Posts filed under ‘Emotional virtue’
The Church Becoming a Circus, Part 2
Large portions of the visible church are becoming little more than circuses where “motivational speakers” work up crowds to a level of excitement the first century Christians apparently knew nothing about. Worship leaders crank the volume, pound on the drums, produce high-flying electric guitar licks and the crowd goes wild. I recall one church we attended in California where a very well known secular guitar player (who said he was a Christian) became the worship leader. The way the music changed was interesting. Each service was literally a concert complete with drum, guitar, bass, and keyboard solos. There really was no difference between that and attending a Journey concert except for the actual songs.
The Church Becoming a Circus, Part 1
This has all been playing out in many institutions throughout the USA and the world for decades. Institutions that were once considered bastions of conservative thought have steadily moved toward the Left. Many have been watching the SBC over the past few decades and noting the tremendous changes that have been taking place there largely due to the leadership of people like Russell Moore, head of SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission. One has to wonder why such a commission is actually needed when the results of that commission seem to be moving the entire SBC denomination away from its biblical foundation?
Job’s Enlightenment
When we suffer because of our relationship with Christ, we are to consider ourselves blessed. This is extremely difficult for most of us because we continue to harbor the erroneous idea that if God is for us, then He will bless us and that is often seen in material blessings. The upshot of Job is that our blessings that count the most are the ones procured in the spiritual realm. These are the ones that moth, rust, or thief cannot take away. Satan is often allowed by God to “sift” us but only for God’s purposes.
Job’s Problems
Once again, God gives Satan permission to actually harm Job in his person. This points one more time to God’s absolute sovereignty over all Creation. Satan can do nothing to you or me unless God allows it. This is such an important point that we actually need to spend time contemplating its ramifications. There is another point that you are possibly thinking about as well and we will do our best to answer it. The question, “Why does God allow this type of evil to come to a person in the first place, especially when that person is apparently completely dedicated to God?” That question has an answer and it is brought out in the book of Job. It does not come right to the point though, but stretches out over the course of the 42 chapters contained within it.
Music That Moves the Emotions
How many times have you cried at a sad scene in a movie? I’m sure you’ve done it but not necessarily for the reason you think. Sure, the scene itself might have been touching with actors doing a very good job of selling the scene making you forget you’re watching a movie. But the most important aspect of that scene was put in during post-production: the music and sound effects. Gifted movie music composers create music that compliments each scene and helps drive that scene and bring out the required viewer’s emotions.
Has Q Been Comped and/or Taken Over by Black Hats?
It is interesting to watch patriots argue about this. They say it profiting shouldn’t matter, that we’re all in this together and who cares if someone makes money off of the process? These very same people would probably have a severe problem with those within the area of religion who are also in it for the profit of it. They would not speak kindly of them. People who are involved in religion for profit are easily seen by most people. They often turn people away from the church because of their greed. Yes, on one hand, they preach a “message” of faith that on the surface appears to be true and biblical. However, it becomes patently clear that they are also twisting the message to enrich themselves.
It’s Really About Obedience, Pt 2
King Asa took what the prophet told him and became even more encouraged to do the right thing as far as God was concerned! He went even further and gained strength from Azariah’s words so that he had the courage to rid the land of idols. Then the next few verses tell us that Asa offered many offerings to the Lord. Because of this, all of Judah rejoiced and gained new strength to renew their covenant with the Lord.
It’s Really About Obedience, Pt 1
I’m inclined to think that this happened to Rehoboam during his third year of ruling. He began possibly to pat himself on the back. Things were going very well. He was using wisdom to make good decisions. His sons were helping him rule throughout Judah. Look at all the blessings coming into Judah as well! So maybe Rehoboam began to relax his standards where God was concerned. All of a sudden, he’s simply doing his own thing and ignoring God’s rule. The people of Judah saw that it was no longer important to their king, so they adopted the same attitude. This is a lesson for us Christians as well. People “read” our lives and they wind up making judgments about God based on what they see in us.
Should Christians Fear God?
Christians who do not have a very healthy, reverential fear of God do not understand who God is and the power that He wields. He brought this world into Creation out of nothing (ex nihilo). Everything that we see, we enjoy, we benefit from, God made. He did so for His own glory, not ours.
We must put ourselves in our proper place and understand things from God’s perspective. He made us for Himself. God has every right to expect people – especially Christians – to live for Him, to bring glory to Him. Think of how many people go through this life never recognizing God and their actual purpose for being here? It’s scary to consider. How often are we Christians guilty of adopting a laissez-faire attitude where God is concerned? Paul would warn us that this ought not to be.
Solomon’s Legacy with God’s Granted Wisdom
Because Solomon was only concerned about ruling over God’s people of Israel justly, and because of that, only wanted true wisdom that came from God Himself to be able to be the best king that he could be, God granted his request and then blessed him beyond what he had asked for.
Solomon was not perfect by any stretch. He made some mistakes, starting with the fact that he married women who were not of Israel and with them, even gave them permission and places to worship foreign gods. It created problems for Solomon and Israel later on.
But at the beginning, Solomon’s heart was turned to God. Solomon understood the awesome responsibility of ruling over a group of people such as Israel. It was not something to be undertaken lightly. Solomon knew he needed tremendous wisdom in order to rule justly and fairly, something that most kings after Solomon never expressed.
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