I was sitting by the pool yesterday, thinking about a recent conversation I had with a coworker, and I came across a slight revelation.
My coworker and I were discussing the issue of drinking alcohol and whether or not it was a sin. Many Christians in the Bible Belt see a glass of wine as a sin. They say that since drunkeness is a sin then consumption of any alcohol must be terrible. However, there are some Christians that think it's ok. They justify it with the fact that Jesus turned the water into wine and that throughout scripture wine is the beverage of preferrence.
So here is my revelation: If you think about it, excess of nearly anything is a sin. Excess of eating is gluttony, which is a sin. Excess of talking can become gossiping, which is a sin. Excessive television can lead to idolatry. Excessive pain medications can lead to an addiction. The list goes on and on. So do we deprive ourselves of everything because it could turn into a sin?
I'm not saying to ignore what you already feel towards things. Everyone has their own convictions and there is nothing wrong with that. If you can't handle a glass of wine without drinking the whole bottle then it could be a sin for you. If you can't handle a piece of pie without eating the whole thing then it could also be a sin. I've often heard the statement that everything is ok in moderation. However, that is not the point I'm making. There are many things that are not ok in any form. Most of them are illegal.
If we're going to focus on how something can "become" sinful, we can't just point towards alcohol. We have to take everything into consideration.
On a similar note, it seems silly to argue over such small things when there are people out there desperate for God. So many are turned away from Christianity because they're presented with a guideline to get into heaven. Let's quit pointing fingers. God loves you. The end.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Encourager
A few Sundays ago I heard a very inspiring message that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I usually don't discuss Bible lessons on here, but I think this could potentially change your life as it did mine.
Most of the Bible heros that we hear about are the ones who are front and center. There are the war heroes and the kings and priests, the people you can't help but notice. But you rarely hear about the ones behind the scenes; the ones who encouraged the little boys to become war heroes. Barnabas was one of those.
God didn't use him to build a boat to save mankind and he didn't give him five stones to defeat a giant. Instead he gave him a heart of love and compassion and the ability to speak encouragment in every situation. This gift may seem minute to many but it shouldn't be overlooked.
Barnabas' name meant 'son of encouragement' and he lived up to it. He played a very important role in the life of a very important man. Remember the story of Paul before his damascus road conversion? His original name was Saul. He was a man who persecuted Christians for their beliefs. The Christians feared him. Everyone knew who he was and they knew he would have them stoned if he caught them in an act of worship. But then he changed.
God changed Saul's heart and his name. He became Paul and he became a man of God. But the church was still afraid of him. Paul wanted to reach out to them, but he had ruined his reputation. However, Barnabas knew that what God had done in him was real. Acts 9:26-30 tells the story. Barnabas stood before the church and told them that he knew Paul was truly a changed man. It was because of Barnabus that Paul was able to reconcile with the Jerusalem church. Because Paul was able to reconcile with the Jerusalem church, he was able to minister to the Gentiles.
It is because of Barnabas that the majority of us know of the love of Jesus Christ today. It is because of the man who stood in the background. It is because of the man whose calling in life was to encourage others.
You don't have to be a Pastor or a Revolutionary to change history. You don't have to have a doctorate from the best university and you don't have to be the strongest and best at anything. What God asks of us is to carry his heart of love and to encourage those around us. Sometimes God will use that to put you in a ministry. If that's His desire for you then so be it. You don't have to start big. Just a few encouraging words to the most undeserving person could change history in a way that you may never know.
Most of the Bible heros that we hear about are the ones who are front and center. There are the war heroes and the kings and priests, the people you can't help but notice. But you rarely hear about the ones behind the scenes; the ones who encouraged the little boys to become war heroes. Barnabas was one of those.
God didn't use him to build a boat to save mankind and he didn't give him five stones to defeat a giant. Instead he gave him a heart of love and compassion and the ability to speak encouragment in every situation. This gift may seem minute to many but it shouldn't be overlooked.
Barnabas' name meant 'son of encouragement' and he lived up to it. He played a very important role in the life of a very important man. Remember the story of Paul before his damascus road conversion? His original name was Saul. He was a man who persecuted Christians for their beliefs. The Christians feared him. Everyone knew who he was and they knew he would have them stoned if he caught them in an act of worship. But then he changed.
God changed Saul's heart and his name. He became Paul and he became a man of God. But the church was still afraid of him. Paul wanted to reach out to them, but he had ruined his reputation. However, Barnabas knew that what God had done in him was real. Acts 9:26-30 tells the story. Barnabas stood before the church and told them that he knew Paul was truly a changed man. It was because of Barnabus that Paul was able to reconcile with the Jerusalem church. Because Paul was able to reconcile with the Jerusalem church, he was able to minister to the Gentiles.
It is because of Barnabas that the majority of us know of the love of Jesus Christ today. It is because of the man who stood in the background. It is because of the man whose calling in life was to encourage others.
You don't have to be a Pastor or a Revolutionary to change history. You don't have to have a doctorate from the best university and you don't have to be the strongest and best at anything. What God asks of us is to carry his heart of love and to encourage those around us. Sometimes God will use that to put you in a ministry. If that's His desire for you then so be it. You don't have to start big. Just a few encouraging words to the most undeserving person could change history in a way that you may never know.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Runaround
Most people refer to southern half of the U.S. as the Bible Belt. Why is that?
Webster explains it as an "area whose inhabitants are believed to hold uncritical allegiance to the literal accuracy of the Bible; broadly : an area characterized by ardent religious fundamentalism". How much sense does that make? If we actually held an uncritical allegience to the Bible then we would probably be more effective. However, webster isn't fully aware of what's really going on down here.
My personal definition of the bible belt is much different. Maybe that's because I'm part of it. Understand that when I say these things, I'm pointing out the things that I've seen take place in my own life. I'm not just pointing out the faults of others.
For me, the bible belt can be something like a treadmill. A long piece of rubber attached to two wheelys that is continually moving, but going nowhere. You can get on a treadmill and run the distance from Mississippi to Tennessee but you'll never get there. You can build the biggest muscles and have the greatest endurace, but you're still going nowhere. You're stuck on a machine in the middle of your living room. Going nowhere and affecting no one.
Living in south Mississippi, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle. You go to church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Attend the occasional Bible study, try to be nice to people and pay your taxes. Everyone at church is your family, they're your best friends. You hang out with them on the weekends and throw each other birthday parties. You're content and you're life is seemingly happy. But what about everyone else?
Living in the bible belt has spoiled us. We assume that everyone knows about God and we spend our days wrapped up in our own lives. But everyone doesn't know. Everyone knows about church. They know about tithes and they know about hypocrites. But they don't know about God. They don't know about His love, His mercy and his unending grace.
We've been brainwashed to a point where the endless cycle has become our lives. But that's so far from the truth. Imagine if we stopped looking inward and started showing others the love of Christ. Not just to the people we go to church with and work with. Those outside of our comfort zone and our circle of friends.
The task may seem challenging, but taking the first step is the hardest part. Just one simple act of kindness to a complete stranger will change everything about you. It takes boldness and it takes love, but it's what you were called for. Life may seem wonderful but you'll never experience it to its fullest until you step off the treadmill.
Webster explains it as an "area whose inhabitants are believed to hold uncritical allegiance to the literal accuracy of the Bible; broadly : an area characterized by ardent religious fundamentalism". How much sense does that make? If we actually held an uncritical allegience to the Bible then we would probably be more effective. However, webster isn't fully aware of what's really going on down here.
My personal definition of the bible belt is much different. Maybe that's because I'm part of it. Understand that when I say these things, I'm pointing out the things that I've seen take place in my own life. I'm not just pointing out the faults of others.
For me, the bible belt can be something like a treadmill. A long piece of rubber attached to two wheelys that is continually moving, but going nowhere. You can get on a treadmill and run the distance from Mississippi to Tennessee but you'll never get there. You can build the biggest muscles and have the greatest endurace, but you're still going nowhere. You're stuck on a machine in the middle of your living room. Going nowhere and affecting no one.
Living in south Mississippi, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle. You go to church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Attend the occasional Bible study, try to be nice to people and pay your taxes. Everyone at church is your family, they're your best friends. You hang out with them on the weekends and throw each other birthday parties. You're content and you're life is seemingly happy. But what about everyone else?
Living in the bible belt has spoiled us. We assume that everyone knows about God and we spend our days wrapped up in our own lives. But everyone doesn't know. Everyone knows about church. They know about tithes and they know about hypocrites. But they don't know about God. They don't know about His love, His mercy and his unending grace.
We've been brainwashed to a point where the endless cycle has become our lives. But that's so far from the truth. Imagine if we stopped looking inward and started showing others the love of Christ. Not just to the people we go to church with and work with. Those outside of our comfort zone and our circle of friends.
The task may seem challenging, but taking the first step is the hardest part. Just one simple act of kindness to a complete stranger will change everything about you. It takes boldness and it takes love, but it's what you were called for. Life may seem wonderful but you'll never experience it to its fullest until you step off the treadmill.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tax Season
Some things in life just don’t make sense. Spending your entire tax refund on new shoes is one of those things.
Tax season is a time when the poor get rich and the rich get poor. Those who’ve never been able to save money are given a check for thousands of dollars and have no idea what to do with it. The logical thing would be to pay off some debt, put some in savings and then put a little in the pocket for thrills. However, the most common reaction is “cash it”.
Then what happens? In three days the money is gone and all you have to show for it is some newly polished nails and a fuller closet. The cycle starts all over again with scraping pennies and paying bills. How do we break it?
A wise person once told me that people who struggle will most always struggle because they refuse to change. An overused definition of the word “idiocracy” is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting results. It’s not the amount of money you have that makes the difference. It’s how you let it affect you.
I'm no financial advisor but common sense can offer you great advice. First, tithe on what you recieve. If your 10% offering wasn't deducted out of your net pay, you owe God some money. Second, look over all of your debt. If you're behind on something, bring it current. If you're paying anything ahead, work on the one with the highest interest rate, not the lowest principle. Third, catch up on any maintenence you've been putting off. (Fix the railing on the front porch, new tires on the car, etc.) Fourth, go buy yourself something nice, something practical. Maybe a new outfit or a new pair of shoes. Treat yourself for all the hard work you've done this year. Take your spouse out to a nice dinner. Lastly, divide up whats left. Put the majority in savings and a little in checking. But don't put the checking deposit in your registry. Keep it as a cushion and leave it there. It will help you out with any over drafts in the long haul.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to an easier year. It may not seem as enjoyable as splurging it all on a new car that you can't afford but you'll thank me in June when your neighboor's lexus is getting repossessed.
Tax season is a time when the poor get rich and the rich get poor. Those who’ve never been able to save money are given a check for thousands of dollars and have no idea what to do with it. The logical thing would be to pay off some debt, put some in savings and then put a little in the pocket for thrills. However, the most common reaction is “cash it”.
Then what happens? In three days the money is gone and all you have to show for it is some newly polished nails and a fuller closet. The cycle starts all over again with scraping pennies and paying bills. How do we break it?
A wise person once told me that people who struggle will most always struggle because they refuse to change. An overused definition of the word “idiocracy” is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting results. It’s not the amount of money you have that makes the difference. It’s how you let it affect you.
I'm no financial advisor but common sense can offer you great advice. First, tithe on what you recieve. If your 10% offering wasn't deducted out of your net pay, you owe God some money. Second, look over all of your debt. If you're behind on something, bring it current. If you're paying anything ahead, work on the one with the highest interest rate, not the lowest principle. Third, catch up on any maintenence you've been putting off. (Fix the railing on the front porch, new tires on the car, etc.) Fourth, go buy yourself something nice, something practical. Maybe a new outfit or a new pair of shoes. Treat yourself for all the hard work you've done this year. Take your spouse out to a nice dinner. Lastly, divide up whats left. Put the majority in savings and a little in checking. But don't put the checking deposit in your registry. Keep it as a cushion and leave it there. It will help you out with any over drafts in the long haul.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way to an easier year. It may not seem as enjoyable as splurging it all on a new car that you can't afford but you'll thank me in June when your neighboor's lexus is getting repossessed.
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