I have some questions I have been thinking about for quite sometime and thought I would just lay it out for you guys.
Sin is sin to God right!?.... meaning that all sin is equal in his eyes and that none is worse than any other. In the world we live in there are certain sins that seem worse to us. You know the big ones such as homosexuality and the molestation of children murder and rape. These for some reason in our minds our ingrained as worse than others. Stay with me, please. As believers we are being conformed to the image of God and we have to strive to be like Him even it that means seeing things through His eyes. Now if you are still with me I applaud you.
Suppose a pastor is preaching to his congregation about sin. He says that he is a sinner and that he is just as dirty as the next one. He says that he sins daily and b/c he says this you realize that he is speaking the truth b/c we all sin and fall everyday.
How is that preacher any different from a preacher that maybe struggle with homosexual acts but is truly sorry and has a heart that repents and ask God to forgive him. How are these different? Should they both receive the same treatment from the congregation? Is the sin not the same in Gods eyes? Are we truly a people ready to forgive regardless the offense?
These are tough question but I want to hear what you think. I realize this is dangerous and I am not trying to offend anyone but I am just asking how would you approach these questions. more to come......
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Evolution
I know it has been awhile and for that I am sorry. I have been in one of those stages however there has been something on my mind so here it goes.
I grew up in a loving southern baptist family. My parents faith was very real (having just accepted after I was born) and b/c of that they taught and showed me a lot about what this spiritual journey is about.
I have seen now that the way I think is drastically different from them. Most of you are now scratching your head and saying this is nothing new. I don't agree with my parents either.
The word Love has changed so much within the last 6 months in the way I define it.
It is easy to love when others treat you with love. However what about when they don't. My first response to this was to love only in action but to harbor hatred in my heart for the person who wronged me or my family. I held this view up until a couple of years ago.
The next phase was to love them without hatred but there was still draw back. It wasn't the reckless abandon love you read in the gospels. It was more of a pseudo love which was a convenience thing for me. Well I guess I will help you out but only b/c I have time not b/c it is real.
The love I see now (not to say I always exemplify it) looks past different beliefs and is harbors in a trust in the Savior. If He holds all in his hands and is in total control then my only response to darkness or sin is to love them and pray that Christ love through me will change their hearts and if not, I still love them regardless of fault. This is easy for me to say about non believers but very hard for me to take the same stance when it comes to the church. Again the anger and hostility harbored up in my soul is not good and shows me I still have a lot to work out. However loving others (regardless of race, creed, gender, denominations, views and political affiliation) will change people and the trust that the God we profess to believe in will conform hearts to the image of His own.
I grew up in a loving southern baptist family. My parents faith was very real (having just accepted after I was born) and b/c of that they taught and showed me a lot about what this spiritual journey is about.
I have seen now that the way I think is drastically different from them. Most of you are now scratching your head and saying this is nothing new. I don't agree with my parents either.
The word Love has changed so much within the last 6 months in the way I define it.
It is easy to love when others treat you with love. However what about when they don't. My first response to this was to love only in action but to harbor hatred in my heart for the person who wronged me or my family. I held this view up until a couple of years ago.
The next phase was to love them without hatred but there was still draw back. It wasn't the reckless abandon love you read in the gospels. It was more of a pseudo love which was a convenience thing for me. Well I guess I will help you out but only b/c I have time not b/c it is real.
The love I see now (not to say I always exemplify it) looks past different beliefs and is harbors in a trust in the Savior. If He holds all in his hands and is in total control then my only response to darkness or sin is to love them and pray that Christ love through me will change their hearts and if not, I still love them regardless of fault. This is easy for me to say about non believers but very hard for me to take the same stance when it comes to the church. Again the anger and hostility harbored up in my soul is not good and shows me I still have a lot to work out. However loving others (regardless of race, creed, gender, denominations, views and political affiliation) will change people and the trust that the God we profess to believe in will conform hearts to the image of His own.
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