One of the things that I struggle with in my faith is the relationship that I have with other Christians. There are so many verses in the Bible and sometimes I wonder how they are to be implemented or interpreted. Galatians 6:2 says "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. This tells me that I should be carrying others burdens and lifting them up to Christ. What does that mean when you see loved ones that are making choices that are sinful or just not good choices. Should you say something?
Then you think about Matthew 18:7 which states, "Woe to the world because of [its] stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! " What if you become a stumbling block because of something that you say. But, then in Ephesians 4, verse 15 says, "15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." So what are we to do?
I have been on the giving end and the receiving end of this struggle. In high school, I spoke to a friend about smoking pot. I prayed with her over the phone and asked her to consider her behavior. Nothing changed for several years. But, I knew that what I had done was out of love and I still speak to her today. I don't think my words changed anything. I think she was on her own journey. She modified her behavior when she wanted to. I also had a friend speak to me about the intimacy involved in my relationship with my now husband. At the time, I was a little upset. But, I have not held that against her nor has it impacted our relationship. We will be going to the zoo with our children tomorrow. However, I know there are times when it can end relationships.
The thing that concerns me is that I think we enter into conversations with others in a fast and sometimes unthoughtful manner. When we speak the truth in love, if that becomes necessary, I think that God should be called upon to be the center of the conversation. Ask him to give you the words to speak. Then, and only then, do I think that there is a possibility to make it through a difficult discussion without disastrous results. Now, I know that I pop off at times. But, I have also found that when that happens, hurt feelings result. And God calls us to build each other up and not tear each other down. I think the Christian community has to be careful that we don't tear each other down over small theological differences that Jesus would probably laugh about.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Questioning the Church?
After a Sunday School session yesterday, I began to get frustrated about the church. I think many of us go along with what society or our church believes without knowing why or questioning whether that goes in line with our own walk.
One of the things that I think we fail to grasp is the concept of grace. This Grace was bestowed upon us by God, without any action from us. He created us in his image to be a companion to him. We didn't do anything to deserve that. We have just done everything in our human nature to mess it up. Grace means the undeserved, unmerited, loving action of God in human existence through the ever present Holy Spirit. While the Grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as "prevenient grace", continues in "justifying grace", and is brought to fruition in "sanctifying grace."
Prevenient Grace is the divine love that surrounds all humanity and any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding of God's will, and our first slight transient conviction of having sinned against God.
The ministry of all Christians in Christ's name and spirit is both a gift and a task. The gift of God's unmerited grace, the task is unstinting service. Entrance into the church is acknowledged in baptism and may include persons of all ages. In this sacrament the church claims the promise, the seal of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Baptism is followed by nuture and the consequent awareness by the baptized of the claim to ministry in Christ placed upon their lives by the church. Such a ministry is ratified in confirmation, where the pledges of baptism are accepted and renewed for life and mission.
An infant, chhild, or adult who is baptized becomes a member of the catholic(universal) church, of the denomination, and a baptized member of the local congregation. After Baptism, the Church provides the nuture which makes possible a comprehensive and lifelong process of growing in grace. Becoming a professing member requires the answer of faith of the baptized person made visible in a service of Professional of Christian Faith and confirmation using the vows of the baptismal covenant.
I am grateful for a church that allows me to question what I believe and why as I struggle to grow closer to God in my walk. What would Jesus say about the church if he came back today? I think he would say that we are getting caught up in the small stuff. I think he talked about 2 important comandments: Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your spirit. The other is to Love your neighbors as yourself. If we strive to do that, then I think all the other stuff is small potatoes...
One of the things that I think we fail to grasp is the concept of grace. This Grace was bestowed upon us by God, without any action from us. He created us in his image to be a companion to him. We didn't do anything to deserve that. We have just done everything in our human nature to mess it up. Grace means the undeserved, unmerited, loving action of God in human existence through the ever present Holy Spirit. While the Grace of God is undivided, it precedes salvation as "prevenient grace", continues in "justifying grace", and is brought to fruition in "sanctifying grace."
Prevenient Grace is the divine love that surrounds all humanity and any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding of God's will, and our first slight transient conviction of having sinned against God.
The ministry of all Christians in Christ's name and spirit is both a gift and a task. The gift of God's unmerited grace, the task is unstinting service. Entrance into the church is acknowledged in baptism and may include persons of all ages. In this sacrament the church claims the promise, the seal of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Baptism is followed by nuture and the consequent awareness by the baptized of the claim to ministry in Christ placed upon their lives by the church. Such a ministry is ratified in confirmation, where the pledges of baptism are accepted and renewed for life and mission.
An infant, chhild, or adult who is baptized becomes a member of the catholic(universal) church, of the denomination, and a baptized member of the local congregation. After Baptism, the Church provides the nuture which makes possible a comprehensive and lifelong process of growing in grace. Becoming a professing member requires the answer of faith of the baptized person made visible in a service of Professional of Christian Faith and confirmation using the vows of the baptismal covenant.
I am grateful for a church that allows me to question what I believe and why as I struggle to grow closer to God in my walk. What would Jesus say about the church if he came back today? I think he would say that we are getting caught up in the small stuff. I think he talked about 2 important comandments: Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your spirit. The other is to Love your neighbors as yourself. If we strive to do that, then I think all the other stuff is small potatoes...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)