Depending on what Sunday School you attended, the mantra almost echoes in your ears. If not the song, Yes Jesus Loves Me, For the Bible Tells Me So, then its the Easter Pageants when you had to memorize a scripture in front of the entire congregation. Was there ever a year that a child didn't recite the easiest verse in the whole bible, Jesus wept? We dressed up for services and see the families looking oh so nice. If we are close friends, then we learn certain particulars and pray for one another, but for the most part it is a community that continues it's routine without a hitch.
When there is a visitor, the congregation forms around that person like white blood cells attacking bacteria. The mission: to find what that person is doing in your nicely functioning ministry with all of its color matching decor and newly cleaned stained glass windows. Who is this person and what are their intentions? Of course, the interrogation is diluted with insincere smiles and disingenuous hugs (Matthew 26:49 AMP). If the person comes back after that initial weird exit, then it must be from the Lord - right? Its almost like a game. Its no wonder there are very few visitors in small ministries other then families and those that the families have grown up with all of their lives. Yet, because they all know one another, there is never the same interrogation within (James 2:4 AMP). Its the assumption that because they have all grown up together in the same church, they must be born again. Of course they are...right?
A 3 year old child sang for the Lord every Sunday and his praise couldn't be anything but real. Who was this little person trying to impress? He looked so adorable. When he grew up, he started to learn how to play the organ and was the star performer of the church when there ever was a function. When he was in his 20's, the church had a musical event and assumed that their star performer would be there to play the organ. The choir was lined up and was introduced to all of the people that came to see the event, but nothing was happening because the star performer had not shown up. He had never been late before. Twenty minutes later, here he comes through the door dressed up as if he was going to an opera. He gave no apologies. He opened the double doors that was closed for the choir's entrance, walked through and down the middle of the aisle. He settled in, making noise in so doing, and when he knew all eyes were on him, he began to play. What happened to that adorable little boy? Aren't we disciplined to do better in Christ (Hebrews 12:10 AMP)? But when did he receive Christ? At home? In the middle of his praise? Who asked? Who cared?
I often thought about this when studying Job. Its like the more you meditate on certain aspects of the Word, the more you can get out of it. For instance, it never made sense to me why Job would be making sacrifices for his children. What were they doing that would cause him to be so afraid? He is a priest! Wouldn't he know what to teach his children in order for them to behave? The entire community looked up to Job. He knew what to say to them, but he didn't know with his own children? What kind of faith did he really have?
A young married man with a young family decides to have his 4 and 5 year old son and daughter to be baptized because he remembered when his mother made him do it, he was embarrassed and he wanted to spare his children the humiliation of it all. His children grew up in the same ministry but never went to the altar to give their lives to Christ like anyone else would. Did the children do so in their private lives? Did they visit another church and gave their lives to the Lord, or did the young man believe because he had them baptized at a young age, it was good enough?
Have you ever wondered why some PK's (preachers kids) act the way that they do? I thought it was because the preacher teaches one thing and acts completely different at home. The children were then rebelling against the hypocrisy. I never thought it was as simple as an assumption. Why didn't the minister know this? Why do we think the children will gain what we worked so hard to stay disciplined in, holiness? How are they supposed to obtain it, through osmosis? It will never happen that way!
A Christian married couple separated and the man was concerned in getting his wife back. Though he heard much advise, he decided to call her to ask for them to at least try. She wasn't interested in getting back together but she did agree for them to meet at a restaurant to talk. Before getting there, the woman prayed asking for God to give her the right words and for her soon to be ex husband the heart to understand what the matter was. Once at the restaurant she allowed her husband to speak first. She didn't say anything and he wasn't asking her any questions. They finished their meals and the dishes and been removed from the table. He slurped the last of his drink and asked, "So what do you think?" She hadn't listened to one word he said. She heard it all before, but it was finally quiet and he was waiting for her answer. She took a deep breath believing that the Holy Spirit was gong to say what was needed, "Receive the Holy Spirit and I will come back." He stopped playing with the straw still in his mouth. He looked at her, stood up, put on his coat, and just before he left leaving her there, he said, "No." Shocked not because the pleading stopped along with the bargains and promises, but shocked that his answer was anything else but no. Hadn't he accepted the Holy Spirit anyway? Why was he against it? Why hadn't he mentioned it before? Is the subject moot if one lives a Christian life style?
The Word does tell us that God will save the seed of the righteous, so did we believe He would do different then what He did for us (Galatians 3:29 AMP)? Because He said it, did we assume we didn't have to make the effort to teach it to our children? Did we make sure they did the action as we would have witnessed to everyone else? What kind of parents have we been that we cared for the souls of others and didn't have as much concern for the ones at home? Job went to one extreme, yet some of us went to the other. Tighten it up! As parents, we are also teachers. We are held at a higher standard - or didn't you know that? Even as single Christians dating for the purposes of marriage, it is imperative that we ask all of the right questions and watch a person's actions. Even with all of that, we must be able to discern that still small voice so we can be informed of the things we cannot see and will never know otherwise. Our salvation is in Him - more then we ever thought.
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Monday, August 29, 2011
Liberty Held Captive?
How can you be held captive and set free at the same time? Is it at all possible? Jesus came to set the captives free. I understand this is as being free from the laws of sin and death, though there are ministers that get deeper into that understanding to find that we are set free from much more, I like the simplicity of the main idea - free from sin and death. Nevertheless, there are those that continue to hold fast to the ways of this world and because of that belief, the laws that Jesus came to disintegrate has little to no effect on them. It is as if they returned back to vomit that they were once cleaned from.
For instance, this last weekend one of my youngest sons got married in the church that he and his siblings were raised in. I hadn't been there but a few times since their father and I separated and later divorced. The members of the church, the families of both sides, and all of the members that had moved to other parts of the country and in ministry themselves came for the wedding. There were so many people I had not seen in years and age comes into perspective when you see others. I had to be introduced to what I thought were strangers but actually the children I recall still in diapers all grown up. Usually when someone has to help me remember who they are, all that is said is their name and it takes me a little while to see that same little face in the expression of the now adult hoping for a little recognition. One of those that had to introduce himself to me was a man I didn't recognize at all. When he said who he was I remembered that his father was diagnosed with diabetes and had later passed on due to complications from the ailment. His father was a kind, gentleman, and always a cheerful giver. I didn't know much about his son other than him being so quiet and a few years younger then me; however, his sisters and I were about the same age. I really wasn't thinking to see that man this past weekend. I recall hearing that he was diagnosed with the same ailment as his father, his wife had left him, and he wasn't raising his children. He asked me at the precession line if I remember him. I had to be honest, this man asking me the question looked as if he were 70 years old. His glasses were so thick I couldn't hardly see his eyes and his body was so tiny and fragile. I answered him, "no." When he told me his name, I am not one to hide much expression, especially shock, amazement, or inner pain. We hugged each other and I had to quickly get it together for the next family member or guest to shake hands. I got through 10-15 more people before I started to cry. My sons thought it was because of the ceremony and tried to give me words of encouragement. I couldn't explain to them that it was something completely different.
I spoke to another woman who I thought I didn't know. We just began talking and waiting for the wedding to begin. My youngest son came into the room to check on me and saw all that were in the room with me. He saw the woman I was talking to and greeted her. It was a family member! I had to apologize because this had happened at least twice before. I said to her that she looks different every time I see her. She explained that because of the medication that she was prescribed, it has done so many different things to her body. I replied that one drug has one side effect that the doctor gives another prescription for but that one pill has two side effects as well. She agreed. Then I began to tell her that many times, the original ailment could be an allergic reaction that could be defeated with a change in diet. She nodded but the expression on her face told me that she wasn't hearing nothing I was saying. I stopped talking.
As each and every member of the church and visitors came through the reception line, they gave their hand to congratulate me or speak words of adulation about by son, the groom. Some recalled the sour words I heard from gossip in the past and didn't have anything to say. I saw it on their face as they tried to create a sincere smile or force my body to welcome their pseudo hugs of love. I never practiced that but it did give me insight to the house cleaning I still had to do with myself. I watched all of those people and how they have fared over the years. Some weren't walking as straight as they had been 20 years ago while others did a lot of talking to drown out the words spoken to them. There were people that only talked about keeping the weight off of them in years passed and while they did exactly what they said they looked like they were carrying a steamer trunk of regret and other unresolved problems on their backs. Smiling through all of those frowned lines looked so painful to do, still we got through it and the wedding was a success.
My youngest son made a toast that had many in tears. He was very eloquent if I may be so bold to write. The pastor and his wife had finished eating and said their good-byes. Once they were out of the building, the real reception began. Many who attended got up and danced. I use to wonder why the reception couldn't be this way with the pastor there as well. What was being done so wrong that he could see and hear it? Would it have been disrespectful to have the music playing and the dancing with him being there? In the Word, there was a celebration of the marriage. All that came celebrated! Still, it had been done this way for years. If it were up to me, I would like to see what would happen, if the dancing started with the pastor being there. Is he being excluded from the celebration or are we truly set free as the Word tells us that we are? I found that interesting.
Actually, I find the entire concept of freedom interesting. How far can we take this freedom in Christ? Is the sky the limit or are we afraid to venture forth? There is a reason why the angels asked God what is man that He be so mindful of us. Do we hold restraints on ourselves because we don't trust what we will do without the boundaries? If the family member believed that she would be totally healed if she changed her diet as opposed to her taking that same medication as she had been doing for years, would her entire life change? What would she have to complain about? Would all of that free time be too overwhelming? What if the man that was younger then me and looked 70 stopped believing that he didn't have to accept the generational curse of having diabetes because his father had it? What if he believed that Jesus actually did heal him by those many stripes and his health did a complete 180, what would he do with the rest of his life? What would happen if the woman walked straight again and the frown lines of worry disappeared? Could life be good for them again or would she find something to worry about?
When I took pictures of the wedding and the reception, I focused on my son, his bride, my family, and the new members of my family. I couldn't take pictures of all of the rest. It just put things into perspective as to why Jesus wept.
For instance, this last weekend one of my youngest sons got married in the church that he and his siblings were raised in. I hadn't been there but a few times since their father and I separated and later divorced. The members of the church, the families of both sides, and all of the members that had moved to other parts of the country and in ministry themselves came for the wedding. There were so many people I had not seen in years and age comes into perspective when you see others. I had to be introduced to what I thought were strangers but actually the children I recall still in diapers all grown up. Usually when someone has to help me remember who they are, all that is said is their name and it takes me a little while to see that same little face in the expression of the now adult hoping for a little recognition. One of those that had to introduce himself to me was a man I didn't recognize at all. When he said who he was I remembered that his father was diagnosed with diabetes and had later passed on due to complications from the ailment. His father was a kind, gentleman, and always a cheerful giver. I didn't know much about his son other than him being so quiet and a few years younger then me; however, his sisters and I were about the same age. I really wasn't thinking to see that man this past weekend. I recall hearing that he was diagnosed with the same ailment as his father, his wife had left him, and he wasn't raising his children. He asked me at the precession line if I remember him. I had to be honest, this man asking me the question looked as if he were 70 years old. His glasses were so thick I couldn't hardly see his eyes and his body was so tiny and fragile. I answered him, "no." When he told me his name, I am not one to hide much expression, especially shock, amazement, or inner pain. We hugged each other and I had to quickly get it together for the next family member or guest to shake hands. I got through 10-15 more people before I started to cry. My sons thought it was because of the ceremony and tried to give me words of encouragement. I couldn't explain to them that it was something completely different.
I spoke to another woman who I thought I didn't know. We just began talking and waiting for the wedding to begin. My youngest son came into the room to check on me and saw all that were in the room with me. He saw the woman I was talking to and greeted her. It was a family member! I had to apologize because this had happened at least twice before. I said to her that she looks different every time I see her. She explained that because of the medication that she was prescribed, it has done so many different things to her body. I replied that one drug has one side effect that the doctor gives another prescription for but that one pill has two side effects as well. She agreed. Then I began to tell her that many times, the original ailment could be an allergic reaction that could be defeated with a change in diet. She nodded but the expression on her face told me that she wasn't hearing nothing I was saying. I stopped talking.
As each and every member of the church and visitors came through the reception line, they gave their hand to congratulate me or speak words of adulation about by son, the groom. Some recalled the sour words I heard from gossip in the past and didn't have anything to say. I saw it on their face as they tried to create a sincere smile or force my body to welcome their pseudo hugs of love. I never practiced that but it did give me insight to the house cleaning I still had to do with myself. I watched all of those people and how they have fared over the years. Some weren't walking as straight as they had been 20 years ago while others did a lot of talking to drown out the words spoken to them. There were people that only talked about keeping the weight off of them in years passed and while they did exactly what they said they looked like they were carrying a steamer trunk of regret and other unresolved problems on their backs. Smiling through all of those frowned lines looked so painful to do, still we got through it and the wedding was a success.
My youngest son made a toast that had many in tears. He was very eloquent if I may be so bold to write. The pastor and his wife had finished eating and said their good-byes. Once they were out of the building, the real reception began. Many who attended got up and danced. I use to wonder why the reception couldn't be this way with the pastor there as well. What was being done so wrong that he could see and hear it? Would it have been disrespectful to have the music playing and the dancing with him being there? In the Word, there was a celebration of the marriage. All that came celebrated! Still, it had been done this way for years. If it were up to me, I would like to see what would happen, if the dancing started with the pastor being there. Is he being excluded from the celebration or are we truly set free as the Word tells us that we are? I found that interesting.
Actually, I find the entire concept of freedom interesting. How far can we take this freedom in Christ? Is the sky the limit or are we afraid to venture forth? There is a reason why the angels asked God what is man that He be so mindful of us. Do we hold restraints on ourselves because we don't trust what we will do without the boundaries? If the family member believed that she would be totally healed if she changed her diet as opposed to her taking that same medication as she had been doing for years, would her entire life change? What would she have to complain about? Would all of that free time be too overwhelming? What if the man that was younger then me and looked 70 stopped believing that he didn't have to accept the generational curse of having diabetes because his father had it? What if he believed that Jesus actually did heal him by those many stripes and his health did a complete 180, what would he do with the rest of his life? What would happen if the woman walked straight again and the frown lines of worry disappeared? Could life be good for them again or would she find something to worry about?
When I took pictures of the wedding and the reception, I focused on my son, his bride, my family, and the new members of my family. I couldn't take pictures of all of the rest. It just put things into perspective as to why Jesus wept.
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