Crazy Stunting Christians

Do you find yourself reading articles based on their titles sometimes?

Yeah, I think the title hooks us first pretty much every time.

What about this one?

“12 Craziest Stunts Pulled By Pastors” by David Gibson

Hooked.

Can’t wait to read this one!

Until I did.

First, I had to Google Simeon Stylites. Then, once I felt that I had a grasp on his historical significance, I moved on to the list of ministry gimmicks.

Yes, that’s what the author called them. Simeon Stylites was a ministry gimmick? 

It’s inferred.

Let me summarize the list for you.

1. Pastors shouldn’t dress up and pretend to be someone they aren’t to make a point.

2. Pastors shouldn’t preach sex.

3. Pastors shouldn’t preach sex.

4. Pastors shouldn’t admit to being overweight, set an example by losing weight by the scripture, or sell a book based on what they did.

5. Pastors shouldn’t encourage their congregation to try to spend ONLY the amount of money food stamp recipients receive each month for food to make a point.

6. Pastors shouldn’t use high-pressure sales techniques to raise money.

7. Pastors shouldn’t promise to do fun and crazy things if their congregation meets a goal.

8. Pastors shouldn’t camp out on the roof until funds are made to meet a need.

9. Pastors shouldn’t encourage unmarried members living together to get married.

10. Christians shouldn’t walk along the highway dragging a huge cross.

11. Authors shouldn’t try to live by all the rules in the Bible and then write about the experience.

12. People gifted in stunts shouldn’t use those stunts as an outreach ministry.

Alright, inquiring minds want to know, does this list amaze and offend you?

The further I read, the more irritated I got.

Yes, some of the things on this list might be a bit gimmicky. However, many of them are legitimate roles, jobs, and ministries.

And only the first nine specifically mention pastors.

Number one is a great object lesson. Gimmicky? You can decide. I’m pretty sure if I was a congregation member, however, I would have learned a lesson that morning.

I’ve already blogged about number three twice before.

Gluttony is a sin. I believe it’s one of the most ignored sins. Where’s the gimmick here? The fact that the pastor wrote a book? Pastors aren’t allowed to make money? This argument always makes me angry.

I’m going to pause there with my thoughts on this list of crazy things pastors do.

What about this crazy thing a youth pastor did? I’d put this on the list!

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vZRoOx5L0DE&source=uds

What do you think? Is this author spot on or would you put something else on the list and take others off?

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/kbB0QrBIs9k&source=uds

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Would You Stomp (Step) on Jesus?

 
Jesus is still being abused today.

It’s sad. Actually it’s beyond sad. When I read the news
report this morning, I was outraged to say the least. I have been in the position of the involved parties, and this situation just made my blood boil.

I was reminded of some other people who wanted to “stomp” on Jesus.

“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” John 19:1-6

It seems easy for Christians today to say, “I wouldn’t have gone along with the crowd! I would have stood up for Jesus!”

Notice the word seems above. How many of us actually would, however?

Huge kudos going out to Ryan Rotela who not only wouldn’t step on the name of Jesus, but had the gumption to question the instructor who made the assignment.

Now, as a teacher, I’m not ok with students talking back, refusing to do my assignment, or questioning my assignments in general. Each and every assignment is prepared for a very specific purpose. No matter how easy, hard, dumb, or any other adjective you’d like to insert they may seem, they are intentionally developed to help students get to where they need to be.

But I wouldn’t ever ask my students to do something that went against their core beliefs even if their core beliefs were drastically different from mine. If I ever did cross that line, I hope and pray a student would call me out on it.

Pilate, let’s call him a politician, could find nothing to charge Jesus with and wanted to set Him free. The government wanted to let Jesus live. The people refused to let him. They wanted to see Jesus put to death.

The people won.

There’s a lesson here. On this earth, the people win. Christian people, we had better be standing up. After reading the actual lesson plan from that class, I understand the concept behind the assignment. I don’t AGREE with the assignment, but I understand what the assignment was supposed to bring about in a classroom of students.

Take time to follow the link above and read the lesson plan. See, something entirely different was supposed to take place. The students as a whole were supposed to balk at stepping on the name of Jesus.

I have a hard time believing that only one person in that classroom believed in Jesus. I just won’t. So what happened the rest of them? Did they succumb to pressure of a grade in a class thinking that they should step on the name of Jesus to earn their grade for the day?

Christian people have to stand together, and most importantly, have to stand.

Step on the name of Jesus? We might as well be swinging the hammer to drive the nails.

Come on, sisters and brothers, let’s not give in to the pressure to step on Him. Instead, let’s step up and lift Him up so that the world may see!

Even the Florida politicians are getting involved. The Christian community should be the loudest voice. We should raise a loving voice, but we should most definitely be using our voice.

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Tough! He Said Love.

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets.

“How He Loves” David Crowder Band

 

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have a hard time loving people.

Let me be even more honest this morning.

Sometimes I have a hard time loving Christian people.

I don’t struggle so much to love non-Christian people. I can accept a LOT from non-Christian people. I don’t expect them to adhere to Christian standards.

Unfortunately, I hold Christian people to a high standard. And sometimes I’m crushed when they don’t love the way I think the Bible tells us to love. Then I have a hard time loving them the way I should.

Vicious cycle to fall into.

I’m struggling to love lately because I’m saddened by the pain and confusion I see inflicted on Christians by other Christians. And I feel guilty because I’m having a hard time loving.

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3:18-23

(NKJV)

If you read much of what I write, you have probably figured out I use New King James Version of scripture. I adhere to King James Version, but NKJV is so much more “friendly”.

However, I often read scripture in MANY versions. I’m going to share the above scripture again from The Message simply because the interpretation really grabbed my attention this morning.

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what He said, doing what pleases Him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in His personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in Him, and He lives in us. And this is how we experience His deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit He gave us. 1 John 3:18-24 The Message (capitalization of pronouns He, Him, and His added by me)

I must stop talking about love, and live love.

Sometimes love is tough.

That means I have to address the situation that has me withholding love. Yuck. It’s easier to just steer clear. Ignore. Hope it goes away. Let God bring the situation to their attention. But it’s getting worse; not better.

Do you see what love shuts down?

Self-criticism.

I am my own worst enemy. I find fault with everything I say and do. Did you read the beginning of my post today? Who was I blaming?

God is greater than my heart and knows all things. Hallelujah!!!

Once I stop blaming myself, I can be bold and free before God.

THAT. That’s what I want.

Despite my failures, despite my anger instead of love, despite my self-criticism, God loves me. God loves me.

And guess what? He loves YOU, too!

I can’t speak for you, but like the lyrics above, I DON’T have time to maintain these regrets. I have been called to love as He has loved.

　

 

 

 

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Sex Ed for the Saints

 
This month’s blog was supposed to be all about love and sex. My mind has been pulled from the topic the last couple of days, so today I’m going to attempt to rein it back in a little.

Christian people have no problem talking about love. It is, after all, the foundation of our religious belief system.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19b

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Should I go on?

We are more than comfortable talking about love.

What about sex?

Um, sex? Christians?

You mean what rules do Christians have AGAINST sex, right?

No. Not at all.

Several years ago, long before I had teenagers of my own, I had the blessing of being a counselor at church camp for a cabin full of tweens. These girls were from a mix of backgrounds, but I don’t think many of them came from that stable of homes that year.

One night in our bedtime devotions our conversation turned to sex. What better place to hold this conversation, right? Ten or so female teenagers in a cabin with a married female counselor.

We were doing ok until they asked me if it was a sin to use a vibrator to masturbate as long as they were alone.

Say what?

I knew that my answer was very possibly the only Christian perspective these girls were going to get, but I had no idea myself what the “right” answer was or where in the Bible to even locate a vibrator. I did what any panicked camp counselor would do and called for reinforcements!

Four adult Christian women discussed sex frankly with a group of teenage girls. Some of those women were old enough to be my mother. I had no idea those women had sex, and I especially had no idea they knew about things like vibrators, masturbation, and oral sex.

Those good Christian women knew all about those bad horrible things!

Just wait. It gets worse.

The topic of our devotion made its way through the adults at camp like wildfire. The next night before dinner I joined a conversation between an older unmarried female counselor and our camp evangelist. I listened to something like the following:

“We always had a rule that we discussed everything. If you had a question you asked. I’ll never forget the night Tommy asked right at the dinner table what a BJ was.”

Unmarried female counselor: “At the dinner table? What did you say?”

Evangelist: “Well, we asked where he had heard that, what he thought it was, and then explained it.”

I stood there puzzled throughout the entire conversation. Finally I interrupted.

“Ok, perhaps I’m dumb, but what’s a BJ?”

The small circle erupted into giggles.

Sigh.

Yes, I was married. Yep, I was the same counselor bombarded with sex questions the night before. Now you see why I called for help.

Christian people talk about THAT at their dinner table with their kids?

Sex is a topic that doesn’t get talked about that often in church. We just don’t bring it up. I mean surely we’re all adopting our kids…that’s the only scriptural way to get them, right?

Ok, so that’s taking it a bit far, but really, when’s the last time you heard sex talked about in church?

If I had to guess it was probably to your youth in a True Love Waits type ceremony or lesson. We typically only address sex when we’re telling unmarried people not to do it.

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:2-5

Should spouses be physically attentive after marriage?

Verse 3 above says a husband should give his wife the affection due her and the wife to her husband. This scripture tells us that it isn’t one spouse’s duty to give and the other’s to accept, but that each spouse is supposed to give unto the other as if it is owed.

Once we enter into marriage, we no longer have the ability to claim, “This is my body I can do (or not do) whatever I want with it!”. When we join lives, our flesh becomes one flesh. Just as we wouldn’t want to be deprived of a need, we shouldn’t allow our spouse to be deprived of a need.

Verse five talks about not depriving one another of sex without consent for a time. I wonder how many times people have been “cut off” that it has actually followed the rest of this verse?

According to this scripture, which is NOT a commandment but a concession, you may agree to a set amount of time not to have sex for spiritual reasons. However, you should also set a time to come together again. This time of sexlessness should be devoted to fasting and prayer. It is not a time of anger.

What role does sex play in the lives of married Christians? I didn’t get there today.

Perhaps I will before the month is out. What questions might you have about Christians and sex? Or better yet, how would you have answered the question I got blindsided with?

Be bold! Join the conversation about Sex Ed for the Saints!

　

　

　

Be Not Conformed

I’ve been thinking about Play-Doh. You can take Play-Doh and make just about anything you want.

I can roll it into a ball and build a snow man. I can use a cookie cutter and cut it into a star. If I take my snow man and star, I can put them into a plastic bowl and the Play-Doh will take on that shape.

If I were to leave the Play-Doh in any of the shapes for too long without putting it in a airtight container, it would harden and take on that shape permanently.

We as humans are just like Play-Doh. Until we harden, we are moldable and shapeable. We must be careful what, and who, we allow to shape us.

　

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

How many times have we heard this particular scripture used to teach us to steer clear from the ways of the world? How many times have we focused on the fact that we should not be like the secular world, but we should be different because we seek after the will of God?

If you are like me, you have probably sat under a similar teaching or study many, many times. This is a good lesson. One that bears repeating.

This one verse of scripture holds many truths and lessons within it. We could easily fill one entire lesson/sermon simply by focusing on this scripture.

I wonder how many times this verse is taught in context though?

This weekend I kept reading.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is giving to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with literality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

My New King James Version refers to the above version of scripture as the “Serve God with Spiritual Gifts” sections. All believers are part of one body. However, each member is still an individual. The individual has individual gifts. Those gifts should be used in a way to build up the body. No one gift is any more important or necessary than another gift. Each is necessary and therefore equal.

Sometimes it seems that Christians like to assign weight to “callings” in the church. One job is considered more important than another and therefore the person in that position is given more power and control over the movement of the entire congregation.

Unfortunately, this type of power struggle can cause division within the church.

What happens if we apply these verses to verse 2?

Can the power struggle in the church cause Christians to conform to the world instead of Christ? Or is the conformation that takes place within the walls of the church always part of the transformation spoken of in verse two?

I believe that religious people, not Christian people, are very much guilty of “conforming” other Christians to the world. We gather in our churches labeled by denominations and we want those who gather to worship with us to dress like us, pray like us, enjoy the same style of worship music, and pursue the same type of church service as us. We push people away who have “different” ideas even if those ideas aren’t unscriptural, just uncomfortable.

Yes, we are guilty of expecting people to conform to our religious traditions that are not requirements for Christianity.

The next section of this chapter is referred to as “Behave Like a Christian”.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9-21

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that the next thirteen verses are dedicated to teaching us how we should treat each other and behave in general.

Stop being mean to each other.

Love each other.

Rejoice when someone else rejoices. Weep when they weep. If they hurt you? Be the bigger person and do something nice for them. Stop spreading hurt and pain. Love each other not only in spite of your differences but for your differences.

God doesn’t expect Christians to just follow the crowd…not even what seems to be a predominantly Christian crowd. Scripture tells us that the devil is sneaking around seeking whom he may devour. He isn’t opposed to working in the church.

As a matter of fact, I’ve always thought satan probably focused more on the church than other places.

You know, I want to molded by God, and sometimes He uses other humans to help in the process. I also want to be very careful to make sure the individuals I let near the potter’s wheel are actually sent by God and not just someone trying to get me to conform to their opinion of the “right” way.

Truth be told, we shouldn’t want to conform to anyone’s way other than God’s way!

Equal Opportunity Burden Bearer

 
Have you ever looked at someone and thought about just how “good” of a Christian they were and compared yourself to them? How do you measure up?

Sometimes I find myself looking at those lifetime Christians and always falling short.

You know them.

Born to Christian parents. The only drug problem they ever had was they got drug to church every time the doors were open. Not only do they always have their Bible, they find even those rarely used referenced in nanoseconds, and already have the passage highlighted and annotated before you find the index. They know the terminology. They’ve planned every church event, church dinner, wedding, funeral, surprise party, and the Holy Spirit fills them in prior to callings of other church members, salvation decisions, and just who needs to be appointed to the newly opened ministry position. They pay their bills on time, tithe, and support every mission opportunity that comes through the church doors.

It’s obvious that these Christians are God’s chosen people. They are perfect. They’ve never sinned. Never had a bad thought towards another person. Never crossed any line.

Yeah. I find myself buying into that lie every so often too.

Did you catch it?

Lie. Not fact. Not truth. Lie.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts 10:34-35

For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. Romans 2:11-12

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of person judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:17-19

No one is born a Christian.

If someone tells you’ve they’ve been a Christian all their life, well, they don’t understand Christianity then. They may have attended church all of their life, but attending church doesn’t make you a Christian. It simply makes you a faithful church attender. It makes you religious.

I am a religious reader.

I am a religious procrastinator.

I am a religious consumer of ice cream.

To be honest, I am religious about a lot of things. None of those statements make me a Christian. Why would the fact that I attend church religiously?

I am a Christian, a Christ follower, because I admit that I am a sinner, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was born of a virgin, died of His own free will to pay for my sins, and rose again on the third day, and I confess my faith to others with my words and actions.

This is the path to Jesus.

The path is the same for me here in America as it is for any other person in any other nation on any other day of any century.

God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. His love endures forever.

Tonight as I drove home from a ministry meeting I was listening to
Need to Breathe’s Lay ‘Em Down and I was struck by a line of the song.

“All you rich men” was the line. And I got to thinking about “rich men”.

God, I’ve been all of the adjectives in this song until this line. I can’t empathize with this people group. What do they need to lay down? How do they need You the same way I need You?

It wasn’t the parable of the camel and the eye of needle that came to mind. It wasn’t sell all you own and follow me that came to mind.

God, I know Christian people that fall under the covering of this line. They give to You, but they’ve never really needed You like some of the rest of us.

God loves everyone. He doesn’t love any one group of people, Jews, Gentiles, poor, rich, Spanish, Egyptian, male, or female, any more than the other.

And guess what? No one group has the monopoly on needing God more.

We all need Jesus.

We ALL have problems. Mine burdens might be different than yours, but that doesn’t make mine more important than yours. God views them all the same. He cares about all of our burdens the same.

He loves us so much that no matter what the burden He doesn’t want us to bear it. He wants us to trust Him with it, and lay it down.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Cursing Conservatives: Bad Words or Not?

Curse words, four-letter words, bad words, swear words, oaths, expletives, obscenities, foul language, profanities the list goes on and on for what we call those words we really shouldn’t say. But who decides what words go on the list of words we really shouldn’t say, and what does it take to make a word a “curse” word?

Recently I made a statement like, “You’re really starting to piss me off!”

My daughter looked at me like I’d grown a third head or struck her.

“Mom! You said a bad word!”

“What? No, I didn’t. What did you think I said?” I thought back over my statement and found no curse words in my statement.

“You said the “p” word.”

“The “p” word? What? Piss?” I was confused.

“Yes! Dad says that’s a cuss word.”

“He does?”

Chris came around the corner. “Yes. That’s a curse word. At least to everyone except you, apparently. And we’ve discussed this before.”

Hmm. I don’t really remember discussing this particular word before, and I’m not sure I remember the fact that some people might think it’s a cuss word. Strange.

All I meant was someone was really starting to make me angry. It’s a figure of speech, an idiom. I heard it a lot as a child. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought of it as a curse word.

(I just asked my family if it (pissing me off) was an idiom, and my daughter said, “It’s a bad word! Are you going to use it in your classroom?”

When I responded that it was for my blog, she says, “You know Christian people read your blog, right?”

I said I did and that I was writing about cuss words.

She responds, “Well, you don’t need to actually put one in there.”)

You can’t make this stuff up, folks! 😉

Anyway, bad words. Who got to decide what words were “bad” and what words were “good”?

For example, sometimes I can say ass. If I’m talking about an animal, especially from the Bible, I can say it, but that’s it. I silently giggle at this word almost annually.

Usually I get the privilege of accompanying a group of middle school students to the zoo in the fall. There is an animal there called a Somali Wild Ass. It’s absolutely beautiful. Every year I watch students stand and stare. Then I watch a student venture to the information sign, and then I giggle. One student giggles and turns red, and starts signaling to all of the other students to come read the sign.

Eventually one will become brave enough to say it out loud just to see how I respond. I never respond. Then another student will tattle. “Mrs. Tripp! So-and-so said the “a” word!” I simply nod in acknowledgment. Someone will ask, “Are we allowed to say that word?” I always ask if they know the species name. I always ask if they’re calling someone a name. If they can answer the questions appropriately, then it’s absolutely acceptable for them to say the “a” word while discussing the beautiful creature they’ve just observed.

Then there’s the “b” word. I won’t type it. I can’t. I was raised around dogs. My dad bred them, sold puppies, trained dogs, yep, I know it’s what female dogs are called, but I still can’t even type the word. It’s too bad. Why? I don’t know. It’s somehow ingrained into me. The “b” word is too bad.

Crap. Typed that one. Did it bother you? Some people don’t find this offensive at all. Others find this to be the same as saying the “s” version of the same word. I won’t type or say the “s” word, but it doesn’t bother me if people use the “c” version. Guilty of doing it myself, although I’ve cut back a lot. I don’t allow use of this word in my classroom. I encourage students to turn their frustration into humor. “Oh, poop!” or “Poopy!” sounds so much more funny and can really lighten a stressful situation.

The “d” word comes in many forms. I have friends who were backhanded for saying darn or dang because it was the same thing. I think nothing of darn or dang, but visibly cringe if I hear the actual word. It’s in the Bible.

And then there’s the “f” word. YUCK! I can’t stand it when people use that word in public. What bothers me even more lately is the fact my kids have taken to using the word “freaking”. I finally had enough and looked up the definition to prove to them that it was a bad word. The google definition says it is the same exact thing as the “f” word. Now, darn and dang are used the same way and don’t bother me at all…this one does. Why?

My kids who are totally against me using the “p” word are not happy about me being opposed to their “fr” word. It isn’t a curse word to them. My banning it doesn’t make sense to them.

What makes one word bad and one word good?

I don’t know the answer to that question.

For me, it seems to have come from how I was raised blended with my understanding of scripture.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

I don’t use any of those four-letter words that are commonly accepted as expletives ever, well, with the exception of the “p” word. On top of that, I try to be conscious of the beliefs of those I am around to temper my speech, although those who know me would tell you it would be uncommon for me to ever have to censor my speech.

I try not to be unnecessarily offended by the speech of others. I often am, though. I realize that individuals are products of their environments and often don’t realize the things that come out of their mouths offend others. I can’t hold individuals who aren’t aware of my beliefs responsible for living to my standards.

Sometimes it would be easy for me to let people who offend me with their language have it. I can do that…even with clean language. However, that conversation would not be with grace or seasoned with salt, but damnation and vinegar.

So, I’ll be leaving my legalistic nature behind and I’ll look past the words into the heart of the person speaking them. Hopefully, you (& these uncommonly conservative teenagers that call me mom) can do the same for me!

 

Controversial Christmas Greetings

Yesterday’s post really got me to thinking about two things: Christmas and words. Specifically the word Christmas itself.

Christmas is controversial.

Most of us who are Christians have no problem with word. As a matter of fact, we proudly go around wishing people Merry Christmas and can be offended if others don’t return our greeting with the same.

We speak out against Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings as they totally remove the Savior from the holiday. See, it is His birth we are celebrating during this season.

We take offense at the commercialization and secularization of our Christian holiday. This is not a cultural tradition, but a religious remembrance. We take time to remember that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin. Christmas is not necessarily the exact date of Christ’s birth, but the day set aside to annually celebrate His birth.

We want to share His birth with the world, but we want them to understand that this isn’t just some excuse to exchange gifts and eat food. We want them to understand that without Christ there is no Christmas.

Enter the shortened form of the word Christmas, X-mas.

How many of you just cringed and are upset that I even typed it?

Yep, I used to be one of those Christians, too. We read Xmas and immediately our hackles are raised. We are ready to fight. How dare someone take our Christ out of Christmas. We take a deep breath, whisper a prayer, perhaps they just don’t know.

“Are you aware that it offends many people when you write Xmas instead of Christmas? The holiday is a celebration of Christ’s birth. It is disrespectful and rude to take His name out of the word.”

We say the words as calmly as possible and hold our breath waiting for the response. Or, we don’t say a word and choose not to shop in stores who display advertisements of such. If they don’t spell out Christmas, they much be against Christianity. So, we keep silent and use our dollars to make a statement.

Now, before I go any further let me clarify that I fully believe we need to keep Christ in Christmas and that it is the duty of Christians to educate the world as to why we celebrate Christmas.

However, I do not believe that everyone who writes Xmas is uneducated in Christianity, nor do I believe they are against Christianity.

As a matter of fact, I believe a good many of those people writing Xmas are Xians. Yes, you read that correctly, Xians.

The letter ‘X’ is the Greek letter chi which is the first letter in Christ. As scribes translated the New Testament, Christ was written as X. Since then Christmas has been written as Xmas and Christian has been written as Xian.

There is no disrespect or secularization of Christmas in Xmas.

So, the next time you receive a Christmas card where someone has hastily scribbled Merry Xmas! on the bottom, instead of taking offense, be blessed! Not only did they remember you at this time, they also remembered that it is the birthday of our Savior, X.

Want to see more about this topic? Check out some of these sites:http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/xmasabbr.asp
http://www.all-creatures.org/living/xmeans.html
http://www.pathguy.com/alphabet.htm
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/christianholidays/f/Xmas.htm

And do your own search to find hundreds more!

photo credit: kevin”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/3130102487/”>kevin dooley via photopinhttp://photopin.com”>photopin> cchttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc>

Secede? Union? Kingdom of God?

 Today I listened, just listened, as students discussed the current petitions circling in 30 plus states filing to secede from the United States of America. Huffington Post Article

I’m not going to lie, I haven’t made my mind up on this situation yet. I don’t have enough information. However, I learned quite a bit just listening to students discuss feasibility, possibility, and the reasoning behind it.

I was very surprised that I didn’t have to stop the discussion because of people taking sides and arguing. They were actually just discussing the political situation and feasibility for each state. Particularly what it could mean for Missouri if said secession was granted.

Students of mixed political parties, mixed socioeconomic status, mixed everything had a calm, rational, spontaneous conversation that lead to thinking about change.

Sometimes we don’t like the way things are going. Face it. In our homes. In our jobs. In our churches. In our communities. In our government. We get fed up with all the ‘gunk’, and many times rightfully so.

What do we do when things aren’t going our way? How do we deal with conflict? (There’s that “c” word again.)

We divide.

We split into groups of people who believe similarly. We seek out others who share our belief system, our intrinsic moral code, and our desires for the future.

We turn away from those who disagree with our perspective. Who stand against the very things we stand for. We segregate ourselves from them for many various reasons. Mostly because we disagree and we can’t agree to disagree.

Let’s look at the Kingdom of God.

*Catholic Church

*Lutheran Church

*Episcopal Church

*Presbyterian Church

*Amish

*Mennonites

*Methodists

*Church of God

*Baptist

*Assembly of God

*Latter Day Saints

This list could go on and on. I’ve listed only a few of the denominations and within each denomination are many additional splits. Why?

Can Christian people secede from the Kingdom of God?

Your heart says “No!”, doesn’t it?

Don’t be so quick to answer. Isn’t that exactly what we’ve tried to do by forming so many separate religions? Rather than working together towards one common goal, we’ve divided over differences of interpretation. We’ve divided over leaders with whom some of us followed blindly while others believed them to be false prophets.

Sounds a lot like our country right now, doesn’t it?

I don’t claim to have the answer to states seceded from the Union. As a matter of fact, I’m a strong supporter of people taking a stand and speaking up for what they believe in. Sometimes it takes something shocking and drastic to bring about change. Perhaps this petition process will set the ball of change into motion.

What I do know, fellow Christians, is that we cannot secede from the Kingdom of God if we are truly Christian people. I do not believe that Heaven will be divided into communities based on our religious affiliation. Truth be told, I’m not sure God Himself is even a fan of organized religion as we know it.

Church, if we want to see change in our country we need to be filing our own petitions.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV; emphasis placed by me)

We need to be filing our petitions with God through prayer and thanking Him in advance for the answers. When we do, He’ll provide peace that others will not understand and will protect our hearts and minds. Cry out to Jesus!

Now this confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

Our heart and motive have to be right. God isn’t a genie in a lamp. We don’t throw up prayers like magical wishes. We pray in confidence that He will answer our petitions. We know that He will answer all petitions that are according to His will. We must seek His will first, though.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

If the prayers of Jesus were described ‘with fervent cries and tears’ then shouldn’t we be even more desperate in our pleadings? We need to be real instead of offering up token prayers that are meaningless to both us and the Listener. Jesus’ prayers were heard because He feared the Lord…His own flesh. Church, we need to be broken when we cry out. We need to be serious, desperate, and pleading for restoration, revival, and redemption.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Christian. Little Christ. Follower of Christ. My people who are called by My name. I don’t see a denomination name there. If you are a follower of Christ, you are His people. You cannot secede from the Kingdom or separate yourself from me, a fellow Christian.

The church is all of us who bear the name Christian. When we, the church, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, THEN He will forgive and heal our land.

Notice what it doesn’t say there. It doesn’t say “When non-believers get saved, I’ll heal your land.”

Responsibility lies on the shoulders of those who are already saved. I’m ashamed. Are you? If we want to see true healing in our lands, it won’t be brought forth be any government or party. Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, donkey or elephant, or just separating yourself from all of it…your politics won’t heal our lands.

Only God can heal our lands. He’s waiting on His people to respond. To act. To do something shocking and drastic in order to bring about change. He’s waiting on us, the Christians, to stop worrying about being “right” and to get right. Humble, on our knees, seeking Him, and purposefully turning from our wicked ways so that He can forgive us and heal our lands.

photo credit: katerkatehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/katerkate/4479941352/”>katerkate
> via photopinhttp://photopin.com”>photopin> cchttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>cc>