It's astonishing how little the word "Christian" means. I'm almost ashamed to use it to define myself anymore. Maybe I should start introducing myself as a "real" Christian, but that would require too much explanation I suppose.
You see, so many claim a belief in God and Jesus and say "he died for my sins", and amen, but don't want to change anything about themselves. People do not want to face the fact of sin , real sin that is plaguing their life; hiding behind the convenient "American dream" . Selfishness, greediness, covetousness and lusts of the heart are running rampant through American churches, and through the hearts of so many "Christians".
I myself only recently was truly convicted of my serious heart issues. The greed I found lurking behind my proclaimed "needs" was terrifying. I was completely humbled by what I found the Bible to say about the love of money.
But it's not just that issue which is being ignored. So many commandments in the Bible are simply turned a blind eye toand explained away by "Christians" hoping to live the life they want as good American citizens.
Perhaps I've gotten a bit jaded by taking off the rose colored glasses I'd been wearing too long, but by the grace of God I see things so clearly now. I'm constantly reading a familiar passage and saying "OH! Now I get it!", and it seems so simple.
To me, the term Christian means you've got your "golden ticket" into heaven. Somewhere along the way you prayed and asked Jesus into your heart. The difference is a matter of life and death. That prayer doesn't mean much if it isn't accompanied by a sacrifice of your life. If living the same life of an unbeliever, minus the "big" sins is comfortable to you, you're probably not a "real" Christian. I was this so called quasi-Christian for a long long time. But God saved me from that and He has taken hold of my life.
I hate feeling so skeptical of everyone who claims to be a Christian.
From now on I think I'll just go with, 'a disciple of Christ' or my favorite, 'a servant to the king'. It would be interesting to see the looks I get from such bold claims-ones I can make assured and confident of in Him.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Closeness
When you walk next to someone you can hear them talk, even if it's in a whisper.
Lately God has been placing truths on my heart, truths that I probably should have already known.
In this very fact I am comforted because I know He is right beside me, talking to me and sharing all about Himself.
If someone was across the room from me and I needed to grab their attention I might yell "Hey!" Hopefully they would hear this and look my way, but if not I might try again louder, "Hey! Over here!".
For many years I was far from God and if I look back I see ways in which He was calling to me. Now that I'm walking with Him he can speak softly and gently to tell me all that He wants me to know.
Lately God has been placing truths on my heart, truths that I probably should have already known.
In this very fact I am comforted because I know He is right beside me, talking to me and sharing all about Himself.
If someone was across the room from me and I needed to grab their attention I might yell "Hey!" Hopefully they would hear this and look my way, but if not I might try again louder, "Hey! Over here!".
For many years I was far from God and if I look back I see ways in which He was calling to me. Now that I'm walking with Him he can speak softly and gently to tell me all that He wants me to know.
A full heart-heartfull
God speaks to me. A few years ago a comment like this would have made me cringe-even as a believer.
You see, I would believe that people could "hear" the voice of God through scripture, or even "hear" answers to prayers based on what ones He answered (a.k.a. what ones people got their way in).
But to say that God spoke to someone would be a bit fanatical. One thing I'm learning is that I am my own definition of fanatical! Things I used to think were a bit extreme are now my way of life.
So if it makes me fanatical to say I've heard the voice of God-then so be it. But there is no other explanation for it. The first time I heard it I confused it with a "good idea" I had. Imagine that!
Confusing God with me! But as I've come to know Him better, I can now hear Him through all the other noise that floats in my head and my heart.
He finds me when I'm alone (walking dogs) and places things on my heart that can only be attributed to Him. Ideas that are so beyond anything I could have thought up. Truths that once bewildered me are suddenly clear.
Without my glasses or contacts I am blind. From bed one night I called to my cat Scotchy. He's a long haired tan colored cat. I didn't know what John was laughing about till I put my glasses on and realized I was calling to a paper bag.
Without Christ I am blind. I reach for the wrong things, I walk into walls, I can not live without Him. I can not go a day without Him.
My heart is so full of the truths and wonders God is showing me. I feel like I could burst!
You see, I would believe that people could "hear" the voice of God through scripture, or even "hear" answers to prayers based on what ones He answered (a.k.a. what ones people got their way in).
But to say that God spoke to someone would be a bit fanatical. One thing I'm learning is that I am my own definition of fanatical! Things I used to think were a bit extreme are now my way of life.
So if it makes me fanatical to say I've heard the voice of God-then so be it. But there is no other explanation for it. The first time I heard it I confused it with a "good idea" I had. Imagine that!
Confusing God with me! But as I've come to know Him better, I can now hear Him through all the other noise that floats in my head and my heart.
He finds me when I'm alone (walking dogs) and places things on my heart that can only be attributed to Him. Ideas that are so beyond anything I could have thought up. Truths that once bewildered me are suddenly clear.
Without my glasses or contacts I am blind. From bed one night I called to my cat Scotchy. He's a long haired tan colored cat. I didn't know what John was laughing about till I put my glasses on and realized I was calling to a paper bag.
Without Christ I am blind. I reach for the wrong things, I walk into walls, I can not live without Him. I can not go a day without Him.
My heart is so full of the truths and wonders God is showing me. I feel like I could burst!
I'm Awe-full
The english language really doesn't make too much sense. I'm really glad I learned it as my first language and didn't have to figure it out later.
Words such as; careful, suspenseful, powerful, painful--are easy to figure out their meanings. Take the ending (full) and add it to the beginning--full of care, full of suspense, full of power, etc.
But Awful makes no sense. It's definition is along the lines of terrible, dreadful, bad. But the word Awe doesn't mean that at all--to be in Awe of something is to be overwhelmed by wonder and admiration. It can mean to have a reverent fear. So I like to use this word in that way--not as something terrible but something full of awe.
And I am full of awe. I am absolutely amazed and overwhelmed. God has taken my life and transformed it. I never imagined what life could be.
This blog is dedication to telling of the saving grace of Christ, it's about the transforming power of the Spirit and it's about the life of a servant to the King.
Words such as; careful, suspenseful, powerful, painful--are easy to figure out their meanings. Take the ending (full) and add it to the beginning--full of care, full of suspense, full of power, etc.
But Awful makes no sense. It's definition is along the lines of terrible, dreadful, bad. But the word Awe doesn't mean that at all--to be in Awe of something is to be overwhelmed by wonder and admiration. It can mean to have a reverent fear. So I like to use this word in that way--not as something terrible but something full of awe.
And I am full of awe. I am absolutely amazed and overwhelmed. God has taken my life and transformed it. I never imagined what life could be.
This blog is dedication to telling of the saving grace of Christ, it's about the transforming power of the Spirit and it's about the life of a servant to the King.
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