The age old question that atheist, agnostics and some that consider themselves "i don't believe in a "bearded guy in the sky"intellectuals .Others genuinely ask, If there is a God, why is there suffering ?
Now i am not a Pastor,preacher,philosopher or theologian, so i am going to answer the best way i know how. Some of you may disagree with my references to the Bible and GOD himself, but the fact is that i am a Christian. My Christianity is not a religion , and is not about "Thou Shalt" and "Thou Shalt not", but it is a faith that is about relationship, a one on one relationship with GOD and a lifestyle that i choose to live. You cannot separate me from my lifestyle, like you cannot separate a fish from water. With that said, let's get to why you are reading this, SO SIT BACK, THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE.
In the beginning God said "Let us create man in our own image after our own likeness . What this meant was that man was to be in the likeness of God. Just like many of us are in the likeness of our fathers and mothers, we are in the likeness of God. Like twins are the likeness of each other but are different from each other, so are you like God but not God himself. Just like we share genetic codes with our parents, or for some of us our grand parents ,and we look like them and sometimes even act exactly the same way they did when they were our age. We have many of their features , yet we are very distinct individuals.
When God made us like himself, he gave us many of his features, the power to think and create, as is shown in Adams' naming of the animals in the garden. The power to have a relationship, as Adam had a many conversations with God. He gave us the admire , as God made Eve and presented her to Adam, Adam was speechless. Above all GOD gave man free will and the power of choice,
GENESIS 2 vs 16- 17 ;You may freely eat ANY fruit in the garden, except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of it's fruit you will surely die.
Did you notice the key word ANY. Any by definition means some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or many. This implies that there were many trees in the Garden, Its my belief that the garden must have gone on for several millions of acres. We know the wide range of fruit that we see in the supermarket. And what we see is what is local to the climate we live in. The garden must have had every fruit that is known to man, including those that are if there is such a fruit extinct. That is a choice of over 1,000 fruits. So why on earth , did they choose to eat the fruit that was forbidden ?
I am sure that the majority of those reading this article would admit to doing something that our parents or some form of authority told us not to do. Whether it , eating snacks before dinner, going over to a friends after school instead of coming home straight. Taking the car out despite the fact that you don't have a learners permit much more a drivers permit. I think you catch my drift .
They were given the choice of life and death, choose another fruit and live, eat this one and die. It all boils down to choice and we all know what choice that they took.
God gave us all free will, the power to make choices, without which, we would not be like him. He could have decided to program us all downloading into us whatever he wanted us to do, or make us into puppets that did his will, but he decided to give us free will and with that free will, that is why the world is in the state it is in.
Free will, ultimately translates to freedom. Freedom is the power or right to act ,speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Journalists love to claim, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Americans love to plea their various amendments and declaration of independence, oh how much they love it. Many from all around the world run to the United States because of this "freedom" .
But exactly how free is Freedom?
There is no freedom without restrictions, there is no freedom without discipline. We are free to eat what we want , but eat too many sweets and we rot our teeth. Eat too much cholesterol and we risk a lifetime of health complications.
It's all about choice. We are free to date who we choose but some ladies can testify what they have suffered at some of the men they have allowed into their lives. Some of the men paying alimony to women you took their hearts and put it through the grinder can testify to it, but it was their choice to get involved with that person.
What we should ask ourselves Freedom is the right to do as we ought to do, not as we want to do. Freedom comes with responsibility
John 8:36 Therefore,if the son makes you free you are free indeed.
Along with the responsibility of freedom come consequences. No man is an island, whatever we do affects those around us. There is no freedom without community. What you do affects you neighbors and your family. You don't think so!; Try playing you boom box at the highest volume at 2 O clock in the morning and see what happens. If you tell a lie, it affects those we lie to;You have an argument with your spouse, it affects your kids and your co-workers because your countenance has changed.
Many teenagers long for freedom. They want to have as much fun as they can while they are young vis a vis sleep with as many people before they are tied down by marriage . Now, if that young man gets an STD whose fault is it?, The girl for having the disease ? The condom for failing ? NO! , He made a choice to be promiscuous. Some of you will say that "it was just once" , yeah even if it was just once it was still a choice.It takes just once to be bitten by a poisonous snake or stung by jelly fish to die or become seriously paralyzed. He could have chosen chastity, or abstinence, he could have chosen monogamy too, it's all about choice.
The young girl that sleeps with her boyfriend because she doesn't want to lose him, gets pregnant and still loses him made a choice. LADIES , any man that wants to sleep with you and is not ready to make a life time commitment to you, can walk away at anytime after he's gotten what he wanted, many of you know this all too well.
Considering it's the 21st century , there are some ladies that want a no strings attached relationship. That is choice, and they should live with whatever consequences come with that.
Divorce is at a high rate all over the world because some people can not wrap their heads round the concept of monogamy and fidelity. Children are scattered and separated under the guise of "irreconcilable differences". Whatever happened to "for better or for worse, till death do us part.
Young women everyday decide on Abortion because they do not want to a baby inconvenience their lives. Why didn't they think of this when were spreading their legs for some guy !;Now an innocent life has to die because of the choice they made a few months ago.
They lie to themselves that a fetus is not a person yet, What a crock of nonsense! What then is it if it's not a life yet. Those of us that are reading this, when we were fetuses, what were we if not human ? It's all about choices.
Parents don't discipline their children and the call it the building of self esteem .They want to keep their kids happy and not hurt their feelings, so they let them do what they want, with no consequences attached. That is why shows like BRAT CAMP are in existence.Kids that tell their parents to shut up, hit them and slam the door in their face. Their parents made the choice not to discipline them, to play the "buddy" instead of being a leader and a parent. Never confuse discipline with abuse, or freedom with irresponsibility.
People become addicted to cigarettes, pornography, drugs and become obese by choice, you are what you are because you have chosen to be what you are.
So coming down to it IF THERE IS GOD . WHY IS THERE................
Due to the fact that God is not controlling us like puppets on strings, we can do what we want, when we want and how we want. God made laws in which the world runs, and after he made the world and those laws to run the world, he gave man DOMINION over the earth. This means he handed over authority of the earth to man, it became man's property and he was to run it as his own.
PICTURE THIS You are married with kids and you are doing quite well everything is going great and it could not be better, and it's the up bringing that your parents gave you that got you to were you are. What if one day, your dad comes to your house and tries to run your home for you. over riding all your decisions as the man of the house, and making you play second fiddle in your own home, would you be happy.
Ladies, would you appreciate it if your mother in law, came in to; run your house, your kids your kitchen and re arranged everything you have carefully organized to your specific taste. It's yours isn't it, what right does she have, who does she think she is. I thought so.
IMAGINE THIS
If you got an inheritance from your father, the villa in France, the country house, the 15 room mansion, the pent house in New York, along with a healthy trust fund whose interest alone is more than some brain surgeons earn annually.
What if a few years down the line he comes back to tell you that he wants it all back .Disappointment and out rage would be a few of the emotions that you would experience. Of the questions you would probably ask is "why did you give it to me if you were going to take it all away"
So why do we expect from God, after all he has given us the earth, and he can not go back on his word.Like a King that can not go back on the law of the land, God can not go back on the laws he created.
The laws that govern the earth and mankind One of them as we have already learned is free will, the power that man has to make choices. The law of gravity, the law of seed time and harvest, we plant a seed and we receive a harvest. The law of supply and demand. This law applies to our actions and decisions. We choose to sow alcohol , and you have a likelihood of reaping alcoholism, you read the right books you get the right knowledge. You choose not to get educated(formal and informal), you have embraced illiteracy.
Self Esteem and motivational speakers ,tell us that success is all about choice. There is the saying that no one can make us unhappy we choose to be. We can choose to let events of life hamper us or learn from them.
History has shown us numerous people that decided to make choices, both negative and positive.
HITLER & JERRY RAWLINGS - Decided on genocide
MANDELA & MARTIN LUTHER KING - Decided on racial unity
STALIN AND LENIN decided on economic and political Bondage of their people
ABRAHAM LINCOLN and WILLIAM WALLACE(Brave Heart)- Decided on Freedom for their people.
50 CENTS decided that he was going to get out of the ghetto and make something of himself,today he has a personal net worth of $100 million, the same goes for JAY Z who is worth over $300 million . They may not be great moral examples, but regardless they are examples of people that made a CHOICE. Many of the people they grew up with are either dead or in prison.
WHY DOESN'T GOD ANSWER CERTAIN PRAYERS
What if God decided to answer all our prayers, and get rid of all those that trouble us, and cause us trouble. Our neighbors will start dropping in their yards, kids in the playground and parents in the cars in traffic ad grandparents while applying Ben Gay. Each person on this planet has offended someone else at some point in their life time.Catch my drift?
If we never face adversity ,How then do we build character. If he gives us all we want, would we ever work for anything ? Remember the satisfaction you feel, when you have saved long and hard for something and you finally have enough to get it.
Remember the movie BRUCE ALMIGHTY!, I don't agree with everything in the movie, but it did show a very valid point. We point fingers at God and accuse him for everything going wrong in our lives, but given the chance we would not do much better. BRUCE when given the power of God, said yes to every body's prayers and we saw the extra ordinary consequences of such an action.
As a parent do you say yes to every single request that your child makes? Are you a genie that grants every wish of your child. For those that say a resounding yes "after all it is my child" I'm guessing that by now ,the child is out of control, along with ;your home finances and possibly sanity. To those that say NO. Well done, you know that there are some requests that your child makes on impulse and would forget about a few hours later.You know some requests are short sighted without the long term consequences taken into consideration. You know there are some choices that will ultimately cause more harm than good, and there are other choices that are god ,in their own right, but just are at the wrong time.
God answers prayers according to his word, which is the Bible. You pray according to his word and his will with faith, and you should not have a problem having your prayers answered.
WHY DOES GOD LET EVIL HAPPEN
So why does God let evil happen? Why can't he stop or kill these perpetrators of evil? Are you sure you really want that?
If God decided to judge all evil the very same way, he would have to repopulate the earth about every 10 seconds.None of us will be alive to read this write up,myself included.
Every time a teenager thinks of sex, he'd strike him down for LUST.
Every lie that a woman tells her husband about the credit card she'd be struck down for LIES AND DECEIT.
Every man that looks lustfully upon a woman would drop dead.
Every little kid that eats that cookie his mom told him not to, or rides his bicycle when he's not meant to will be struck down for DISOBEDIENCE.
When you pinch a piece of pie from the fridge that belongs to your sister, you would be struck down for STEALING.
The moment you roll your eyes when your dad is chastising you , you would be struck down for breaking the commandment HONOUR THY PARENTS.
Those that doubt or deny his existence ,the mere thought of it and you'd be worm food
Every time a person used the name of GOD or JESUS to swear ,that's an immediate death sentence
AND
Those that choose to mock GOD and Christ, i can't even imagine what would happen to such people. Jerry Springer the Opera,Fat Christ,Jesus Christ Super Star and Life of Brian would never have left the brains of their creators, much less made it to stage and screen.
Far fetched? Not really. If you read accounts in the old testament, particularly the books of DEUTERONOMY and LEVITICUS , you would thank God that we are living under the covenant of Grace. Back then even if you farted the wrong way it could get you killed (just Kidding).
God is a just God and will judge all sin the same way. He does not interfere in the affairs of earth unless we invite him to. Just like a father that is waiting for his son to ask for help in his home work or while assembling that first bicycle. He won't force himself on us. The earth is ours to do wit h as we please.WE , not GOD have made the choices that have gotten us were are today.
We choose to consider our fellow humans as less than human, and that is why there was slavery. We chose to invade other lands and that is why there were to world wars and numerous civil wars.
Dictators, and greedy,selfish politicians decide to line their pockets with billions from the state treasuries and that is why there are starving children everywhere.
We think strong arming is the only way to solve problems, that's why there is child abuse,wife beatings, gang wars and civil unrest.
We can't live with people that are a different race, tribe or ethnic group from us , that is why there is racism and genocide.
Everything that is happening on earth is happening as a result of choices human beings have made.
Some of the diseases in the world have not being cured because, the person whose destiny it was to bring that cure was aborted by someone's choice.
What if Thomas Edison(The Light Bulb),Ford(the automobile),Alexander Fleming (penicillin),Issac Newton(theory of gravity) ,Christopher Columbus(America), John Logie Biard(the television) The Wright Brothers(The Airplane) were aborted as babies, where would the world be today, What if their mothers decided they didn't need the hassle and aborted them , take a few minutes and THINK ABOUT IT.
It's time to stop taking the cowards way out and blaming God for everything that has gone wrong with the world. When things go right i our lives , many of us fail to acknowledge him, but when the world is going crazy , we yell out and blame him.
MAN is the cause of the world's problems, GOD has the desire to help out, he's just waiting for us to ask him to do so.
We have before us choices, it's up to us what we decide upon.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
FUN FOR A MINUTE
Sometimes as a Christian, life may seem that it's on a dimmer switch. As you look around it seems that all the non Christians are having all the fun. It appears that the hottest girls and the cutest guys are unbelievers and they are off limits. You sometimes contemplate letting go �get your freak on� , just for a minute, but the words "shall we continue in sin, so that grace may abound" play like a looping record in your head, and you shake your thoughts off.
Yes, it may seem that the unbelievers are having all the fun, making all the money and top the charts and the head lines, and it can really get frustrating that all the fun things are off limits, but what are the consequences as Christians for engaging in these �fun� things.
SCENARIO # 1
You've got a friend, let's call her April .You are in the same department and she�s seen the difference in you as a Christian. She notices your diligence and is marveled by your integrity. You've been inviting her to youth meetings, and she�s always turned you down. You tell her about the love of God, his promises and your inheritance cause you�re a kid of the king .She finally agrees to go with you to youth meeting, and there she�s engulfed by the fellowship of the brethren, and she�s begun to consider giving her life to Christ.
A few days later she goes to the club, and there she see's you shaking your body to sexual songs, letting men touch you and handle you wrong. She's appalled to see this, you try to justify yourself but to no avail, your fun just earned your friend a one way ticket to hell.
SCENARIO #2
Your roommate and his friends mock you because of your moral stand on sexual issues. They tell you that you are just not able to get a girl into bed, and that is why you are using Christianity as an excuse. Deep inside you know that is not the reason and why you have made such a commitment to God. It doesn't help that you have strong human desires to satisfy the urges that you have, but you've avoided the situations that will make you fall so far, and you keep on the good fight. Your roommates use the room all the time when their girlfriends come over, and the sounds they make do not exactly help your cause. And you are beginning to have thoughts of trying it out just once to experience the feeling that they talk about so much.
One day you are invited to a party to celebrate spring break, deep down you know you are not to meant to be at, but you want to have some fun for a change, and suddenly that cute girl from the campus most popular sorority, that you been admiring for months spots you and comes over, your roommate is smoking some weed, and he offers you some and you decide to find out what it means to get high, and you take a roll from him. You and the cute girl hang out and begin to get physical, the next morning you wake up with a naked girl beside you and realize what you've done. You try to sneak away but everybody at the party knows what went on, and some of the frat boys that had the party congratulate on your "conquest" christening you with names to show. Later on your roommate meets you to tell you that despite all the times he mocked you, he always wished that he had the strength you had to keep to your beliefs, but now he�s seen that you are no different from anyone else. Your testimony is shot, you can never say anything to him again that he can take seriously.
These are things young Christians are tempted with; every where they turn to it seems temptation is calling. The thing about being a Christian is that once you make that commitment, and people know about it, everything you do is under scrutiny, from the way you dress, to your speech and mannerism and the way you react to people and situations. It's like they are watching, waiting for you to fall. Even when there are things that may be innocent, the fact that they might portray a bit of wrong, we are to avoid them. That's why the bible says fleeing from all appearances of evil. Sometimes it may seem like a though deal, but you know what you are striving for.
I conclusion I'd like to encourage you that if any of you has fallen, that is not the end; all you have to do is repent and get back on track. God forgives and he longs for you to follow him, the bible says in I Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted more beyond what you can take".
He knows exactly what you are going through, because Christ himself lived on earth and likewise had the same temptations that we have.
This doesn't mean that we should allow ourselves into tempting situations, that�s why Psalm 23 says Lead us not into temptation, and not deliver us from temptation. We are to use our own discretion to know where and where not we allow ourselves to be.
A club where some people are getting drunk, and some intending to pick up someone for a bed mate that night is not exactly an encouraging place for spiritual growth.
Yes, it may seem that the unbelievers are having all the fun, making all the money and top the charts and the head lines, and it can really get frustrating that all the fun things are off limits, but what are the consequences as Christians for engaging in these �fun� things.
SCENARIO # 1
You've got a friend, let's call her April .You are in the same department and she�s seen the difference in you as a Christian. She notices your diligence and is marveled by your integrity. You've been inviting her to youth meetings, and she�s always turned you down. You tell her about the love of God, his promises and your inheritance cause you�re a kid of the king .She finally agrees to go with you to youth meeting, and there she�s engulfed by the fellowship of the brethren, and she�s begun to consider giving her life to Christ.
A few days later she goes to the club, and there she see's you shaking your body to sexual songs, letting men touch you and handle you wrong. She's appalled to see this, you try to justify yourself but to no avail, your fun just earned your friend a one way ticket to hell.
SCENARIO #2
Your roommate and his friends mock you because of your moral stand on sexual issues. They tell you that you are just not able to get a girl into bed, and that is why you are using Christianity as an excuse. Deep inside you know that is not the reason and why you have made such a commitment to God. It doesn't help that you have strong human desires to satisfy the urges that you have, but you've avoided the situations that will make you fall so far, and you keep on the good fight. Your roommates use the room all the time when their girlfriends come over, and the sounds they make do not exactly help your cause. And you are beginning to have thoughts of trying it out just once to experience the feeling that they talk about so much.
One day you are invited to a party to celebrate spring break, deep down you know you are not to meant to be at, but you want to have some fun for a change, and suddenly that cute girl from the campus most popular sorority, that you been admiring for months spots you and comes over, your roommate is smoking some weed, and he offers you some and you decide to find out what it means to get high, and you take a roll from him. You and the cute girl hang out and begin to get physical, the next morning you wake up with a naked girl beside you and realize what you've done. You try to sneak away but everybody at the party knows what went on, and some of the frat boys that had the party congratulate on your "conquest" christening you with names to show. Later on your roommate meets you to tell you that despite all the times he mocked you, he always wished that he had the strength you had to keep to your beliefs, but now he�s seen that you are no different from anyone else. Your testimony is shot, you can never say anything to him again that he can take seriously.
These are things young Christians are tempted with; every where they turn to it seems temptation is calling. The thing about being a Christian is that once you make that commitment, and people know about it, everything you do is under scrutiny, from the way you dress, to your speech and mannerism and the way you react to people and situations. It's like they are watching, waiting for you to fall. Even when there are things that may be innocent, the fact that they might portray a bit of wrong, we are to avoid them. That's why the bible says fleeing from all appearances of evil. Sometimes it may seem like a though deal, but you know what you are striving for.
I conclusion I'd like to encourage you that if any of you has fallen, that is not the end; all you have to do is repent and get back on track. God forgives and he longs for you to follow him, the bible says in I Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted more beyond what you can take".
He knows exactly what you are going through, because Christ himself lived on earth and likewise had the same temptations that we have.
This doesn't mean that we should allow ourselves into tempting situations, that�s why Psalm 23 says Lead us not into temptation, and not deliver us from temptation. We are to use our own discretion to know where and where not we allow ourselves to be.
A club where some people are getting drunk, and some intending to pick up someone for a bed mate that night is not exactly an encouraging place for spiritual growth.
Saturday, 3 May 2008
KINGDOM AMBASSADORS
Some times in this life, we sit down
and wonder why we are in the situations
that we find our selves in.
Often times we are the architects of our
own demise and we don't even realize it .
We pray and pray expecting "manna" to fall
from heaven in some miraculous way
when the power to change our situations has already been
given to us.
All the devil needs is a crack to get in ,
a chink in the Armour to sink his claws
into our lives, and it may be in one moment of weakness
when we let our guard down.He knows he needs only a little pressure on our lives for us to fall.
Living a life of purity, if one has chosen to do so
means that you have got to obey the rules,You have got to set boundaries, restrictions . Like a castle that has a crocodile filled moat and a drawbridge, and archers on the tower. You have got to have defenses,
Defenses that only you absolutely control and nobody can breach those defenses.
Boundaries that you do not cross, and situations you foresee and do not get yourself into.
If sexual purity is your decision ,what do you do to keep that.
Well for one thing , dating people that believe sex is a rightful part of a dating relationship is out of the question, you are only setting yourself up for a fall, and when you fall, you will fall hard. Their belief does not make them bad people ,it just means that you are tuned into a different frequency that you are.
If you decide that alcohol is no longer a part of your life hanging out at a bar or club certainly won't help.
You got to realize that your flesh is your slave and not
the other way around, you tell your flesh what to do
not it telling you what to do. It obeys you and not you obeying it.
Whether that applies to food, sex,credit card purchases you know you can't afford.
In order to live up to God's expectations you have to have
so much control over your body that it is your slave .
This means that when your flesh craves sexual satisfaction
You tell it NO,When it craves revenge you tell it NO .When you have a
dodgy heart and it craves a Big Mac, you tell it a resounding NO.
Because of lack of self control many believers have become worthless rationalizing the word of God and making excuses for their yielding.
The Kingdom of God is not a democracy, we can not choose what laws we want to obey and which ones are not convenient for us.
Without self control there is no difference between a Christian and any body else.If we yield to whatever our flesh desires place before us.
then we might as well put down the cross and be on our way.
The devil's intention is to slap God in the face by having Christians (God's Kid's) yield to every desire of the flesh, doing the same things that the world does.
These days more than ever safe ain't safe at all today.
Quit your jibber jabber ,Don't be a statistic, DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.
and wonder why we are in the situations
that we find our selves in.
Often times we are the architects of our
own demise and we don't even realize it .
We pray and pray expecting "manna" to fall
from heaven in some miraculous way
when the power to change our situations has already been
given to us.
All the devil needs is a crack to get in ,
a chink in the Armour to sink his claws
into our lives, and it may be in one moment of weakness
when we let our guard down.He knows he needs only a little pressure on our lives for us to fall.
Living a life of purity, if one has chosen to do so
means that you have got to obey the rules,You have got to set boundaries, restrictions . Like a castle that has a crocodile filled moat and a drawbridge, and archers on the tower. You have got to have defenses,
Defenses that only you absolutely control and nobody can breach those defenses.
Boundaries that you do not cross, and situations you foresee and do not get yourself into.
If sexual purity is your decision ,what do you do to keep that.
Well for one thing , dating people that believe sex is a rightful part of a dating relationship is out of the question, you are only setting yourself up for a fall, and when you fall, you will fall hard. Their belief does not make them bad people ,it just means that you are tuned into a different frequency that you are.
If you decide that alcohol is no longer a part of your life hanging out at a bar or club certainly won't help.
You got to realize that your flesh is your slave and not
the other way around, you tell your flesh what to do
not it telling you what to do. It obeys you and not you obeying it.
Whether that applies to food, sex,credit card purchases you know you can't afford.
In order to live up to God's expectations you have to have
so much control over your body that it is your slave .
This means that when your flesh craves sexual satisfaction
You tell it NO,When it craves revenge you tell it NO .When you have a
dodgy heart and it craves a Big Mac, you tell it a resounding NO.
Because of lack of self control many believers have become worthless rationalizing the word of God and making excuses for their yielding.
The Kingdom of God is not a democracy, we can not choose what laws we want to obey and which ones are not convenient for us.
Without self control there is no difference between a Christian and any body else.If we yield to whatever our flesh desires place before us.
then we might as well put down the cross and be on our way.
The devil's intention is to slap God in the face by having Christians (God's Kid's) yield to every desire of the flesh, doing the same things that the world does.
These days more than ever safe ain't safe at all today.
Quit your jibber jabber ,Don't be a statistic, DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
GOD'S GRAND KIDS
First of all, I'd like to say that I'm not posting this to curse the darkness, I'm trying to turn on the Light.
I am by no means more righteous than others, i just want to provoke introspection amongst all of us.
No matter at what level we are in in our relationship with God. We can never be too AWAKE.
Many people , in their social network profiles under the religion question sate CHRISTIAN. Others do the same when asked in a conversation. However if you take a look at the lifestyles and beliefs of some of these individuals , it is far from anything associated with Christ.
So what is the true meaning of Christian? ,What does it mean to be a Christian?
Does going to church make you a Christian?
Does the fact that you were born into a Christian home by Christian parents make you a Christian?.
To these i say NO.If it works that way, That means i automatically become a double masters graduate without the effort based on the choices and actions of my parents.
Being born and raised on the campus of Harvard , does not automatically make one a student of Harvard.Neither does being born into a Christian home make one a Christian. If i wanted to enter Harvard i would have to make the conscious effort to commit myself into getting into Harvard by filing out an application form and taking required steps.
A man of God once put it this way "God has no grandchildren".
"The greatest cause of atheism in the world today , is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus ,with their lips,and walk out the door,but not with their lifestyle, THAT ,is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Are we more concerned with getting high than the most high?
Are we more concerned with being politically correct than standing for
what we believe in ?
Are we more comfortable with what is socially acceptable, than what is God acceptable?
Do you justify your actions, turning everything to Grey, when you know you are blatantly out of line.
If Jesus went through your Google search , What would he find?
If he walked into your room when you were with that special someone, would you be embarrassed?
Do you squirm when you see a cute puppy being hurt, but shrug your shoulders at abortion, like it's just one of those things and doesn't concern you?
Guys, do you say or make inappropriate gestures towards ladies, are your thoughts pure and different from the average guy on the street, who knows nothing about God? Do you say things to girls just so that you can set the ball rolling to get them into bed. Do you take a girl out on an expensive date with the intention of getting sex as a payback?
Ladies, do you dress appropriately? When you dress up do you wear clothes to make people notice your body. There is a difference between being sexy and being sensual. Does your dressing stimulate sexual thoughts in men. Do you wear blouses or tops that allow guys to see your cleavage?
Can you scripturally back up the actions that you take , or do they contradict the word of God.
How is your life any different from those who have never stepped into a church. Can anyone tell the difference?
Becoming a Christian is like joining the army.When you join the army, there are things in your life you can no longer do, if you want to be a successful soldier.
Discipline has to become part of your DNA. You can no longer eat deep fried chicken and ice cream every night.
You can't wake up at 11 pm or sleep in as much as you want .
You can't go out binging all night.You have to conform to an exercise regiment if you are going to survive the life of a soldier.
If you claim Christ, you You cannot go to bed with a person you are not married to, claiming "we are in love and we aren't hurting anybody".
Once you tell people that you are Christian, they are instantly watching your life to see how you conduct it. They are watching for you to make that mistake, so they can point fingers and say that you are no different from anyone else.
You cannot live a life contrary to the bible and expect everything to be in the sweet by and by. "A fountain can not produce both sweet and bitter water".You can't get stupid drunk every weekend and waltz around professing Christ . Ladies,you can't let some man touch and handle you wrong, and claim "we were just dancing", there are eyes watching and taking note of your actions.
The truth is , we all know these things. Life is all about choices,and deep down we know when we are going the wrong way through our inner compass. The difference is, what are we going to do about it now?
Now don't get it twisted. Christians are not perfect.We struggle with the same things that every body else does. We have the same desires in life and the same trials, we are not isolated from temptations, and it is not by our own strength we sometimes overcome them.
THE DIFFERENCE HOWEVER, is about the commitment to change your life and strive for perfection.The determination that says "I'm not going to let my cravings rule my life" is what is important
Creating boundaries of what you can and cannot do,where you can and can not go, no matter how much fun it is.
If all of the above doesn't suit your idea of living life.
By all means,enjoy your "Not Religious" status, and do continue to do those things, that you love to do,but don't claim Christianity while doing everything that contradicts the bible.
The choices you make today affect your tomorrow.
The question we all should ask ourselves is when each one of us stands before the judgment seat of Christ, and he asks you WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO MY KINGDOM? What will be your answer?
I am by no means more righteous than others, i just want to provoke introspection amongst all of us.
No matter at what level we are in in our relationship with God. We can never be too AWAKE.
Many people , in their social network profiles under the religion question sate CHRISTIAN. Others do the same when asked in a conversation. However if you take a look at the lifestyles and beliefs of some of these individuals , it is far from anything associated with Christ.
So what is the true meaning of Christian? ,What does it mean to be a Christian?
Does going to church make you a Christian?
Does the fact that you were born into a Christian home by Christian parents make you a Christian?.
To these i say NO.If it works that way, That means i automatically become a double masters graduate without the effort based on the choices and actions of my parents.
Being born and raised on the campus of Harvard , does not automatically make one a student of Harvard.Neither does being born into a Christian home make one a Christian. If i wanted to enter Harvard i would have to make the conscious effort to commit myself into getting into Harvard by filing out an application form and taking required steps.
A man of God once put it this way "God has no grandchildren".
"The greatest cause of atheism in the world today , is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus ,with their lips,and walk out the door,but not with their lifestyle, THAT ,is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Are we more concerned with getting high than the most high?
Are we more concerned with being politically correct than standing for
what we believe in ?
Are we more comfortable with what is socially acceptable, than what is God acceptable?
Do you justify your actions, turning everything to Grey, when you know you are blatantly out of line.
If Jesus went through your Google search , What would he find?
If he walked into your room when you were with that special someone, would you be embarrassed?
Do you squirm when you see a cute puppy being hurt, but shrug your shoulders at abortion, like it's just one of those things and doesn't concern you?
Guys, do you say or make inappropriate gestures towards ladies, are your thoughts pure and different from the average guy on the street, who knows nothing about God? Do you say things to girls just so that you can set the ball rolling to get them into bed. Do you take a girl out on an expensive date with the intention of getting sex as a payback?
Ladies, do you dress appropriately? When you dress up do you wear clothes to make people notice your body. There is a difference between being sexy and being sensual. Does your dressing stimulate sexual thoughts in men. Do you wear blouses or tops that allow guys to see your cleavage?
Can you scripturally back up the actions that you take , or do they contradict the word of God.
How is your life any different from those who have never stepped into a church. Can anyone tell the difference?
Becoming a Christian is like joining the army.When you join the army, there are things in your life you can no longer do, if you want to be a successful soldier.
Discipline has to become part of your DNA. You can no longer eat deep fried chicken and ice cream every night.
You can't wake up at 11 pm or sleep in as much as you want .
You can't go out binging all night.You have to conform to an exercise regiment if you are going to survive the life of a soldier.
If you claim Christ, you You cannot go to bed with a person you are not married to, claiming "we are in love and we aren't hurting anybody".
Once you tell people that you are Christian, they are instantly watching your life to see how you conduct it. They are watching for you to make that mistake, so they can point fingers and say that you are no different from anyone else.
You cannot live a life contrary to the bible and expect everything to be in the sweet by and by. "A fountain can not produce both sweet and bitter water".You can't get stupid drunk every weekend and waltz around professing Christ . Ladies,you can't let some man touch and handle you wrong, and claim "we were just dancing", there are eyes watching and taking note of your actions.
The truth is , we all know these things. Life is all about choices,and deep down we know when we are going the wrong way through our inner compass. The difference is, what are we going to do about it now?
Now don't get it twisted. Christians are not perfect.We struggle with the same things that every body else does. We have the same desires in life and the same trials, we are not isolated from temptations, and it is not by our own strength we sometimes overcome them.
THE DIFFERENCE HOWEVER, is about the commitment to change your life and strive for perfection.The determination that says "I'm not going to let my cravings rule my life" is what is important
Creating boundaries of what you can and cannot do,where you can and can not go, no matter how much fun it is.
If all of the above doesn't suit your idea of living life.
By all means,enjoy your "Not Religious" status, and do continue to do those things, that you love to do,but don't claim Christianity while doing everything that contradicts the bible.
The choices you make today affect your tomorrow.
The question we all should ask ourselves is when each one of us stands before the judgment seat of Christ, and he asks you WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO MY KINGDOM? What will be your answer?
NO SEX PLEASE IM AN ABSTINENCE GEEK
ABSTINENCE,this is a word that a lot of people do not like, an amazingly some people may not even be able to tell you the meaning of the word because it's not in their vocabulary or sphere of thinking. To most teenagers and young people this word is almost synonymous with “being lame” or simply ”having no game”. When you claim abstinence it’s just an excuse because you “can’t get any”. It is something that a lot of people run away from cause it’s got some sort of stigma and when you say you are for abstinence, it makes you sound like a religious fanatic of the David Koresh, Jim Jones type.
The Encarta dictionary defines Abstinence as self denial: restraint from indulging a desire for something e.g. Alcohol or sexual relations .
In recent years an organisation called the "Silver Ring Thing™ , are helping teens realise that they are not on their own and that they have support. Just like those that want to give up smoking or loose weight have support groups. SRT is an organisation that help teen realise that they do not have to go with the flow, of promiscuity and sleeping with that person you "love". And it's trying to be an alternative to Sex Education.
There have been vindictive attacks against the programme claiming that it doesn't work and it's unhealthy to promote it. What i want to know is , if you never drink can you get drunk? , if you never do drugs can you become an addict ? If you don't discipline yourself change your diet and exercise can you ever lose weight. Those that say it doesn't work , just don't want to admit that they like sex too much to give it up. The sex education that has been taught for many years, teenagers are still getting pregnant, and contracting STD's . Condoms are scientifically proven to have a failure rate ad are not 100% guaranteed. If you were about to jump out of a plane, and you were told there was a chance it wouldn't open due it's nature from manufacture, would you still jump out, or wait till it's 100% safe?
As a red blooded male , my sexuality is something that I have encountered for many years. Being a tele addict did not really help matters. The numerous teen shows,drama and soaps with the perfect guy and perfect girl , locking lips as a show of their affection to each other clashed with the inner part of me that said that level of intimacy was not right for a dating relationship. I’m not going to sit here like a sanctimonious ass hole, and let on a tirade of self righteous condemnation. I have the desire too , to have a beautiful girl on my arm, riding shot gun in my car and kiss her good night when I drop her off at home.
Some couples do agree to take the vow of abstinence , but compromise. Engaging in long periods of heaving kissing and petting and sometimes even oral sex, giving themselves the excuse that "it's not penetration" and we didn't going “all the way” is just deceiving yourself.
There is a saying that goes “if you’re not going to cook , don’t go into the kitchen” .You can't expect to play with fire and not get burnt. Kissing and petting are forms of foreplay which is meant to lead to sex, this is something that lot’s of people fail, or rather refuse to understand. They think they can control themselves, and put on the brakes just before launching off from third base. But that’s like being handed the keys to a Porsche on the Auto Bahn, and telling your self that you are not going to speed, or staying on the start line of a Formula 1 race, you continuously rev your engine and take off, and just before you cross the finish line you jam on the brakes, do that enough times and one day your brakes will fail. Ever heard the expression “one thing led to another and it just happened”. Nothing just happens, every thing in life is a consequence of an action .
It’s not easy as a Christian dealing with the fact that you can’t engage in the physical pleasure(yeah, that’s what it is) that is part of “normal” relationships, if temptation didn’t involve pleasure or enjoyment it wouldn’t attract you now would it? So if I can’t touch and kiss my girlfriend/boyfriend, what else can we do? Just hold hands, that’s boring!
Look, I don’t all or any of the answers cause I myself am still searching for them. However what I do have is a few suggestions.
1. Don’t date someone that doesn’t share your belief in abstinence
By doing this you are setting yourself up for a fall right from the get go. It may seem that none of the Christian girls/guys are hot or even fun. But two can not walk unless they agree. It’s harder for someone on the ground to pull down someone on a ladder than vice versa.
There have been some girls that I have had a thing for, and I had a chance with them if I made the move, but because I knew they didn’t share my stand ,and as much as it hurt( and boy did it hurt) I kept my relationship platonic. We can’t give into every attraction or desire we have .
2.Never let yourself be in a place that you have no chance of being disturbed
The classic sexual invitation we see on television and in the movies, is “ my parents are out of town, we have the whole place to ourselves” that pretty much speaks for it’s self. Besides, something creepy like an axe wielding psychopath usually shows up anyway, so to be for warned is to be forearmed, lol.
3.Be careful what you let in through your eye and ear gates
Increasingly in the past few years , television is becoming more and more "liberal"। The most successful shows in recent years have a 87% sex premise, from Sex and The City, to Desperate Housewives, to the more recent The Tudors and Skins, Sex has become an Olympics sport to which lead characters are competing for gold medals.
When we continuously watch shows like those it gives us the idea that it's a normal part of life and behavior. Promiscuity is glorified and the consequences of such a life are never shown .
The songs and radio shows we also listen have the same great effect. Listening to shows were people are talking about how many people they've slept with in the last month , is definitely not healthy listening. Neither is it listening to artist who tell you "i don't see nothing wrong, with a little bump and grind". Point of note, that artist is still having court issues, because of a certain video of his that made its way to the internet.
4.Realize that a relationship is a lot more than making out(snogging) and knocking boots(knobbing)
A lot of relationships have a “strong” foundation based on their physical attraction and desire for each other, but if you take away all that what is left. What else draws you to that person except wanting to lock lips(and other parts) with them? Is there anything else that will keep you two going? I’ve always had the policy that no matter how hot a girl is , and no matter how much we dig each other, if there is no foreseeable future, other than I think you’re cute, I know you think I’m cute too, let’s go out. I don’t bother.
Try this little experiment. Go one week without kissing or caressing your partner,Just spend time in conversation. If you can't do this, this would give you an idea of what your relationship is based on.
Learn to create restrictions and accountability.
If all else fails, you have legs, USE THEM .It worked for Joseph ,it will work for you.Many are of the self deceiving and defeating belief that they can resist temptation in the face of it. Taht they can hit the brakes when it starts going "too far".
PONDER ON THIS
King David, was known as a man after God's own heart, yet he succumbed because we let his eyes roam and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He used his influence and charm wrongly
Sampson Was the strongest man to ever live. He defeated armies single handedly. He did things that would make the competitors of "world's strongest man" look like 8 year old ballerinas. Yet sexual temptation over came him, because we got involved with someone that was not of God.
All these were great men of God, who the only thing wrong recorded about them was wrong sexual relationships. Many great men of God in our time have lost their ministry because sexual immorality entered the equation. They let down their guard and in an instant they fell. Never underestimate the power of raging hormones and compromising situations, the devil knows how to use them. If such powerful men could fall, don't think you will strong enough to resist in the midst of it. You play in a snake pit, you are bound to get bitten.
Abraham the friend of God allowed himself to get into bed with his maid servant, today the world is at unrest as a result of that "one time"
Joseph is the only person in the bible that has not one wrong recorded against him. When he was faced with temptation, he did not stay there to try and talk her out of it. He ran as fast as he could
Don't stay there and try to be cool. GUYS, don't try and be "the man" cool calm and collected when you are about to get burnt.
I’m no expert when it comes to relationships, so you really don’t have to take anything I’m saying seriously, but I’ve learned that we often know the truth deep down inside before anyone else ever tells us.
The Encarta dictionary defines Abstinence as self denial: restraint from indulging a desire for something e.g. Alcohol or sexual relations .
In recent years an organisation called the "Silver Ring Thing™ , are helping teens realise that they are not on their own and that they have support. Just like those that want to give up smoking or loose weight have support groups. SRT is an organisation that help teen realise that they do not have to go with the flow, of promiscuity and sleeping with that person you "love". And it's trying to be an alternative to Sex Education.
There have been vindictive attacks against the programme claiming that it doesn't work and it's unhealthy to promote it. What i want to know is , if you never drink can you get drunk? , if you never do drugs can you become an addict ? If you don't discipline yourself change your diet and exercise can you ever lose weight. Those that say it doesn't work , just don't want to admit that they like sex too much to give it up. The sex education that has been taught for many years, teenagers are still getting pregnant, and contracting STD's . Condoms are scientifically proven to have a failure rate ad are not 100% guaranteed. If you were about to jump out of a plane, and you were told there was a chance it wouldn't open due it's nature from manufacture, would you still jump out, or wait till it's 100% safe?
As a red blooded male , my sexuality is something that I have encountered for many years. Being a tele addict did not really help matters. The numerous teen shows,drama and soaps with the perfect guy and perfect girl , locking lips as a show of their affection to each other clashed with the inner part of me that said that level of intimacy was not right for a dating relationship. I’m not going to sit here like a sanctimonious ass hole, and let on a tirade of self righteous condemnation. I have the desire too , to have a beautiful girl on my arm, riding shot gun in my car and kiss her good night when I drop her off at home.
Some couples do agree to take the vow of abstinence , but compromise. Engaging in long periods of heaving kissing and petting and sometimes even oral sex, giving themselves the excuse that "it's not penetration" and we didn't going “all the way” is just deceiving yourself.
There is a saying that goes “if you’re not going to cook , don’t go into the kitchen” .You can't expect to play with fire and not get burnt. Kissing and petting are forms of foreplay which is meant to lead to sex, this is something that lot’s of people fail, or rather refuse to understand. They think they can control themselves, and put on the brakes just before launching off from third base. But that’s like being handed the keys to a Porsche on the Auto Bahn, and telling your self that you are not going to speed, or staying on the start line of a Formula 1 race, you continuously rev your engine and take off, and just before you cross the finish line you jam on the brakes, do that enough times and one day your brakes will fail. Ever heard the expression “one thing led to another and it just happened”. Nothing just happens, every thing in life is a consequence of an action .
It’s not easy as a Christian dealing with the fact that you can’t engage in the physical pleasure(yeah, that’s what it is) that is part of “normal” relationships, if temptation didn’t involve pleasure or enjoyment it wouldn’t attract you now would it? So if I can’t touch and kiss my girlfriend/boyfriend, what else can we do? Just hold hands, that’s boring!
Look, I don’t all or any of the answers cause I myself am still searching for them. However what I do have is a few suggestions.
1. Don’t date someone that doesn’t share your belief in abstinence
By doing this you are setting yourself up for a fall right from the get go. It may seem that none of the Christian girls/guys are hot or even fun. But two can not walk unless they agree. It’s harder for someone on the ground to pull down someone on a ladder than vice versa.
There have been some girls that I have had a thing for, and I had a chance with them if I made the move, but because I knew they didn’t share my stand ,and as much as it hurt( and boy did it hurt) I kept my relationship platonic. We can’t give into every attraction or desire we have .
2.Never let yourself be in a place that you have no chance of being disturbed
The classic sexual invitation we see on television and in the movies, is “ my parents are out of town, we have the whole place to ourselves” that pretty much speaks for it’s self. Besides, something creepy like an axe wielding psychopath usually shows up anyway, so to be for warned is to be forearmed, lol.
3.Be careful what you let in through your eye and ear gates
Increasingly in the past few years , television is becoming more and more "liberal"। The most successful shows in recent years have a 87% sex premise, from Sex and The City, to Desperate Housewives, to the more recent The Tudors and Skins, Sex has become an Olympics sport to which lead characters are competing for gold medals.
When we continuously watch shows like those it gives us the idea that it's a normal part of life and behavior. Promiscuity is glorified and the consequences of such a life are never shown .
The songs and radio shows we also listen have the same great effect. Listening to shows were people are talking about how many people they've slept with in the last month , is definitely not healthy listening. Neither is it listening to artist who tell you "i don't see nothing wrong, with a little bump and grind". Point of note, that artist is still having court issues, because of a certain video of his that made its way to the internet.
4.Realize that a relationship is a lot more than making out(snogging) and knocking boots(knobbing)
A lot of relationships have a “strong” foundation based on their physical attraction and desire for each other, but if you take away all that what is left. What else draws you to that person except wanting to lock lips(and other parts) with them? Is there anything else that will keep you two going? I’ve always had the policy that no matter how hot a girl is , and no matter how much we dig each other, if there is no foreseeable future, other than I think you’re cute, I know you think I’m cute too, let’s go out. I don’t bother.
Try this little experiment. Go one week without kissing or caressing your partner,Just spend time in conversation. If you can't do this, this would give you an idea of what your relationship is based on.
Learn to create restrictions and accountability.
If all else fails, you have legs, USE THEM .It worked for Joseph ,it will work for you.Many are of the self deceiving and defeating belief that they can resist temptation in the face of it. Taht they can hit the brakes when it starts going "too far".
PONDER ON THIS
King David, was known as a man after God's own heart, yet he succumbed because we let his eyes roam and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He used his influence and charm wrongly
Sampson Was the strongest man to ever live. He defeated armies single handedly. He did things that would make the competitors of "world's strongest man" look like 8 year old ballerinas. Yet sexual temptation over came him, because we got involved with someone that was not of God.
All these were great men of God, who the only thing wrong recorded about them was wrong sexual relationships. Many great men of God in our time have lost their ministry because sexual immorality entered the equation. They let down their guard and in an instant they fell. Never underestimate the power of raging hormones and compromising situations, the devil knows how to use them. If such powerful men could fall, don't think you will strong enough to resist in the midst of it. You play in a snake pit, you are bound to get bitten.
Abraham the friend of God allowed himself to get into bed with his maid servant, today the world is at unrest as a result of that "one time"
Joseph is the only person in the bible that has not one wrong recorded against him. When he was faced with temptation, he did not stay there to try and talk her out of it. He ran as fast as he could
Don't stay there and try to be cool. GUYS, don't try and be "the man" cool calm and collected when you are about to get burnt.
I’m no expert when it comes to relationships, so you really don’t have to take anything I’m saying seriously, but I’ve learned that we often know the truth deep down inside before anyone else ever tells us.
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