While down the street recently I came across a sign outside a shop that said, “ Carry your own lantern and you will never need to be afraid of the Dark.”
Very good advice I feel, for not only will you never need to be afraid of the dark, but you can also provide light for others as well, So instead of always being dependant of others to show or lead the way for you, you can do so by yourself if necessary.
Yes, with you own light, you can also choose for yourself which is the right road, rather than being forced to follow someone else’s road right or wrong! Or having to wait till someone else with a light of their own and heading your way, comes along.
Of course carrying a lamp of your own is one thing, carrying the right one, is another. As we come to this Christmas Season, let us all remember He who was born to be the light of the whole world.
And remembering Him alone, let each one of us take hold of this Light of the world, as our very own, so that we not only always have “The Light” with us, but so that we can always see and find the road or path down which we are meant to be headed. And then head in that right direction too. And hopefully even guide others in that direction too.
Will you do that? Will you carry the light of the world for yourself from this point on and also use it to guide others to Christ too?
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
To Equivocate or not?
I have hesitated and been quite ambiguous and unclear as to whether I should write about September 21st 2009’s word of the day, “Equivocate.
To equivocate is literally to call equally one thing or the other. To be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or to avoid committing oneself to anything definite.
In other words to equivocate is to try and avoid making a decision. Or committing yourself to an action, you are either unsure of or are afraid will turn around and bite you irregardless of what decision you make. Hence you equivocate in responding or answering, hoping the problem will go away and you can avoid committing yourself.
Sometimes this works with no real cost to you or the others involved, but sometimes your equivocating can cost badly. Either cost you or others, but still cost greatly. So if you find yourself in a position of equivocating where further equivocating is simply putting of the inevitable. Or worse likely to be costly to someone, whether you or anyone else, climb down of the fence and make a commitment.
After all remember James 4:17. “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.”
So stop hurting others and start doing what you know is right and start doing it right now!
To equivocate is literally to call equally one thing or the other. To be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or to avoid committing oneself to anything definite.
In other words to equivocate is to try and avoid making a decision. Or committing yourself to an action, you are either unsure of or are afraid will turn around and bite you irregardless of what decision you make. Hence you equivocate in responding or answering, hoping the problem will go away and you can avoid committing yourself.
Sometimes this works with no real cost to you or the others involved, but sometimes your equivocating can cost badly. Either cost you or others, but still cost greatly. So if you find yourself in a position of equivocating where further equivocating is simply putting of the inevitable. Or worse likely to be costly to someone, whether you or anyone else, climb down of the fence and make a commitment.
After all remember James 4:17. “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.”
So stop hurting others and start doing what you know is right and start doing it right now!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
God’s presence at all times.
Recently I was asked this question: “do you think we always have the same amount of God's presence with us or do you think that God draws closer to us at certain times and then "moves away".
Different people may have different opinions on this but Jesus clearly said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20b. (NRSV). So, as I accept that Jesus is part of the trinity and Godhead, I thus believe that God is present with us always.
And always means always. And even if we don’t always see or experience His presence, that doesn’t mean He is not there. After all, how many times have you been in a room and not seen somebody else also in that room, all because you had your back to them?
It is the same with God. We often don’t see Him, not because He has moved, but because we have either turned our backs to Him, or allowed other things to distract us, or even allowed other people to block our view of Him. Again, how many times have you been in a crowded place, and lost track of the person you were with, because you either stopped to look at something without telling them or you sped ahead of them and allowed other people to come between you and them?
Many people today believe God is not there or has even left them, because they, they and not He, have either turned their backs on where God is, or they have allowed other things to distract them from God, or they have allowed other people to come between them and God.
So what about you today? Are you fully aware of God’s presence in your life now, or have you too allowed yourself to be distracted from where God is at?
Over to you now for reflection.
Different people may have different opinions on this but Jesus clearly said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20b. (NRSV). So, as I accept that Jesus is part of the trinity and Godhead, I thus believe that God is present with us always.
And always means always. And even if we don’t always see or experience His presence, that doesn’t mean He is not there. After all, how many times have you been in a room and not seen somebody else also in that room, all because you had your back to them?
It is the same with God. We often don’t see Him, not because He has moved, but because we have either turned our backs to Him, or allowed other things to distract us, or even allowed other people to block our view of Him. Again, how many times have you been in a crowded place, and lost track of the person you were with, because you either stopped to look at something without telling them or you sped ahead of them and allowed other people to come between you and them?
Many people today believe God is not there or has even left them, because they, they and not He, have either turned their backs on where God is, or they have allowed other things to distract them from God, or they have allowed other people to come between them and God.
So what about you today? Are you fully aware of God’s presence in your life now, or have you too allowed yourself to be distracted from where God is at?
Over to you now for reflection.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Incarnadine.
The Word of the Day for Friday, October 2, 2009 was a real doozy. Not only had I never heard of it before, but upon reading it’s meaning quickly, figured I would probably never would use it anyway. What about you? Would you be likely to use a word with the following meanings, in any likelihood?
“Incarnadine \in-KAR-nuh-dyn\, adjective:
1. Having a fleshy pink color.
2. Red; blood-red.
transitive verb:
1. To make red or crimson.”
However, upon reading further, I found it is from the same Latin rootstock as three words in very common usage in some circles today, including mine.
One common and known to almost anyone with even just a rudimentary Knowledge of Garden plants and flowers. And the other two, although probably not used as much, are common to most religious folk and specifically Christians.
So, to you gardeners and Christians out there today, can you tell me what these three relatively common words (with totally different applications today) are?
Maybe the following will help you out?
“Incarnadine comes from the Italian ‘incarnatino’, which came from the Latin incarnato, meaning something incarnate, made flesh, from in + caro, carn-, "flesh." It is related to carnation, etymologically the flesh-colored flower; incarnate, "in the flesh; made flesh"; and carnal, "pertaining to the body or its appetites."
So, although like me you had probably no idea what ‘Incarnadine’ meant and unlikely to ever use it in its proper form, you have moist likely seen and heard, if not used, its related words. You may not use carnal and incarnate as much as I would, but I am pretty sure you have all seen a Carnation Flower before, even if not in its original incarnadine colouring!
Not sure how the above will help you today, but it has helped me to understand where some of the common words I use have come form and truly gives more feeling to Christ becoming incarnate or in the Flesh, particularly with the blood red connotations too!
“Incarnadine \in-KAR-nuh-dyn\, adjective:
1. Having a fleshy pink color.
2. Red; blood-red.
transitive verb:
1. To make red or crimson.”
However, upon reading further, I found it is from the same Latin rootstock as three words in very common usage in some circles today, including mine.
One common and known to almost anyone with even just a rudimentary Knowledge of Garden plants and flowers. And the other two, although probably not used as much, are common to most religious folk and specifically Christians.
So, to you gardeners and Christians out there today, can you tell me what these three relatively common words (with totally different applications today) are?
Maybe the following will help you out?
“Incarnadine comes from the Italian ‘incarnatino’, which came from the Latin incarnato, meaning something incarnate, made flesh, from in + caro, carn-, "flesh." It is related to carnation, etymologically the flesh-colored flower; incarnate, "in the flesh; made flesh"; and carnal, "pertaining to the body or its appetites."
So, although like me you had probably no idea what ‘Incarnadine’ meant and unlikely to ever use it in its proper form, you have moist likely seen and heard, if not used, its related words. You may not use carnal and incarnate as much as I would, but I am pretty sure you have all seen a Carnation Flower before, even if not in its original incarnadine colouring!
Not sure how the above will help you today, but it has helped me to understand where some of the common words I use have come form and truly gives more feeling to Christ becoming incarnate or in the Flesh, particularly with the blood red connotations too!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
What is Sin to You?
As a (Claytons*) Preacher, one occasionally hears all kinds of definitions of what sin is. To some, there are even big sins and little sins. So what is sin?
According to the Greek word translated Sin in our Bibles, it is an archery term and simply means missing the mark or object aimed at. So sin is simply missing at achieving whatever it is that you were aiming at. So, you have either hit your target or you have missed your target. So there is no real difference in a little miss or a big miss is there? A miss is a miss and that is all there is to it, isn’t it? And it is the same with sin. Whether small or big sin is still sin!
Now, as to what is sin to you, the best definition of that that I have come across, is in the Bible in James chapter 4, verse 17. There it says, “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.” (NRSV).
Really quite simple isn’t it? Anything that you know is right, but YOU don’t do it, is a sin for you. Yes even though it may not be a sin for anyone else, if you know what is right but don’t do it, it is a sin for you. As you have missed what you aimed for.
So in closing what are you currently aiming at but missing and what will you do about it now?
*Claytons: Non-alcoholic drink substitute. Catchphrase: “the drink you have when you're not having a drink.”
According to the Greek word translated Sin in our Bibles, it is an archery term and simply means missing the mark or object aimed at. So sin is simply missing at achieving whatever it is that you were aiming at. So, you have either hit your target or you have missed your target. So there is no real difference in a little miss or a big miss is there? A miss is a miss and that is all there is to it, isn’t it? And it is the same with sin. Whether small or big sin is still sin!
Now, as to what is sin to you, the best definition of that that I have come across, is in the Bible in James chapter 4, verse 17. There it says, “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.” (NRSV).
Really quite simple isn’t it? Anything that you know is right, but YOU don’t do it, is a sin for you. Yes even though it may not be a sin for anyone else, if you know what is right but don’t do it, it is a sin for you. As you have missed what you aimed for.
So in closing what are you currently aiming at but missing and what will you do about it now?
*Claytons: Non-alcoholic drink substitute. Catchphrase: “the drink you have when you're not having a drink.”
Saturday, September 5, 2009
How strong is Satan?
How often do you hear or even say yourself, “I didn’t want to do it, but Satan made me do it?”
Sounds like a great excuse to some but it is a real COP OUT.
Leon Morris in his commentary “Luke”, (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Revised edition; Inter-Varsity Press England 2004.) on page 114 mentions “Farrar draws attention to an important point when he cites Augustine’s comment that Satan can do no more than suggest” only the tempted person can perform the wrong act…”
That’s right! Satan cannot make you do anything. He can only suggest. Sure, suggest strongly I do agree, but still that is all he can do, suggest.
You and only you, can do the act itself. So the next time you hear, or want to use that excuse, remember, “Satan can only suggest”. And you and only you can do the act. So don’t blame Satan or anyone else, but blame yourself for each and every wrong act of yours.
Sounds like a great excuse to some but it is a real COP OUT.
Leon Morris in his commentary “Luke”, (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Revised edition; Inter-Varsity Press England 2004.) on page 114 mentions “Farrar draws attention to an important point when he cites Augustine’s comment that Satan can do no more than suggest” only the tempted person can perform the wrong act…”
That’s right! Satan cannot make you do anything. He can only suggest. Sure, suggest strongly I do agree, but still that is all he can do, suggest.
You and only you, can do the act itself. So the next time you hear, or want to use that excuse, remember, “Satan can only suggest”. And you and only you can do the act. So don’t blame Satan or anyone else, but blame yourself for each and every wrong act of yours.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Where are you looking now?
Just received a forwarded e-mail that simply says the following two sentences: 'When You're Down to Nothing, God's up to Something’.
'Worry looks around, sorry looks back, Faith looks up.'
Which simply leads me to ask, who is leading your life now, and where are you currently looking now”? Is it you who has been trying to set the direction and pace of your Life? Or have you been letting God direct and Guide You in the direction and areas that He would have you Go?
Part of the answer to this will be answered by the direction that you are currently looking in.
If God is in control, then you will be looking up in faith and moving only where and when and as fast as God would have you go. If you are looking around, then God is not only not guiding you, but you are allowing the world to distract you into a different and wrong direction. If you are looking Back, then you are allowing yourself to be tempted to draw back into what now seems safe but wasn’t when you were in it before, and won’t be again, even if you do allow yourself to slide back there.
So if you are down to nothing today or feel that your life has no direction, purpose or goal, don’t look around or even backwards, but look up to God in faith and allow Him to take you forward and on to not just something, but something wonderful. For when you are down to nothing, God is up to something. And we all know that that something is something wonderful. Even too wonderful to describe here!
'Worry looks around, sorry looks back, Faith looks up.'
Which simply leads me to ask, who is leading your life now, and where are you currently looking now”? Is it you who has been trying to set the direction and pace of your Life? Or have you been letting God direct and Guide You in the direction and areas that He would have you Go?
Part of the answer to this will be answered by the direction that you are currently looking in.
If God is in control, then you will be looking up in faith and moving only where and when and as fast as God would have you go. If you are looking around, then God is not only not guiding you, but you are allowing the world to distract you into a different and wrong direction. If you are looking Back, then you are allowing yourself to be tempted to draw back into what now seems safe but wasn’t when you were in it before, and won’t be again, even if you do allow yourself to slide back there.
So if you are down to nothing today or feel that your life has no direction, purpose or goal, don’t look around or even backwards, but look up to God in faith and allow Him to take you forward and on to not just something, but something wonderful. For when you are down to nothing, God is up to something. And we all know that that something is something wonderful. Even too wonderful to describe here!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Are we really focusing on the Christ?
Recently received the following reply to my previous few blogs in this section: “This has been an excellent series of blogs from you and I agree with you entirely. For a start we must analyse the word CHRISTIAN and the first part of the word says it all. CHRIST IS AND ALWAYS SHOULD BE WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT. Again I agree that we must focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us when we were completely unworthy of this sacrifice and try in every way to make our lives so that we can get closer to being the people Jesus wanted us to be.
I am not ashamed to admit that when I read about the sacrifice He made for us it brings tears to my eyes because I see the wickedness in the world and it makes me sad to think that this most perfect of all beings died for us and we still turn our backs on Him.”
As stated in my previous blogs, I struggle with the concept that people can call themselves Christians, yet don’t follow his teachings nor believe in Christ as Lord and saviour!
So this blog is asking, what is your focus in regard to Jesus Christ?
Yes, “What image do you get when you hear the word Christ?” Is it just of a good man by the name of Jesus who some call the Christ? Or is it of God’s Christ or Messiah? Messiah, by the way is the original Hebrew word translated as Christ in Greek, for the long promised Saviour from God!
So again in closing whom or what are you focusing on when you hear the word “Christ”? Just another man? Or the Son of God and Lord and saviour, who came and died in your and my Place as the perfect sacrifice for our Sins? And who because of, are now assured of eternal life in Him In God’s Kingdom, even after physical death?
Your thoughts please?
I am not ashamed to admit that when I read about the sacrifice He made for us it brings tears to my eyes because I see the wickedness in the world and it makes me sad to think that this most perfect of all beings died for us and we still turn our backs on Him.”
As stated in my previous blogs, I struggle with the concept that people can call themselves Christians, yet don’t follow his teachings nor believe in Christ as Lord and saviour!
So this blog is asking, what is your focus in regard to Jesus Christ?
Yes, “What image do you get when you hear the word Christ?” Is it just of a good man by the name of Jesus who some call the Christ? Or is it of God’s Christ or Messiah? Messiah, by the way is the original Hebrew word translated as Christ in Greek, for the long promised Saviour from God!
So again in closing whom or what are you focusing on when you hear the word “Christ”? Just another man? Or the Son of God and Lord and saviour, who came and died in your and my Place as the perfect sacrifice for our Sins? And who because of, are now assured of eternal life in Him In God’s Kingdom, even after physical death?
Your thoughts please?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Why is Jesus not seen as central to Christianity?
In an earlier Blog: “5 kinds of Christians: Which are you?” I mentioned an article I found in a Net article called: “Leadership Journal. Net”. In it, it discussed the notion that there were 5 Kinds of people in the world today who called themselves Christians, and often in the same church or denomination too! There were quite some differences in some of these groups particularly in regard to belief in Jesus. So much so that the article then asked this question: “What About Jesus?” Which I then discussed in my blog: But What about Jesus? Where we discussed how it was that: ”For a vast number of people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is not the central figure of their faith.”
So the next question that needs to be asked is, “Why is this so? Why is Jesus the Christ, not central to the faith of all who call themselves Christian?
According to the original article in: “Leadership Journal. Net”: “Leith Anderson, senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, believes that the high value placed on tolerance in this country is partly to blame. "'God' as a term is transferable amongst different religious sects, but 'Christ' is not. It seems intolerant. What we need to do is reintroduce people to Jesus, his story, his life and his teachings. Not by forcing people to agree with us, but by giving them adequate examples and reasons to believe in Christ."
Hunter agrees that trying to provide intellectual arguments for the Christian faith will only go so far. "Christianity is about Christ, and it is about that personal relationship. We have to not focus on explaining Pauline theology, but on the person and ministry of Christ. We have to be people who live out the life of Christ. People aren't generally interested in theological teaching. But everyone has a heart for the one who had a heart for us."
From the above and also my own personal experiences, I believe the main reason that Jesus is not central to many who call themselves Christians is that they have never really been properly introduced to Christ. Nor have they seen Him properly mirrored in the lives of those claiming to Be Christians and their leaders.
But again, here it is very easy to caste stones at others, but what about ourselves? Do we truly believe in and follow Jesus as the Christ, Lord and saviour of all mankind?
And do we fully and properly teach this to all including our own families, in everything we say and do? And by teach I also mean, do we model Christ in our lives and not just in our words.
Just another little thing for you to think on here. A little thing with a profound impact if truly followed through, I think. What think you?
So the next question that needs to be asked is, “Why is this so? Why is Jesus the Christ, not central to the faith of all who call themselves Christian?
According to the original article in: “Leadership Journal. Net”: “Leith Anderson, senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, believes that the high value placed on tolerance in this country is partly to blame. "'God' as a term is transferable amongst different religious sects, but 'Christ' is not. It seems intolerant. What we need to do is reintroduce people to Jesus, his story, his life and his teachings. Not by forcing people to agree with us, but by giving them adequate examples and reasons to believe in Christ."
Hunter agrees that trying to provide intellectual arguments for the Christian faith will only go so far. "Christianity is about Christ, and it is about that personal relationship. We have to not focus on explaining Pauline theology, but on the person and ministry of Christ. We have to be people who live out the life of Christ. People aren't generally interested in theological teaching. But everyone has a heart for the one who had a heart for us."
From the above and also my own personal experiences, I believe the main reason that Jesus is not central to many who call themselves Christians is that they have never really been properly introduced to Christ. Nor have they seen Him properly mirrored in the lives of those claiming to Be Christians and their leaders.
But again, here it is very easy to caste stones at others, but what about ourselves? Do we truly believe in and follow Jesus as the Christ, Lord and saviour of all mankind?
And do we fully and properly teach this to all including our own families, in everything we say and do? And by teach I also mean, do we model Christ in our lives and not just in our words.
Just another little thing for you to think on here. A little thing with a profound impact if truly followed through, I think. What think you?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
But What about Jesus?
In an earlier Blog: “5 kinds of Christians: Which are you?” I mentioned an article I found in a Net article called: “Leadership Journal. Net”. In it, it discussed the notion that there were 5 Kinds of people in the world today who called themselves Christians, and often in the same church or denomination too! There were quite some differences in some of these groups particularly in regard to belief in Jesus. So much so that the article then asked this question: “What About Jesus?”
In addition to these findings about the church, we found a most defining dichotomy over the Jesus question: Active and Professing Christians said "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" is the key to being a Christian (almost 9 in 10), while Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians favored more generally "believing in God" as the main element in being a Christian. So, for a vast number of people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is not the central figure of their faith.”
Now as I said in the earlier above blog, it beats me how someone can call themselves a follower of Jesus Christ when they don’t have Jesus as the centre of the faith. After all Christianity, would not exist without Jesus as the Christ.
So who is Jesus really to you? The centre of your faith as the Long Promised Messiah and deliver of God as promised in the Books of Isaiah and Micah? Is he the Son of God who died in your place on the cross so that you could live for eternity in Heaven with god? Yes, Who is Jesus to you now, who calls yourself a follower of His, every time you call yourself a Christian?
In addition to these findings about the church, we found a most defining dichotomy over the Jesus question: Active and Professing Christians said "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" is the key to being a Christian (almost 9 in 10), while Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians favored more generally "believing in God" as the main element in being a Christian. So, for a vast number of people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is not the central figure of their faith.”
Now as I said in the earlier above blog, it beats me how someone can call themselves a follower of Jesus Christ when they don’t have Jesus as the centre of the faith. After all Christianity, would not exist without Jesus as the Christ.
So who is Jesus really to you? The centre of your faith as the Long Promised Messiah and deliver of God as promised in the Books of Isaiah and Micah? Is he the Son of God who died in your place on the cross so that you could live for eternity in Heaven with god? Yes, Who is Jesus to you now, who calls yourself a follower of His, every time you call yourself a Christian?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
5 kinds of Christians: Which are You?
This blog is based on material I found in a Net article called: “Leadership Journal. Net”. In it, it discussed the notion that there were 5 Kinds of people in the world today who called themselves Christians, (and sometimes in the same church or denomination too)!
This information is from a new national survey co-sponsored by Leadership. And reported by Helen Lee and posted 10/01/2007 in an attempt in Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America.
The five groups, and their percentage of believers, and their basic beliefs, follow:
1. Active Christians 19%:
· Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
· Committed churchgoers
· Bible readers
· Accept leadership positions
· Invest in personal faith development through the church
· Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.
2. Professing Christians 20%
· Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
· Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
· Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
· Less involved in church, both attending and serving
· Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith
3. Liturgical Christians 16%
· Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
· Regular churchgoers
· High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
· Recognize authority of the church
4. Private Christians 24%
· Largest and youngest segment
· Believe in God and doing good things
· Own a Bible, but don't read it
· Spiritual interest, but not within church context
· Only about a third attend church at all
· Almost none are church leaders
5.Cultural Christians 21%
· Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
· God aware, but little personal involvement with God
· Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
· Affirm many ways to God
· Favor universality theology
In addition to these findings about the church, we found a most defining dichotomy over the Jesus question: Active and Professing Christians said "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" is the key to being a Christian (almost 9 in 10), while Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians favored more generally "believing in God" as the main element in being a Christian. So, for a vast number of people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is not the central figure of their faith.”
The above defining of so-called Christians, helped to understand/explain that while many people claim to be followers of Christ (which is what the word Christian means,) many are not true Christians, because they only follow the name and not Jesus.
I will probably be called intolerant and pigheaded here, but for the life of me, I cannot understand how a person can believe that they are a Christian, if they don’t believe in or follow Jesus the Christ!
Whilst I won’t be judgemental of you, I would love to know which of the above categories you truly see yourself in and what you truly believe about Jesus? Over to you for now!
This information is from a new national survey co-sponsored by Leadership. And reported by Helen Lee and posted 10/01/2007 in an attempt in Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America.
The five groups, and their percentage of believers, and their basic beliefs, follow:
1. Active Christians 19%:
· Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
· Committed churchgoers
· Bible readers
· Accept leadership positions
· Invest in personal faith development through the church
· Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.
2. Professing Christians 20%
· Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
· Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
· Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
· Less involved in church, both attending and serving
· Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith
3. Liturgical Christians 16%
· Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
· Regular churchgoers
· High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
· Recognize authority of the church
4. Private Christians 24%
· Largest and youngest segment
· Believe in God and doing good things
· Own a Bible, but don't read it
· Spiritual interest, but not within church context
· Only about a third attend church at all
· Almost none are church leaders
5.Cultural Christians 21%
· Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
· God aware, but little personal involvement with God
· Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
· Affirm many ways to God
· Favor universality theology
In addition to these findings about the church, we found a most defining dichotomy over the Jesus question: Active and Professing Christians said "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" is the key to being a Christian (almost 9 in 10), while Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians favored more generally "believing in God" as the main element in being a Christian. So, for a vast number of people who consider themselves Christian, Christ is not the central figure of their faith.”
The above defining of so-called Christians, helped to understand/explain that while many people claim to be followers of Christ (which is what the word Christian means,) many are not true Christians, because they only follow the name and not Jesus.
I will probably be called intolerant and pigheaded here, but for the life of me, I cannot understand how a person can believe that they are a Christian, if they don’t believe in or follow Jesus the Christ!
Whilst I won’t be judgemental of you, I would love to know which of the above categories you truly see yourself in and what you truly believe about Jesus? Over to you for now!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The 100% God.
There is an add on the TV at the moment for some photographic equipment. (Cannon I think?) In the Add someone takes a picture of something that appealed to them and then someone else was to focus on something within that picture and then go out and take a picture of that thing and then someone else in turn would repeat the process and so on and so on.
I have never done that intentionally but am often surprised by how something I have seen or experienced, and later talked about in my blogs, have inspired others to take a thought or line from them and come up with something else also inspirational.
The latest concerns a thought from my recent blog om My multiple Musings site, “Only One piece missing”, where I mentioned that although we had 99.9% of the required equipment needed, we couldn’t use it because it was the missing bit that made it work, and thus without the full 100%, the system was useless to us.
In reply to that blog, I received the following reply from a missionary translator in the Philippines: “Hi Walter: Your message sparked some thoughts to share with you……
How comforting to know that God always knows where all His stuff is, and so He always has everything 100% covered. I’ve been working on preparing our translation of Revelation for consultant checking, and one of the verses really stood out to me (actually many did, but here’s one for now ). Rev 20:7-9 especially last half of v9. Jesus has it 100% covered, no matter what Satan and the peoples of the world muster to throw against Him. I bet He won’t even raise a sweat taking care of that huge rebellion (just like He didn’t when Lucifer originally rebelled). Our devotion yesterday morning pointed out that the battle between good and evil isn’t like it’s portrayed in Star Wars (and so many other films/books) with god and evil roughly matched. But God has got it 100% under control. As Luther wrote ‘one little word will fell him (Satan)’,
In Him, the 100% God: *****
So my thoughts now are, where does this article about the 100% God lead your thinking now?
I have never done that intentionally but am often surprised by how something I have seen or experienced, and later talked about in my blogs, have inspired others to take a thought or line from them and come up with something else also inspirational.
The latest concerns a thought from my recent blog om My multiple Musings site, “Only One piece missing”, where I mentioned that although we had 99.9% of the required equipment needed, we couldn’t use it because it was the missing bit that made it work, and thus without the full 100%, the system was useless to us.
In reply to that blog, I received the following reply from a missionary translator in the Philippines: “Hi Walter: Your message sparked some thoughts to share with you……
How comforting to know that God always knows where all His stuff is, and so He always has everything 100% covered. I’ve been working on preparing our translation of Revelation for consultant checking, and one of the verses really stood out to me (actually many did, but here’s one for now ). Rev 20:7-9 especially last half of v9. Jesus has it 100% covered, no matter what Satan and the peoples of the world muster to throw against Him. I bet He won’t even raise a sweat taking care of that huge rebellion (just like He didn’t when Lucifer originally rebelled). Our devotion yesterday morning pointed out that the battle between good and evil isn’t like it’s portrayed in Star Wars (and so many other films/books) with god and evil roughly matched. But God has got it 100% under control. As Luther wrote ‘one little word will fell him (Satan)’,
In Him, the 100% God: *****
So my thoughts now are, where does this article about the 100% God lead your thinking now?
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