Knowing God can be a heavy burden some are unprepared to take up.
"What?! How dare you say God is a burden! God lifts burdens!"
Yes, that is true, but it is also true that truth can be a great burden, and God is the ultimate truth. In Romans chapter 1, Paul writes a long list of things that are wrong in the Lord's eye. A group of people who knew God and turned away. "Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God...professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the uncorruptible God into an image like to curruptible man...wherefore God gave them lusts of their own hearts to dishonour their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served creature more than the creator...God gave them up unto vile affections:for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men...they did not like to retain God in their knowledge...being filled with all unrightousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. Without understanding, covenant breakers without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;
Who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" ~Romans 1:21-32
Many people get out of that a long list of sins. It is one of the most quoted scriptures when people are defending their stance against homosexuality. But they are missing the most important line of the entire chapter! The last verse.
"Who knowing the judgements of God" That means they knew about God and his laws. "not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them"
They knew what they were doing went against God's laws, and they not only did them, but they surrounded themselves with people who did them and took pleasure in doing that! That is a worse sin than any of the sins that Paul lists. That is the sin that Paul says is more unforgivable. Others were doing the same thing they were, but because they had no knowledge, the people that did know were the ones who made the greater sin. All were sins "worthy of death" ~Romans 1:32 But it was far worse for those who knew they were wrong.
That is the burden of the Lord. To know the truth, and figure out for yourselves what you do with that truth. That is why Isaiah and Malachi call it "The burden of the word of the Lord" ~Malachi 1:1
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Window to His Love
The "chosen" people are named such not because God chose them, but because they chose God. The only advantage the Jews had was their commitment to God, anyone who makes the same commitment can gain the same advantage. Nor did their commitment mean that all Jews were saved, they still had to personally make that commitment to God. (Romans 3:1-4)
Romans chapter 4 talks about how those who use circumcision as a sign of their eliteness (Jews being God's chosen) should not do so because Abraham was chosen and walked in Faith with God before he was circumcised. In this chapter you can also substiture the word circumcision for the name of any religon and you can understand the concept a little better. Circumcision was a sign to set them apart, not the sign to set them up.
"for the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through law, but through the righteousness of his faith" *romans 4:13
Abraham is our father because of his example of Faith.
"[Abraham] who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations...and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb; he staggered not at the promise of God thorugh unbelief but was strong in faith, growing glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able to perform and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone...but for us also...if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the Dead" *Romans 4:18-24
Abraham is our Father in the same way Mary is our Mother. When the angel came to her and gave her 'impossible' news, she said "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy word" *Luke 1:38
Abraham and Mary were not great so God chose them, nor were they chosen to become great. They had already chosen God, and He knew when he called them, what their answer would be. They were not chosen for who they were or because of their faith, they had already made the choice. God knew that generations would look back at Abraham and say "Look how he answered the Lord!" and they would look back at Mary and say "Look how she let the Lord work through her!"
They are not great. God is great, and God shone through them so they appeared great.
This does not diminish what they did or who they were. They are two amazing examples of faith and works and answering God's call. They are so amazing in fact that the World's 2 biggest religons are based upon their decisions to answer God. By letting God steer their lives, they have led countless others to God. Abraham led Israel(Jews) and Mary led Catholics, both are revered in those religons. They are amazing leaders. There is a reason Abraham is the "Father of Nations" (Genesis 17:2-4) and Mary the "Mother" (John 19:26-27) They should be examples of God though, not Icons of a church. "Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him" *Romans 4:23-24
God's intention in using them was that we learn of God and draw closer to God through them. Jesus was a perfect example of letting God's light shine through him, Abraham and Mary are our human examples.
My prayer is that we may all find the strength to be like Abraham and Mary, when God asks for the impossible, may we realize that nothing through God is impossible. May we be able to answer God's call to us with "be it unto me according to Thy word" *Luke 1:38
Romans chapter 4 talks about how those who use circumcision as a sign of their eliteness (Jews being God's chosen) should not do so because Abraham was chosen and walked in Faith with God before he was circumcised. In this chapter you can also substiture the word circumcision for the name of any religon and you can understand the concept a little better. Circumcision was a sign to set them apart, not the sign to set them up.
"for the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through law, but through the righteousness of his faith" *romans 4:13
Abraham is our father because of his example of Faith.
"[Abraham] who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations...and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb; he staggered not at the promise of God thorugh unbelief but was strong in faith, growing glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able to perform and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone...but for us also...if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the Dead" *Romans 4:18-24
Abraham is our Father in the same way Mary is our Mother. When the angel came to her and gave her 'impossible' news, she said "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy word" *Luke 1:38
Abraham and Mary were not great so God chose them, nor were they chosen to become great. They had already chosen God, and He knew when he called them, what their answer would be. They were not chosen for who they were or because of their faith, they had already made the choice. God knew that generations would look back at Abraham and say "Look how he answered the Lord!" and they would look back at Mary and say "Look how she let the Lord work through her!"
They are not great. God is great, and God shone through them so they appeared great.
This does not diminish what they did or who they were. They are two amazing examples of faith and works and answering God's call. They are so amazing in fact that the World's 2 biggest religons are based upon their decisions to answer God. By letting God steer their lives, they have led countless others to God. Abraham led Israel(Jews) and Mary led Catholics, both are revered in those religons. They are amazing leaders. There is a reason Abraham is the "Father of Nations" (Genesis 17:2-4) and Mary the "Mother" (John 19:26-27) They should be examples of God though, not Icons of a church. "Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him" *Romans 4:23-24
God's intention in using them was that we learn of God and draw closer to God through them. Jesus was a perfect example of letting God's light shine through him, Abraham and Mary are our human examples.
My prayer is that we may all find the strength to be like Abraham and Mary, when God asks for the impossible, may we realize that nothing through God is impossible. May we be able to answer God's call to us with "be it unto me according to Thy word" *Luke 1:38
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Not a Christian?
I realize that the bible is confusing, and because of that is subject to many interpretations. For those of you who think a religon just needs to "read the bible" and all the answers are there have obviously not read the bible. I am working my way through it again, and believe me every time I read it I learn something new, so if you magnify that by millions upon millions who have read the bible and gain their own understanding and pass their own judgements on what is said....well lets just say there are a lot of interpretations out there. Add in the fact that so many feel so pationate about their beliefs, well you can see why so many wars are fought in the Almighty's name.
That being said, at what point do you know which interpretation is correct?
I was raised learning about God through an LDS perspective (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and since then have attended many different churches. My husband was raised Episcopal, we were married in a Lutheran Church and now we are currently taking inquiry classes at the Catholic church.
The truth is, through all of this I have prayed and read the Bible. I have kept a strong testimony of God, whether or not I always agree with him is another matter, I know he exists and I know Jesus died for our sins and that only through him can we be reunited with our Father in Heaven.
That being said my baptism has recently been called into question by the Catholic Church. I am trying not to be offended by this, but it is increasingly becoming hard. Perhaps I should just be thankful and say I get to start again...again. But I just keep feeling that my faith in Christ is being called into question. I am frusterated. I feel that I have already been accepted into God's kingdom, that was never my problem. My problem is that Churches are using too much "interpretation" when it comes to scriptures and relying too much on what been said by leaders in their church.
Men are not infalible. God is. So how can I in good conscience follow man's words? Is it more important to follow God in your own heart than in church?
I believe church is important. I think surrounding yourself with those that are like minded and have the same basic beliefs as you is good because it helps you learn and grow and know that you are surrounded by people on the same path as you. (It also should be noted that you should expand your horizons also and realize you can learn something from everybody) But is your own heart more important than what church you go to? I was raised thinking that other churches believed this, or that and now am learning that a lot of that is wrong, as well as what a lot of people believe about the church I was raised in.
Most of my trouble with religon has more to do with what the pastors, popes, bishops and elders say is Church doctrine. Most of it seems to be interpretation more than anything else....but what if I'm wrong? What if their interpretation is right and I'm the one who needs to fix my issues?
How am I supposed to know who is right and who is wrong? Or all they all both?
You should not choose a church based on "shopping" and finding the one that fits your lifestyle, but how offended can you be before it is the devil stopping you?
I find the more religous I am, the more superstitous I become.
So where do I go now?
That being said, at what point do you know which interpretation is correct?
I was raised learning about God through an LDS perspective (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and since then have attended many different churches. My husband was raised Episcopal, we were married in a Lutheran Church and now we are currently taking inquiry classes at the Catholic church.
The truth is, through all of this I have prayed and read the Bible. I have kept a strong testimony of God, whether or not I always agree with him is another matter, I know he exists and I know Jesus died for our sins and that only through him can we be reunited with our Father in Heaven.
That being said my baptism has recently been called into question by the Catholic Church. I am trying not to be offended by this, but it is increasingly becoming hard. Perhaps I should just be thankful and say I get to start again...again. But I just keep feeling that my faith in Christ is being called into question. I am frusterated. I feel that I have already been accepted into God's kingdom, that was never my problem. My problem is that Churches are using too much "interpretation" when it comes to scriptures and relying too much on what been said by leaders in their church.
Men are not infalible. God is. So how can I in good conscience follow man's words? Is it more important to follow God in your own heart than in church?
I believe church is important. I think surrounding yourself with those that are like minded and have the same basic beliefs as you is good because it helps you learn and grow and know that you are surrounded by people on the same path as you. (It also should be noted that you should expand your horizons also and realize you can learn something from everybody) But is your own heart more important than what church you go to? I was raised thinking that other churches believed this, or that and now am learning that a lot of that is wrong, as well as what a lot of people believe about the church I was raised in.
Most of my trouble with religon has more to do with what the pastors, popes, bishops and elders say is Church doctrine. Most of it seems to be interpretation more than anything else....but what if I'm wrong? What if their interpretation is right and I'm the one who needs to fix my issues?
How am I supposed to know who is right and who is wrong? Or all they all both?
You should not choose a church based on "shopping" and finding the one that fits your lifestyle, but how offended can you be before it is the devil stopping you?
I find the more religous I am, the more superstitous I become.
So where do I go now?
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