February 14, 2008
You are the light of the world.—Matthew 5:14
God has limitless ways of reaching people. So if you don’t feel that you have the ability to reach others for Christ, think about 76-year-old Ethel Hatfield. Desiring to serve her Lord, she asked her pastor if she could teach a Sunday school class. He informed her that he thought she was too old! She went home heavy-hearted and disappointed. (more…)
February 5, 2008
PistolPete wrote in his blog:
“I give thanks to God always for the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 1:4)
The Corinthian church was far from perfect. The Apostle Paul identifies and confronts several problems that threaten the unity and purity of the fellowship. Yet, he is still grateful for them and not ashamed to admit it.
I find there to be a troubling trend around the blogosphere (and within society in general) to identify the problems of the Church (or churches) yet fail to see the possibilities. Without a doubt, the Church has sanctioned some of the greatest atrocities in the history of humankind. Without a doubt, there are hypocrites, gossips, and busybodies in just about any church.
There are many problems with church, but I believe it still holds out the greatest hope for people to come together and encourage each other to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ (and with each other).
Like Paul, I am grateful for the church I serve even though I see so much within it that isn’t right. (…more…)
January 31, 2008
The Bible is, and has always been, a revolutionary book. It stands like a coastal rock cliff to resist the surging, crashing waves of cultural change. And there may be no clearer demonstration of the Bible’s immutable word than what it teaches about genuine femininity.
The Bible rightly exalts women against cultures that distort, degrade, and debase them. Many in our society tout the sexual and reproductive liberation of women against the supposed oppressive, outmoded strictures of the Bible. I have to ask, “In what way are women truly free? In what way does our culture honor them?” Sure they can vote; sure they have opportunities to compete in the marketplace. But are they really free? Is their dignity and honor intact? (more…)
January 30, 2008
Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor.–Is. 1:16-17
When my computer greeted me one morning with what is ominously referred to as “the blue screen of death,” I knew it was broken, but I didn’t know how to fix it. I read a little, tried a few things, but finally had to call an expert for help. Knowing that something was wrong was only a small part of the problem; I couldn’t fix it because I didn’t know the right thing to do. (more…)
January 29, 2008
Kathy McFarland of Guided Bible Studies has written a wonderful article concerning a woman’s role in God’s kingdom. I hope it helps to clear up a lot of misinformation about our role in this world (and the one to come).
A young convert has come to me with a question about a seeming conflict of scripture passages. I’m not sure how to address this; I can surely use your input. These are the passages: 1Cor.14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 1Cor.11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. Gal.5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. God’s blessings, Janice.
Let’s start with 1 Cor 11. Notice how there are different outward standards for the man and the woman. Paul makes the point that regardless of the outward differences between men and women, there is no differences in their spirits. The reason he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians was because of the division within the church. His words to the Corinthians are often interpreted incorrectly by well-meaning but mistaken fundamentalists who suggest a significant division between men and women. Actually, it is the reverse; Paul is trying to heal the division; interestingly, he actually states the equality of womens’ spirits to mens’ by cautioning them to cover their heads in church. …more…
January 22, 2008
More insight from my friend Becca:
When I was young it was fashionable to be a Christian. It was a time when no one had to explain what it meant to follow in the footsteps of Christ. We all got a good dose of “Hail stones and Damnation” every Sunday and we all knew if you were disobedient of the LORD GOD you would be punished. Our church was full of love of each other and understood the occasional times when a child got unruly in church, or the grandparent fell asleep. There were no fingers pointing saying this person or that person was a sinner, it was just understood we all were sinners trying to emulate the Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, there were ladies talking about the hat of Mrs. So and So, and maybe even an exclamation of how “tacky Mrs. So and So’s dress was”. We all had a few things in common: We went to church to hear the Word of God; we went to church to fellowship, and most of all we went to church because that is what we were expected to do. (more…)
January 18, 2008
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, …without partiality and without hypocrisy.—James 3:17
…In a sense, churches are like ships, and many of their people are like rivets. Although rivets seem insignificant, they are essential for holding the ship together and keeping it afloat. (more…)
January 12, 2008
More from Brother Levi:
Where do you go to church?
I have never liked this question, even when I was able to answer it with a specific organization. I know what it means culturally, but it is based on a false premise–that church is something you can go to as in a specific event, location or organized group. I think Jesus looks at the church quite differently. He didn’t talk about it as a place to go to, but a way of living in relationship to him and to other followers of his. (more…)
