My revelation blog 13

I hold the dispensational view because in my interpretation of revelations, it seems to be saying that Jesus will call all of his followers home while he retakes the earth. Some may ask what those in heaven will do while Jesus is on earth. Well, Is he not omnipresent? Even if he wasn't actually physically in heaven, no one really knows for sure that it will be a literal thousand years or if time passes the same way in heaven.

Aside from that, because of this belief, I think it's immensely important to reach others with the truth of the gospel. We never know which day will be our last. The end could be tomorrow, or the day after. The Bible says Jesus will come like a thief in the night. So not a single second should be wasted that could be used loving others

What is love? (Baby don't hurt me) blog 12

If the letters of John taught me anything is that love overcomes all, the love of Jesus has saved us from the clutches of the devil. And that we should show our love for him by obeying his commandments. 

Only through God's manifestation of love within us can we love one another, and we should love each other because God so loves us. 

I challenge you all to search yourselves, and ask yourselves what you love. Is love an empty word to you?

Blog 11

To my friends who have no idea who Jesus is, He is the almighty God that came to earth in the form of a man. He has the power and at times, the wisdom of God, but also carries the characteristics of man (excluding sin). Jesus walked on water and brought the dead to life, he felt pain and suffering as well as hunger and temptation.

Because he is God, he is worthy to be worshiped, because he was a man, he is the perfect example of how we should live. He is the king of the heavens, angels bow at the sound of his voice, yet he chose to serve as a man, with all the filth and depravity we have made for ourselves. He did this because he loves us and sees worth in us like no one else can.

Blog 9

In the book of James, a vivid picture is painted of wealth and poverty. Through the eyes of James, the poor are all inherently righteous, and the wealthy are inherently evil. I do not agree with this viewpoint, I believe that the poor need to be taken care of, and that wealth does not define where you stand with God. Money, like many other things, can easily come in between us and Jesus. Jesus told his followers to sell all they had and follow him. I believe this to a degree, but I also believe that God blesses with prosperity so that we can bless others

Blog 8

In my church, we have a senior pastor, who oversees the other pastors, but above our senior pastor, we have church elders who make the defining decisions for the church. I believe this is similar to the biblical description of how the church should be structured. Paul writes that the church should be overseen by deacons or elders, wise men of God who would act in the best interest of God, the church, and it's people.

Church shopping (Blog 10)

If I visited a church that taught something I disagreed with, the first thing I would do is analyse what the disagreement was. I would then ask myself questions like "why do I disagree with this view?" "Why do I believe in my current view?" "Which view does scripture support more?" After asking these questions, I am able to make an educated decision on whether or not it's worth creating an argument or leaving the church.

Most disagreements are born out of different people viewing parts of the Bible as essential and non-essential. This can lead to church splits and bitter feelings towards one another. We should all be able to go to a church that affirms our beliefs and encourages us to pursue them.

The Christian Challenge (Week 6)

Paul is constantly challenging his churches to live more like Christ. One exhortation stands out from the others; Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

It is so easy to lash out after you have been hurt or offended, and being strong enough to rise above our anger and feelings of revenge. Even if we retaliate with simple words to bring someone down, our hearts are motivated with anger. When our judgement is clouded with emotions, we don't see how are actions will affect others around us. 

Remembering that Christ has died for all, including the people who wronged us, is the first step in blessing our persecutors. Also knowing that the only true justice belongs to God.

We must strive to be more like Christ and turn the other cheek, removing the viscous circle of anger and broken friendships. 

week #5

The Gospel truth

As Christians, it is our mission to share the gospel to all people. Paul writes of the gospel message, the gospel being the creation, the fall of man, and man’s redemption through Jesus Christ.

Different parts of the gospel are harder to understand than others, for example, I believe that the idea of denying yourself (as a slave of God) to be free is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp. How can one be freed from slavery by going into slavery? Well as we can only serve one master, doesn't it make sense to serve the master that desires good for you?

The easiest concept of the gospel would have to be that there is meaning behind our existence, that all the random things in our lives our connected in a grand plan.

God's not dead

We are all human, and together, we are all flawed, tainted with sin. “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:11 Because we are all headed toward the same fate, we should all work to share the love of Jesus. Only through Jesus will we be given eternal life, and when Christ returns, those who believe in him will be resurrected with him.

The concept of resurrection is strange to some people, as our culture has divided between resurrection either being a medical accident or a viral zombie disease, but it is nothing like that, it the act of Jesus making all things new. Those we have lost will be returned to us with new bodies free of pain and suffering.

Week #3

I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is

“Mawwage is what bwings us togevah today”, or more specifically what Paul writes about it in 1 Corinthians. Paul tells the people of Corinth that marriage is a holy commitment, which cannot simply be dissolved without consequences “A wife is not to depart from her husband.¹¹ But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”

Paul also speaks of the benefits of being single. Because a man is not “bound to a wife”, he has time to focus on God and his own spirituality. I believe that we grow the most in our single life, and that the time I spend learning more about who I am in God, will make me a better husband to my future wife

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American culture, on the other hand urges us to find our identities and worth in other people. So many search for a relationship that will make them good, or go into a relationship thinking “how much can I get out of this person?”  Mat 7:6 “Do not give that which belongs to God to dogs. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will break them under their feet. Then they will turn and tear you to pieces.” I encourage all young people to wait for someone who value them and seek to glorify God.

High school dating is not evil, I think it can be helpful to find qualities you either want or don’t want in a spouse, but it can bring you closer to temptation. Our culture tells us to find someone you find attractive and spend every waking second with that person, but Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. So we should be looking for a partner not for their looks (although it does help), but for their character.

Round 2

We serve a God who always keeps his promises, and the last thing Jesus promised is that he would return to bring us home. This is a huge theme in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians as Paul is attempting to encourage the Christian church, who at the time is being heavily persecuted by the Romans and pharisees.

New Christians were starting to question what they were dying for, and were unsure that if someone were to die before the second coming of Christ, whether or not that person would go to heaven. If that were the case, the mindset would be to live as long as possible. But what of those bold enough to die for proclaiming the name of Jesus? Would they be left behind? What's the point of being a Christian if you're just going to die for nothing?

So Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

So truly, there is no need to worry. Whether you live or die for Jesus, he will never forget you or exclude you from an eternity with him. No matter if you are a new Christian, or you have been a Christian the majority of your life, God is still faithful.

And as the end draws nearer and nearer, if by a glorious display of his awesome power, or a kind, gentle whisper, all the feelings of sorrow, pain, anger, loneliness, hatred, and shame will cease. All questions will be answered, our scars will be wiped away, and we will be washed white as snow. Everything blow received in this fight we call life will be made worth it. 

Q-"Why did Paul confront Peter in Galatians? What do you think Christians and/or churches can learn from this event"?

Galatians 2:11-13  "11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy".

The Bible speaks time and time again against hypocrisy (Psalm 26:4, Isaiah 9:17, Matthew 7:5). Why? Because hypocrisy is a matter of character, and we are all charged to be men and women of character. "Character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" Romans 5:4. 

Not only does it show bad character, but it shows cowardice. Now I'm not in any way saying that I am above things like hypocrisy, I am only a human, telling it how it is. It is a cowardly thing not to eat with and minister to the people you are charged with reaching for the sake of what your friends will think of you. Not was Peter being false with his friends, he was neglecting the Gentiles.

As Christians, we are called to treat all people with love, and respect. We cannot do this if we are ashamed to be seen with anyone deemed unworthy.

I almost can't help but recall the movie 'mean girls' in which Lindsey Lohans character leaves her "less than popular" friends to be with the cool girls and ends up ruining everything good she had in the pursuit of acceptance.

When we stop seeking the approval of the world, and start accepting the our identities in God, that's when we can truly fulfill our purposes in God.