Posts filed under ‘Emotional virtue’
Christian: Our Need to Renew Our MINDS
The problem with many Christians today (and therefore, Christendom), is that too many of us simply fail to use our God-given brains. We have become complete strangers as far as reason is concerned, as if God wants us to put our critical thinking skills on the shelf and go through life blindly using what we think is faith to determine truth. Even if things don’t make sense, we tell each other to continue on the path that will eventually lead us to understanding. Faith doesn’t determine truth. Faith accepts truth in spite of how it may seem at first. The only way to know truth is to study His Word. This is an act of worship.
Christians Who Don’t Believe in the Great Commission
The world is God’s enemy and He has us here for one task and one task only: to fulfill the Great Commission. Though He will destroy this world and its evil system, God wants to save as many people out of it as possible. To do that we must talk the talk and walk the walk. Though we will never do this perfectly in this life, God will certainly honor our efforts if our goal is to see the lost saved. While our friend above is deliberately trying not to be “over-the-top,” 150,000 people die into eternity every day. What about them? Who will explain to them their absolute need for Jesus? Moreover, when our friend stands before Jesus, what will he hear the Master say to him?
Steven Furtick and Elevation Church
I find it fascinating how many of these younger guys come along and purport to have something special that apparently no one else before them had or understood about Scriptures. As far as Furtick is concerned, it may well be why more folks are beginning to wonder if he is actually a leader of a cult, as opposed to simply being the pastor of a church (Elevation Church).
Why Does the World Hate Christians, Part 2?
As soon as God birthed the Church in Acts 2, Satan lost no time dropping into each generation tares that would look, talk, and act like Christians. These tares would be used by Satan throughout successive generations including this current one to throw monkey wrenches into the works in attempts to derail God’s plans. Satan has never been successful in the long run and will not succeed. While it may appear that at times, he gains the upper hand, he is always on a leash and it is that simple. His defeat is accomplished and his ultimate doom is certain.
Why Does the World Hate Christians, Part 1?
Being issue-oriented has pitted Christians against the world so is it any wonder the world hates us? When we see groups like Westboro Baptist Church with their signs filled with vulgar language stating God hates certain groups, this furthers the problem. It engenders hate and the world couldn’t care less about trying to distinguish between Westboro and other conservative or even authentic Christians. Interestingly enough, they can do this where Islam is concerned and we’ll talk about that later because it indirectly ties into the second and third reasons for why the world hates us.
Let’s Take the Great Commission from the Top, Part 3
Once a person becomes a Christian (having been made a disciple), the obligation is to do the next thing. New converts were to be baptized and taught what it means to be and live as a Christian. Being baptized with water does not save a person. It publicly signifies to whom that person is affiliated. This should be done publicly as a testimony to all that the new convert to Christianity is claiming association with Jesus (which is why one is baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), to separate them from other religions, sects, and cults that existed then (and now).
Let’s Take the Great Commission from the Top, Part 1
There is clearly a difference between Jesus’ authority before His death and resurrection and after it and Jesus is stressing that point when He makes the statement to His disciples. He specifically uses the word “all” which literally means all. There is nothing that He does not have authority over now. Not one thing.
Christian You Have an Eternal Purpose Here and Now
This means, if I have the opportunity to fill some of the needs of people in my church who have true needs, I should do so. It also means that I should reach beyond the walls of my own local church to reach people who are unchurched but whose needs are just as real, just as palpable. If I can meet some of those needs, I have an obligation to do so. The Christian’s purpose is two-fold: 1) to take care of those within the Body of Christ, and 2) to reach out to the lost. This is built into the Great Commission. If you’re “going it alone,” you’re doing it wrong, I’m sorry to say. Concerned about what your local church teaches or believes? Find another. Can’t find one? Then start a group in your home with other like-minded Christians. We are a body, connected with one another. We are not meant to “go it alone.”
How to Ignore the World, Its Lies, Its Folly in All Forms
What else has all of this information overload done for us? Aside from keeping us in a constant state of worry and fear, we have lost our ability to evangelize the lost, if we’d ever had it. That’s on the back burner because there are more pressing things for us to we believe. We’ve got to change society. We’ve got to elect the “right” politician and for many Christians right now, that correct politician is Donald Trump. Why? Because several “prophets” and “apostles” have said so, that’s why.
It’s All About Dominionism, Kingdom Now, and the New Apostolic Reformation, Part 8
As I’ve stated before, the overall problem with human attempts to institute a “Christian theocracy” especially using Old Testament laws to do so, is that the concept of grace is gone. Beyond this, people involved in this movement are actually declaring that God is incapable of doing it Himself. Moreover, the question of who – or which group – would actually be in charge of such a system also needs to be asked. Unlike Israel of old, we do not have an “urim and thummin” as was used by the Old Testament Jewish priests. Even if we did, we have no clue how the priests determined God’s will from using it. Colossians 2:17 tells us these things were merely a shadow of the things that were found in Jesus. They are gone. North wants to bring them back.
StudyGrowKnow 