WELL, NOW....HERE WE GO

It is not often that I make people mad with my blog. It is never intentional. I don't LIKE to make people mad. When I do, it bothers me....but has yet to shake me from what I said. I might apologize for the way I have said something. But, in my more "controversial" posts, I have never apologized for saying what was said....and I probably never will. BUT, you never know.

How is that for an attention grabber?

Back about 18 months ago, I made several people mad with my beliefs and my views. I was called various things, most of which did not bother me. What did bother me is when some folk (most being non-Christian) would try to use my lifeline against me. (I'm talking about the Bible, if you are wondering.)

What I'm going to say here tonight has to do with some things that have been bothering me, literally, for MONTHS! You know how it is when you get into a disagreement or some "word sparring" with a person. You leave and then think, "UGH! I should have said....." Well, that is how I have been for awhile. There were (are) many things that I wanted to say....and still do, I just never knew how to say them. I am wondering if maybe God didn't give me the words. Well, now I feel that maybe He has.

You can *guffaw* all you want. You can criticize because I am so bold as to assume I have a direct line to God......well, I do.....if you don't you can get with me. As with any post, I will publish your comment, providing it isn't personally insulting to me, any other reader or Biblically errant. (And yes, I know you might think that subjective, but I get to do that.)

First, I want to share a verse that keeps coming to me. It's just that while praying about this post (I started thinking/praying on it about 6 weeks ago) this verse came to me. So here we go.

2 Timothy 1:12 ~ For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Hmmmm....have to step back for a sec. I had a whole laundry list of items...more like a dump post. But, it's not going to be that. Sorry, if you were really excited to get after me. :)

It has often been said (after one of my posts) that Christians (myself, in particular) shouldn't judge. They invariably throw out Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. (KJV)

OK, fine. KEEP READING! verse 2 of the NASB: For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

That does not mean that Christians shouldn't make a judgment call about things they see that are wrong. It DOES, however, tell us how we should make those judgment calls.

There are 3 groups of people: Believers, Unbelievers, and False prophets. (I leave it to you to figure out where you fit.) My standard of measure is the Bible. The Bible, is my absolute truth. It will not change. It needs nothing further.

Oh man......my thoughts are muddled. Bear with me.

I need to first explain what the "don't judge" part means to me. I shouldn't make an absolute determination of a person's guilt. That is not my job. I'm not to judge a person's eternity based on the brief snippet of time that I see. That doesn't mean a complete hands-off approach, either. Don't you realize that as a Christian, I am TOLD to tell people of my beliefs...to warn people of their impending doom, should they not accept Christ as Saviour?

What would Jesus do? THE ABOVE!!! That's what He did. That's what He told His followers to do. He didn't say, "Oh, because I love you, I will not warn you. Nor will I allow you to go through the consequences of your actions" (or inactions, as the case may be.) Nope. He wants me to try to love people to Heaven, but be willing to love them to hell.

Another thing about the "don't judge" statement is that everyone can't be judged the same. What does that mean? Well, if you aren't a Christian, you don't live by the same standard that I live by. That does not automatically give you permission to do whatever you desire to do.

When the scribes and Pharisees (John 8) brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, He drew the line in the sand and said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Basically, nobody picked up a rock because they knew that they weren't without sin. They all up and left. When Jesus asked her, "hath no man condemned thee?" She stated that no man had.

He said, "neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

There....cool, huh? Why didn't he condemn her? Because He knew that she was living under a different standard. However, that did not make her sin any less a sin. He told her to SIN NO MORE! We can judge the sin and still value the person.

We are also to beware of false prophets. How can we beware if we aren't allowed a bit of judgment? Jesus said that we will know these by their fruits. He also said that a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit. If the peaches are bad, we are to chop down the tree and throw it into the fire. (Of course, He didn't say "peaches" specifically....LOL~)

Please don't make the mistake of confusing tolerance and love. I love my children....I will NOT tolerate when they speak disrespectfully to me. It does not show them love if I let them stay in bed all day, not doing their chores, never going to school, or learning the ways of the Lord.

It's sad that what I mean in love is seen as judgment. Well, if you are making that call, then aren't you judging me? You obviously don't know my motive. And, I still hold that if you have a problem with what I'm saying, then you need to dig deeper into your own eternal security.

You see, there IS only one way. Yeah, it's nice to think of a big map with many roads...you can choose the interstate: lots of traffic, fast moving, get ya there quickly. Or there is the scenic route....not as quick, but a lot more fun....or the rocky, dirt path: narrow, difficult, lots of obstacles. Well, it's the rocky dirt path. Jesus told us that the way is narrow and difficult.

Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Guys, if He wasn't the only way, then WHY was He in Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion? Do you know what He was doing? Do you really?

He was in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood. He prayed to Abba Father, in Luke 22:42, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

He didn't want to go through what He was about to face. To carry, not only my sin and sickness, but yours and the sin of everyone else in the world....that is heavy stuff. Think about what that meant. ALL the sickness. ALL the sin. God turned His back on Jesus because of the sin. That was more painful to Jesus than anything He endured physically.

I love this clip.

Go to about 6 minutes for the part about the cup.

Back to what I was saying. If there was ANY OTHER WAY, don't you think Jesus, of ALL men, would have found it? I mean....He's God! Yet, He had to go through the crucifixion to atone for our sins.

*deep breath*

I'm tired. I'm typing way too fast and having to correct a lot of mistakes. :) I don't know if I'm done. I'm done for tonight. I feel certain there will be something from someone that will bring about conversation. That is OK....let's all keep it friendly, please?

Good night, y'all.

GOD BLESS.

ETA:

Spiritual truth #1 - No one is good. All are sinners

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23

Spiritual Truth #2 - The payment for sin is death. If you sin, you have been sentenced to the death penalty, and an eternity away from God.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Romans 6:23

Spiritual truth #3 - Jesus paid the death penalty for us.

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. -John 3:16-17

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. -John 10:10

Spiritual truth #4 - To accept the free gift of salvation, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -2 Corinthians5:17

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. -Romans 10:9-11

The above scripture says you need to do three things:

Confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth

Believe in your heart

Don't be ashamed

If you want to be saved and born again, and you are ready to become a new creature in Christ, then pray the following prayer. You can do this right now...right where you are. God will hear you:

Dear Lord, Thank You so much for sending Your Son to pay for my sins, by dying in my place. I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and I believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Thank You for Your free gift of salvation, I gladly accept it. Amen~

If you did this, please let me know in the comment section. I will pray for you.