Christian denominations as pots in the desert

Perhaps think of different Christian denominations as pots,
pans and improvised plastic containers,
desperately flung out
into the desert
to try and catch any drops of rain.
~ Milton Jones 

Having to learn and benefit from other Christian denominations

We must all learn and benefit from other Christian denominations,
traditions, and styles of worship
and should not just admire or idolise one particular one in isolation.
If we don’t learn from other traditions, we come insular and narrow.

Charismatic churches dominate on university campuses,
leaving little room for non-charismatics and promoting a narrow, limited, distorted, disproportionate, and false image of Christianity and of what it actually means to be a Christian, especially what it means to be one at university.

~ Ben Somervell ‘Come, just as you are to worship’

Preaching as Public Speaking

Jesus has given his followers the task to go out into the word to preach the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God.

2020 years after the master teacher his birth the Church has gone fare away from his teachings. In many church-groups or denominations we can find that human doctrines have won and that the people in the congregation or church community prefer to keep to human tradition instead of holding to the biblical teachings and Godly holy days.

“I want to preach a sermon. . .” – NARA – 514567 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Disappointed by the many contradicting teachings, ideas and having seen so many pastors, ministers and priests not living according to the Law of God and the law of human decency, lots of people got enough of the hypocrisy of those churches. Today we can only see (nearly) empty churches all over West Europe.

For sure the Body of Christ needs some fresh blood and some good ‘Punch’. Anno 2017 it looks like the church is gone ‘pubering’ again and in need of some acné products, trying to get rid of the puperal pimples or the sickness of the capitalist world where man has increased his position to godly status, so many thinking they are god themselves and play for god.

This world need preachers or speakers who are not afraid to give those immature consumers a tick on their bum. some even can use some figurative slap in the face to wake them up.

Most important to come over as some one sincere and credible is that the one who wants to speak for God he or she, himself or herself beliefs in the Most High and in His only begotten son. In the preacher has to burn the light of faith before he can go to others for trying to convince them to see that light in the darkness.
First there has to be conviction and persuasion in the preacher’s heart, glowing very strongly, to have the fire in the eyes, with such a kind and sweet heart that people would become eager to taste that sweetness and listen to what that person has to tell.

With the hate and vile language we can find lots of Christians spreading today on the internet and in common speech on the streets, they shall not be able to attract others to love them or to love what they tell.

Today we also find lots of Christians who preach there has a war started by the Muslims against the Christians. They forget that lots of Christians are setting themselves against the Islam. They do not see they have fallen in the trap of the false Muslims who not only have done a lot of damage to Islam but also want to destabilise the whole world.

It is up to the preachers who call themselves Christian to show the love of Christ and to share that agape love with all people around them, atheists, other believers (be them Muslims or from an other faith).

Without the love of Christ and without the burning fire of faith in the own heart, the preacher his gained ‘technique’ shall be quickly uncovered by the truth, so let him first get to the core of the Bible and teach that biblical Truth instead of human doctrines, and let he or she be unbiased, open to all people and not to just a few of a certain race or group.

*

To remember

• preaching = divine task + form of public speaking
• preaching involves spiritual dynamics + oratory skills = technical aspect of preaching < form of public speaking => skills revolving around use + proper utilization + creative use of voice, eye contact, facial expressions, gestures + movements.
• no methodology holy
• Only written words of God in Bible are holy

+

Preceding articles

Several Christians fail to recognise the Chosen ones of God and are not taking on a Christian attitude

To proclaim the day of vengeance

What makes you following Christ and Facebook Groups

++

Additional reading

1. The business of this life
2. The task given to us to love each other
3. Parish, local church community – Parochie, plaatselijke kerkgemeenschap
4. People who know how to pray to move God to take hold of our affairs in a mighty way
5. Pulpit reserved for the pastor
6. Notification and news feed for Facebook users
7. Bring praise to the Creator
8. The essence of church

+++

Further reading

1. Why are Christians so nosey about other peoples affairs
2. What, we agree? Compatible issues in a disagreeable world
3. Is a Religious War in Europe Imminent?
4. Bias, and Disagreeing with Something
5. Can we not be civil and simply disagree?
6. “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”
7. Are you ready for this?
8. You Summon and Send Us, three prayers based on Matthew 10
9. Bearing Witness
10. On the Power of Hospitality…
11. “When I Could Stand it No Longer….”
12. Being A Witness for Christ
13. Proclaim
14. Politics and Preaching
15. Good enough for ministry?
16. What builds the Church?
17. Back to Baby Steps
18. Book Blurb: Biblical Preaching
19. 3 Steps to Make the Message Stick
20. 5 Lessons from the Mission Field
21. Owen on Preaching, Sinclair on Children and Christ
22. Speech
23. Finding My Voice
24. The Foolishness of Preaching
25. Jonah — Belief Contradicted by Behavior! (Part 3)
26. Calvin: Ministers Ought Not to Steal
27. J.C. Ryle on “Jelly-Fish” Sermons
28. Unfurling the Word
29. Let’s keep our message offensive
30. Let’s keep our message offensive, part two
31. Preaching to the Late Modern Mind: Five Cultural Narratives to Know
32. Preparing to Preach
33. Preaching and Faithfulness
34. The Courage to Preach
35. Pastoral Theology
36. Reflections
37. Care for Others
38. Faithful Congregations Share the Good News
39. Charles Spurgeon on Spiritual Gleaning
40. The Dispensation of Grace
41. Stirring the Pot with Grace…
42. Psalm 64:9 Pondering God’s Work
43. How to Have a Successful Ministry

+++

Related articles

• Demon Possessed Hindus Riot Across India, Beat And Murder Christians For Claims Of Eating Beef
• Muslim radio host says gay people have a right to be angry at Islam: “Don’t try and tell me that our religion doesn’t have a history of homophobia”
• Attack On Ndigbo In the North Is An Attack On All Christians, Say Arewa Christians
• It makes no sense to compare religious majoritarianism in India and Pakistan – Publications – AEI
• Tillerson is now calling ISIS slaughter of Iraqi religious minorities ‘genocide’
• Anti-immigrant group confuses bus seats for women wearing burkas
• Muslim Terrorists Butcher Two Chinese Christians For Preaching The Gospel To Muslims
• BELLWETHER: Now he’s sorry! California imam preaches sound bites of hate
• Exclusive: Islamist preacher who cited a Nazi comparison of Jews to ‘fleas’ to speak at Palestine Expo event in government building
• You may not understand His plans, but the results will prove that His way is right

Worship and the Christian Life

True, preaching is a divine task, yet basically it is also a form of public speaking. A true preacher will eventually realise that as much as preaching involves spiritual dynamics, it also certainly includes oratory skills. These oratory skills constitute the technical aspect of preaching.

Before I tell about this technical aspect of preaching, or the oratory skills, which make us realise that preaching is a form of public speaking, let me tell first some important points to consider.

The first point is that though the technical side of preaching is important, still the spiritual side is more important. Preaching is firstly divine, then secondly it is public speaking. Preaching achieves eternal spiritual fruits, something that ordinary public speaking can never produce.

The second point to consider is that no methodology is holy, no matter how helpful it is in preaching. The techniques of delivering a sermon are never holy…

View original post 1,674 more words

Many opportunities given by God

I often did not have it easy in my life. Certain choices also made it that I got myself in more trouble than if I would have followed the mainstream.

Career Opportunities (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First there was the choice of my profession. Having being brought up in the Old Roman Catholic church, having been an acolyte, wanting to be working for God, becoming a priest was a first option, but then I was not allowed to marry, and I loved to much women. I also loved very much musicals and wanted to be an artist, able to sing and dance. when I asked to study that I got a slap in my face and was told I could better become a garbage man than an artist. In secret I started lessons and worked in my spare time to pay for the study. It was a good thing about that time time Europe had to build itself up again and had to find its way to restore from the horror of wars and the political systems which brought Europe unto the swamp.

Being so much interested in God, having had to learn the Catechism, comparing to what was written in the Scriptures I soon found out that the Catholic Faith (be it the Roman, Charismatic or Orthodox) was not according to Biblical teachings. This made it again difficult for my parents and me, creating a conflict on theological matters now. After some church shopping, having looked at different protestant denominations, I chose for a non-trinitarian church (the Baptist Church at that time and when the Baptists moved more to Trinitarianism I, like thousands of my brethren and sisters chose for an other non-trinitarian group: the Christadelphians)

Concerned about the world I also stood on the barricades in 1968, hoping for a better world. Becoming a dancer I also more than once had to face the difficulties of my body which also more than once was pushed in the corner by accidents or by my autoimmune illness. Continually I had to prove myself and found that I had to restart my life again. Later the children sometimes asked “Why did you do not that?”  or asked “Why did you not get that role?” or “Why did he got that position instead of you?”. It looked strange for them that I made certain ethical choices and did not want to do certain things to get a certain position. At the end of the trail, now being retired I do not have to shame myself for everything I did. And looking back on my career I must confess that I have really being blessed, being able my whole life to do what I loved to do and having been able to refuse several jobs because I did not like them or did not find them appropriate for a Christian to do (or did not want to do what they hoped for, for giving me that role or position).

In the end I can see how I was blessed and how there was an Incredible Strong Hand that pushed me in certain directions or got me up again when I was in the trenches. I was very lucky to have done fantastic work and having worked with fantastic people, international stars as well as with incredible people who, like me would only be known by their stage name or be forgotten soon.

Under this (official civil name) name I am writing I often was bullied because I did not hesitate to say my opinion or to speak about my faith which was not according to the main Christian majority. Once more I felt the Strong Hand of God, Who guided me and gave me further insight.

We may encounter lots of moments of darkness in our life, but by the sun-rays which brake the darkness we should come to see the better end of it. I had some horrible experiences in my life, which I would not wish any body would have such ones. But they helped me to help others and they also helped me to become strengthened or to know I was on the right way to show others how they have to behave or not have to behave. (For one incident: Though I never know what happened to a gang of seven that once attacked me with a knife in Chiswick Park, I do know I came out alive of it by keeping calm and trusting God.)

Over the years I also came to see how God uses the different elements/groups or denominations in Christendom to bring people from those different parts of the Body of Christ together in unity with Christ. Though for some it might take many years. But God is patient and we as Christians should also be patient with those we want to bring to Christ, getting them to believe that Jesus is the Way to God and not God himself.

In the meantime God is also helping others of different faith to build up a life, so that they too shall come to see how God helps them in their life.

Today I also want to bring an other case than myself to attention.

On the net you may find a blog which

“is a testimony of God’s goodness, protection and guidance over me and my family.” {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

it’s from a person who is been working with for almost all of her tenure in the financial industry. She writes

Surprisingly, we lost the bid! Another bigger company took over the account, leaving our company with a devastating, disappointing news. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

She confidently,  was not affected by the bad news and is convinced that

God has gone ahead of this scene, He knew it would come. And He knew, that I would be the very first one to feel fearful among all my colleagues. Why? I have all the reasons why, I am not as competitive as they are – being in the sales industry, my achievements were not at par as what my colleagues had produced. I would be in the bottom list, definitely! {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

Like I had certain feelings in my life the author of that blog also has the feeling God assured me of the things that may come to pass. She writes

Last year, the Lord has been very busy preparing me and my husband with so many things, including the planning and executions.

We have gone to the most “thriftiest” way we can save money, He gave us a house , He brought the desire of going back home, instead. He gave a new sustainable job for my husband, He increased our commission in ways that we can finish all our goals for 2016. And finally we come up to an answer, that hey, I will finish my job this March 2017. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

Please do read more about her experiences and her telling about their family’s life circumstances

We all had a fair share of life circumstances. 2014, we lost our dad due to cancer, my husband lost his lolo due to old age, we had 2 series of unemployments and some financial problems. 2015, it’s like the continuation of 2014, consoling our mom during our mourning season, separation and long-distance childcare, 1 unemployment and financial struggle. 2016, was a good year, God restored all that we wanted to pursue, those that we missed, savings goals, dreams, home acquisition, clearer goals and more. 2017, is still uncertain, we have expectations and even before we embark to this year, God already had confirmations of what to expect and we are excited with that.
Through it all, there is one important thing that God wants us to inhabit in our hearts, it is about “gratefulness”. {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}

And find that

we would learn how to cultivate a life of gratefulness and thankfulness. Learning to appreaciate every season in our lives, that we will not give up on ourselves because God never did, and even if there are some struggles and life- circumstances – God is always there so inclined and willing to help and guide us.

In all things, give God praise, not only for the gifts that He gives, but because we understand that He is the source of all things. Our giver and our Father. Learn to be grateful even in the little, so when the big one comes, we will be more grateful. 🙂
Be thankful, always! {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}

*

Find the articles

• New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness
• Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!

+

Preceding

What would you do if…?

Just be yourself…

Winter and Spring wonders of nature showing the Master’s Hand

Echo

++

Additional reading

1. The Question is this…
2. Struggles of life

+++

Further reading

1. Under His Wings Part One
2. Day 36: Living above reproach
3. Dying to Live
4. Bad Habits
5. Life is Hard only half of the Truth
6. Of Gifts and Grace and Immeasurably More
7. – Laying Hold of the Hope –
8. How to Live When this World Seems in Chaos (Part 3)
9. Suffering, part 5; Mixed Bags
10. Treasures of the Heart
11. Seen Another Way
12. Do People Still Do Thanksgiving???
13. Happy Thanksgiving 2016
14. Just Thankful: My #24
15. a Thanksgiving meditation
16. A Thankful Heart at Year’s End 2016
17. When 2017 doesn’t look like you thought
18. Give & Take Away
19. Testimony Tuesday
20. goodness precedes knowledge in Christianity/ in the faith
21. Thank You
22. I See, God Is Good
23. God is good, in all the timing
24. God’s Goodness vs Seeking Safety
25. Only Goodness
26. Greatness in You
27. The Naked Truth
28. The Faultfinder
29. God’s goodness and Promises – By Laurence Torr
30. Praise The Lord For His Goodness
31. Just What I Needed
32. good
33. Today’s walk
34. God’s recycling program
35. The Battle Is Real
36. Creation reveals God’s goodness
37. If God guides, He will provide
38. When God Moved a Mountain
39. R.A. Torrey: Soul Winner
40. Fruit of the Spirit!

+++

Related articles

• Megachurch Pastor Bishop Eddie Long Dies at Age 63
• Justin Taylor Endorses Clarifying The Bible
• Historic Lebanon, NH Church Destroyed In Fire
• 160-year-old church closed for nearly 2 years sold to Marvin Sapp
• Who are the Christadelphians
• February 2015 got new little lights shining on internet
• Supreme Court ruling on limits of Indian church divorces simply reaffirms existing practice
• Project will digitize Catholic records of Boston Archdiocese
• ‘Everybody Will Be Muslim Because Of Our Stupidity’ Respected Catholic Archbishop Blasts ‘Weak,’ ‘Decadent’ Church, Moral Decay And Rise Of Islam And Paganism
• Rift grows between Pope Francis, ancient Catholic order

Save

Maybe it is About Me

We may find lots of denominations in the world which have churches full of life but also with churches which are like deadly silence and not bringing forth fruitful seeds.

All people should know it is not a group thing but a matter of personal growth and personal relationship with God. Without knowing God ourselves we cannot convince others about Him. We need first to know the person of God, Who He is, what His character is like, before we can go out and convince others of This marvellous Supreme Being.

*

Today we have a look at Rebecca Preston her life and experience. From the time she was a young child she had already a sense of God’s presence in her life which was strong.

Even at that early age, I was convinced God was near me and heard me as I spoke to Him.

she writes.

We can imagine that her journey in the faith has been like many others, up and down, and that when she moved places she once again had to find a church where she could find herself at ease. Probably she like many of us had to search for a place where the love of Christ could be felt and where there were enough people willing to give help to another for enabling each person in that community to grow in the faith and to make every person

“to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to the personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship.”  (William A. Barry and William J. Connolly) {Spiritual Direction}

For her

After a time of disinterest in Junior High, the way to God again opened up clearly as I became involved in the Youth for Christ movement.”

Wanting to go to a Christian College, but also not wanting to stir up disagreements within the family, she went to school for Nursing and became a nurse for a short time.

I soon discovered that I was not well suited to that role.  I left and became a full time mom and housewife, picking up odd jobs along the way.  But my desire often turned towards learning, and the craving to know more about how God moves among His people in our day. {About Rebecca Preston}

When God calls some one the voice may be stronger than the voices in this commercial materialistic world. Her desire often turned towards learning, and the craving to know more about how God moves among His people in our day took her and when her youngest was sent off to college, she also returned to school, finishing her BA.  Soon after, she entered into Biblical Theological Seminary. She came to earn a certificate from Karios School of Spiritual Formation.

We go back with her about a decade ago, when her husband and she started at a new church, had a meeting with the pastor and during the exchange, the pastor said to them something that was at the heart of that church’s mission.

A-9 oxygen mask with B-6 winter helmet, WW2 vintage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently, she took a trip across the country and got to look up as the oxygen mask portion of the announcement was on and suddenly got struck with the message that she cannot be really useful to anybody until after she puts the mask on myself first.

We too should take notice of that warning which accounts also for the message for life, for our relationship with God.

• not useful to anybody until God = top priority.
•  love for God = key to everything
• need to spend time with God
• practising silence with God

 

• God of the Old Testament = same God that Jesus loved and called Father
• need to make memories with God
• need to respond to his love for us.
• as the oxygen mask helps to remain focused + alert => love of God leads to authentic and lasting usefulness for the Kingdom of Heaven.

+++

Related articles

• Scripture Verse Of The Week ‘1 Timothy 6 Verse 11’
• The Jewish Bible Came From Arabia
• Word This Week
• A Little Epiphany
• The Temple and the Tabernacle – J. Daniel Hays
• The fear of the Lord – Part 2 of 4
• It is difficult to believe in a perfectly good God.
• There’s a reason soldiers believe in God
• When God Moves
• Werner Herzog Looks for the Internet God in Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World

Gardens of the Soul

About a decade ago, my husband and I started at a new church. As was our custom, we asked for a meeting with the pastor.  The pastor came to our house and we had a delightful conversation about this new church, a church like we had never attended before.  During the exchange, the pastor said to us something that was at the heart of this church’s mission.  He said, “After all, it is not about us.”  We nodded in agreement.

But as time has gone on, I’ve begun to chaff a little at this statement.  It doesn’t sit as well as it once did.

Recently, I took a trip across the country.  I just may have gotten to the place where I don’t pay much attention to the safety demonstrations that occurs on every airplane flight.  These days when I am seated, I quickly notice my proximity to the exits…

View original post 932 more words

Daring to speak in multicultural environment

Living in a multicultural environment, in a democratic capitalist world, you may wonder how much freedom of speech and freedom of religion people are willing to give to each other.

U.S Postage Stamp, 1957 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In our world which says it is a free democratic world you would expect religious freedom to be a fundamental right. It might well be recognised by international human rights documents, and one which is integral to our human dignity, but that does not mean yet that people are so open minded they accept other’s people way of thinking and certainly not their sort of faith. In our surroundings the countries may enable its citizens to live in accordance with deeply held values and beliefs about what it means to be human, but by the different population groups we encounter often those who only are prepared to have their way of thinking, their faith, to be the one to be the main value and to which everybody has to adapt to. For sure that can not be called an open mind.

The exclusion of other Christians can be felt mostly by evangelicals, especially pentecostal new-born Christians. They shall in many cases fiercely react against non-trinitarian Christians, even would deny their right to call themselves Christians. Strangely enough by those evangelicals who call for unity under Christians and say we should come to religious freedom, we find many who oppose Muslims or people belonging to an other religion than their Christendom. Are those who are calling for religious freedom accepting the theists (those who accept a or the godhead exist) and atheists who belief that he doesn’t

(glossing over wrinkles in which god we may be talking about…). {Does not believing result in belief?}

Often we do find they close the doors for such other believing people, instead of trying to go into conversation talking about the differences in belief. Often they complain that their faith is threatened by all the immigrants and by the many converts to Islam. They also often complain that the other groups seemingly have little understanding of, or respect for, the rights of their religious communities to maintain the religious identity of their organisations, but often it are they themselves who oppose the religious laws like halal and kosher food or religious killing of animals without sedatives. In Belgium we can clearly see this with the opposition against the slaughter of sheep for the Jews and Muslims.

In Australia some may call to withdraw all government funds from organisations that ‘discriminate’, but often they do not see in own bosom, often bringing wrong and discriminating messages over other believers.

As Babamboga from Nairobi,Kenya, writes:

Christians at time are so side blinded they believe that the only way is Jesus Christ and anything else is going to hell including Muslims and the Buddhists and if go further on some a bit open minded Christians will say that Allah is the same God but does that mean anyone worshipping Buddha or Seth are already sinners but really is that their problem. It is like judging people who grew up knowing Santa Claus exists, is it really their problem that they believe such old folk tales are real? And oftenly in most of those movies it is faith that ensures these fairy tale super heroes are still alive. {Oh, My brother testify.}

This person is right to remind people what is written in the Bible were God is letting the world know that

there will be prophets who will spread his word

and that it doesn’t necessarily have to be pastors who give wrong renditions of the Bible based on their useless understanding of the word. Too many people still give too much preference to those theologian writings instead of clinging to the Bible Words, of which we are told that they are the Words of God.

In Belgium, the last thirty years, church attendance became minimal whilst the attendance at mosques grew intensively. We do agree that in our juridical system only the recognised religions agreeing with the council shall have their priests, pastors, rabbi‘s or imams paid by the government, but that did not withdraw many who believe in only One God to go out and preach and to attract those Christians who got muddled up by the many human doctrines.

By those monotheist believers we do find the non-trinitarian Christians who are outnumbered by the many different non-recognised or non-official or not Islam council associated Muslims, who often get together in packed garage mosques.

At the same time we do find several fanatic fundamentalist Christians who bring in hell for everything they can. They come up with saying that the Bible actually condemns some behaviour and wonder how the church will outright give justice to drunkards and prostitutes.

… yet in the bible itself, mind you in the new testament, weren’t prostitutes part of His plans, weren’t thieves there too…. {Oh, My brother testify.}

Those who call themselves Christian should come to see the difference between Christendom and Christianity and should distance themselves from human doctrines, looking for Biblical truth there where it is to find, in the Bible itself.

Some Christians are so into their religion and they fail to see when pastors apply simple mind games of the interpretation and soon a whole congregation enjoys in the feasting of snakes and you wonder has it really got to the point that if I do a couple of acted miracles and tell people the Lord wants us to eat sinners you will all follow. {Oh, My brother testify.}

In our surroundings where, this way, we do find many who fled from the Catholic and other Christian denominations to find a stronghold by Muslims, it is important that followers of Christ take up the Bible and perhaps also the Quran to show others where it went wrong in Christendom and what is really written in the Holy Books and how our society should come to the Abrahamic faith.

When there is an open mind and freedom of religion, each faith-group, monotheist, unitarian or trinitarian, or having a whole bunch of gods to worship, should have the same rights to be there and to speak out.

That outspokenness we not often enough do find by Christians. Many of them just keep their beliefs for their own and do not dare to speak about it with others.

The agnostic is saying that they don’t think there is a way to transform a belief about god’s existence into knowledge. But they could still hold a belief on the matter. You could be an agnostic atheist, or, for that matter, an agnostic theist. {Does not believing result in belief?}

For many the issue of a god has become so complicated by theologians and philosophers

that we think it is some totally different concept that we can treat differently. Maybe people just don’t want to take a stand, they’re too unsure or don’t want to offend. {Does not believing result in belief?}

The one who really believes in the One True God, need not to be afraid to express his opinion. He has good reason to let others know what he believes.

Many would say

Of course there is no chance of “proving” God by strict logical syllogisms (but can we prove anything outside of mathematics this way?) Every logician knows that there’s nothing in the conclusion that is not already latent in the premises. But neither is this inability any proof that such a being as God does not or cannot exist. You may as well say that since I cannot prove to you whether life exists on other planets by sheer argument it therefore cannot exist. An unprovable proposition is not any more false (or true) simply because it cannot be proven. {Pascal’s Possibility}

We have the Book of books to give us an idea of the nature of the Most High Divine Being. For some it seems manifestly impossible to prove an image of God,

formed by a haphazard, subconscious blending of our moral intuitions and deepest wishes, it is not simply a figment of our imagination {Pascal’s Possibility}

The real believer knows exactly it is not just some imagination and wants others to know it. It is like you found something incredible or you ‘invented’ something extraordinary. You cannot be quiet about it.

Some might think the fact that the ideal is too good to be really possible.
But

It is a trick of the mind to think that the goodness of a thing counts as positive proof against its existence. You may as well be lying on the beach and say the sun feels too good to exist. {Pascal’s Possibility}

Encountering so many people today who laugh at the saying that there would be a god Who created everything and Who is so good that He has a Plan that will bring eternal life and peace for many, there is reason enough to tell them that the question about such a God existing has nothing to do with if logic proves it

… logic either does, or does not, make such a God’s existence possible. {Pascal’s Possibility}

But we should listen to our inner being and look around ourselves. We also should not be afraid not to claim absolute demonstrable knowledge, but “reasonable belief”. And that “reasonable belief” should be founded deep in our heart and fed by a thorough knowledge of the Bible.

From somewhere we received the Good News and came into the faith. Now it’s up to us to share it wherever we are. We now should come to the conclusion that it is marvellous that we came into the faith to become children of God. Knowing and accepting the Divine Creator as our heavenly Father to Whom we own everything, we also do know that it is a privilege and a responsibility that God gives to us to go and speak others about His wonderworks.

When we came into the faith we wanted to become part of the Body of Christ, the church, and one of the highest things that you can do in the church, is to be an active member willing to share the truth. For sharing that truth we do not have to give a theological or biblical lecture and we do not have to have a theological education (though it might help, but could also distract, because most theological colleges are formed from one or the other denomination and focussing more on the worldly writings than on the Bible itself.)

What the community of faith demands of their members is an openness to others and words that can make the community grow. Though it is also not bad to have words which will remind those in community of how the world really is now. Therefore we too are looking for writers who are willing to share how the world is evolving. What happens around us may not let us be untouched. We have to notice it and should react accordingly how that God would like us to behave in such surroundings.

When looking at this reality of the world we are living in we can show the difference of this world with the different world in God’s Plan. Writing about it or preaching we can become preachers exposing the lies that are driving people’s lives,

ripping them to shreds, sapping them of strength and energy. {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}

A ‘Lead Pastor’ from Bloom in Denver believes preaching is

standing up in a tradition that reaches back to Moses and Isaiah and finds its consummation and climax in Jesus of Nazareth and saying, “The reign of God is here. Change your mind, and believe yourself into this shocking good news.” {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}

It is following up the task Jesus has give to his disciples, to go out into the world to tell about that Good News. We have to come to understand that we are messengers called to this –

to employing all of the resources our speech to construct alternative modes of understanding for the people of God so that they can leave every dehumanizing Egypt and Babylon they find themselves in. Week after week, we summon them saying, It is time to go home! {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}

It is not by praying often out loud, while driving down the road, for all to see, listening to a lot of Christian music with sometimes cheesy, weird beats and no cuss words, letting yourself be seen at the church-building and certainly not by going to church and

worship a man named Jesus who you may believe has saved the world by dying and coming back to life. {Why Being A Christian Isn’t Cool}

that you will find the way back home and would bring others to home-base. But when you keep to the words as they are written in the Bible and to a honest form of worship, without all the cirque and circumstance, concentrating on the truth instead of letting yourself and others be diverted by entertainment, you shall be able to go together with other devoted people on the right path. And, yes, that way you perhaps have lesser people in your congregation and would not be able to build a mega church, but better to have a good quality church than a quantity church.

We, who label ourselves as “Christians” need to re-focus.  We need to speak the truth, even when it hurts.  We need to replace the luke warm water in our mouths with hot sauce baby, confidently sharing God’s peace, grace and power.   {Why Being A Christian Isn’t Cool}

We should not have fear, like the apostles, when Jesus was caught, where very much afraid to let others know they were with Jesus. After he died and raised from the dead they even did hide in houses. We should not hide ourselves in our house, but go out, like the apostles did after they received the Holy Spirit.

We as Christians should be baptised with water but also with Holy Spirit and be encouraged to speak. Opening our heart to God we can let God’s Spirit enlighten us and guide us on our way. Trusting Him using His Word as our backbone we shall be able to enter many sorts of gates of this world, which is in the hands of ‘Satan,’ the adversary of God who more than once shall try to question you about the existence of that One God.

When questioned about God, what we belief and be tested, let us never compromise the truth ourselves for anything or anyone. We always do have to be carefully how we treat the Word of God. It is sacrilegious. That Holy Word we should sincerely seriously investigate and reflect on ourselves and those around us. When we want to tell others about that word we sincerely honestly should show the facts of it, showing that it presents good but also bad in all people, even in men of God. Bring the gospel-message we should dare to show good and bad of all and that we dare to let others see the brutal forces or battles which took place in the past. We may not present it as if everything is moonshine but also never may be guilty of turning the sweet gospel into something sour by our own surliness.

If we do, we might cause the hearer to turn away from God wincing instead of turning to him rejoicing. {Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Preaching (3)}

We also should remember that we

Don’t Have to Be Vicious with Truth to Be Strong for Truth {Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Preaching (3)}

We may not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Our ordinary speech should be  always with grace and as a sacrifice.

Col 4:6 RNKJV  Let your speech be always with favour, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Col 3:8 RNKJV  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Eph 4:24 RNKJV  And that ye put on the new man, which after Elohim is created in righteousness and true holiness.

It is a vain effort to try to exorcise the evil only. Character is not a negation. Having put on the new self by our baptism we should be proud to show to others that renewed body which is created in God’s likeness and let it reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

By saying

You have learned the Christ

the apostle Paul puts the members of the ecclesia their faith upon a high level; it is the faith of approved disciples in Christ’s school. For such men the “philosophy and vain deceit” of Colossae and the plausibilities of the new “scheme of error” will have no charm.

Also for us who want to go out in the world to bring the Word of God to as many as we can, we should be so pleased that we have found the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ, that we want to share that treasure with as many as we can, because we do want to have the love of Christ also in our heart and bring the fire unto those around us.

Therefore also in trying to reach others we do not want to use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what we say will do good to those who hear us.

Eph 4:29-32 RNKJV  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister favour unto the hearers.  (30)  And grieve not the holy Spirit of YHWH, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  (31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  (32)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as YHWH for the Messiah’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

+

Preceding articles:

Your position about materialistic desires having conquered the world

Looking for a shepherd for the sheep and goats

It takes years to learn

Believe today and now!

When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation

What’s inside matters..

Not making yourselves abominable

Where are the female writers

Perishable non theologians daring to go out to preach

What Should I Preach ?

 

++

Find also:

1. Religious Freedom in a Multicultural World conference, 25 Sep 2015
2. Freedom for faith
3. Hope by faith and free gift
4. Jehovah steep rock and fortress, source of insight
5. Atonement And Fellowship 4/8
6. Bible in the first place #2/3
7. Bible in the first place #3/3
8. The Bible and names in it; Proclaiming the Name of The One and Only Who Is and has EverBeen
9. Necessary to be known all over the earth
10. Necessity of a revelation of creation 10 Instructions for insight and wisdom
11. Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation
12. Reasons to come together
13. The Right One to follow and to worship
14. Fools despise wisdom and instruction
15. Those who love Jesus
16. Risen With Him
17. What is preaching to me… and what it is for others.
18. Are You Afraid To Witness?
19. Science, 2013 word of the year, and Scepticism
20. 34th World Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF)
21. See God’s wonderworks and hear His Voice
22. Faith related boycotts
23. European Parliament stands for human dignity
24. Inequality, Injustice, Sustainability and the Free World Charter
25. Texts, writers, accesibility and willingness
26. Journal for and from bothered citizens
27. Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit
28. A small circle taking a nation hostage
29. Being Charlie 2
30. Lack of religious freedom South Sudan
31. 2013 Lifestyle, religiously and spiritualy
32. 2014 Religion
33. Stepping Toes 2014 in review
34. Blow to legitimacy of the capitalist system
35. Anti-Semitism ‘on the rise’ in Europe
36. Israel, Fitting the Plan when people allow it
37. Vatican against Opponents of immigration
38. Migrants to the West #2
39. Migrants to the West #3
40. Migrants to the West #10 Religious freedom
41. Freely & fairly
42. Approachers of ideas around gods, philosophers and theologians
43. Democratic principles for church
44. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
45. Mormons, just an other faith
46. Driscoll not wished as a guest at 2015 Hillsong Conference
47. Vatican lifts ban on married priests for Eastern Catholic churches in US, Canada, Australia
48. Anti-Semitic incidents in Australia in 2012 highest ever on record
49. In a world which knows no peace sharing blessed hope
50. A beginning with many false starts
51. Church sent into the world
52. Evangelisation, local preaching opposite overseas evangelism
53. Two new encyclopaedic articles
54. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
55. Using the name Jehovah but not a witness of that name
56. To remove the whitewash of the Jehovah Witnesses as being the only true Bible Students and Bible Researchers
57. Not many coming out with their community name
58. Let us make sure we are not stiff-necked
59. Christadelphian Auxiliary Lecturing Society in changed times
60. Dissolution of Bijbelvorsers (Bible scholars), Association for Bible study
61. Counting sands and stars
62. Dealing with worries in our lives
63. Sunday 7 September service: Imitate prophets and Paul
64. A man from the North wanting to have control in Belgium
65. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #2 Witnessing
66. First Century of Christianity
67. Breathing to teach
68. Words to push and pull
69. Good or bad preacher
70. Caricaturing and disapproving sceptics, religious critics and figured out ethics
71. A true sermon is a real deed.
72. What Should I Preach ?
73. Truth, doubt or blindness
74. Preachers should know and continue the task Jesus has given his followers
75. How to Choose a Bible for Preaching
76. Looking for True Spirituality 7 Preaching of the Good News
77. Missionary action paradigm for all endeavours of the church
78. A new school-, academic and church year
79. Kill the messenger
80. Biblereading statue
81. Record breaking preaching in Mount Dora
82. Many forgot how Christ should be our anchor and our focus
83. Parish, local church community – Parochie, plaatselijke kerkgemeenschap
84. Not all ability to preach

+++

Further reading:

• Freedom of Religion
• Freedom of religion …. Is under assault and dying
• Bill of Rights’ Most Important Liberty: Religion
• A Discussion on the wall of separation of Church and State
• Freedom of Religion: First Amendment Defense Act
• Do we read — or read into — the First Amendment?
• Senator Baldwin: 1st Amendment Doesn’t Apply to Individuals
• All Americans Are Equal. But Some Are More Equal Than Others.
• We Are All Intolerant And It Can Be A Great Thing So Let’s Be Honest About It
• America Celebrates Independence Day by Persecuting Christians
• Presidential Candidates 2016 Views: Which ones are Socialistic?
• Thank goodness we let these guys control the US history curriculum
• House of Lords: freedom of religion
• In Reason We Trust
• Fox News Hyperbole – Is Christianity Under Attack
• New ECSR decision on conscience-based refusals protects women’s right to access abortion
• The Body of Christ is Critical
• Religious Freedom in a Multicultural World conference, 25 Sep 2015
• Religious Freedom in a Multicultural World
• Freedom 4 Faith
• Gospel Teachings: Be Defenders of Religious Freedom
• Religious Tolerance, Made in America
• Is Our Legal System Based on the Ten Commandments?
• The wall of separation between church and state. A Limerick.
• Calling out the media
• Our Unbridled Freedom Will Lead To Our Ultimate Destruction
• Heritage Foundation Plan of Action: Defend Family, First Amendment Freedoms
• Moral Support: Plan of Action to defend First Amendment Freedoms
• Criminalizing Christianity
• Democrats’ “Equality Act” will threaten religious liberty in all 50 states
• Transforming Society
• You Wont Believe What Kentucky Just Forced Pastors To Do… I Warned You This Was Coming….
• Double-standards on anti-religious art
• Tax Them All! – Why Stripping All “Religious” Groups of Tax Benefits is a Great Idea (and in line with the Bill of Rights)
• Kentucky bans pastor from prison ministry because he disagrees with homosexuality
• China Propaganda Machine Defends Role of Government in Death of Tibetan Monk
• China jails five cult members in northeast province: Xinhua
• Miss World contestant puts pageant chances on the line to testify to US Congress about China’s human rights
• Why I Believe in God
• As We Go Through the World
• Oh, My brother testify.
• How To Get Started In Sharing Your Faith As a Christian
• We are Agents for Expanding God’s Kingdom on Earth
• Dealing with my prejudices!
• Sow The Word
• Is This What You Face Whenever You Preach? You Should!
• Preaching Christ Is Not Enough
• For Preachers and Bible Teachers: Make Sure The Work Of The Scripture Is Completed In Your Own Hearts
• The fights we have to fight
• Bulldozer spirituality
• Is preaching passe?
• Preaching to the Reader
• 10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 2
• Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Preaching (3)
• Quick Quotes: 25 Quotes from “Preaching” by Tim Keller
• The earnestness of preaching
• Tim Keller on the case for (usually) doing expository preaching

+++

Related articles

• Religious tolerance in the U.A.E. (eastidahonews.com)
• US gov’t commission condemns the draconian prison sentencing of 18 Ethiopian Muslim leaders (ethiopiaobservatory.com)
• The Decline – and Fall? – of Religious Freedom in America (stream.org)
• Dumb Kentucky Clerk Sues For Religious Freedom To Suck At Her Job (wonkette.com)
• U.S. and Sudanese diplomats discuss religious freedoms (sudantribune.com)
• US Congressional Executive Committee Holds Hearing on Religious Freedom in Tibet and China (voatibetanenglish.com)
• -Summing Up the Assault on RFRA’s and Freedom of Religion in America (answersforthefaith.com)
• Vatican Very Concerned About the 1500-year-old Bible Which Was Found in Turkey (lunaticoutpost.com)
• Secrets Of the Extreme Religious Right: Inside the Frightening World Of Christian Reconstructionism (unreportedtoday.com)
• Hong Kong – China – Hong Kong cardinals, Catholics and Protestants denounce the sufferings of Zhejiang crosses (asianews.it)