I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:1-2

My pastor used the text from Romans quoted above for his sermon this morning.  He focused on how a lot of us have not had our minds transformed.  Then I watched a video on Shannon’s site and read the comments there concerning homosexuality and how we react to this sin in ways that are very different from the ways we react to other sins.  (Another free plug, Shannon)

I agree with my pastor’s sermon this morning and I also agree with much of what was said on Shannon’s blog but I still have problems with all of this.

God did not make any of us the way we are.  We all come into the world through the act of procreation and not creation.  God stopped creating after He finished up the sixth day and then He has placed the rest mostly in our hands.  He still, I believe, steps in and works in this realm at times but it is mostly up to us.  We choose to be, do, say, and act out of who we are; which is a reflection of many things such as environment, how we were raised, the attitudes of our parents, culture, education, and lots of other things.  We live in a fallen creation and start out as slaves to sin.  This cannot be denied.

We need to learn to love.  We need to practice love.  We need to embrace each other as Christ embraced us.  And that includes homosexuals.  We have way too many fundamentalists in the Kingdom that are hypocritical and judgmental.  The sins that offend them the most are the sins that they believe offend God the most.  This is just not true.  So I would say that I agree with most of what I have read today.

But the problem I have is that most all of those trying to find another answer seem to want to just overlook sin in its entirety.  I am not saying this about those whose comments I have read today but I have been thinking this way myself a lot lately.  But is that going to do those in sinful lifestyles any better than the fundamentalist viewpoint?

Let’s say the fundamentalist is wrong and God loves everyone enough that no matter what they do He will not turn them away.  Then we really have to introduce these people to Christ so they can have a chance.  It is not up to us who is in and who is out.  It is up to God.

But look at what happens if those who want to say sin is alright and all things are forgiven and covered by the blood of Christ are wrong.  We may share some warm and loving moments while we reach out to those living in sin while we are on this planet, before eternity, and then have them turn to us at judgment and ask why we did not warn them.

I just don’t know.

This whole issue is tough.  I am of the opinion that neither side is right but I admit that I do not know where to draw any lines.  I do know that we must all, me, you, adulterers, homosexuals, liars, thieves, etc., present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.  We must also not be conformed to this world, but instead be transformed by the renewal of our minds.  And this is the only way that we can even begin to try to discern what the will of God is and what is good and acceptable and perfect.

One thing I do know is that we better get serious about finding out what God wants us to do about all this.  Just feeling good about our own beliefs is not the answer and there is more at stake than causing anyone to feel ostracized or unloved here.  There are eternal consequences to our answers to these dilemmas.

This is serious and I believe must be concluded but as I said, I just don’t know.

Love you all

Tags: attitudes, Belief, Culture, eternal consequences, Eternity, fundamentalists, Good, homosexuals, Judgment, living sacrifice, Perfect, procreation, Self, Sin

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! Luke17:1 NKJV

The He in the scripture used above is Jesus. He was warning us that we will be offended. And we all know that if we have spent any time at all being a live human. But this post is not about offense, or even forgiveness. Instead I submit another statement as one that Jesus could just as readily have said and it is:

“It is impossible that no criticism should come, but you also will criticize.”

Ever since the fall, things have not been right. Creation is not “very good” anymore. With that fact of reality, there is going to be many opportunities for criticism. Julie said the following in a comment on Tuesdays post.

“Criticism is definitely necessary in order to provoke change in human beings as well as methods and procedures.”

This is what criticism is all about and why it has to occur. We must do our best to align ourselves and all the things we say, do, think, or desire with the original “very good” state of God’s creation. We are to strive to be like God, to become more Christlike every day. To achieve even a modicum of success at this, we must be criticized and learn to accept criticism for what it is. It is those words that provoke change in us, or they should. Change in the way we are, or the way we think, or what we are doing with our life.

Shannon, over at Hope Aflame, was telling me about an upcoming meeting with his professor concerning his submitted thesis for seminary. It didn’t sound like he was altogether thrilled at the notion but as we talked the necessity of the meeting was clear. He needs it. He needs to have his work critiqued not only to find out if he is right but to prove to himself and his professor that he knows what and why he believes. Criticism helps us grow if we are open to that growth. And that growth brings us in line with our goals of becoming like our Savior.

We are all wrong sometimes. We are fallen human beings living in a war torn creation. How could we not be? But any person hungry to be like Jesus has to be not only open to criticism but to actively pursue it. Criticism can sharpen us, quicken us, and stimulate us. Have you ever lost a debate but knew you were right. A good critique can make you better the next time. John Sanders needs a little criticism about his debate with James White on Open Theism. He had the better argument, in my opinion, but failed miserably in his delivery.

Is criticism always good? I would have to say no.

Wayne asked in a comment, also on Tuesday, “Is there a difference in being critical vs. being negative?”

I believe there is but I also know that some of our critical attitudes are nothing more than negative attitudes. As some of the others commented, we are sometimes quick to say how bad the sermon was, or how pitiful the music is. We let others know how messed up their lives are when we hide so much of our own. We look at a fallen minister and say things like “How could he” or “He should have known better”. We should never hesitate to speak out against sin, but should we even wonder how it could happen in someone else’s life when we ourselves are so messed up. And if you aren’t, then praise God. I know I need His grace and mercy daily, not just once or twice a year.

Some of us are just negative by nature or nurture. Some of us are jealous and envious of others successes, gifts or abilities. Then we become bitter and negative after a period of letting these emotions reign in our lives. The criticism we then offer has nothing more behind it than the need to hurt someone else, because we hurt.

Before we criticize I believe we should ask ourselves some questions. Could I have done any better? Do I have a solution to offer? Does this really matter? Why do I feel the need to offer up any particular criticism? Is it my place?

We all need criticism and should offer criticism. We all need to accept it in the way we want the other to accept ours. We must not hesitate to offer it up when necessary and we need not always be gentle about it. Jesus softly criticized the disciples when they wrongly criticized the woman with the alabaster box in Matthew 26. He also offered up harsh criticism to the Pharisees, in the form of woes or warnings of severe punishment, even calling them names, in Matthew 23.

The first example only dealt with a style of worship but the second had eternal ramifications. For the Pharisees and those they were leading. Evaluate what type or level of criticism is needed in all situations. It may be that none is needed because it just doesn’t matter.

Or you may need to pound it into them because of the eternal stakes.

Whatever the case, remember this. It is impossible that no criticism is ever going to be needed. At least not until we all get to go home. Can you handle it? You need to because it is for your own good, however it is delivered.

Love you all

Tags: attitudes, Christlike, Creation, Grace, Hope, Love, Mercy, Self, seminary, Sin, thesis

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Gal 5:22-23

There was a time not too long ago when most children did not have much to do with me.  I believe they were probably a little intimidated by the perpetual scowl and the fact that I didn’t really care about or notice them.  They mostly avoided any interaction with me, even when I tried on occasion to reach out to them.  But some say that children know or perceive things that we as adults do not.  Maybe those few knew that I only did it out of politeness or for personal gain of some sort.

Now I am starting to encounter some problems that I don’t handle very readily.  Children are starting to like me.  And I don’t know how to respond.  The old fake responses do not work because I do care about and love them now, only I don’t react very well.

Children have always loved my wife with abandon and she loves and relates to them so well that I am in danger of covetousness.  I want that and am starting to actually need it.  One night in the revival last week, a little girl that is usually all over my wife, came and sat beside me while my wife was practicing singing.  She was sitting next to me and playing, making faces and other kid stuff, and I was just doing my best to respond.  And probably not doing very well.

I love it, but not only is this new to me, it is a mystery also.  Why the change in so many children in their attitudes towards me?

Maybe it is the fruit.  I know that I am growing daily in Christ and that the Holy Spirit is working steadily to change me, so maybe it is an evidence of the next to last fruit as listed by Paul in Galatians.

Gentleness, or meekness, as it is translated in some versions of the bible, is a fruit of the Spirit that we all need.  Me more than most, probably, but we all must cultivate this along with all the others.  I already discussed self-control and I didn’t mention this, but that fruit is not very hard for me.  Gentleness is.  Any of the fruit that have any relation to compassion or care are foreign to who I used to be.

What is gentleness or meekness?  This is from Dictionary.com:

Gentleness…The quality or state of being gentle, well-born, mild, benevolent, docile, etc.; gentility; softness of manners, disposition, etc.; mildness.

Meekness…A calm temper of mind, not easily provoked; a disposition to be patient and long suffering.

We get the sense from these definitions and the biblical narrative that this fruit, gentleness or meekness, implies a calm disposition, particularly under fire–which actually requires a great deal of strength. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of a bearer of this fruit.  He exemplifies the biblical description of a calm disposition, particularly under fire.  I like to say meekness as meant here, is having “strength, under control.”

Jesus said that the meek would inherit the world.  And the world today has come to misuse this word and define it as something Jesus did not mean.  The world would have us think that “meek means weak” and that is just not true. At any time during Christ’s abuse, torture, and crucifixion, or any of the other times He suffered, He could have called on the Host of Heaven or even His own disengaged power, and wiped all who came against Him out.  But He didn’t.  He was meek; He was gentle, in all His dealings save one, with those He encountered.  And even in the temple, He could have done so much more.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).    The world says, “Blessed are the strong, those who can hold their own.”  The world favors more conspicuous and so-called heroic virtues. The strongly competitive, aggressive and assertive are the ones who receive recognition, admiration and reward. They seem to end up on top of the heap, possessing the most and the best, despite their obvious and offensive character flaws.

As we know, these types of achievements, these accolades from a fallen world, have nothing to do with eternal reward except to waste the time we have for the storing of this treasure.

When we hold our temper in check, or better yet when it starts to disappear, we are displaying fruit.  When we could strike back, but don’t, we are displaying fruit.  When our attitude and character invite instead of intimidate, we are displaying fruit.

When a little girl named Kaci can sit and try to play with someone that used to be described as a bear and was called Sarge, it must be another evidence of this fruit called gentleness or meekness.

Thank God for His gracious power to change us all.  I want to be one of the meek who inherit.  Don’t you?

Love you all

Tags: attitudes, Character, Compassion, Faith, Fruit of the Spirit, galatians, gentleness, Good, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Love, meekness, Power