A Cup Of Kindness

Some of the nastiest and most vile people that I've meet are people who call themselves Christians. They become so passionate they loose their passion for others--the fruit of the spirit is no longer visible, they've become Pharisee's! In their mind they're doing what we as followers of Christ are called to do--doing the work of an evangelist, fulfilling our ministry as stated in 2 Timothy 4:5, but in the process they've made it an us versus them mindset, a war if you will. And we all know that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
It's all in your presentation! One particular blogger that I use to read and follow on twitter, as well as listen to their podcast, comes to mind. It is my belief that this person started out on the right track, but this individuals passion became his stumbling block, and now sounds more like an unloving, spiteful, hateful religious Pharisee. Though he/she may speak the truth, it's lost in the name calling of those who are unbelievers as well as though who have strayed from the truth. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we don't take a stand, we are to persevere in correcting our opponents because it is imperative that they should know the truth, even though they might oppose the truth at present. There is a balance--but so many are tipping the scales.

Looking at 2 Timothy 2:24-26 "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."

Sin must be confronted, but our speech must always be seasoned with salt! And no, that does not mean sitting along side the world holding hands and singing kumbaya. Joel Osteen comes to mind. He is a prime example of what NOT to do and is the perfect example of a false prophet in action, telling people what they want to hear, caring more about the praise of men! He is not alone in this category, there are many well-known preachers who preach a different gospel. There are many more who are preaching the truth without compromise, stating the truth in love, always standing on the word and never wavering. Many people have made Jesus in their own image, but we are to reflect the true image of Christ in word and deed. How much could be accomplished if people would just give a little cup of kindness!

James 3:6-12 " And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Got Jesus?

One of my Facebook friends posted the following on their page the other day: Sometimes inviting someone to church can blow up in your face but don't let it get you down. They rejected Jesus too.

There is a misconception out there about those who don't attend institutional churches. For some reason people believe that institutional churches are the bar--and those who don't attend are really lacking in Jesus. They are on a mission to invite people to their show, I mean church to hear about Jesus, to experience the latest and greatest contemporary worship songs ever written--to have an experience--an encounter with Jesus. Is it about rejecting Jesus, or is it something deeper than that. Is anyone willing to go deeper to find out, or is it easier to dismiss it as a mere dislike for all things Jesus. Declining a church invitation does not equal rejecting Jesus. Like parents to children, , Christians are to be imitators of God as dear children. And being honest, these days there are many Christians who are seriously lacking and are acting more like carnal/casual "Christians". If you follow Christ then act like it. If you claim Him, live like it. The only person your fooling is yourself. Me and my husband haven't attended a church regularly for over a year now. I'm seriously tired of the "now your not suppose to forsake the assembling" comments, and the raised eyebrows. How arrogant and ignorant of the word folks are these days.

It's not our invitations to church, it's the way we live. John 13:35 "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for on another." Technically speaking, the "Church" is not for the unsaved but for the saved! The church is for follower's of Christ to come together, fellowship, worship, share, as brothers and sisters in Christ, who is the head of the Church. And might I add that the Church is His people. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"

In case you've missed it, there is a great movement taking place these days. People like my family are leaving the "church" in droves, not because we don't have Jesus, or faith, we've left because for the most part, more than half of the churches kicked Jesus out a long time ago. We are just the few who knew when he left and followed.

Truth

Just One Of Those Days

I wrote this blog post 3 years ago. It is still fitting to this day. Enjoy!

The Proverbs 31 woman evades me. She is a ghost eluding capture within the pages of God's word on some days.

"She seeks wool, and flax and works willingly with her hands."

I seek peace and quiet when I get home from work and look forward to bed time.

"She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong."

I dress myself in modern day mu mu's for comfort, all while apologizing to my husband.

"She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

I scream, holler, and threaten exile to their bedroom for the remainder of the evening.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed."

My children rise up and call me mean mommy.

Maybe I'll be whisked away in a supernatural (God ordained) tornado to a land flowing with free facials, massages, and 100% cotton robes complete with fuzzy slippers. And when its time to return home I'll click my heels together 3 times while repeating, "there's no place like home."

This is what I've become ( I state to myself in frustration)----a haggard wife & mother who spends her days taming her children with a sharp tongue, washing laundry at every minute and trying to answer the question why boys can't aim and hit the toilet (that includes grown men). All this while trying to keep the little sanity I have left and convincingly trying to hide my need for Prozac and xanax.

At the end of the day, when the children are in bed (2 hours past their bedtime) and I'm finally left alone for a moment of peace I can't imagine my life being anything else. God never said the Proverbs 31 woman had it easy. He never said she wasn't like me and had 'one of those days", but He did say "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." And I'm laughing all the way to my knees in prayer!

Putting Things In Perspective

I read something today that sparked a fire of outrage inside of me. It's the one thing that America has plenty of, it's the one thing that many take so much pride in that they can't see as far as the building their sitting in. If you guessed another mega church--you are correct. It seems that another church is planning the construction of another mega-church that will cost 35 million dollars! First Presbyterian Church of Colorado is building a "church" that will house a cafe, bookstore, library, childcare area, oh and let's not forget the sanctuary. This truly grieves my heart, breaks it into a million pieces really. The picture to the left really puts things in perspective doesn't it? Do you find it hard to look at the children--bones easily visible through their skin. Does it bother you to know that tomorrow, if they see tomorrow they will awake to the horror of another day without the basic necessities of food, water, shelter, or clothing? All while people pour millions of dollars into their magnificent buildings--their treasures here on earth that will burn, rust, and succumb to the elements. It bothers me, it grieves me, it saddens me, and it angers me! Will you think of these children, and other's all over the world who face these same bleak conditions when you get dressed in the morning jump in your car, enter your building that is as grand as a hotel lobby. Will you think of the least of these as you sit in your cafe, browse the bookstore, sip on your coffee, eat your pastries, and marvel at the beauty of the building that pride built? Will you think of them as you enter the grandeur of the sanctuary, sit in the plush seats, and try your best to be closet to the stage, listen to the newest worship songs, lift your hands in awe and wonder? As you look around at the huge TV screens, lighting, and admire the show, admire what man built--will you see the faces of those you really could have served? Sad to say most won't. Some call it church growth--I call it the pride and selfishness of man at its greatest. If I am grieved, I know that Jesus weeps!

The Truth Shall Set You Free

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Does this quote sound familiar to you? Through out my life--especially in church I've heard this quoted, more times than I can count. Since the institutional church is suppose to be real big on the truth--I wonder why there are far more churches turning their backs on the truth then those teaching it. We've been inundated with a false Gospel for so long half of the church folk wouldn't know the truth if the truth smacked "em up side the head--Maybe if the pastor said "Now turn to your neighbor and slap 'em upside the head and say the truth is here--are you listening." Sorry, couldn't resist that one. If most of these seeker driver churches were actually teaching the Biblical truth we certainly wouldn't see the spreading of humanism growing in the church at such a rapid pace that those who are leaving these churches do so for their spiritual health. The truth: most folks can't handle the truth--that's why they entertain _______ (fill in the blank).

Question: If it's for freedom that Christ has set us free--why are so many self-proclaiming Christians still in bondage? Some don't even know it-but they are-- nonetheless.

John 8:31 "Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, " We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, "You will be made free?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Several things struck me as I read Jesus' words and the replies from the Pharisees. In order to know the truth you must abide in Him and His word. Not the words of the pastor, or Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church, what the deacon/first lady says. How are you going to be truly set free if you don't know the truth? Yet, so many faithfully take everyone else's words as the pure unadulterated Gospel, never searching the scriptures and testing the spirits they encounter, always hearing the truth but never coming into full knowledge and freedom.

The reply of the Pharisees resound like many church folk today. The Pharisees objection--denial about their true condition is startling, considering that in the past the Israelites had been in bondage to the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonia's. And at this particular time, Israel was under the power of Rome. In their arrogance, and ignorance they believed that religion could save them, especially when they themselves could not keep the law. They had no idea that Jesus was referring to spiritual slavery, which no man/woman has the power to break away from--He must have someone else set him free (Romans 8:3-4). They may have been physical heirs of Abraham, but they were not his spiritual descendants unless they had faith. In the futility of their minds, they could never grasp that--they heard the word but did not believe it, therefore they could not experience or know the truth--which is true freedom.

Please hear me--the truth is not based on our opinions, our views, and our feelings! This is one of the biggest problems within the body of Christ. The word of God is the only truth. I can't tell you how many times I see Christians give their opinions about sin by their own feelings and views--never taking it to Biblical authority, the same authority they claim to live their lives by. When I, you, or anyone else sees fit to dismiss this--we've become little more than Pharisees ourselves purposing and injecting our views all while placing Jesus at the bottom and ourselves at the top--which is a dangerous place to be. The man/woman of God who abides in the Word of God knows the truth and its there that freedom from the bondage of sin is. There is no other place for which true freedom exists!

Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at

liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Living In A Babylonian Culture

It is my firm belief that many institutional churches are not preparing and have not prepared the younger generation how to live in this Babylonian culture that we are living in. I'd go so far as to say they haven't prepared anyone. Now more than ever, we see a watered down gospel that caters to our wants rather than our needs, it's all about the numbers--the numbers draw the money. Living in the society that we live in, where the days are growing more wicked, people are growing more cold, and the world is loving less, too many pastors are obsessed with looking good and making you feel good. I'm telling you God is not pleased with those who call themselves the bride of Christ. Out of all the "Christian" television networks on today, I've not seen one that has any substance. Last night I caught TD Jakes preaching his watered down version of the gospel. He stated and I quote "The word of God is His sperm". Really! And all these folks could do was hoop, holler, jump up in down in agreement. Can't say that I was surprised though. Disgusted, I flipped the channel. Where are the Daniels, Hananiah's, Mishael's, & Azariah's of this age. (And they are out there) I'll tell you where they're not---on any so called christian programming show. I've been studying the book of Daniel--the Lord impressed it upon me to study and really look at these men of God. Here are a few points that I walked away with:

• Daniel and company were brought from their land into captivity to Babylon. They were good looking, smart, able to learn, and chosen for those reasons to serve under the king. (Chapter 1)
• The four men were stripped of their names and given names that the King chose, taught them their language and their culture in an attempt to make them take on the identity of Babylon.
  
• Though these men were brought into the land of Babylon by captivity, they resolved to not defile themselves by partaking in any of the indulges' that the King offered--in food or wine.
• They Loved God above all else and served Him only, fully trusting and believing Him.
• They submitted to the King--but when it required going against God, they refused--holding fast to their identity in God. They knew who their provider was and was faithful--even in the face of death.
• 
  

This for me paints the picture of what the Narrow Way is. It's not conforming, or compromising. The Narrow way demands our complete obedience to God, Christ, and the Word. If we are not grounded we will certainly walk or be lead into a ditch. It's not about fuzzy feelings, following after the next big move of God or the next big so called Prophet that prophesies lies. There is no doubt about it, you will face the furnace......the question is will you be willing to trust in Christ and take a stand. Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego lived in a Babylonian culture just as we do now, the difference between these men & the majority of so called Christ follower's...they knew the difference between the wide gate and the narrow one.