Tag: Food For Growth

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ~ Colossians 2:8-10

I recently watched an interview where a well-known worship leader was asked if there was room in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music for Buddhist Christian like himself. The worship leader said that he would hope that he felt like the doors were open and that he thinks that Jesus would love to sit down and have that conversation with him. He went on to say that he hoped that the Church would be that open. And asked why he would not have a place in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music? He went on to say that even if they disagree on something, why would he not have a place in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music? He went on to say that the only people Jesus shooed away or snapped at were the religious Pharisees. And then went on to say:

I can believe what I can believe, and still be able to sit down and share a meal … we might not align on these things, but like, doesn’t God call me to love you and to listen? … I think there’s something we can all learn from one another.

This is the kind of Christianity that just isn’t Biblical. It sounds good. It sounds nice and open. Great and welcoming. But no where did he discuss change. In fact, he said:

You’re not going to benefit from me saying you’re wrong. … Let’s have a conversation and see what God does with it.

He’s not going to benefit from someone putting out his false beliefs that lead to death? He’s not going to benefit from hearing the Truth? You can’t share the Truth without sharing that he, as a Buddhist Christian, is not only wrong but going to Hell. Never did Jesus shy away from showing anyone their sin. The only time Jesus didn’t point out a sin was when that person already knew they were in sin and came to Him for forgiveness. That is the only time. Jesus spent His ministry warning of the dangers of sin and how it leads to Hell. There are core beliefs that we can’t just agree to disagree on.

Paul, the greatest apostle who ever lived, warned the Colossians not to be taken captive by philosophy (which literally translates to human wisdom) and empty deceit. In other words, Paul would have corrected this deceived man and shown him his error. Shown him the Truth. Buddhism is about what you can do in order to reach Nirvana. In order to reach Heaven. This is incompatible with Christianity. There is nothing we can ever do to gain salvation. To achieve salvation. Nothing. That is the beauty of Christianity.

Unlike every other religion, we acknowledge that we can’t save ourselves. We aren’t strong enough. We aren’t good enough. We aren’t enough. That is why God came to earth, took the form of man, and died for us. And when He rose, He purchased our salvation with His own blood. The only perfect blood. Untainted by sin. This is the Gospel. This is the Good News of Hope.

When we add philosophy and empty words to the Gospel, we don’t just water it down, we corrupt it. It no longer saves. Yes, every church door should be (and I can’t think of a single one that isn’t) open to all people. All walks of life, regardless of past, sin, ideologies, but Churches aren’t supposed to be community centers where you just come, hear encouraging words, have good conversations with people, and then go home. We’re supposed to be a spiritual hospital. Jesus is the doctor. Yes, everyone should feel welcome in church, but they should feel conviction to change. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the Church? If a hospital isn’t able to fix your broken bones, heal your disease, etc. you wouldn’t go back to that hospital, so why do we feel we should turn the church into a building that no longer wins souls for Christ?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Just Share The Good News.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. ~ 1 John 5:16-17

²² But if you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the Lord has spoken to Moses, ²³ all that the Lord has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the Lord gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations, ²⁴ then if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer one bull from the herd for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the rule, and one male goat for a sin offering. ²⁵ And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their offering, a food offering to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their mistake. ²⁶ And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the mistake.
²⁷ If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. ²⁸ And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. ²⁹ You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. ³⁰ But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. ³¹ Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him. ~ Numbers 15:22-31

In his letter, John didn’t over-explain like Paul did. John, especially in this point, almost under-explains. Why? Because both writers know their audience. John is writing to Jews who have converted from Judaism to Christianity. So, these aren’t Gentile believers ignorant of the Law like those whom Paul taught and wrote to. Therefore, they knew and understood the hidden context behind what John was saying.

John was referring to a law in the Law of Moses that (like all the Law) has a spiritual meaning for us (the Church) today. In the Book of Numbers, Moses records a law addressing sacrificial offerings for sin. One specific sin, the unintentional sin of the people of Israel. See, when a sin was done unintentionally in Israel by the congregation, they came together and offered one offering on behalf of all. If one person sinned, they would come and make a sacrifice and be forgiven. When they sinned unintentionally, it was seen as a different type of sin, a sin that didn’t lead to death. Now that Jesus has sacrificed once for all, sins that do not lead to death can be prayed for by the congregation of spiritual Israel, the Church.

Sins that do not lead to death aren’t just sins done mistakenly, of course, but sins that are not as serious as others. Sins that lead to death? Paul names nine main sins in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

Sexual Immorality, Idolatry, Adultery, Homosexuality, Thievery, Greediness, Drunkenness, Reviling (Abusers), and Swindling (Robbers).

The interesting thing is that Paul starts off with the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but that word translated as unrighteous is actually not the word unrighteous, but the word wrongdoer. Which, of course, ties back to James’ letter stating that all wrongdoing is sin, but I digress.

John states in Revelation 21:8 that the sins (wrongdoings) that lead to death are:

Cowardice (The Fearful), Faithlessness (The Unbelievers), Detestable, Murder, Sexual Immorality, Sorcery (Witchcraft/Magic), Idolatry, and Lying.

These are the kind of sins that John warned that we should not pray for a fellow believer to be forgiven on their behalf, because these sins aren’t just mistakes, they are grievous sins that need to be corrected, not just overlooked. This is the importance of studying and knowing Scripture. Unless we know what sin is, we’ll never be able to know sin that leads to death vs. sin that does not. One, so that we don’t fall into either. Two, so that we know what sins need to be addressed, corrected, and brought to the forefront vs. what sins can be prayed for without confrontation.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Study All.

³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ~ Matthew 5:44-45

Randy Alcorn has a thought-provoking quote that goes as follows:

The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.

This life is filled with thorns and thistles overrunning our paths, making the race set before us a difficult one to run. Then there are giants, villains, and monsters chasing, disrupting, distracting, and intimidating us in an effort to stop us from reaching our end goal. Then we have our own flesh we must crucify daily as we carry our cross. Jesus warned us, as recorded by John, that in this life we will have trials and tribulations. Hardships and great difficulty are for the last days, Paul warns us. John said that we are in the last Days. That it started with the coming of Christ. Now, Jesus didn’t stop at His warning, though.

Jesus said don’t fear. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged, for I (Jesus) have overcome the world. We overcome because He first overcame. We overcome through Jesus. Our world is a taste of the good and the bad. The Heaven and the Hell. For us, Christians, believers, followers of Christ, these tribulations are as close as we will ever get to Hell. But for the unbeliever the blessings, joys, and good things of this life are as close to Heaven as they will ever get.

Yes, God pours out blessings on both the righteous and the unrighteous, but those little blessings today cannot compare to the blessings and good things in store for us in eternity. Paul said these minor afflictions are nothing compared to what God has for us in eternity. I wanna put into perspective the kind of Hell Paul endured on this earth, He was stoned and left for dead. Shipwrecked. He received the 39 lashings on his back. Five times. At the hands of his own people. He was disowned by his own people. Chased out of cities and nations. Then he was martyred in Rome. His Hell on this earth was more than just hurt feelings. It was more than just afraid of offending someone or losing his friends or job for spreading the Gospel. Paul put his life on the line,

There’s people right now enjoying the blessings of God on this earth. Enjoying the good things that God has given them, but never knowing the good things that God has for His people in eternity. Good things that we can’t even think or imagine. How sad of a thought it is that they will never know the good things that God has for His people. That this life is as close to Heaven as they will ever experience.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pray For Their Eternity.

Matthew 21:12-17
[12]  And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. [13] He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” [14]  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, [16] and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” [17] And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

Jesus entered Jerusalem Triumphantly. The crowds shouted hosanna. They laid down palm branches and their own clothes before Him. It was a joyous occasion, but when He entered the Temple the mood shifted. Righteous indignation filled Him. Why?

See, this was the day that Israel was to choose their Passover Lamb. When Jesus entered the Temple, He saw the sellers and the money changers. The sellers and buyers and He drove them out. Why would He do this? They missed the Passover Lamb. The one that would be the final sacrificial offering. The one that would finally wash them (and all who would believe) clean from all their sins. The one that would reconcile them to God Himself, and they missed Him.

They were caught up in the sale. The ritual, so much so that they missed the importance of the ritual. The very purpose and reason for the ritual in the first place. They missed the Passover Lamb entirely.

Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey 2000 years ago and the majority of people missed Him. Today, 2000 years later, we are waiting for His return. We’re waiting for Him to break that Eastern Sky and collect His Bride. His Body. His Church. The men and women of His generation missed the signs and the times. They were too busy with rituals that they missed the purpose of the ritual, the foreshadowing of the Messiah who was now before them. The times and signs are all around us today. We are getting close to the end. Are you ready? Are your loved ones ready? Are your friends, co-workers, neighbors ready?

Just as Jesus removed those from the Temple who weren’t ready for His Triumphal Entry, those who missed His coming, those who chose the animal over the Living God, so will He remove from His presence those who miss His Second Coming. Those who miss His Return. They will be forever removed from His presence. From His Temple.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Choose The Lamb.

Romans 8:14-15

[14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

I recently heard of a marriage ritual that is done by the bride to be. Her mother and sister shave each strand of hair from her head, leaving her completely bald. Why? It symbolizes leaving her old life and preparing for her new one. These girls go through a physical transformation to symbolize the change in their lives that is about to take place. We, as Christians, do something similar as well.

When we get saved, something happens in the spiritual, the old man dies, so we do a physical action to express it to the world. We get baptized to symbolize that we have died with Christ. That He now lives through us. That to is Christ, to die is gain. Baptism is not our salvation, it’s a physical, public declaration of our salvation.

Baptism is similar to these girls who shave their heads. Shaving their heads isn’t the marriage, just preparation for it. Baptism isn’t our salvation, just preparation for its fulfillment when Jesus returns. For our marriage supper of the Lamb. Our faith and salvation do not come from baptism. Baptism, however, is step towards the marriage supper of the Lamb. A step to our salvation being fulfilled.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fulfill Rituals.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ^NIV

²⁵ …the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Paul is trying to get the Corinthian church to see and understand that there is great wisdom in all that God does. What seemed like foolishness to the Corinthian Gentiles, because they thought themselves very wise, because the center of Greek wisdom…, the Areopagus, which heavily influenced Corinthian life, was just next door…

So, Paul is saying that the foolishness of God…, what appears to be foolishness…, is actually much, much wiser than “that” wisdom—Mars Hill’s wisdom…

Because it is the wisdom of Salvation, and there is no greater wisdom than that of the wisdom of salvation…, because that, my friends, is the greatest of all wisdom.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Love His Wisdom.

John 15:18-21

[18]  If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. [21] But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

We got a very angry comment today on our message from Sunday. The person told us we were liars and it would be better for the world if we would die. Where did the hatred and animosity come from? From the fact that we are Christians who read and quote the Bible.

For me, personally, the hatred and distain doesn’t make sense based on his claim of being an atheist. Here’s what I’m getting at, if you don’t believe God exists, why do you despise Him and anyone who believes in Him with such intensity and passion? It makes no sense. How can you despise someone or something you do not believe even exists?

The true root of the issue? He doesn’t believe there is no God. He hates God. He despises Him with a passion. Why? There could be many reasons. He could blame God for something that scarred him, like a death of a loved one. He could feel God should’ve answered a prayer He didn’t. Or that his identity is blatantly called a sin by God. We don’t know the exact reason for his hatred, but it is evident that it is what fills his heart.

As Christians, it’s hard not to want to lash out verbally or say something callous and cold-hearted to him. But that’s not what we’re called to. We are called to be more. To turn the other cheek. To bless those who curse us and pray for those who persecute us. We are to be Christ to the world. Revenge, getting even, those things aren’t for us. They don’t belong to us. Vengeance is the LORD’s. And as Christians, we should never wish, hope, call, nor pray God vengeance on another person.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Learn To Turn.

⁶ Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ~ 1 Corinthians 5:6

Bees are a lot more interesting than I thought they were. They have this thing called “guard bees.” When the worker bees return with nectar, they have to pass the smell test from the guard bees before they. An enter the hive. If any bees return with fermented nectar, they’ll be barred from entering the hive. Sometimes, they will be severely injured or even killed. Why?

Because nothing can contaminant the honey. The guard bees enforce the rules of the colony to ensure the safety of the hive and its honey. See, these Honey Bees understand that a little leaven leavens the whole pot. One Honey Bee with contaminated nectar will contaminant all the honey in the hive.

This is how the Church should be. We need to stop allowing sin into the Body of Christ. We are called to perfection, therefore, we need to strive for perfection. We struggle. We fight. But we do not give into sin. We do not dwell and remain in our trespasses. We have to stop making excuses for ourselves and others. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Guard Like Bees.