What kind of Christian are you?

It seems that in Christian culture there are more doctrines than denominations, and the denominations outweigh the people to fill them.
This is troubling to me.
Who is right? Who is mistaking  honest obedience with blatant sin?
“Whos cheatin who? Whos staying true? Who dont even care any more?”

My Sister is 15, and though we both have an intimate relationship with our mother, we both view her very differently.
My sister is characterized by this: She gets caught up with the petty dramas of this world, she’s often cold and not relational, she finds confidence and self worth in her peers, and she’s more concerned about whats cool than whats right, she loves to argue, detached in revealing her thoughts and feelings.
I, on the other hand: am extremely relational, my love language is tough, I seek after righteousness, get in trouble very little, i need to know that my parents are proud of me, i share my thought processes and seek guidance, ect.

I see my mother as more of a companion, while my sister sees her as more of the care giver, and disciplinary.
That is simply because we are at different stages in life. If we were both asked to  describe the same woman, we would describe her very differently. Would all the things be true? Yes
While my sister may say she is very strict. I would argue that she is lenient. Both of these are true.

So what about God? God is a God of complete sovereignty as we orchestrates the story of humanity for His glory and pleasure. God also allows us to have responsibility, to either fulfill or deny.
I fully believe that these juxtaposed ideas can coexsist. Like parallel lines that go on together, and never meet a point of conclusion- Gods power, and Gods allowance cannot satisfy one another, but are both vital to the Christian beliefs.
I believe that though many doctrines do not compliment one another in emphasis, they do depict a small aspect of Gods vast and round character.

We earth dwellers will never witness the other side of the moon as long as we live on the earth, but we cant agrue that it doesnt exsist. You may never witness an aspect of God, but you cannot argue that it doesn’t exist.
I myself feel that i have only acutely witnessed the wrath of God, if at all. But God is a God of wrath.
Those who don’t believe in God, have never excepted Gods kindness. But God is a God of great Kindness in love.

Doctrine is necessary. But not essential. The blood of Christ is essential.
So speak truth in love. Let iron sharpen iron. Allow your concept of God widen as the spirit reveals truth and Gods word confirms it. Know God.
But above everything else- trust in the redemptive work that took place on the cross, because beyond that, all doctrines fail.

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Lets just be honest! The cows never come home.

Yesterday I finished writing my conclusion to Predestination and Free Will.

It was glorious. I had it broken up into 3 parts; with the arguments and counter arguments beautifully aligned  wit a balance of profundity and simplicity. Glorious.

I looked with my eyes at the work that my hands had done. It was good.

So why haven’t I posted it? Well frankly; I’m an idiot (and a beneficiary of grace).

Look with me at this verse will you?

“…We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God.” 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

I am instantly convicted every time my eyes lay upon this passage. I am always looking for bits of facts to puff, to expand, and to bloat in order to encompass every bit of “knowledge” I can sustain. Then humility comes like a searing blade, bursting my catacomb of gluttony and deflating me to my knees. And all that is left within me is “Christ and Him Crucified.” I have no greater joy than this, yet I water it down with my accumulating perceptions.

We need, as a body of Christ, to build up and work together in unity.

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 cor. 1:10

And in all actuality, the point of free will clashes with predestination and those who hold that view. Anyone, whether they are brilliant theologians, or common members, can argue their sides until the cows come home. AND THE COWS NEVER COME HOME!

And often times these arguments can lead to doubt, the feeling of defeat, separation, and a poor witness to unbelievers.

Am I saying that we should never express any views that may cause controversy in the church or fellowship of other believers? No! There are times when contrasting opinions solidify beliefs, challenge, and bring about new perspective. Will I ever post my stance on mans autonomy vs. Gods sovereignty in control? Who knows! I do know that all things should be done in love. And if I posted them to day I would merely be exhibiting my puffiness to continue to feed my pride

I just think that unity far more important.

These are what make up the quintessence of Christianity that we as believers should hold to and support one another with:

Assurance in salvation

Assurance in the legitimacy and sovereignty of scripture

Assurance in the promises of God

Recognition of what the Gospel is and what it proves

Recognition of the responsibility to Glorify God

Recognition of the responsibility to fulfill the requirements of scripture

Desire to protect and pursue the above

All else falls by the wayside.

I encourage you as a believer to challenge and inspire those around you. But more importantly grow closer together in unity as brothers and sisters in Christ to pursue Christ.

 

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Happy Valentines Day Darling

So my original intent is that my next post was going to be my Free will/Predestination conclusion.
But…. I have a cold and the head contains the mental capacity of a potpie before it explodes in the microwave. So… I thought I would post these! Enjoy!

1 Corinthians 13

Love

 1If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We Love because He first loved us
Take time to fall in love with your creator this Valentines day!

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