my recent musings...
I shut my brain off for the most part for the last few weeks, but it was turned on again in church today...
Why is it that a current trend it that people don't keep their word/promises? Don't get this confused with my accusing anyone...we all have done it, so have I (I actually did it just yesterday), and no particular situation brought it to mind...it's just a general trend that I've noticed my whole life. I don't appreciate it. I just find it irritating that you can't really trust that anyone will follow through with what they say they will.
Another thing that I was thinking about today is that I don't fit the mold of my home church, First Baptist of St. Francis, as well as I used to. They believe things like alcohol being forbidden (I believe that it's okay, but not to depend on it or to get drunk), certain spiritual gifts such as prophesy and tonuges to only come up again for believers in the end times, and some more super conservative/fundamentalist things. I'm fine with them believing those things, and even agree with most of the conservative/fundamentalist stuff, but I'm more "liberal" than them...that is to say that I'm more lenient on some issues. /take Homosexuality for example...I don't say that its right, I actually will flat out tell them that I believe that it's wrong if they ask...but I won't condemn them for it (not that my church does). I will respectfully tell them what I believe and why and not try and force them to change...that's God's job, and they'd have to be willing anyway...and accept Christ, of course...I can only tell them about it and offer genuine love (agape love).
I do however like the message that was preached today about being on the offense/defense for Christianity and finding a balance between them and I totally agree...the main focus was on the defense part and if you want to know about it I'd be glad to discuss it. Mostly, I found that two points were made that made me think. the first one that only 9% of "born again" Christians have a Biblical worldview (their view of the world and beliefs are shaped by the Bible). And second being that "church growth patterns are growing away from Biblical patterns". That last one was talking about the direction church movements are heading (you know, seeker friendly, market driven, purpose driven, and emergent)...not that they're all a bad thing but that we need to watch out for going too far and leaving the Bible behind. The main point was to not forget the basics: the truth and validity of the Bible and that Jesus was sent here, never sinned, became sin on the cross to atone for all of our sins, and came back to life proving his victory over death and the truth of his teachings...that the justification is a free gift and needs to just be accepted.
And that's most of what I've been mulling over today, besides trying to trust God with this school year...with a job, finances, friends, fellowship, leadership, stress management, schedule, books, grades, etc...
Why is it that a current trend it that people don't keep their word/promises? Don't get this confused with my accusing anyone...we all have done it, so have I (I actually did it just yesterday), and no particular situation brought it to mind...it's just a general trend that I've noticed my whole life. I don't appreciate it. I just find it irritating that you can't really trust that anyone will follow through with what they say they will.
Another thing that I was thinking about today is that I don't fit the mold of my home church, First Baptist of St. Francis, as well as I used to. They believe things like alcohol being forbidden (I believe that it's okay, but not to depend on it or to get drunk), certain spiritual gifts such as prophesy and tonuges to only come up again for believers in the end times, and some more super conservative/fundamentalist things. I'm fine with them believing those things, and even agree with most of the conservative/fundamentalist stuff, but I'm more "liberal" than them...that is to say that I'm more lenient on some issues. /take Homosexuality for example...I don't say that its right, I actually will flat out tell them that I believe that it's wrong if they ask...but I won't condemn them for it (not that my church does). I will respectfully tell them what I believe and why and not try and force them to change...that's God's job, and they'd have to be willing anyway...and accept Christ, of course...I can only tell them about it and offer genuine love (agape love).
I do however like the message that was preached today about being on the offense/defense for Christianity and finding a balance between them and I totally agree...the main focus was on the defense part and if you want to know about it I'd be glad to discuss it. Mostly, I found that two points were made that made me think. the first one that only 9% of "born again" Christians have a Biblical worldview (their view of the world and beliefs are shaped by the Bible). And second being that "church growth patterns are growing away from Biblical patterns". That last one was talking about the direction church movements are heading (you know, seeker friendly, market driven, purpose driven, and emergent)...not that they're all a bad thing but that we need to watch out for going too far and leaving the Bible behind. The main point was to not forget the basics: the truth and validity of the Bible and that Jesus was sent here, never sinned, became sin on the cross to atone for all of our sins, and came back to life proving his victory over death and the truth of his teachings...that the justification is a free gift and needs to just be accepted.
And that's most of what I've been mulling over today, besides trying to trust God with this school year...with a job, finances, friends, fellowship, leadership, stress management, schedule, books, grades, etc...