Choose your code carefully
A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:28-29 New International Version (NIV)
In this life people live by their own code. In this verse, Paul says that they think they are right with God because they live by “the written code”. For people in this verse, the written code was the Talmud (Jewish Law) and genetics (People thought that they were right by God because they were descendants of Abraham). In our time, "the code" may consist of a "cultural code". Our cultural code only has one rule; Do whatever is right for you. Each person gets to choose their code, their way of being right. The unfortunate truth is that some people carry their “flexible code” to Christianity:
I'll be a Christian but I need to keep my sexual preferences. - I'll be a Christian but I need to keep my attitude about race. - I'll be a Christian as long as I can keep ______.
The list can go on and on...
But this flexible truth is no where to be found in scripture. The real code is no code at all, it is living by the Spirit of God. And God’s Spirit will guide us to godly truth
(1 Corinthian 2:14). Is your code based on honesty and God centered truth? If it isn't, then you have a code of religion, of culture or of self. Those types of code cannot reconcile you to God. The only code that will make you (us) right with God is the code of Christ.
Choose your code carefully.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Temptation is a sin… Not really
Temptation is a sin… Not really
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version
My friend Joe (that isn’t his real name) and I were walking together through a wooded area of Valley Forge Park. All I could hear was the crunch of fall leaves under foot until he asked, “Do you think God can forgive me for being tempted?”
“What was your temptation?” I asked.
“There was a really pretty lady at church. When I saw her, all sorts of things began to enter my mind…”
“What did you do with those thoughts?” I asked.
“Mmm… nothing really.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then there is no sin.” I said.
“Are you sure about that? I mean, I have some pretty bad thoughts…”
“Sexy thoughts…” I growled at him and laughed.
With a growl in his voice he said, “Yeah, sexy thoughts.”
We both chuckled.
I told him that, “Temptation is not a sin. I think that sin begins with our use of the temptation in our minds. Like when Jesus said that lusting after a woman is a sin. I think Jesus was saying that if we do not bring our “sin thoughts” to Him, they take on a new meaning (or purpose) in our minds. And when we dwell on our lusts, our minds begin to work on a plan to change the lust into bodily action.”
“So if temptation leads to sin, isn’t it a sin?”
“I don’t think so. A seed grows to become a tree, but it isn’t a tree yet. A seed is merely a seed unless you allow it to grow; so it is with temptation. The temptation kernel has not grown into a tree of sin, it is still only a seed. It is easier to dig up a seed than it is to dig up a tree…”
“I think I understand” said Joe with relief painted on his face.
“Besides, doesn’t the Bible say that God provides a way out of our temptation? Let’s pray about it brother.”
Joe and I stood in the middle of the forest area of the park and prayed out loud to our unseen God. We thanked Him for a way out.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version
My friend Joe (that isn’t his real name) and I were walking together through a wooded area of Valley Forge Park. All I could hear was the crunch of fall leaves under foot until he asked, “Do you think God can forgive me for being tempted?”
“What was your temptation?” I asked.
“There was a really pretty lady at church. When I saw her, all sorts of things began to enter my mind…”
“What did you do with those thoughts?” I asked.
“Mmm… nothing really.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then there is no sin.” I said.
“Are you sure about that? I mean, I have some pretty bad thoughts…”
“Sexy thoughts…” I growled at him and laughed.
With a growl in his voice he said, “Yeah, sexy thoughts.”
We both chuckled.
I told him that, “Temptation is not a sin. I think that sin begins with our use of the temptation in our minds. Like when Jesus said that lusting after a woman is a sin. I think Jesus was saying that if we do not bring our “sin thoughts” to Him, they take on a new meaning (or purpose) in our minds. And when we dwell on our lusts, our minds begin to work on a plan to change the lust into bodily action.”
“So if temptation leads to sin, isn’t it a sin?”
“I don’t think so. A seed grows to become a tree, but it isn’t a tree yet. A seed is merely a seed unless you allow it to grow; so it is with temptation. The temptation kernel has not grown into a tree of sin, it is still only a seed. It is easier to dig up a seed than it is to dig up a tree…”
“I think I understand” said Joe with relief painted on his face.
“Besides, doesn’t the Bible say that God provides a way out of our temptation? Let’s pray about it brother.”
Joe and I stood in the middle of the forest area of the park and prayed out loud to our unseen God. We thanked Him for a way out.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Aliens Among Humans
Aliens Among Humans
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version
There is something amiss. There are aliens among us and you might be one…
I believe that God breathed supernatural life into humans when He created us. God imprinted himself on all humans, giving us the ability to search Him out and find our Creator. Some people choose to search and find, and others do not. But for those that seek God out, He does something with us that is not natural, but hyper natural. He has made us into a supernatural new creation. When Christ completed his cross work, God turned every human (dead or alive in the human sense) that believes in him into new creatures of Godly origin. These new-ones are marked by salvation in His son. I think we believers have one central component, our reconciliation to the Father by the blood of Jesus Christ.
I think this connection to God (salvation in Christ) is what makes us the aliens. For we are no longer of this world (John 15:18-19). We are only on mission here until God calls us home.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version
There is something amiss. There are aliens among us and you might be one…
I believe that God breathed supernatural life into humans when He created us. God imprinted himself on all humans, giving us the ability to search Him out and find our Creator. Some people choose to search and find, and others do not. But for those that seek God out, He does something with us that is not natural, but hyper natural. He has made us into a supernatural new creation. When Christ completed his cross work, God turned every human (dead or alive in the human sense) that believes in him into new creatures of Godly origin. These new-ones are marked by salvation in His son. I think we believers have one central component, our reconciliation to the Father by the blood of Jesus Christ.
I think this connection to God (salvation in Christ) is what makes us the aliens. For we are no longer of this world (John 15:18-19). We are only on mission here until God calls us home.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
In Jars of Clay
In Jars of Clay
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 New International Version
I keep forgetting that I hold a treasure inside. So many things come to rob me of this knowledge on a daily basis. My low self esteem is a constant criminal, lying to me that I am not valuable enough to hold such wonders. Sometimes other people deride, poke and prod until I forget the treasure is still there. And sometimes painful circumstances blindfold me from the truth. The truth is that light has been hidden in this jar of clay.
Knowledge of Christ is the light and I am the jar. And I wonder why God would want to place something so precious inside such an impractical and fragile container? I don't stand up very well to pressure and if bumped I easily break. I spend a lot of time sort of gluing the broken pieces back together. If I could see me in a mirror after the repairs, I imagine I would look more like a mosaic design than a suitable faith carafe.
I have done it again... I have focused in on my current state instead of the way God sees me. I have forgotten that God entrusts the light of His son in whom He pleases. And my worry should be less of my form or condition, and more that I follow the intended function. The function is to carry the light! And I should focus less on why He placed it in me and focus on celebrating that I hold such a wondrous thing in this jar of clay.
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 New International Version
I keep forgetting that I hold a treasure inside. So many things come to rob me of this knowledge on a daily basis. My low self esteem is a constant criminal, lying to me that I am not valuable enough to hold such wonders. Sometimes other people deride, poke and prod until I forget the treasure is still there. And sometimes painful circumstances blindfold me from the truth. The truth is that light has been hidden in this jar of clay.
Knowledge of Christ is the light and I am the jar. And I wonder why God would want to place something so precious inside such an impractical and fragile container? I don't stand up very well to pressure and if bumped I easily break. I spend a lot of time sort of gluing the broken pieces back together. If I could see me in a mirror after the repairs, I imagine I would look more like a mosaic design than a suitable faith carafe.
I have done it again... I have focused in on my current state instead of the way God sees me. I have forgotten that God entrusts the light of His son in whom He pleases. And my worry should be less of my form or condition, and more that I follow the intended function. The function is to carry the light! And I should focus less on why He placed it in me and focus on celebrating that I hold such a wondrous thing in this jar of clay.
Friday, September 2, 2011
You Should Be Pretty Weird
You Should Be Pretty Weird
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 New International Version
I have heard it said that Christians are no different than anyone else. I imagine they mean that Christians get angry, get divorced, cheat on their spouses, curse, drive erratically and are generally insensitive to the needs of others. I also imagine they mean that Christians participate in Cancer walks, volunteer at the local soup kitchen, care for those less fortunate and spread cheer to others. If all of that is true, then what’s the point? Why become a believer when one is no different from the other? Both can screw up a one car parade and both can do wonderful works to better the lives of others. But, according to this verse, believers should not be the same as the rest of the people on the planet.
The Bible says that we are peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). According to the Bible, we should stand out in an uncharacteristic way because we belong to God. If you examine your life, your friends, your family, are they peculiar or weird in some way? Okay, loaded question. Are they weird in a God centered sort of way? As in, do the details of their lives reflect who God is? Our version of love, which should be a mini version of God’s love, ought to stand out in an extraordinary way. As an example, how we believers treat our enemies should be in stark contrast to the way others behave in the same circumstances. Maybe another way of putting it is to say that others should see our actions as uncanny or strange. Why? Because we mimic a God whose behavior is not like anyone else’s. If you are growing into being the likeness of Christ, you should be different and you should be a little weird.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 New International Version
I have heard it said that Christians are no different than anyone else. I imagine they mean that Christians get angry, get divorced, cheat on their spouses, curse, drive erratically and are generally insensitive to the needs of others. I also imagine they mean that Christians participate in Cancer walks, volunteer at the local soup kitchen, care for those less fortunate and spread cheer to others. If all of that is true, then what’s the point? Why become a believer when one is no different from the other? Both can screw up a one car parade and both can do wonderful works to better the lives of others. But, according to this verse, believers should not be the same as the rest of the people on the planet.
The Bible says that we are peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). According to the Bible, we should stand out in an uncharacteristic way because we belong to God. If you examine your life, your friends, your family, are they peculiar or weird in some way? Okay, loaded question. Are they weird in a God centered sort of way? As in, do the details of their lives reflect who God is? Our version of love, which should be a mini version of God’s love, ought to stand out in an extraordinary way. As an example, how we believers treat our enemies should be in stark contrast to the way others behave in the same circumstances. Maybe another way of putting it is to say that others should see our actions as uncanny or strange. Why? Because we mimic a God whose behavior is not like anyone else’s. If you are growing into being the likeness of Christ, you should be different and you should be a little weird.
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