What is A Christian? Part 3. (a 6 part series)

What is the issue on interpretation? Who is doing it? I read the Bible. Present tense read. When I read it, I tend to take it for the truth word for word. My Grandma once taught me that when you read the word of God you have to keep it in context. Read the verse(s) before AND after the one you are looking at so that you can understand it’s meaning. A lot of people, especially those who are very P.C. want to claim that, when I say something from the Bible it is just MY interpretation. Here is the catch. I am not doing interpretation! When it says do not kill, I think it means I should not kill. When it says Jesus is the way to get to God I believe it to be saying just that. THEY, however, are the ones who have an interest in changing the meaning of the words because they have something to gain. (forcing others into their own will.) I have nothing to gain for myself, Except that which is available to ALL people through the sacrifice of Jesus. When I am quoting the Bible, The only thing that is going to happen there is that people are going to hear God’s word. If they are then convicted or if they feel they have to change to meet those words that is because it is GOD who is doing it. I have nothing to gain from it personally. If you are sick and I take you to the hospital what do I get out of it? Nothing. I did what needed to be done. You cannot then blame me when the hospital issues you a bill for the room you staid in. I did not benefit from that! The best place to look right now for the answer to the big dilemma is Psalm 119. In Psalm 119 it tells us what to do with the Bible. “9. How can a young man (or woman) Keep his way pure? By guarding it according to YOUR word 10. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11. Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” That is the secret. Read his word do not take it out of context do not twist it. I find I do not need to interpret anything I take it at face value and I believe it word for word and cover to cover. Just like Jesus did. And like I said earlier that is the key to being a Christian is to do things the same way that the Christ did. If you are saying that Sinful behavior is O.K. because after all Jesus didn’t condemn the prostitute or the tax bearer you are right in a way. He did reach out to the greatest of sinners. BUT in every case where he dealt with them they changed their ways. The Tax collector returned the monies he stole and became Jesus’ disciple, The adulteress he told to “go and sin no more” and the prostitute was changed too. They all repented of their sinful natures and were saved. It is a healing of the heart (Jesus does all that healing all through the accounts of his ministry) and while it is harder to see it is still a healing. If we are going to reach out to people who are in sin it ought to be like Jesus did with the goal of helping them BREAK the bonds of sinfulness not to allow them to wallow in it. So if you are making excuses for the sinfulness and you are denying the power of Christ then I would advise that you turn to the word of God and understand it fully. Stop listening to the words of others. If you do not understand the Bible ask God for help. But stop trying to interpret the Bible to mean what you want it to mean and start living the promise of God.

What is A Christian? Part 2. (a 6 part series)

Are all religions the same? I keep hearing about “equality of religion” or “all religions are the same, they are all equal with each other.” People are always telling us they are the same because; “They all teach a moral value,” “they all follow a deity (ies) or god(s)”, “they all claim to have the answer”, “they all tell us what happens after we die”… I say those people are wrong. Why? Simple. Those people are the P.C. crowd who want to be able to live their lives as they see fit. They want to claim that what is true for one person is NOT trued for others. In Short, They do not believe in absolute truth. Religion deals in absolutes and Christianity is a strong example. “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father but by me."(John 14: 11*) “Behold I stand at the door and Knock” (revelation 3:20) "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." (John 10:9) And so on. Here is the thing Judeo-Christian beliefs are actually unique. All the other religions you have to do some kind of work to get into heaven. You get in there BY YOUR OWN POWER. And if you cannot get there, you are totally screwed. Christianity though says the only thing you can do is let go. Let Jesus handle the whole thing and accept what he has already done for your sin. And Bingo you are in. There is nothing we can do to add to or take away from the work already done by Christ. So there you go. Not all religions are the same. But this leads to the next question, Who are you going to follow? Joshua asked that same question of the Israelites as they left the desert for their new home. (Joshua 24:14-15) Who will you follow?