call a president evil that claims to be a Christian and is supported by many Christians is labeling  (we shouldn't label our brethren)  them evil too, and  this is a  kind of snap judgment, or to say it more delicately, criticism of another brother--"for who are you to judge your brother, for to his own master he stands or falls."  Don't be too timorous to assert that you "dissent, disagree, and protest" like Luther maintained in his desperation and persecution on our behalf during the onset of the Reformation.  Dare to be a Daniel and stand alone.  Remember he was Prime Minister to a pagan king.    Even if your whole church decides that a leader for whom they should be praying (1 Tim. 2-1-2) agrees that he is evil and there are still other churches that disagree it simply shows that that church is a mutual admiration society.  God is nonpartisan and we can't put Him in a box and label Him by our standards!    (Christ is supposed to be the unifying force according to Eph. 4:3)   and we shouldn't tolerate only one party line, worldview, or viewpoint.

Controversy is good--only worldly controversy is bad because we need to know the truth and not inhibit open debate.  Jesus was known as a "controversialist" and ruffled some feathers and upset the applecart too of the religious establishment in their own territory and turf.   In my church, we have members of both political persuasions and the pastor cannot take a strict party-line stand because this is a battleground state of extremists or partisan purists on both sides.  We have Michelle Bachmann and Al Franken--are two opposites, and our state is polarized.  Even families can become alienated like it happened in the Civil War or the War Between the States as some call it.  Sometimes our enemies are even members of our own house according to Jesus and Micah 7:6.  Don't just blindly follow the leader and think like the majority because the majority is rarely right.  I like the motto:  "Question authority, but don't ever question mother!"  Soli Deo Gloria!