By admin
We left off last night with me concluding my rant on Calvinism and I was just entering my babbling on Arminianism but I was attacked by the sleep monster. Actually instead of reiterating I’ll just copy and past that section and continue where I left off. You can read the first part of the writing here….
Arminianism: Vain Glory
As it is written, he who glories let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Philippians 2:3)
As one being more exposed to the Arminian views I can also say there are practices not congruent with scripture. I may lean more towards beliefs of Arminianism but this in no way makes me an Arminian or any other Christian label. As I stated above some of the errors I have witnessed in the camp of Arminians are Vain glory and conceit as well as selfish ambition. I have already spoken of converts that gravitate towards Christ for personal gain, this implicates an aspect of selfish ambition. The most upsetting thing that employs the idea of vain glory in Arminianism is when property is somehow equated to godliness. Thus, those who may have stuff are deemed as blessed or even perceived more spiritual. I just remember buying a new car and its was a great looking car compared to the hand-me-down van I had prior. Something made my eye twitch when it became common to hear people say, “new car? Wow God is blessing blessing you huh?.” As scriptures say and I believe, yes all good things do come from the Father, yet there is a danger when finite physical properties are used as measurements for spiritual maturity. Am I more spiritual today then I was yesterday because I acquired more physical property, say a car or a house? Also am I less spiritual in the event I lose my home or car? Read more »
By admin
Hmm let’s see where to start? I’d say about towards the end of last year I learned about the two biblical standpoints that distiguished most Christians: Arminianism and Calvinism. Due to the teaching I have been exposed to the majority of my life as a believer I had the label of an Arminian Christian.
Felt I should do this (*Disclaimer: I’m not an arminian or Calvin basher, I’m simply a Bible believing Christian attempting to rightly divide the word of truth. Doing so through the Holy Spirit and the brain God so graciously inserted in my head at birth. Or is it actually the brain that grew as I was in my mothers stomach…hmm? Anyway God gave it to me nonetheless. I know Arminians and Calvinists who do not subscribe to the the ideas I discuss in this writing, So if it doesn’t apply to you, take a chill pill. Offense is a choice so if what I say hurts that’s not my intent, write to me humbly or go to God with it. Just writing what I see) Read more »
By admin
It's not the real thing...
“Sin has pleasure for a season yet it’s just disguised and prolonged defeat. Its like cheating to win in a race yet when the video is reviewed it’s obvious you stepped out of bounds, thus disqualifying yourself from the race and from receiving the prize. You got to celebrate for a moment until the judge reviewed the tape. Life is the race, God’s word is the rule book… stay inbounds.”
I woke up with the above statement bouncing around the walls of my conscience and heart with a feeling of remorse. As is my custom I just began to thank God and attempt to give him the first fruits of my lips and day, as He deserves. Still I felt the need to pray concerning my heart and others when considering the quote above. I began to just think on the deceitfulness of sin and it just evoked such a hatred for sin and the devils deception in me. I find it so heart wrenching for someone to feel as though they are winning or getting ahead by taking a shorter route only to discover they have set themselves up for defeat in the end. To feel as though you have the edge above everyone else yet your headed for disaster.
It’s almost like the bird that convinces the others he can get the bread lying out in the open. The others try to convince him its a trap but he doesn’t want to have to fly all the way into the city for food, he wants to take the shortcut. He disregards their warnings and feels somehow he is an exception and exempt from danger. He swoops in for the morsel of bread, grabs it, lands, and laughs as he snacks away. He chuckles in victory and mocks the others that have flown all the way to the city for food. He stands alone and just when the bread tastes the best when the last crumb enters his mouth *SNAP! he’s captured. His shortcut turned out to be a trap in fact, and if he had heeded his friends instruction he’d be safe. He took the shorter way, he still enjoyed the morsel of bread for a moment, but it’s end left him worst off then before.
“The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.”
(Proverbs 15:24)
Think about it. Downhill is the path of least resistance. Yet know and understand the closer to the top the better the vantage point as to see where the bottom ends.
This actually brings to mind a recent experience I had with an old friend I went to see. She had been a believer in Christ and a passionate one at that. Nonetheless through bad company and failure to renew her mind she abandoned her post for an alternate lifestyle. I literally watched her stage by stage enter into deception and the deceitfulness of sin until she despised me for speaking the truth. The truth became a lie to her and the lie became her foundation and truth. I tried and tried in my strength to “bring her back” but I have no such power in me I realized. Nonetheless from her view I’m the stupid bird that is missing out on the morsel in the sand. I’m the fool for taking the route less desirable instead of just cutting across the field to get to the finish line.
However, the truth is I will endure more resistance, it will seem as though I have to run longer, but I will win and I will be stronger. When I was captain of my track team I stressed to fellow athletes, “you only cheat yourself by taking shortcuts in practice, because to the degree you practice is the degree you will produce results in the race.” In reality there are times I look at the life of an unbeliever and think “what if I did just go out and get drunk?” Or “what if I fulfilled unbridled lust and took the shortcuts?”, that is when the voice reason chimes in and sets my focus( Read: Psalm 73).
God’s spirit is like the eagle eye that raises us above the circumstance to see the end result. It assures me if I take that route it may feel good in short term but its all counterfeit. Its like the man who invites the chicken in to eat, makes him comfortable and feed him until he cannot move. All along his plan was to cook him and eat him, sounds very devilish but, this is the devil’s plan. This is the way the enemy works; through compromise and deception, both are like twins. In order to be deceived or conned there first has to come a compromise of some sort, and that’s the enemies game. To be conned you must feel as though you are winning or else you’d never take the bait. You feel as though your getting the advantage but your really being tricked and this is the nature of sin in its prime. Deceit makes you feel your possibly missing out on something you should have, but its all a facade.
Sin is the mirage of water in the desert that you pursue off course of the intended path. The further you chase it the closer it seems, yet the more you chase it the further it becomes; its not the real thing. Thus the path you thought would bring satisfaction only offered a momentary gratification that leaves you more stranded and thirsty than before. There is still so much more to cover on this topic and I could literally go on with analogies and illustrations forever. Nonetheless, if you have read this far I’m sure you get the point I’m driving home. Sin(the counterfeit) it looks like the real deal, feels like the real thing but once the clerk thoroughly examines it, you realize you’ve been hoodwinked. You were just carrying a pocket full of rocks, no value. We will all have to meet the clerk some day and time is our currency. We have all been dealt the same amount of time despite different circumstances, however you determine the end result. Dependent upon what you choose or what you fail to choose. Dependent upon if you follow the rules of engagement set for this life or not. Beyond it all, we all must give account. Consider what I have said above and realize there are only two sides in this race.
Lastly consider Moses… “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Hebrews 11:25,26)
It's not the real thing...
Perspective: Where are you looking from?
By admin
One of my pastors actually the youngest one in my church (Pastor Ben Bankson) preached a message on love and it was great. Despite how many times we hear the message on love you can never learn enough because God is love therefore “true love” is infinite. True love has no beginning nor will it end as long as God is around because God is the essence of Love. Not that he just does lovely things but He is the embodiment, essence and epitome of love. He touched on a personal experience of having a list of wrongs in a journal from someone that had hurt him. Once he looked into the perfect letter of the law it sunk in that “Love keep no records of wrongs”, as 1 Corinthian 13:5 (NIV) says. He then chose to delete all of those offenses and wrongs done to him by this person and wrote in its place “Love keeps no record of wrongs.” Offense is a choice just as forgiveness and love are a choice. Take a time to be still and examine your heart for offenses or wrongs you have stored away from past hurts. If your still holding on to those things then you cannot truthfully say you walk in complete love with God. With walking parallel with God and His love offenses and wrongs are never recorded. Make a list like the mock up one below I made and cross them off, then be sure to write in large letters underneath “LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS” and move on with your life in Love.
Record of Wrongs
He made me mad.
Every time I make a statement they have to add a smart remark.
They consistently make fun of me.
she shared my secret to the entire family.
He doesn’t treat me like he used to when we first met.
She seems to take pleasure in making me feel like less of a man.
They always call me fat.
She knew I was too young to comprehend those things.
He never showed up to any of my basketball games.
she was never supportive of me and my brothers dreams.
They knew thing of that nature would scare me yet they did it anyway.
I was down to my last and she took advantage of me.
I knew he would get over on me, I was too nice!
I never gave them permission to use my belongings
He wronged me
she wronged me
They wronged me
I’ve wronged myself…?
-You only wrong yourself by holding offense in your heart. I’ve heard it said “holding offense is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick,” let it go and Understand…
“LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS” (1 Corinthians 13:5)
