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By Faith Alone We Stand

 

Woman Breaking Chains

“… by faith ye stand.” (II Corinthians 1:24)

Is our relationship with the Lord based upon our ability to be obedient?

That ability is popularly taught as the strength of our Christian willpower, devotion, sincerity, willingness to sacrifice, choices to be unselfish, choices to love others, and our dedication to bringing our will into line with what the Lord wants us to do. 

Which, for all practical purposes, is taught as a combination deal between us and the Lord; as the way we can overcome our bad tendencies, lack of discipline, lusts, bad habits, and a host of other bad stuff we cope with as believers. 

However, that is not what the Bible really teaches.

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A Visit from Some Watchtower Folks

Christ is your righteousness Heart

So, last Saturday morning some people from the Jehovah’s Witness group stopped by to ask me some questions. 

They were friendly. And less aggressive than some of the other visitors I’ve had. 

I get somewhat regular visits from folks. Sometimes JW’s. Sometimes Mormons. 

I think I may be on a list of some kind. Maybe they give certain guys my address as a punishment of sorts. 

You know, to go see this guy just in case they can convert me. Maybe they’ll even get a prize if they do. 

Which reminds me of the churches that used to give out prizes if you brought a guest to church or to Sunday school.

Like a free airplane ride or a steak dinner!

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The Myth of “Natural History”

Baboons at the Piano

No matter where you go these days someone is trying to sell something that has to do with “natural foods”.

The health food industry is a billion dollar goldmine. Everyone wants to try to get in on the action.

All they have to do is talk about how their food is natural or how their special product uses natural processes to accomplish amazing results and people will buy their stuff. Which is always more expensive than the synthetic stuff.

But how much of all this stuff is truly natural is rarely known. Or admitted.

It’s kind of like all the talk about “natural law” or “natural ethics” or even “natural history”; it all sounds interesting. It all sounds plausible.

But mostly it’s just a big steaming pile of horse manure.

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Comfort in the Fire

Fire Forging a Sword

“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” (Psalm 119:50)

Affliction is a necessary component to the life in Christ.

Without affliction, we go astray. Without affliction we “go to seed” as they say.

No one truly seeks pain or suffering. But it is an inescapable process that we must endure in order for the Lord to make us what we should be.

This is how He prepares us for the joys of eternity with Him.

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When “Love” Becomes an Idol

Crucifix Christ Church Wall

It seems that every once in a while, the church decides to re-invent itself. To shift its focus or try to re-state, re-organize, or just try to do a makeover in order to appear more acceptable, more relevant, and more hip to the surrounding culture.  

The reason for this is often blamed on the church’s ineffectual ministry to the surrounding world. Therefore, there is no end to all the books and ministries seeking to lead the church down a new path to become more effective or more “contextual”.

And, of course, there is no end to all the rhetoric telling us how to do this. How we must become a “New Kind of Christian”. Or even how “Everything must change”!

And always, without fail, the one thing that is constantly emphasized in all of these “methods” is how we must become more “loving”. 

Always, always, “love” is lifted up as the great answer.

In effect, “love” has become the New Idol of this church age. 

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Labeling Someone a “Legalist”

zipper smile emoji

Holding to solid doctrinal beliefs and defending those biblical beliefs is not “legalism”.

Holding to biblical morality and insisting that the church hold to that morality is not “legalism”.

Technically, “legalism” is not even a biblical word.

It’s a word created to describe an attitude one might encounter in a church or in an individual Christian. Specifically, it’s an attitude of one who tries to enforce a set of values or practices that are not specifically biblical. But which might be the accepted norm within a group.

Or an attitude held by someone lacking tolerance for anyone that doesn’t fit a specific standard. Like a Pharisee who tries to get everyone in line with Traditions that are extra-biblical.

Enforcing Traditions that are not specifically spelled out in scripture.

Traditions that are secondary principles. Traditions open to interpretation. And open to the exercise of Christian liberty.

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Every True Christian is a “Priest”

Man Kneel Pray by Lake

Believers in Christ are called “priests” in the New Testament.

… “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:3-9)

But what does this really mean?

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The Forgotten Christmas Gift

Christmas star

When we look at the Christmas “messages” preached over this season, most are all the same.

They are often boring and of little value. Except for the momentary, sentimental feelings they create.

However, the real message of the birth of Christ is staggering; if preachers would simply preach about it.

IF they, themselves, really understood enough or had experience enough to actually share it.

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The Necessity of a Thankful Heart

Dolomite mountains

There is a great difference between a person with a thankful heart and one that feels entitled to the good things of life.

This current generation is of the latter type.

Our “entitlement” culture is filled with envy and jealousy. Who covet what others have. And who seek ways to take it from them.

In fact, all the current movement toward Socialism is based upon envy.

Upon the idea that what others have should belong to me or to someone else in need. And that the government should force those that have to give to those that don’t have.

Therefore, individuals today focus on what they believe the world owes them. Or what they believe God owes them.

Or, more accurately, what they demand that the world and God should give them.

And, if not, then they’ll take, by force, what they are due.

Continue reading “The Necessity of a Thankful Heart” →

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