Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, oh I believe in Yesterda
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Posted:Sep 15, 2011 10:10 am
Last Updated:Apr 23, 2024 2:42 pm 3697 Views
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They say that if you do not learn from the past that you are more than likely going to repeat the failures of the past. I can see that. Many people for whatever reason give an abusive relationship a second chance. They also end up choosing another partner very similar to the one they had that almost destroyed them. Why? Perhaps it is easier to ask...why is the moth drawn to the flame?
For years now a scripture rings in my heart, "It is not by might, not by power but by my Spirit says the Lord". But why do we continually seek his power and not his face? It seems as though we always want answers, and want them immediately.We live in this little world where when all goes right, somehow we are all under Gods blessing...for that moment. Yet when things are out of control a little, or we are not comfortable because of circumstances that it is an onslaught of the enemy. The word says it rains on the just and the unjust.It also says that we are to walk by faith. What does that mean? It means we trust God. If we trust him, and he is all knowing and all capable; why the constant roller coaster ride of life of Zaniness? Somewhere we aren't trusting him.We have all been there.
You know, it says the gifts of the Holy Spirit are there for the edification of the body of Christ. They are there until Christ returns. The Holy Spirit, it says is given to the born again believer to comfort us, and to teach us all things. In 1st John 2:27 it speaks of how a person comes to a place where he needs no teacher other than the Holy Spirit. Hmmmn. That would mean spending time with the Holy Spirit. I believe in the trinity. One God, yet three separate offices. God the Father, God the , and God the Holy Spirit. Its like water. Ice, mist, and regular water. All still water, yet in the different forms doing different things.
I have been like everyone else. We all get sidetracked. We all get caught up in things. But do we learn? Think on this. When have you ever seen the Holy Spirit draw attention to himself? When have you ever seen him glorify the gifting that he has for each believer? The simple answer is that he does not. But there is one thing the Holy Spirit always points to. The Savior. Jesus. He always points to Jesus. Religion is a funny bird. It has no life, but it has a lot of opinions and a lot to add to things that need no addition. The work of the cross is a finished work. Lacking in nothing.
Yesterday I got accused of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. What did I say? I said the Holy Spirit is not our savior. He did not die on the cross. But he always points to who did. I am sorry but that is true. I could go on and say to that person that, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is dying without ever believing in the Christ that he sent your whole life telling you about. The door is shut then. There is a side of me that would like to slap all of these people that teach such crazy things to people.
You can pretty much take things out of context and create all kinds of things with the scriptures. It happens all the time and it will continue to happen.That's why I ask people...why didn't Jesus teach tithing, or his disciples which he trained? The truth is it is simple. In the New Covenant, everything we have is Gods. He teaches giving. We give as the Holy Spirit leads us. its not always about money. Time is very important. Look at today and their families. In many instances parents buy off their by buying them things instead of being intimately involved in their lives. The false teaching of tithing is no different. God says to obey is better than sacrifice. Tithing is sacrificial. Giving is obedience because it involves all of you. Giving also is unlimited.
The things of the spirit, if you have a settled peaceful outlook towards God should be peaceful. Not viewed in a Supernatural way. Why would I say that? Well. its because if we know God and get to know his heart, we understand his capabilities and they become like a second nature in our relationship with him. Jesus said that only a evil generation constantly looks for signs and wonders. Think about that. What if your friends only liked you and hung out with you based on what you could do for them? How would you feel about your friends.
People often say sin of Christians grieves God so much. I would answer that with hmmmn. I bet it grieves him a lot more that we establish a relationship with him based on what he can do for us, than the natural love relationship he desires. Back to your friends. I am sure we all have relationships with some friends totally based on love, respect and mutual desire to be a blessing right? That's what God wants too.
There is a little dirty secret here that we seem to overlook. People sin. They always will. Hopefully it is not a destructive kind in our lives. We always will. If we could be perfect, if we could overcome in the way we like to think we could, then Jesus Christ would never need come. God understands this. This is also why he is not as grieved as we think he is. That doesn't mean we should not make an effort to live a Godly life...or should we?
Jesus said: The words I speak are not my words, but the words the Father gives me. He also said the miracles were the Father doing things through him. Now he also had that power, but if his own divine nature fulfilled the law...that would have been cheating.Jesus had two natures and people forget this. What Jesus did was abide. Allowed the Father to live through his natural nature of being a man. Then Jesus states to us, that he, Jesus is the vine (life source) and we are the branches. He taught us to what? Allow him to live through us. Once we receive him as savior, allow him to do it. Paul did it. In the end he was saying, it is no longer him living but Christ living through me. That should be our vision
Yet we continually focus on us doing something. Something Christ did for us that we will never be able to do. Overcome sin. What about the relationship? Paul spoke about the mystery of the Gospel. Do you know what that was? The bible says the the mystery of the Gospel is "Christ in you,your hope of Glory. Yet man also turns this upside down by creating a works doctrine that states "Do you know who you are in Christ'? This makes it about us and we create all of these little programs in churches and other ways to make a place for us to be able to point at something we can accomplish and feel accepted. When the truth is...... who is Christ in us? Do you see how wrong and futile that is. It is just as futile as seeking out crowns someday by your works.It says at the end, we do what with these crowns? We throw them at the feet of Jesus. Hmmmn.
Think about the Prodigal sons' brother. Always doing what was right. Always around his father, and yet he didnt even know his fathers heart. if he did, he would have known the hurt his brother hap placed there. he also would have known the longing of his father for fellowship with the prodigal . He would not have spurned the celebration of his return, he would have rejoiced with his father, because he could have felt what the father felt. Instead it was always all about him. Creating a little world in doing what he thought he was supposed to do, that was in fact a loveless world of duty that missed out on real life.
That's what we as Christians do when our focus is on not sinning, overcoming sin. Pointing out everyone else s sin. There is no life in that. There is life in Christ when we surrender to him. When we allow him to live through us in a love centered relationship with him. Each day spending time with the Holy Spirit as he teaches and comforts us. Intimacy with God. Its found in Grace. Its never found in law keeping. If you allow God to live through you, how are you failing?
Instead of the natural relationship he desires with us, we do things that never happened in the bible. We have meetings where so called anointed prophets speak words of knowledge over us. Do you know what the Holy Spirit means? It means anointing. The Holy Spirit resides in you. This means anointing resides in you the believer. So, you need to go to someone else to hear what the Spirit of God wants to say to you? You cant sit still and hear him inside? That's very dangerous. I know prophetic. The only thing someone should ever tell you should be confirmation of what the Holy Spirit has already said to you. Never a leading. Run from that stuff.
Its all so simple. if it wasn't it wouldn't be for everyone. yet people add and add and add
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Sometimes you know..that you know, and I am not going back to egypt
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Posted:Sep 15, 2011 10:05 am
Last Updated:Sep 15, 2011 10:06 am 3666 Views
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God has blessed us. He gave us this life to live. Choices whether to live, stagnate or hope it all ends soon. We have all been in places in our lives where all three of these pertained to us. Life has its' ups and downs. Many times we find ourselves begging for God to intervene. In most of those cases we see how he does and has, but it is usually not in the ways that we want to see. But my conclusion is, he loves us. he understands what is happening better than we do. He will make a way, his way. If we just invited his will and trusted for that, it is more than enough. In fact it is much better and of more faith than us trying to impart to him what we think needs to happen, or how we think maybe this is wrong.
In politics I do a lot of research, the why, the situations and the such. Just as in life I want to understand the emotional dynamics of things; I also want to understand the dynamics of a politicians decisions and the circumstances that went into what happened.The real truth is more important than conclusions drawn from the situation itself.
Christianity is simple.Its about Jesus. You either believe he is God or not. In doing so you believe he came to take away the particion that sin played in separating you from God. We are called to allow him to live through us. Thats it. God indwelling when we ask forgiveness and receive Christ as savior. Then allowing him to live through us.
Its supposed to be about relationship between us and God. Our lives should be about who Jesus is in our everyday aspects of our lives. Its not about wishing for him to come back to rescue us from the very lives he blessed us with. That is slapping him in the face and basically saying to him that "thanks" but no thanks. Personally, I am so sick of people having their heads in the sky and resenting life when this life is a gift. Christianity, when in fatalism is just like the servant who is given a talent and goes and buries it. The talent is useless. It is not being used to edify and gain in the spiritual Kingdom, nor in the physical. If this life is such a paltry thing, why did God create a beautiful nature around us that is so in sync ? Why? Life makes no sense that way. To me it is an incredible lack of real faith to not embrace this life and the relationship here and now in Jesus. I have lost friends over this. But, I cant stand this fatalistic ridiculous outlook. I am ready for Jesus return based on what he did on that cross, and my acceptance of that. Not because of anything I can ever do. Its just that simple.
Just like other people, I have wasted portions of my life. I have allowed dreams to die. I have messed up. But recently I have been given a new lease on life. God has placed someone in my life that has raised up the mostly dead dreams of my youth. She desires to serve God. Perhaps in some form of ministry. The more I got to know her, the more I could tell that my initial thoughts about her was really the Lord showing me...awake. Arise, you can dream dreams and have visions again.Stand up, shake off the dust and live.LIVE. Do not go through the motions anymore.
God has a plan for us.We hear it all the time. Sometimes when we least expect it, he just lays it out there for you.From the moment I first saw Meriam, a special place in my heart was open wide. Then as time revealed and we got to know each other more and more...I just realized stuff. In life they say that you choose a mate that is in someway like your mom or dad. I knew she was like my mom. She wants to be a social worker and a soul winner for Jesus. She is very disciplined and focused on what she sees God doing with her life. My mom was the type of person that if you felt unloved and walked into a room full of people,when you left you would feel loved. I see that in Meriam. I see her heart.
Each day I see more and more. When I ask, I hear Gods spirit say... just let me show you. I feel totally accepted, appreciated and loved by Meriam. I have this peace that transcends my excitement that I have inside.My prayer has been for a long time, can I have someone to love dear lord that will love me back? Someone that I want just as bad as they want me? I know how hard that is. It has been a lifetime in the making for me.Now, even with the excitement, I am content and just know that I know that here is someone I can serve the Lord with. Have a family with and fulfill dreams and visions because our hearts are on the same page.
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Mormon god is not the Christian God...here is why
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Posted:Aug 30, 2011 3:57 pm
Last Updated:Nov 11, 2011 5:02 am 4319 Views
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Are Mormons Christian?
by Cooper Abrams The subtitle is "The Bible and LDS Scriptures Prove Conclusively that Mormons Are not Biblical Christians"
Historically, only until recently have Mormons wanted to be called Christians, preferring not to be included with Christian denominations, which Joseph Smith said were, "all wrong ... all their creeds were an admonition in his sight, and that those professors (Christians) were all corrupt" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, 2:18-19).
Mormons have preferred to be called "saints"; however, in the recent years the LDS church has spent millions in an intense "PR" campaign aimed at moving the church into the mainstream of Christianity. The political and economic benefits of Mormons being included in the mainstream of Christianity are obvious. Further, for Mormons to be accepted as traditional Christians would greatly aid in proselytizing the members of Christian denominations into the LDS church. This is why the LDS church is trying so hard to present itself as Christian and is trying to overcome the stigma of being a cult.
The answer to the question, "Are Mormons Christians," is simple. They are not Christians for several reasons, and their unbiblical doctrines show them to be a "Christian" cult.
The name Christian was first used, as Acts 11:26 records, to identify the disciples of Jesus Christ. The word "Christian" is the Greek word "christianos," and it means an adherent of Jesus Christ. It literally means "Christ ones" (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16). The correct definition of the word is one who is a follower of the Jesus Christ of the Bible. For almost two thousand years it has never had a reference to anyone other that the historical Jesus Christ of the New Testament.
Why Mormons Are Not Christian.
First: Mormons do not follow or believe in the historic Jesus Christ of the Bible, but rather in a different Jesus. This is why most Biblical Christians emphatically insist that Mormons are not Christians. Let me explain.
(The LDS Church News reported: "In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ. No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fulness [sic] of Times'" (June 20, 1998,
The god of the Mormons is not the God of the Bible. To the Mormons, Jesus is the firstborn of an exalted "man" who became the god of this world. The man-god of Mormonism was made the god of this world because of his good works on another planet somewhere out in the universe. He "earned" godhood, and was thus appointed by a counsel of gods in the heavens to his high position as the god of planet Earth. The Mormon god of this world was a man, like all men, who became a god. This is what the celestial marriage and the temple vows are all about. LDS men, by doing their temple work, are striving for exaltation by which they, too, shall one day become gods. Their wives will be the mother goddesses of "their" world and with their husband will produce the population of their world. This is the Mormon doctrine of "eternal progression."
Note the following quote from the Mormon Journal of Discourses, vol. 1, page 123, made by the LDS Apostle Orson Hyde:
"Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a , a mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point were He is."
Lorenzo Snow, late President of the Mormon church, made this statement in the second verse of his famous poem entitled, "Man's Destiny":
"As Abra'm, Isaac, Jacob, too, babes, then men--to gods they grew. As man now is, our God once was; As now God is, so man may be,-- Which doth unfold man's destiny. . ."
The God of the Bible is not an exalted man. The God of the Bible is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. The Bible says He is the only God and there are no other Gods. He had no beginning or end and he is a spirit being and never was a man.
Note the clear teaching of the Bible as to who the real God is:
Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
Psalms 102:26-27, "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."
Isaiah 43:10-11, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."
Isaiah 44:6, "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."
Isaiah 44:8, "Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
Isaiah 45:21-22, "Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."
Jeremiah 23:24, "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."
Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
John 1:16-18, "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten , which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
Romans 1:22, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
Colossians 1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
1 Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Timothy 6:16, "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."
Clearly, Mormonism's god is not the God of Christianity who is the God revealed to us in the Bible. The Mormon god is a god formed from the imaginations of Joseph Smith, and in truth is a false, non-existent god or idol.
Second: The Jesus Christ of Mormonism is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
The Mormon Jesus is the of this man-god. The Mormon Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, and according to LDS teaching, he married several of the Marys of the New Testament. He is not, to the LDS church, "God incarnate" as the Bible plainly states. Clearly, the Mormon god and Jesus are not the true.
God and Jesus of the Bible
Orson Hyde, the Mormon Apostle said, "We say it was Jesus Christ who was married in the marriage of Cana of Galilee" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, page 80).
Brigham Young, said, "When the Virgin Mary conceived the Jesus ... He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is His father? He is the first of the human family" (Journal of Discourses, pages 50-51).
Compare this with the Word of God, "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the of God" (Luke 1:35).
Mormons teach that Jesus Christ suffered for sin in the Garden of Gethsemane when He sweat "as it were" great drops of blood. Mormons totally avoid the Biblical teaching of Christ's atonement for sin which was accomplished on the Cross.
Note the following quote from, "What Mormons Think of Christ" (LDS publication, pages 32-34):
"Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much is believed and taught on this subject, however, it is utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation."
It goes further to say that salvation is "conditional on faith, and repentance, and baptism and keeping the commands of God."
I would like to add, yes, it is very true that Christians do speak much of the blood of Christ. Note the emphasis the Bible places on the blood of Christ:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1 ).
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrew 9:14).
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelations 1:5).
The ejection of this Biblical truth by the LDS church shows again it is not a Christian church.
Note that in the following verses the Bible says salvation, which is forgiveness of sin and receiving of eternal life, is a gift of God, and it is not obtained by "works":
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).
I am aware that the L.D.S church has several definitions of salvation and several degrees of glory. A good discussion of the problem is found on the Internet at http astYourNet.com/LDS-Shock.
The real Jesus Christ is the "only begotten of the Father." He is not one of many sons and certainly not the brother of Satan as the following Scriptures clearly state:
John 1:18, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten , which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten of God."
Hebrews 1:5, "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my , this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a ?"
1 John 4:9, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten into the world, that we might live through him."
Jesus Christ of the Bible is God Incarnate in Man
John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
John 10:30 "I and my Father are one." Jesus claimed to be one with the Father.
In John 14:9, Jesus said to see him is to see the Father.
In John 8:25, 56-59, 18:6,8 Jesus used the Jehovistic "I AM," identifying Himself as God.
In Matthew 22:42-45, Jesus claimed to be the Old Testament "Adonai."
In Mark 2:5-7, Jesus forgave sin, a prerogative belonging only to God.
In Matthew 14:33; 28:9; and John 20:28-29, Jesus asserted Himself as God by allowing men to worship Him.
John 1:3 states that Jesus is the Creator, and Genesis 1:1 states that God was the Creator.
Only those who believe in the real Biblical God and Jesus Christ have the right to use the name "Christian." The Mormon prophets historically have openly ridiculed those who believe in the God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit that the Bible reveals.
One question that I would ask all Mormons is this: "If I accept you as a Christian, will you accept me as a Mormon?" Would you accept me as a Mormon if I reject Joseph Smith and all the LDS prophets as being prophets of God. If I do not believe in the Book of Mormon or the LDS Scriptures, baptisms for the dead, the temple endowments, the LDS gospel, would you accept me as a Mormon? The answer is obviously, you would not.
In like manner, when Mormonism denies the Bible and every Christian doctrine do you think that Biblical Christians should accept Mormons as Christians? Again the answer is very obvious, no we will not. You cannot legitimately claim to be Christians when you refuse to accept what the Bible teaches and what a true Christian believes.
I would implore Mormons to honestly and openly examine their teachings about God and Jesus Christ and examine who the Bible defines as being a Christian. There is no benefit in calling yourself a "Christian" when Biblically you are not.
Because we love the souls of men and want to see them, too, spend eternity in Heaven with our Savior, we strongly object to anyone proclaiming to the world a false Jesus Christ. We do not want to see anyone miss having their sins forgiven and receiving eternal life, because they were deceived.
Jesus said that He alone was the truth, the way and the life.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Belief in the real Jesus Christ is the only way a man can receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life. The LDS, church in presenting a false Christ is, in fact, leading souls away from salvation and the real Jesus. They reject God's truth and substitute another Jesus who does not exist and cannot save. Only those who believe in the Biblical Jesus Christ will go to heaven when they die. Those who put their trust in a false Christ will be eternally lost. Every true of God knows this, and that is why we try so hard to point men away from false churches, prophets, gods and Christs, that they may find God's true , the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.
Let God speak for Himself by His Word
Matt. 24:24, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 14:10-12).
[Pastor Cooper P. Abrams, III, Castle Country Baptist Church, P.O. Box 665, Price, Utah 84501
True Biblical Christianity points to a God that was always God. His pan of Salvation is found in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Its simple, we are saved by faith and not by any work we can do. Saying Jesus is not enough or adding more to the equation is heresy. It is where Cults begin, whether it's the Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists or the Jehovah's witnesses. The Gospel is simple. Paul stated let anyone be accursed that presents a different Gospel than what he shared.
~Dennis
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Mormonism is not Christianity
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Posted:Aug 30, 2011 3:50 pm
Last Updated:Apr 23, 2024 2:42 pm 3750 Views
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by Robert Stuart, Institute of religious Research
Is the Mormon God the Christian God?
The most important question to be asked when evaluating Robinson’s arguments for recognizing Mormonism as Christian is, “Is the God of Mormonism the God of Christianity?” If the Mormon God is not the Christian God then there can be no thought of understanding Mormonism as Christian.
Robinson readily admits that much of what Mormonism teaches about God cannot be found in the Bible. He insists, however, that this does not mean that the Mormon God is not the biblical God, only that LDS modern revelation has explicated some areas concerning God on which the Bible is silent.28 Concerning God’s corporeality he declares, “I do maintain that the Bible makes no unambiguous statement about the materiality or immateriality of the Father, and that we may therefore think of him either as having a body or as not having a body without ‘contradicting’ the Bible.”29 In other words, the Mormon understanding of God is extra-biblical, but not un-biblical. He also admits freely that Mormonism has a different concept of God than “orthodox” Christianity because “orthodox” Christianity has a doctrine of God that is the product of an influx of Hellenistic thought corrupting and distorting the biblical picture of God.
To those who insist that a corporeal God is not consistent with 1 Timothy 1:17, which states, among other things, that God is invisible, he responds that aoratos does not mean invisible, but simply unseen. The upshot of this understanding of aoratos is that one is left with a god who plays hide and seek.
The fact that LDS teach that God has a body,30 does not prevent the Mormon God from being omnipresent, according to Robinson, because God’s omnipresence is spiritual, not physical, in nature.31 To those who insist on understanding John 4:24 as teaching the incorporeality of God he replies that the text should be translated “God is Spirit,” not “God is a Spirit.” “Latter-day Saints do not dispute this passage at all, unless it is interpreted as limiting God to being merely a spirit.”32 This limited understanding of God as merely spirit comes from Greek philosophy rather than the biblical witness, according to Robinson. In rejecting Greek metaphysics, he writes, “God is spirit, but he is also element; both aspects of existence are included and encompassed within his glorious being. That he is either one does not limit the fact that he is also the other—and infinitely more.”33
Robinson’s argument seems rather disingenuous to those familiar with Mormonism. He is employing the language gap of which he complains in his introductory remarks34 to take advantage of the evangelical Christian belief that there is an ontological difference between spirit and matter. For example, Robinson argues that Mormonism’s God can be omnipresent because his omnipresence is spiritual, not physical. According to Mormon scripture, however, spirit actually is material: “There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter” (Doctrine & Covenants 131– . It is hard to imagine Robinson is unaware that the Book of Mormon teaches that “the spiritual aspect of God’s existence” is coextensive with that of his physical aspect. In a supposed preincarnate appearance, Christ says, “Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh” (Ether 3:16). Mormon scriptures render Robinson’s argument here very “non-official” (and perhaps even unorthodox by LDS standards).
Another serious defect in Robinson’s interpretation of John 4:24 is that in its context this passage involves a discussion of where one ought to worship God, and thus, a question of where one can find God. Jesus responds that the location of worship does not matter. The reason that location is not an issue is because God is not limited to being present in any one location. The reason why God is not limited to one place or another is precisely because God is Spirit, not because God is a material being who is spiritually present (materially present in a finer sort of fashion) in all places.
Yet another argument that Robinson uses to deny that John 4:24 contradicts the LDS concept of God having a body is that since Jesus was God, and he had a body, there is no warrant for thinking that God must necessarily be immaterial. In this argument Robinson: (1) blurs the Trinitarian distinctions between Father, , and Spirit; (2) ignores the fact that Christ’s incarnation took place in time/space, and the incarnation body was not essential to his nature as Deity; and (3) ignores the fact that in the incarnation Christ was not omnipresent.
A question related to the corporeality of God is whether or not God was a man prior to becoming God? Robinson affirms that the teaching that God is an exalted man is a linchpin of LDS theology.35 Yet he says this should not be taken to mean that God is not “infinite and eternal.”36 This, however, contradicts what Joseph Smith, Jr. declared in the King Follett funeral sermon, which Robinson allows has “normative” force in LDS theology, concerning the nature of God. Smith states: “We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see.”37 Thus it is apparent that the Mormon founder, through whom all LDS priesthood and prophetic authority is derived, thought that God was not eternally God. That Smith also believed that God was capable of progressing, and thus not infinite, is evident when he puts the following words in the mouth of Jesus:
My Father worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain Kingdom upon Kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself.38
Should one be perplexed as to how Robinson can claim to stand in continuity with Smith and at the same time teach radically different things about God, one must consider the LDS meaning of eternity. Latter-day Saints teach that there is an endless series of eternities. Robinson touches ever so briefly on this point when he writes, “In regard to the possibility that God was once a man in some prior eternity before the beginning of this one, ...” (italics added).39 Consistent with this (re)definition of eternity is his statement: “I firmly believe God did exist as God ‘before all ages’ (from the beginning), but that still does not say anything about before the beginning.40 Certainly my understanding of ‘eternity’ is different from that of the average Evangelical, but it is not without ancient precedent, nor is it internally inconsistent.”41 It is also apparent that Robinson’s understanding of time is not biblical. The God of the Bible created all things (John 1:3). A God who did not create time, but instead is himself subject to time, is not the biblical God.
Not only is the Mormon God not eternally God (in the normal sense of the word), he is not the only God. Although Robinson argues that Mormonism is not polytheistic,42 Joseph Smith disagrees. Again, in the same sermon that Robinson allows has normative force, although it is not technically canonical, Smith declares: “... you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you .... The head God called together the Gods and sat in grand council to bring forth the world. The grand councilors sat at the head in yonder heavens and contemplated the creation of the worlds which were created at that time.”43
There is yet another area of LDS Theology that is troubling to orthodox Christians — in LDS Theology, God has a wife. In Achieving a Celestial Marriage one reads: “Our Heavenly Father and mother live in an exalted state because they achieved a celestial marriage. As we achieve a like marriage we shall become as they are and begin the creation of worlds for our own spirit .”44 From this quotation one can readily see that God’s becoming a God was dependent not only upon his being married but also upon his having the right kind of marriage.
Robinson struggles valiantly to present the God of Mormonism as infinite, eternal, and one of a kind. Yet when one understands the meaning of his terms, the Mormon God is clearly understood to be finite, temporal, and one of many. The similarities are thus more semantic than actual. This cannot be reconciled with the Christian understanding of God.
An Analysis of LDS Scholar Stephen E. Robinson’s Arguments for Accepting Mormonism as Christian1 By Robert B. Stewart Copyright © 2002 Robert B. StewartMaterial Issues Is the Mormon God the Christian God? The most important question to be asked when evaluating Robinson’s arguments for recognizing Mormonism as Christian is, “Is the God of Mormonism the God of Christianity?” If the Mormon God is not the Christian God then there can be no thought of understanding Mormonism as Christian.
Robinson readily admits that much of what Mormonism teaches about God cannot be found in the Bible. He insists, however, that this does not mean that the Mormon God is not the biblical God, only that LDS modern revelation has explicated some areas concerning God on which the Bible is silent.28 Concerning God’s corporeality he declares, “I do maintain that the Bible makes no unambiguous statement about the materiality or immateriality of the Father, and that we may therefore think of him either as having a body or as not having a body without ‘contradicting’ the Bible.”29 In other words, the Mormon understanding of God is extra-biblical, but not un-biblical. He also admits freely that Mormonism has a different concept of God than “orthodox” Christianity because “orthodox” Christianity has a doctrine of God that is the product of an influx of Hellenistic thought corrupting and distorting the biblical picture of God.
To those who insist that a corporeal God is not consistent with 1 Timothy 1:17, which states, among other things, that God is invisible, he responds that aoratos does not mean invisible, but simply unseen. The upshot of this understanding of aoratos is that one is left with a god who plays hide and seek.
The fact that LDS teach that God has a body,30 does not prevent the Mormon God from being omnipresent, according to Robinson, because God’s omnipresence is spiritual, not physical, in nature.31 To those who insist on understanding John 4:24 as teaching the incorporeality of God he replies that the text should be translated “God is Spirit,” not “God is a Spirit.” “Latter-day Saints do not dispute this passage at all, unless it is interpreted as limiting God to being merely a spirit.”32 This limited understanding of God as merely spirit comes from Greek philosophy rather than the biblical witness, according to Robinson. In rejecting Greek metaphysics, he writes, “God is spirit, but he is also element; both aspects of existence are included and encompassed within his glorious being. That he is either one does not limit the fact that he is also the other—and infinitely more.”33
Robinson’s argument seems rather disingenuous to those familiar with Mormonism. He is employing the language gap of which he complains in his introductory remarks34 to take advantage of the evangelical Christian belief that there is an ontological difference between spirit and matter. For example, Robinson argues that Mormonism’s God can be omnipresent because his omnipresence is spiritual, not physical. According to Mormon scripture, however, spirit actually is material: “There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter” (Doctrine & Covenants 131–. It is hard to imagine Robinson is unaware that the Book of Mormon teaches that “the spiritual aspect of God’s existence” is coextensive with that of his physical aspect. In a supposed preincarnate appearance, Christ says, “Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh” (Ether 3:16). Mormon scriptures render Robinson’s argument here very “non-official” (and perhaps even unorthodox by LDS standards).
Another serious defect in Robinson’s interpretation of John 4:24 is that in its context this passage involves a discussion of where one ought to worship God, and thus, a question of where one can find God. Jesus responds that the location of worship does not matter. The reason that location is not an issue is because God is not limited to being present in any one location. The reason why God is not limited to one place or another is precisely because God is Spirit, not because God is a material being who is spiritually present (materially present in a finer sort of fashion) in all places.
Yet another argument that Robinson uses to deny that John 4:24 contradicts the LDS concept of God having a body is that since Jesus was God, and he had a body, there is no warrant for thinking that God must necessarily be immaterial. In this argument Robinson: (1) blurs the Trinitarian distinctions between Father, , and Spirit; (2) ignores the fact that Christ’s incarnation took place in time/space, and the incarnation body was not essential to his nature as Deity; and (3) ignores the fact that in the incarnation Christ was not omnipresent.
A question related to the corporeality of God is whether or not God was a man prior to becoming God? Robinson affirms that the teaching that God is an exalted man is a linchpin of LDS theology.35 Yet he says this should not be taken to mean that God is not “infinite and eternal.”36 This, however, contradicts what Joseph Smith, Jr. declared in the King Follett funeral sermon, which Robinson allows has “normative” force in LDS theology, concerning the nature of God. Smith states: “We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see.”37 Thus it is apparent that the Mormon founder, through whom all LDS priesthood and prophetic authority is derived, thought that God was not eternally God. That Smith also believed that God was capable of progressing, and thus not infinite, is evident when he puts the following words in the mouth of Jesus: My Father worked out his kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain Kingdom upon Kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself.38 Should one be perplexed as to how Robinson can claim to stand in continuity with Smith and at the same time teach radically different things about God, one must consider the LDS meaning of eternity. Latter-day Saints teach that there is an endless series of eternities. Robinson touches ever so briefly on this point when he writes, “In regard to the possibility that God was once a man in some prior eternity before the beginning of this one, ...” (italics added).39 Consistent with this (re)definition of eternity is his statement: “I firmly believe God did exist as God ‘before all ages’ (from the beginning), but that still does not say anything about before the beginning.40 Certainly my understanding of ‘eternity’ is different from that of the average Evangelical, but it is not without ancient precedent, nor is it internally inconsistent.”41 It is also apparent that Robinson’s understanding of time is not biblical. The God of the Bible created all things (John 1:3). A God who did not create time, but instead is himself subject to time, is not the biblical God.
Not only is the Mormon God not eternally God (in the normal sense of the word), he is not the only God. Although Robinson argues that Mormonism is not polytheistic,42 Joseph Smith disagrees. Again, in the same sermon that Robinson allows has normative force, although it is not technically canonical, Smith declares: “... you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you .... The head God called together the Gods and sat in grand council to bring forth the world. The grand councilors sat at the head in yonder heavens and contemplated the creation of the worlds which were created at that time.”43
There is yet another area of LDS Theology that is troubling to orthodox Christians — in LDS Theology, God has a wife. In Achieving a Celestial Marriage one reads: “Our Heavenly Father and mother live in an exalted state because they achieved a celestial marriage. As we achieve a like marriage we shall become as they are and begin the creation of worlds for our own spirit .”44 From this quotation one can readily see that God’s becoming a God was dependent not only upon his being married but also upon his having the right kind of marriage.
Robinson struggles valiantly to present the God of Mormonism as infinite, eternal, and one of a kind. Yet when one understands the meaning of his terms, the Mormon God is clearly understood to be finite, temporal, and one of many. The similarities are thus more semantic than actual. This cannot be reconciled with the Christian understanding of God.
Notes 28 Craig L. Blomberg and Stephen E. Robinson, How Wide the Divide?: A Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997), hereafter HWTD?, 86.
29 Ibid, 79.
30 Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22 (hereafter D & C).
31 HWTD? , 88-89. If one is to make sense of LDS statements that God is omnipresent, one must know what LDS mean when they say omnipresent. In A Study of the Articles of Faith, (published by the church), one reads: There is no part of creation, however remote, into which God cannot penetrate; through the medium of the Spirit the Godhead is in direct communication with all things at all times. It has been said, therefore, that God is everywhere present; but this does not mean that the actual person of any one member of the Godhead can be physically present in more than one place at one time. The senses of each of the Trinity are of infinite power; His mind is of unlimited capacity; His powers of transferring Himself from place to place are infinite; plainly, however, His person cannot be in more than one place at any one time. Admitting the personality of God, we are compelled to accept the fact of His materiality; indeed, an ‘immaterial being,’ under which meaningless name some have sought to designate the condition of God, cannot exist, for the very expression is a contradiction in terms. If God possesses a form, that form is of necessity of definite proportions and therefore of limited extension in space. James E. Talmage, A Study of the Articles of Faith: Being a Consideration of the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1961), 42-43. The particular copy from which the writer quotes was a gift of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Fleming Library at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The writer assumes that this means the book at least provides a fairly accurate statement as to what LDS theology actually is.
32 AMC?, 79.
33 Ibid., 81.
34 HWTD?., 13-14.
35 HWTD?, 91. He stresses, however, that “more important, more in evidence, more often preached, more often studied, explained and pondered by the Latter-day Saints are the more central doctrines of the gospel of Christ.” Ibid. To his credit, Robinson does not seem uncertain about the place of this concept in Mormon theology, as Gordon Hinckley, the current LDS president, did when asked whether God was once a man in an interview for Time magazine: “I don’t know that we teach it. I don’t know that we emphasize it ... I understand the philosophical background behind it, but I don’t know a lot about it, and I don’t think others know a lot about it.” David Van Biema, Time 150, no. 5, August 4, 1997: 56.
36 HWTD?, 78.
37 Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS), 345. Robinson seems to want to have it both ways. He agrees with what Smith teaches in the King Follett sermon when it serves his purposes (God was once a man) while disagreeing with Smith on other topics (God’s finiteness and non-eternality) taught in the same sermon.
38 Ibid, 347–48.
39 HWTD?, 89.
40 Robinson ignores the fact that the “beginning” of John 1:1 is not the same as the “beginning” of Genesis 1:1. Genesis refers to a moment/place in time/space when God created this world. John, however, contemplates the eternity out of which God, by Christ, created time, space and matter, as is proved by verse 3. God was God, Christ the Word was God, without the existence of space, time and matter—“before,” as it were, Robinson’s “beginning.”
41 Ibid., 90. The precedent he appeals to is first century Judaism: “First -century Jews understood eternity to consist of successive ages or eons—all within the parameters of the beginning and the end.” Ibid. He does not support this statement with a reference. The qualification “all within the beginning and the end” seems to speak of one beginning and one end encapsulating successive eons. Apparently this is not how Robinson understands the statement. This only serves to make the point that the crucial issue is meaning, not terminology. Concerning the internal consistency of Mormonism’s “eternity” see Francis Beckwith and Stephen E. Parrish, The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Analysis (Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen, 1991) for a discussion of the logical (in)consistency of the Mormon concept of God’s relationship to time.
42 HWTD?, 132.
43 TPJS, 345, 349. In a separate sermon, preached two months later, Smith declares: “In the very beginning the Bible shows there is a plurality of Gods beyond the power of refutation. . . . The heads of the Gods appointed one God for us; and when you take [that] view of the subject, it sets one free to see all the beauty, holiness and perfection of the Gods.” (brackets in original) Ibid., 372. It is apparent from this quotation that the God of this earth is not even the highest of the Gods; he cannot be referred to as the almighty in an ultimate sense. James White shows that Robinson disagrees on this point with his BYU colleague, Eugene England, Brigham Young University Studies 29 no. 3, 33, cited in James R. White, Is the Mormon My Brother?: Discerning the Differences Between Christianity and Mormonism (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1997), 182.
44 Achieving a Celestial Marriage, (Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President of The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976), 1.
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Charismatic Elitism...true or false?
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Posted:Aug 25, 2011 7:07 am
Last Updated:Aug 30, 2011 2:59 pm 4814 Views
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The Gospel of Christ is simple. If it were not, it wouldn't be for everyone.Unfortunately man has this way about them where they try and add this and that to everything until they have something that pleases them.
There is a scripture that states, do not put new wine in old wine skins. It is true of the new Covenant of Christ. You do not put the new Covenant in the wrappings of a defunct old Covenant.
There is always something going on with the Charismatics to appear as a new thing, when the word says there is nothing new under the sun. You will hear of deceptions such as the Original Church understood the word of God better than people can today. The problem is that, it was not even written in that day.
If you look at the New Testament after the Gospels, the writings are always directed at fellowships to correct and exhort. before the gentiles were included, they were mired in their own pagan humanistic beliefs. So there was a lot to overcome in their understanding of the newly formed Christianity. On the other hand the Jews who had been in Jewish law had to totally learn a new Covenant that in effect was the exact opposite of what Judaism is. In Judaism, you do this, God does that. In Christianity, we are and we have, all because of what Jesus did and nothing to do with what we can do. Its simple. Everything because of what he did.
Charismatics point to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They point to gifting of the Spirit. Particularly prayer language. I have no problem with how they view the gifts. I was in assembly of God for 30 years. I get it. But where do you see the Holy Spirit ever pointing at himself? Where do you ever see the Holy Spirit making a big deal about gifting? You do not. The Holy Spirit always points towards Jesus.
If you read in Corinthians you will see how vile the people were and always under major correction. As a matter of fact even in the fellowship meetings they were out of control. Paul had to address these issues continually.
Now why would I call the Charismatic movement elitism? Its pretty simple really. If you look at the scriptures after the Gospels you will not find what they preach. Christianity begins after the atonement of Christ on the cross. In Hebrews 9-22 it deals with no covenant can be made without the shedding of blood. So the new Covenant came into place with the shedding of Christs' blood and the veil was rent in the Holy of Holies as a sign.
40 days later, the promise of the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost. But here is when elitism comes into play. All of a sudden, now we have two steps "supposedly". Salvation and then the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that the Charismatics will tell you is an empowerment of God. The word says the Holy Spirit is sent to the believer to comfort us and to teach us all things.Holy Spirit means "anointing". The Anointing of God was given at Pentecost to the born again believers.
Ok here is the issue, on one hand we have the born again believers, and on the other is the born again believers who have the spirit. So now we have the Spiritual Haves and Have Nots'. So one group is now saying that, yes you are saved, but until you are filled with the Holy Spirit in a separate experience.
Let me give you an example. For every one person I can find that practices tithing and experiences an abundance, I can show you another dozen that faithfully practice it and greatly struggle. Why would that be? it doesnt matter that Jesus and his disciples did not teach it or practice it. Nor that the poor never did it. God is going to do what he wishes in each persons life.
Now if the baptism in the Holy Spirit is indeed a second step in a persons life,why can I find just as many non charismatics as well as charismatics having affairs etc. Just plain struggling in life? There has to be an answer right? one supposedly has more power than the other, yet struggle just as much.
Here is the scriptural kicker. God is very adamant about sharing important things. Why, outside of Pentecost, in the context of after the atonement on the cross is this 2nd grace as people call it; basically non-existent in the scriptures? It addresses the gifting. It addresses the issues and responsibilities with the gifts. But it does not promote the need for this second act.
Perhaps because Pentecost was the out pouring and not the ongoing. Perhaps because when a person receives Christ by faith that the Holy Spirit now resides in him, and as before the Holy Spirit had not been given. perhaps it is because when you get saved, you have the ability to operate in any of the gifts as needed. Individually and corporately.
Why is it, when the Holy Spirit points to Jesus, that the people in love with gifting point towards the gifts? That is elitism working hard in a persons life.
A lot of things happened at the cross. If you can not find something going on after the cross in the scriptures, then it was taken care of at the cross. You will find no born again believer having a generational curse broken off of them after the cross. it happened at salvation. Jesus doesn't half step. You will not find one place where a born again believer has a demon cast out of him. Not one. You will find a place where as people were being saved, demons came out. But that is it.
Jesus said that the words he spoke and the miracles he did were the words and deeds of the Father doing them through him. He went on to say that he is the life giving vine and we are the branches. He was teaching abiding. Paul, the author of the Gospel, as God gave Paul the Gospel, stated that it was no longer he living but Christ living through him. He lived the abiding life.
The word states to offer yourselves up daily as a living sacrifice. It states that we as born again believers have the mind of Christ in us. Yet, it also states that we need to renew our minds daily in the things of the spirit(prayer,praise,worship,reading the word)
Why would we need to nurture our relationship if this second act was a cure all, our supercharger of Christian spirituality? If this supercharged our spirit with his spirit? It is clear that God created us to fellowship with him. Fellowship is spending time and sharing back and forth.
Charismania will always say there is something new to experience. It also will place experiences over the word of God. If an experience does not match up with the New Covenant scriptures, it is not a God thing, rather it is an experience thing and not to be made a doctrine.
People will tell you that something is going on someplace else and can not happen where you are, based on some issues with culture that takes away from your faith. A closer look often shows sadly the people lying about something. It happens all the time.
Christianity is simple. As a matter of fact it states that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. That is something to think about isn't it? It is God's desire to have a love relationship with everyone. In order to do that, it must be simple. Otherwise it is not for everyone.
God does not leave people hanging. He doesn't expect us to take one scripture here and there and make a whole life moving issue.
It is simple. The Word says we are saved by Faith. It says to get baptized in water as an outward sign of your faith, signifying you are buried and resurrected with Christ. Then we are called to abide in Christ. Simply allow him to live through us. THAT is IT.
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What if the end is really near? What if?
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Posted:Aug 23, 2011 2:47 pm
Last Updated:Aug 25, 2011 12:14 am 4786 Views
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I grew up in the early 1970's. The preaching was that Israel had become a nation for the third time in 1948 and that a generation would not pass before Christ would return.
It was always being taught that he had to come back between now and 1988. So be ready for that. It also gave me a lax attitude on just what to do with my life. No huge goals. Just persevere until his triumphant return. It has been 23 years now since that disappointment. It had altered my life because I did not pursue some things that I could have. I have learned that a generation in the bible could mean up to 70 years.
Some people wonder why I do not get caught up in all the hoopla of Jesus' predicted return. Since Jesus left the earth physically mankind has been looking for his return. he will come back when he does. But what has God given every human being he has created?
Life. He has simply given us life. Getting excited about an event means to me that you are not excited about the gift he has given you. It's like looking at the box and pretty ribbon, opening it and then enjoying it for awhile and then looking around to see if there is something better.
God could have just said, hey, just created you! Wanna come live with me now? Fellowship with me now? Instead he gave us a life with a million choices. Many opportunities . In the midst of all of that he invites us to come through the perfect door of Jesus to have an ongoing permanent relationship with him.
There is an old saying. Bloom where you are planted. We are planted here on earth. Blooming is allowing God to live through you. Blooming is taking the talents that he has given you and growing them, nurturing them. You know, just as a father here on earth loves to watch his grow up, be their best and follow their dreams....don't you think that excites the heavenly father too? It says in his word, for without faith it is impossible to please God. Blooming is using your faith and your talents and living in this world, the life that he gave you. By not doing this, you are not being not only a good steward, but you also are saying this gift of life is not enough. It is saying you just want to go to heaven. Be done. No faith involved in that. How can God be pleased.
Sometimes when people see that someone isnt all there, not paying attention they say "Is head in the clouds or something?"
Unfortunately that is what happens in Christianity. The look for the life of blessings and bliss. They ignore God's mentions of the seasons of life.....Ignore that God says he will be with you in good times and bad. So thei head is in the heavenlies, even though they haven't been called home yet. How is God pleased by this.? The blessing of life here. So much to share, and yet the focus is on something such as a return when he resides in you right now?
The answer is simple. fellowship here and now in Jesus. Let him live through you. Dream dreams here and have visions here. A mission of faith by being what God would want here on this earth. The word says he who is faithful in little things is faithful in much. This earth is small compared to heaven, But we are still asked to be faithful here.
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transparent came I
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Posted:Aug 22, 2011 4:47 am
Last Updated:Apr 23, 2024 2:42 pm 3884 Views
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There is a fine line between being transparent and also guarding your heart. It is important to guard your heart. Important to count the costs involved in a possible relationship. However before you even start thinking about relationships, it is important to look deep into yourself and think. First off there are many people out there that you would not choose as a mate. Many different reasons involved in that decision for you.
Most people do not want to hurt someone else when you turn them down. That is a good trait and shows a good heart on your part. It's not personal, it is just that they do not match up. Perhaps spiritually, attractiveness or even materially. There are so many reasons.
Too often we brand ourselves as a reject when someone says, thanks but no thanks to our advances. It is a whole lot more in most cases about what they want, than who you are as a person. If we can look at it as how we feel when we say thanks, but no thanks; then the pain is greatly lessened.
We all have a little game face when it comes to relationships. Whether it is a weak one, a tender one or a harsh one that is meant to protect us. If we see someone that we admire in all ways. How they carry themselves. How they keep in shape and other things that clearly point to that person doing their best and bringing their "A" Game approach in life. Do we also have an "A" game that we are bringing to the table? Or are we just getting by, thinking that is good enough?
Before we start, we need to have the cake baked, out of the oven and the icing on. You don't present a half baked cake to anyone and expect a good response. There will be no acceptance, and quite frankly, you should not expect it.
I am not saying all of this to discourage anyone. Just to help them see that the expectations you have of a mate are close in many ways to what others want too. So if you can not fulfill your own expectations, perhaps you should be a tad more realistic in your own.
Once you take into consideration these two aspects. Your A Game, realistic goals. You can then proceed to approach someone not as concerned if they say yes or no. Instead it is not a thing of rejection, but rather of choice.
It is not as bad as it seems. As a matter of fact look at approaching someone as like doing an interview. No one gets every job. But what most people do, is they learn from each interview. They change things up a tad here and there. Then.... one day the door opens. If you give up from a few doors being closed in regards to a relationship desire, you can never have one. But if you think about how you can approach it better, make yourself more presentable, then there is a chance. A much better chance. It is about choices for them just as it is for you. Look at it that way, instead of a personal branding of rejection on your forehead.
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Is God's Family really different?
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Posted:Aug 18, 2011 4:23 am
Last Updated:Aug 25, 2011 12:19 am 3981 Views
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Is God's Family different than Earthly Families?
In a normal family here on earth, once born into it; you are a part of it. There is an old saying that you can pick your friends but that you can not choose your family. That is true. In the earthly families you would have to go to some very extreme circumstances in order to be thrown out of the family. But other than that, people know that life is a myriad of choices. Successes and failures.
The good earthly parents try and find ways to point their in the right directions, They use logic, discipline, understanding and love all woven in patience. Just because one of their is not as orderly, not exactly with the program does not mean they are not a member of the family. membership is not based on their performance, it is based on being born into that family. It is true with babies that were adopted into the family as well.
The Apostle Paul in his writings had a big problem with the church in Corinth. There was a lot of sexual immorality taking place. One of the problems when Christianity began and the gentiles were added was that the humanistic Gnostic thinking was that there was no sin in life as long as it was not hurting anyone else. Pretty much what is taught in today's world. Now what exactly did Paul say about this? Did he bring out the old sheep and goats' thinking?
What he did do was tell them it was wrong and implored them to stop doing that. He did not call them unsaved heathens. He called them babes in Christ. Isn't that interesting? Here were these people who had accepted Jesus Christ as savior back then and having sexual relationships out of marriage and the Apostle Paul did not disqualify their membership in the grafted in family of God. Instead he called them babes in Christ.
I am not advocating living an immoral life. What we do here has natural consequences, such as the break up of marriages, unwanted pregnancies etc. But the point made here is that Paul did not disqualify a person from being a Christian based on their performance. Instead he was pointing them in a better direction. Explaining what was wrong here. If they had by faith received Jesus Christ as savior, their faith had saved them, not their own ability to be good. It is all about what Jesus did and not about what we can do.
I think it can be summed up by the parable of the late worker. You know the one where the worker came late and received the very same pay that the people who had been there and labored all day. Remember how upset the people that had labored all day had been? They felt disrespected.
Before I go any further, I will add Paul said that each day we need to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice to God. Each day we should renew our minds. Meditate on the things of God. Allow him to live through us. For a plant to grow it needs attention. Our Spirit man inside us needs attention daily just as our teeth and body do. Its a natural progression.
We are all at different levels of understanding. Some are mature in some areas and not so much in others. our lives are pretty easy for people to view and scrutinize. Thats why we are told to what? Pray for each other. In a biological family, you would pray for your brother or sister in their short comings. You would hope for the best in their lives. It is the same way in your spiritual family. God is not looking for reasons to disqualify them anymore than you should be.
We live in a fallen world. It is easy to be deceived even in the slightest ways. There are many boxes out there that people live in. Cults such as this is the only bible. This is the only church. Our ignorance does not disqualify us. Our ignorance can disrupt us and rob us of many blessings in life. But that is not the same thing as disqualification.
God is not a man that he should lie, neither is the of man that he should repent. The word states he no longer calls us servants but friends. It also states that yes, we may be great parents, but he is the great Father. So much better than we can imagine. We all have our ways. We all have strong points and weaknesses. Yet God tells us that our ways are not his ways. Even at our best we shall always come short of the Glory of Christ. Yet the good news is that because of what Jesus did, that God calls us righteous in his eyes, worthy of him.
The bible says we are righteous by faith. It says we are saved by faith and not by works lest any man should boast. The bible tells me that it is faith which pleases God. Not perfection. Not always doing everything right. Not being there from the beginning of the day working in the field. Does love mean perfection, or does it mean heart towards? Just as our own will fail, and we pick them up and dust them off and encourage them in Love...how much more do you think the heavenly father is at work doing the same thing?
God didn't just pop into our lives. he did many things over time to reveal himself to us. In that same sense he is always at work in our life as Christians, correcting us and blessing us. All things. Sometimes we get so selfish that no one can see the Jesus in us, but it does not mean that he is not there. It means we are spending a whole lot more time pleasing ourselves than we are allowing him to reign. We all do it.
If God is at work even in the most messed up Christians we know, shouldn't we as a brother or sister just at least say a prayer lift them up to see their father and take their eyes off of themselves? We aren't perfect. Our ability to do good versus doing evil is not what makes us right and separates us from the professing Christian who outwardly appears a mess. Our only righteousness is found in Jesus. That's it.
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Sentimental Journey....where is the ride?
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Posted:Aug 2, 2011 4:48 pm
Last Updated:Aug 22, 2011 4:48 am 4576 Views
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Winston Churchill was quoted as saying if a person is not liberal when they are young, then they have no heart. If they are not conservative by the time they are 30, then they have no brains. Brains. Hmmmn. There are other people who have stated that you do not know squat until you hit 35. I have looked back at my life and I can concur with these statements. They usually are the norm in a lot of peoples lives.
I was 15 when the simple plan of salvation was explained to me. On that day, March 5, 1972 I received Christs' forgiveness of sin and asked him to be the Lord and Savior of my life. It was so simple. Just as God planned it to be. That was all that I needed to do to have a relationship with God. Believe he was who he said he was and receive the forgiveness of sin. The sin is what separates us from God before we become a born again believer.
I had the two greatest weeks emotionally after I met the Lord. Cloud nine. But a funny thing happened as I was experiencing salvation and getting to know God. People got involved. Ok, now that you are a Christian, you need to do this and that, and oh yeah, here is a list of the things you can not do. You need to go to our church. You need to listen to the Pastor.You need to...You need to. Well i listened to all of that and did the best that I could. But I have to tell you that beautiful feeling of the newness of Christ wore off quickly. Instead of Jesus, it was becoming "the Jesus Club". But hey, I figured this was what Christians did. I didn't know any better. After all, I was a newbie. The next month I turned 16.
In contrast, what would I tell someone like myself today, nearly 40 years later? I would say it is important to fellowship. Read your bible. Do not worry about the Old Testament for the first few years. I would tell them that the Holy Spirit resides in you. I would show them in Jeremiah where it speaks of right and wrong being written on the believers heart, so we know. Then I would show them the scriptures in the gospel of John where Jesus clearly states his words and miracles are from the father. I would show where Jesus taught abiding, which is allowing God to live through you. Then how Apostle Paul proclaims it is no longer he living, but Christ living through him.
I would take them to scriptures showing how much God loves them. How he provides for us and how no matter what happens in life, God will turn that for our good. I would show them how God says there are seasons in life and their purposes. But above all, even when he seems silent he is there. I would remind them that it is important to meet with other believers even daily and share back and forth what God is doing in your life and what he is sharing with you. But I would never recommend an organization of any kind. Why would I say that?
I think for me that has been the biggest downer. There is a scripture that warns against putting New Wine in old Wine skins. In the New Covenant Paul Speaks of in Galatians that the law was once a tutor to people, but when they receive Christ, then Christ is your tutor and the law becomes a Curse. Yes a curse. Galatians chapter 3. I have yet to find an organized fellowship that does not mix law and grace in its doctrine. That is why I do not recommend these places. If we build upon an actual love relationship with God through spending time alone with the Holy Spirit, then its about Love and commitment and not about obligation. Its much more of a strength to have a loving relationship than it is out of obligations. Obligations become a drag and then as Paul stated you find yourself doing the very things that you do not start out intending to do. Perhaps that is why Jesus gave atonement right? That we could be justified because of what he did, because no man could ever live up to the law. That in itself was the very reason for the law. To point to Jesus when he came. Gal 3: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Therefore the law was our tutor [to bring us] to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [Is] the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. Now a mediator does not [mediate] for one [only,] but God is one. 19
So in my heart, I understand Grace. I can no longer be a part of sitting under any human being. Fellowship is one thing. That constitutes sharing what God is doing and speaking to me, and hearing back the very same from another person. It means encouraging and being encouraged while not allowing another to be "over" you or you be over "them". It does not constitute being in a group, standing when told to stand, sit when told to sit. Listen, break out your wallet to pay for the procedure and do the very same thing next week. I did that for 30 years. I have never found life in that. I get more out of a nice quiet Sunday with just the people in my life that I love; then I have ever received from being in a pew on Sunday. I do not think it is what God intended either. Simplicity of God has become complicated by man. We live in an unjust world, craving justice.
I pretty much apply the same stance regarding the political. Man creates their own agendas. Honesty is tossed aside for agendas and feeding the big machine, with no thought of the ramifications. One group wants everyone to take care of them as they vegetate. Another wants to be left alone so they can prosper and do their own thing. Yet another wants it somewhere in the middle. The fringes are so disillusioned they believe every tom dick and harry conspiracy that is available for though. The bible makes one clear statement. The truth will set you free. So, what do half truths do? Do they put one in bondage? Do they destroy you? Do they rob you of what God intends in your life? I think so.
We aren't supposed to put our trust in man. Yet it is apparent that we do, at least in varying levels aand to be honest it is disappointing to say the very least. Loving and not being really loved back. People misrepresenting themselves and others. It can get ugly. people with good intentions getting tossed aside. Its a lot more simple, the truth is. Yet lies complicate things.
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What about..... God
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Posted:Aug 2, 2011 4:47 pm
Last Updated:Aug 7, 2011 7:57 am 3781 Views
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I am told it is all about relationship. God, creator and CEO of everything wants us. Yes us to have a relationship with him. Thats pretty kool dontcha think? I think it is. I was told years ago sin is what separated mankind from God. There was no way man could fix this, so he sent Jesus to atone once and for this issue. So he did. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. He took it all away, and all we had to do was believe in him. Receive the one time forgiveness of sin, ans swooosh...we are in. Impressive.
I remember a story in the old testament where God wanted to dwell with Israel and they were afraid, they asked for a King instead. Men for some reason like Kings better than they like God. So, reluctantly he gave them a King. But now, he gave Jesus so that we could have a personal relationship. It speaks as Christ the man died on the cross, this place in the temple called the Holy of Holies had a big veil where only certain priests could go. The veil was torn and thus entered a new relationship through Jesus where man could go boldly before God and fellowship with him. This culminated at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit was given to mankind. He convicts the world of sin and points to Jesus. In the believer he resides to comfort us and to teach us all things. Pretty neat huh?
Men complicate things and look for a long list of does and donts which have nothing to do with God anymore. Jesus Simplified it when he said, Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and soul and being. Oh what about people? Well, he said to love your neighbor as yourself. How are we going to go wrong in following those two simple things? We won't. However God knows we are human, imperfect and will fail from time to time. Sometimes those failures bring natural consequences on this earth.If we did not fail, Jesus would never need give atonement in the first place.
Why do we place God then, in this place of taskmaster? Why do we think we have to be in order to be accepted? Jesus said, I no longer call you servants, but friends. That is powerful. The word of God also uses marriage as a reflection of relationships with God. If you marry someone, and love them and them you...You wish to always honor them before mankind. You do not do things to go against the grain of your relationship. You nurture it. However with all of that said. We are human. We will make mistakes. That is where repenting comes in. Just as with God. Repenting means you agree with God. You walk away from wrong. Its just that simple.
The word of God states that all scripture has its place. I agree with that. It is used to tell the history, to point to Jesus, to paint the whole picture. But not all of it is applicable in our lives today. The Old Covenant was for the Jews. Not Gentiles. Peter said the law was never even given to the Gentiles. 1st Timithothy 1:9 says the law was only given to the unrighteous to begin with. I am not talking about lawlessness. I am talking about lovefulledness in which you do as Jesus said. Abide. Which constitutes allowing him to live through you. Paul did it, as he proclaimed, it is no longer I living, but Christ living through me. Maybe we should try that?
Galatians 3:. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"), Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
No one could
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