And so I feel brainwashed. Part of me wishes it could go back in time and get rid of everything I've learned and heard and been taught. Just so I could sit down with a blank slate and a Bible. I feel like I can't really understand what God wants to say to me because I carry so much baggage. Now, of course I have also learned many wonderful things and I don't really want to get rid of that. But I feel like I have to sort through and re-think through everything I've learned. To try to figure out what was just coming from people and their personal agendas and what was really coming from God. Because when I look at what God says...
I see that faith without works is DEAD- "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. ~James 2:14-17
I see that showing partiality is a SIN- "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes... have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." ~James 2: 1-4,8,9
I see that judging is never to be put above loving- "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." ~James 2:12, 13
I see that God HATES pride- "Therefore it says, 'GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." ~James 4:66 "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers". ~Proverbs 6:16-19
(There are zillions of more verses on pride and humility; the Bible is filled with it and the clear message that God despises pride).
I see that our tongue should never tear apart others if it is to be used praise God- "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." ~James 3:9
I see that God really, really cherishes peace and gentleness- "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly,natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:13-18
I see that God demands that we love, and that demand is the greatest one. Oh, and that doesn't mean just loving those who are easy and agree with you- "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." ~Luke 6:27-37
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I plead with you to read these verses like it is the first time. Not just reading over them the way we always do. Really think about them, and listen to what GOD is saying. Then think about the areas I mentioned in Part 2, and even others you may be thinking of that I didn't mention. Make the examples and language of these verses current to today. The crazy thing is how many more verses I could have put in that have to do with this list... but then, that would be nearly the whole Bible.
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I just have to say that I love how you put verses with each of your points. I appreciate that because so many people would just go on a rant and say how they are upset because they think things are going wrong and yet what good is their rant if it is not centered in Christ and His word? Also it is such a blessing to look at the Bible in this kind of way. Simply reading what it has to say. I am loving Mere Christianity by CS Lewis because it is about...Mere Christianity. He does not speak of denominations or anything like that. He starts with the basics. What we know from creation without the Bible. He talks about this law that we all feel we must follow but we all know we don't follow it. He just keeps on going and its amazing how much you can learn if you just stop and think. Now if we apply that to the Bible WOW! As I've told you before in our Womens Bible Study we have been studying 1 Peter. What a blessing to look deeper into this book! I have read it before myself but it was one of those times where you just read it to do it and thats it. I had no idea the doctrines and insights that were in this book until now because i didn't take the time to stop and think about what i was reading and not just glance over it and say okay this is what i should be doing, i'll try harder. We should be looking at the Bible for what it really says and not just what we think it says or what we think it means we should be doing. Yes we should try to do what the Bible says im not saying we shouldnt. but the Bible is first and foremost about God and His loving sacrifice of His only Son to die a horrible death on our behalf so we dont have to. We should first look at what the Bible teaches us about Him and then look at what it has to say to us. Otherwise we are only learning about ourselves and not our Savior. I have done this many times i know...only looking at the Bible as some sort of rule book and forgetting it is Gods word to man! It is the means by which God spoke to us...wow! If you think about it it is really amazing. I know we don't agree on absolutely everything and that is okay! I'm so glad to have such a godly sister (ha i can say that now ;)) who digs into God's word and what it really says and doesn't just take it for what other people say that it says. There are a lot of things that i think we both grew up thinking the Bible said and it really doesn't.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I also loved how you brought each post back to Scripture.
ReplyDeleteGod has really been dealing with me on the pride issue lately - I have a lot of deep-seated internal pride 'issues' I'm working through. I know the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil, but it seems like pride is the root of everything, even the love of money!