Saying "No"

Recently, I watched a debate between Todd Friel and Dan Barker--during which, I heard a lot of stuff that was difficult to follow, mostly because Dan Barker was not making a whole plethora of sense. It seemed that his goal was merely to prove that Christians are immoral and that it's wrong for us to have to face consequences for our actions. The debate was supposed to be about whether or not God exists at all, so I have to say that he definitely didn't keep on point very much.

And then I said to myself...I said, "Self, what else shall we do today?" And then I answered myself; and I said, "Self, here's what we'll do...."

And then, I started reading my Bible some more...being as how I'm home sick from work, it seemed to be the most productive way to spend my day. To be honest, I've never actually read it from Genesis to Revelation. I get distracted so easily. I also read from the KJV, which can be difficult to understand at times, but I believe that it is the closest to the truth and it causes me to dig deeper than I would if it were more simply put.

I intend to finish reading it and then to read it again for the rest of my life. I believe that Jesus has more for me than this and that the things which Yahweh is starting now will lead further into His glory. It was actually something that happened at work the other day that awoke this hunger within me.

I was already following Jesus and talking about Him and preaching the Gospel every chance in which I could muster the courage, no matter where I was. I thought that I was doing fine, even though I was not in His Word daily and even though I did not pray very often. It was quite like being in a long distance relationship.

So, then, while in Repack, a group of people and myself were standing around a table, working and talking, when somebody said something...something which I could not recall, but for which the only plausible answer involved Jesus. I can't remember everything, but I think that it started as a joke and somebody said I act all innocent but that how I think about people is cold, or something of that nature. It was a joke, and I took it that way, but I immediately informed them that I was a terrible person in High School and that I did, at one time, think very coldly of people and that someone actually used to call me the "Ice Queen" in school...but that Jesus had changed me.

This, naturally, led into a discussion about Yahweh and Jesus. I was told that I could not judge entire nations of people because they don't follow Jesus. So, I mentioned that I judge and condemn nobody, but that Jesus does that. Somebody said "well, I thought Jesus was supposed to be tolerant". Jesus is far from tolerant. Matthew 7:14 says that the gate is narrow which leads unto life and that there are few which find it. Matthew 7:21-23 says that not everyone who claims to be His will be allowed in. He will say "depart from me, workers of iniquity, for I never knew you." Does that sound tolerant? While I could not recall these Scriptures at the time, I did point out that Jesus was not tolerant and I mentioned that Jesus had overturned tables, chased people with whips, and called people snakes and vipers. Jesus does NOT simply accept everybody. But all who will repent and trust in Jesus, humbling themselves before Him, will be saved. It's about His glory, not about our acceptance.

Anyhow...my supervisor told me then that I had to stop talking about religion at work. He said that it was not showing respect for others for me to talk about religion because somebody could get offended. I told him that, if I believe this as strongly as I do, then it would not be showing respect for others for me not to mention it. (I hadn't even mentioned Hell, just Jesus) So, he told me that, if I continued to mention religion at work and somebody complained to him, then it could negatively impact my review.

Now, respect for others is one of this company's values. If you get a mark against any of the values, you are generally let go without second questions. So, basically, I could get fired for this. But...Jesus wouldn't leave me alone about it. For the next couple of minutes, I felt an intense guilt and pictured the scene in Acts 4, when the Apostles were told to stop preaching Jesus.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:18-20 KJV)

So, I found him later and I told him that, while I understand where he is coming from, I can't agree to this. He told me to try...but, I said that I couldn't simply not talk about it. So, he said "okay" and walked away.

I realized that it would be wrong for me to agree not to talk about Jesus at work. If somebody at work asks me not to mention religion to that particular person, then I will not start up a conversation about it with them. However, it would be sinful, hypocritical, and potentially blasphemous for me to say "okay, I will betray the One who gave me breath, who gave me life, and who sanctifies and saves me from my sins daily so that somebody does not get offended"

And then I realized that I've already been stealing time from Him. How often do I play video games or watch television? Not that these things are bad, but whenever you neglect to even acknowledge Yahweh most of the time because you are doing something else, then you are sinning in what is tantamount to idolatry.

Do I love working where I work? Yes. Do I love the people I work with? Very much. Do I love that I am helping and that I am an asset? More than I can express.

But I love Jesus more.

I am not concerned about my job, or my relationships with other people, or my standing in this world. I know the One who holds tomorrow. I do not fear what may come. I know that Yahweh will be glorified. I know that, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD, to the glory of Yahweh. As long as this holds true, let whatever happens happen. Whatever will be will be.

I mention this only for the glory of Yahweh and because I've realized that, in choosing pleasure above Jesus, I have sinned. I have chosen my friends, my career, my games, my books, and myself over the One who blessed me with all of that in the first place.

So...I no longer intend to do so. I need witnesses in order to make this more binding whenever I say that I will gladly lay down all that I hold dear in order to follow Jesus, if that is what He asks of me. And I will start by choosing to be with Him before I choose to watch television, read, write, and before I play Skyrim or Dragons of Atlantis.

Following Christ

Through each day that goes by, it will become harder to be a follower of Christ. Many of us in the West have no idea what that means. We go through our day, never talking about Jesus, much less thinking about Him. After all, religion is one of those things we are taught to never talk about. We call ourselves 'Christian' because--at one time or another, perhaps in the high of a Bible camp--we walked down an aisle or raised a hand and a kindly person led us through a prayer which is pretty much the same for all of us. "Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. Please come into my heart. Thank you. Amen."

But what does it actually mean to be a Christian? Can it truly be so simple that all you have to do is say a little prayer, be baptized, and you're in? Do we walk away from our conversion experience believing anything other than that we've just been given free fire insurance?

To be a Christian is to follow Jesus. According to Scripture, following Jesus is more than simply saying a prayer and being dunked under water. It is more than simply a one-time experience.

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Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:24-25 KJV)

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At the day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:15-21 KJV)

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (I John 2:6 KJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2 KJV)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 KJV)

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:1-21 KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26 KJV)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)

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There are many Scriptures which express the truth that those who follow Christ are meant to live as He lived and--if need be--to die as He died. To be a Christian is to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to live by the Holy Spirit, finding nourishment in the Bible as the word of the Most High. We are to lay aside those selfish desires and take up the mantle of Jesus.

Repent and believe on Jesus Christ!

Pray more than just whenever you need something from Him, are going to bed, or are fixing to eat supper.  Pray more than just at church. Spend time in the Scriptures each day. Be with your God throughout your day. Instead of allowing your mind to worry throughout the day, focus on Jesus Christ--on Yahweh--on Light, Truth, Grace, and Purity. Think on the Scriptures and on hymns.

Be cautious of what you allow into your mind and your heart. Guard your heart, your mind, your soul, lest Satan gain a foothold in your life.

Be wary of how you speak and act around those around you. From the moment you first called yourself a Christian, you were an Ambassador of Christ...a representative...if we are the Body of Christ, then the world sees Him whenever they look at you....and if they aren't--even if they think that they are--then they need to. Don't be afraid to speak of what He has done for you throughout your day. Do not allow your faith to sit still, for stagnant water will grow stale and will become a swamp.

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As the world chases the gods of tolerance, wealth, sex, and pleasure, it will grow more and more difficult to follow Christ. You see, those who follow Christ will always be seen as intolerant and judgmental. To love another person--to love a sinner--is not to ignore their sin; but, rather, it is to show them that they are acting against a holy and just God. If we--as Christians--are told to love one another and yet we do not, then we are sinning. If we do not pull the log out of the eye of another in an area in which our eyes are clear, then we are not loving. If you do not confront it for fear of being condemned, rejected, or being called judgmental, then you, too, are sinning.

Do not be afraid to speak up. Do not fear man...what they say...what they do....rather, fear the living God, honour Him, love Him, and do not deny Him.

In any case--as I like to say--being blind and denying that 18-wheelers exist as you stand in the center of a highway will not keep you from being hit by one, simply because you are blind and do not think such a thing could be true.

Love everyone, but love Yahweh first....after all...He IS Lord.

Western Christianity ~vs~ Eastern Christianity

Western Christianity is different from Eastern Christianity.

Why?

Many of us in the West don't know persecution and so we have a lot of tares in among the wheat because there is little to weed them out. Our roots don't dig very deep because we are spoiled. Many of those in the East can scarcely be tares because there is so much persecution that it weeds them out. Eastern Christians meet whenever... they can and spread the Word whenever they can get away with it. Western Christians meet once a week...twice, if they're feeling "religious"...Western Christians will rarely go out and tell somebody about the Word unless if they are directly asked...and for them, half an hour a week is more than enough time to spend with One they claim to love so much...and at the first sign of persecution, our knees buckle and we cry out to God, asking why He would dare allow our comfort to be temporarily disturbed...

Western Christianity--for the most part--is spoiled, too comfortable, and too lukewarm.

So, Christian, I challenge you...

I challenge you to dare to be persecuted.

I challenge you to upset your routine.

I challenge you to be as excited about Jesus as the Apostles were.

I challenge you to spread the Word at all costs.

I challenge you to risk losing "friends".

I challenge you to meet with Christians outside of your Sunday worship services and discuss Christ throughout the week...perhaps even starting a home-group.

I challenge you to allow Christ to be more precious to you than anything life can give or death can take. (Christ will be glorified in you whenever He is more precious to you than anything life can give or death can take.__John Piper.

I challenge you to make Jesus your everything.

I challenge you to put Yahweh first in all things.

I challenge you to not just read your Bible, but to study it and let it truly be your spiritual food...to live by what's written in there rather than living by your own desires and lusts.

I challenge you to prove that there is no "Western Christianity" or "Eastern Christianity"...there is only Jesus and the Bride of Christ.

I challenge you to cast off the status quo, take up your cross, and follow Him in all things...wherever He leads, may you follow always.

I challenge you to turn from the ways of this world, turn to Jesus, and be on fire for Him.

Duck Dynasty

I find it interesting that everybody is going off the handle about this whole "Duck Dynasty" fiasco. What I've noticed is that most people are just reading what other people are saying Phil said and are taking things out of context. Personally, after having studied the GQ article rather intently, I believe that a lot of what Phil has said has been misunderstood. If we had all looked at this from an unbiased viewpoint, I believe that there would have been a little bit less drama. Rather than acting like schoolchildren, we should dissect what was said.

For instance, I forgot about the fact that I disagree with homosexuality and looked at the comments from the outside. I have several friends who are homosexual, so it's not that I'm hating them in saying that I disagree with it. I just don't feel that it's Biblical, but you won't see me condemning or attacking anybody for homosexuality any more than I would for seeing a child taking something from a store without paying. I would offer my thoughts, if asked, but would not attack or put down...which is, I believe, what Phil was doing. He was simply offering his view and quoting Scriptures that supported his view.

What he was saying, also, was not that bestiality was the same as homosexuality. He was listing off sexual sins and just happened to place the two next to each other. It was a list, though, and not saying that they were the same thing. Phil knows that they are not the same thing. He is the elder of a church, 67 years old, and has quite a testimony. And I did look very hard at the things he said because I am all for love and grace and I wanted very desperately to see if he was wrong because I kind of look up to the guy and respect him a lot.

After this, I took a look at the civil rights comments. This one was a little bit tough for me to swallow and I thought, at this point, that maybe I should give up and maybe some people were right...but then I realized that that wasn't what he was saying, either. He wasn't saying that every single black was happy before civil rights. He was saying that he had never seen them treated harshly. And back whenever blacks were treated so harshly, some of them were actually treated fairly well...not many, true, but some, so maybe he knew some who were treated well. And after some thought, I realized that he was saying that the ones he knew were happy because they had Jesus. He was saying that, even through it all, having Jesus kept their joy. It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things...he wasn't saying that it wasn't wrong and neither am I. He's saying that the ones he knew still had some joy because they still had Jesus...of course they would be singing. They had Jesus. Christians all across the world who are imprisoned and tortured still sing sometimes...because even their situations cannot take their joy from them and they know it.

Now about marrying fifteen year old girls...there's nothing wrong with marrying somebody who is fifteen. People did it all of the time for thousands of years without a problem. If you are in love with her, she is in love with you, you speak with the parents, and the parents approve, then there is nothing wrong with it. It becomes wrong whenever the person is younger than fourteen. There are some families, even here in America, who will allow their teenager to get married at so young an age as fifteen. As long as things are kept above board and the parents are in agreement, then it should be fine.

Phil Robertson, I've deduced from several interviews, doesn't want to hurt anybody and he didn't mean for his words to be taken so wrongly. But Scripturally, he is on track...he was not calling anybody names and he did not say anything hateful. He merely offered his opinion, some people disagreed, some people were too sensitive to it, and some people overreacted.

We have to be very careful about persecuting a person for speaking their opinions. If we turn this nation into one where people will be afraid to speak their minds and their hearts, then we will turn this nation into one in which--soon--nobody has a choice in anything and nobody has a voice in anything.

I stand with the Founding Fathers in this: If you take away somebody's voice, you will take away your own.