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What is “Lent” Anyway?: Part 2 – The Religious-Traditions Buffet

Buffet Vertical

When choosing to observe Lent, Christians exhibit a very popular, Chinese-buffet mentality — which is to cherry-pick their favorite traditions from various religious systems. Giving very little thought to the spiritual wickedness that often follows such practices. 

Lent is merely one small facet of the Catholic system of rituals and sacraments that must be followed in order for the faithful Catholic to gain forgiveness of sins and merit the joys of heaven.

Most people think that Catholicism offers some guarantee of heaven. But this is not really the case — even for the faithful Catholic. Because, when a Catholic dies, he must still face the punishments of Purgatory.

All because of sins that have not been forgiven in this life.

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What is “Lent” Anyway?

Goddess Worship

The promotion of the Spiritual Disciplines is a big fad within Evangelicalism today. Many believe that these disciplines or techniques will help to draw them closer to God.

The teaching of the spiritual disciplines is based on the assumption that we are even able to change ourselves spiritually by the devoted application of techniques or practices in our lives. (Which is a topic worthy of discussion by itself.)

Many Contemplative Spirituality groups teach that this change accomplished through forms of meditation, chants, burning of incense, listening to spiritual music, looking at spiritual images or icons, special fasting, creating a place of silence, repeating a bible verse or phrase as one would a mantra, walking a labyrinth, confessing our sins to one another, and many other practices.

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Sick of Love: Conclusion – The Great Excuse

Cat Window Birds

Under the Banner of Love

I am sick of “love” being used as an excuse for the church to do whatever new things they decide to do.

Or using “love” to justify whatever changes they want to make. Or to justify their association with unbiblical religious or secular organizations . Or to justify their obsession with being “relevant” to whomever.

“Love” has become the great excuse of the modern Evangelical church.

It is the banner under which all manner of questionable things are marched into the church.

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Sick of Love

Love Statue Cleve Art Museum

I am sick of hearing about love.

Yep, pretty much fed up with it.

It’s not that I don’t love people; I just don’t always like them. Which are two different things.

But to really love someone is the Lord’s doing. Which is what His Spirit creates within us as He reaches out to those that we come in contact with. But that love is not about some gooey, mushy feeling of creamy mellowness toward other people.

It’s about caring for the eternal well-being of those around us.

Now, I know, as I get older and crankier, I have less patience with people. And sometimes I can be irritating to those around me. As my wife, my family, and my friends will confirm. As I gradually become the curmudgeon I never wanted to be.

However, the real problem is that “love” has become cheap.

Or, to put it another way, it has been cheapened by being so commonly used as the reason or the justification for every cause under the sun. Being used so often that it’s in danger of meaning nothing.

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The Creator of Spiritual Fruit: Conclusion

Rose Closeup

False Identification

In concluding this discussion of good works, there is a very dangerous deception having increasing influence in the Evangelical world.

It involves the confusion created when Evangelical leaders praise deeply religious people who have given their lives to help the poor, to fight for social justice, or to work with orphans, the sick, or the outcasts of society.

Just to be clear, the problem is not about giving credit to those whose work has been of great benefit to others. Nor about praising them for work they have done at great cost to themselves.

All of us can certainly recognize and be grateful to those who have helped other people.

However, this specifically relates to the identification of deeply religious people as great Christian examples based upon their good works; while these same people continue to hold to a spiritual belief that denies salvation by Christ alone, by faith alone, according to the scriptures alone.

For all practical purposes, these people are commonly being embraced as Christians based upon their outward show of good works rather than the specific truths they claim to believe about Jesus Christ and the word of God.

In doing this, we send a confused message to false religious leaders, to those who follow them, to the watching world, and to undiscerning believers. 

And we communicate a gospel that is in direct contradiction to the true gospel of faith alone in Christ alone.

And we give a false hope of salvation to those who are not trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ as their only basis of eternal life.

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The Creator of Spiritual Fruit

Pond Pink Flower

“This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2-5)

We can talk about the Holy Spirit all day long. We can read verses about the Holy Spirit as well. We can even read great books about the Holy Spirit.

But, unless we are brought to that place of seeing our dire need, as believers, for His continual work in our lives, He will simply remain an abstract idea to us.

Yes, we may see how He is necessary for our salvation. And even as someone who greatly influences our good behavior. And who gives us power to do good things.

But, practically speaking, we may still attempt to produce the works of God through our own dedication and will power. By the focused discipline of our own Christian flesh. Employing all kinds of methods and practices to bring our flesh under control.

Instead of patiently depending on the creation of His works in us.

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Seeking Clarity: Part 2 – A False Sense of Biblical Soundness

Wooden Roller Coaster Close Up

The contrast between the popular culture and Evangelicalism is interesting.

On the one hand, popular culture continues to polarize between Leftism and Conservatism. With people very vocal on both sides.

Meanwhile, in the Evangelical culture, there is this trend toward more and more fuzziness on truth. With many leaders carefully avoiding clarity at all cost.

Leaving the average guy in the pews wondering why the church’s grasp on biblical truth is slipping away.

While he watches everything in the church changing around him.
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The Father’s Love for Us

Son on Fathers Shoulders Beach

It’s strange what we think sometimes. And it’s hard to know where these misconceptions come from.

For example, consider how we view God, the Father.

In the past, I often thought of Him with a bit of suspicion. And, by that, I mean that He may have been harboring a bit of resentment toward me, and everyone else, because of the death of His Son.

Now, I know that sounds a bit crazy. But bear with me for a few moments as I go down this rabbit hole of bad theology. And, eventually come out another way into the glorious sunshine of truth.

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Works Confusion: Part 2 – The Lord’s Way of Change

Praying Statue

These compromises within Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism are caused by our misunderstanding of the vast difference between the works of God and the works of the Christian.

We have too much confidence in the value of our own efforts. Christians tend to believe that their devotion, sincerity, depth of good intent, and dedicated will are what the Lord is seeking from them.

Many an altar-call for missionaries has led to sincere believers launching out into the deep on the strength of their own emotion and devotion. Only to find themselves in misery after the novelty of being in the field wears off. Wondering if they were truly called of God after all.

This is a common problem in many areas of full-time Christian ministry. Where the emotion of the moment has influenced a life-changing decision. As opposed to a true calling of God.

And it is a common experience of most believers to daily re-dedicate their wills and desires to better behavior and better works. All based upon their assessment of the previous day’s spiritual successes or failures.

But, is this truly the way that the Lord produces His works in us?

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