Fighting Words

Sub·mit [suh b-mit] verb:

1. To give over or yield to the power or authority of another

2. To defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc...

So...who knew that six little letters could cause such an uproar among the women of our generation and of generations past? And why? Why do these six letters make the hackles on the necks of even the most god-fearing women rise like that of a feral dog? Why do they make us narrow our eyes and cross our arms and glare down our noses at the mere mention of them? Good question. Really good question. 

It's not really one I have a great answer for. I have no real wisdom to offer here other than what my own experience with the subject has issued. So, if you'll allow me, I'd like to submit unto you (no pun intended) my opinion on the whole matter based upon what I have heard my whole life, what I have heard at church, and what I have personally experienced in my own marriage relationship. 

At the top of the page I put the definition of submit as it appears on dictionary.com. The first definition states that to submit means to give over or yield to the power/authority of another person. I think that this is the area of submission that gets most women. I find it funny, however, that it not only affects the lost/unsaved as it does, but that it affects us Christian women equally as much. I find it thus because, isn't the very premise of our faith the idea that we can't do things on our own? That we, in and of ourselves, are not worthy to get into heaven and that we need someone, an intercessor, to get us in? That definition states that to submit means to "yield to the power/authority of another" and, in our case, that means Christ. The very foundation of our Christianity is the idea that we are yielding to the power that is Christ to save us because we cannot do it ourselves. I don't see many Christian women getting ruffled up about that idea. Christ is the head of the church. I think that is something we can universally agree on right? Right. And, as such, don't we love, honor, obey, and yield to Him? We are to go to Him on all matters that are out of our control...meaning basically everything right? Right. Colossians 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body, the church...that in all things he might have the preeminence." We, Christian men AND women, believe that. 

So, lets look at the second definition which states that to submit means to "defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc..." I don't know what other smarter people would say to this, but I find that that first definition can be used to describe the way that we should submit to Christ. I think that this second definition is a good way to describe how we can (and should) submit to our husbands. The bible says that when we get married, we become one flesh (Matt 10:8). We are no longer living for ourselves or by ourselves. We have joined with another soul for life. So it seems only logical to me that not only should we seek our husbands opinion, approval, etc..but shouldn't we want to as well? I don't know about you but for me, when I chose Robert as my one and only, I didn't do it solely based on his looks (though those DID help his cause). I chose him for many reasons including his intelligence, his kindness, his patience, and a myriad of other qualities. Why would I not trust him to make these decisions for and without me? I loved and trusted him enough to share a life with him but not any decisions? Now, I'm not naive enough to believe that everyone has a husband like mine, but God didn't give a whole lot of instruction on what to do if you happened to marry a scoundrel, ya know? If you are married to an abusive type then that is a completely different issue (seek help). For the rest of us, we can only go with what He did give us instructions for and that includes submission to our husbands, however difficult that may be for us independent women. 

I know these things are hard to swallow. They have been, and are, still things I struggle with daily. Its hard for me, a go-getter, to wait until I have "cleared" things with my husband. Even saying that makes me warm. So, how do we get over this hill? How do we come to terms with something like this? Something so obviously uncomfortable to us as women especially in today's popular culture of crazy feminism? Again, I can offer only what I have experienced in my own life and marriage. Robert and I are nowhere near perfect and volumes could be written about the mistakes we've made but we would like to think that we can usually work this out. Our solution is this: knowing and trusting each other. In our short five years of marriage thus far, I have learned so much about my husband. I know him like I know myself. He knows me just as well if not better. He knows my flaws, what buttons to push, what makes me swoon, what makes me spit fire, and everything in between. I know all of those things about him as well. So when it comes to my feelings on this topic of submission he knows exactly how I feel both when I'm acting in the flesh and when I'm acting like the Christian I am. He knows its a struggle. He also knows what God has said for me in regards to the topic, so he not only knows how I feel about it, but he knows what I should do despite those feelings. He also knows what God has said for him to do on the flip side of that coin which is to love me as Christ loves the church (which, lets just be honest, is perfect love). So, knowing what I have been directed to do by Christ and what he has been directed to do, he has a choice to make. How does he show me that kind of love and how does he do it while still expecting me to do what i'm supposed to? 

He uses what he knows about me. For example I like to be in control of things...meaning I'm a control freak...meaning that obviously this submission thing is horribly hard for me. I often feel that if I don't do it myself it won't get done right. Robert is aware of this need. He knows that I like to feel responsible for things, that I need to have something in my control to feel successful. So, he gives some things over to me. He has allowed me to be the one in charge of our day to day finances. I like dealing with the figures and knowing what we have. He doesn't. If it came down to a huge purchase, like say a home, obviously I would then have to take it back to him, but he knows me and trusts me enough to deal with our everyday dealings in this area. We have several areas like that for both him and I. It works for us. Knowing that we can trust each other with the little things helps us come together on the big things. I know that this may seem oversimplified but it works for us. You have to be willing to look at each other through the eyes of Christ and work out for yourselves the way that you will respond to what Christ has commanded you to do. You have to find your own system; one that aligns with Scripture. 

In the end, however, its not how we do it that matters. It only matters that we do. Why?

Because Christ said so. Period. I know that's not the popular answer but it is the honest truth. It's like when your parents used to be obnoxious and answer, "because I said so" in response to your questions as a kid. Now, I know none of us would ever call God obnoxious so why do we scoff so hard at the idea of doing something when He's told us to do it? And more than once I might add. We'd never think to disagree with Christ giving the order but when our husband or preacher or Sunday school teacher brings it up we physically flinch. In my opinion that's just our pride and sin nature getting in the way of what God has planned for us. We ARE smart and we ARE strong and we CAN be logical...so why can't we get this? We like to pretend that its a conspiracy that men like our husbands thought up to make us slaves. Well...they didn't. God did. So what do we say then? How do we process the idea that God, not man, designed the concept of submitting one to another, woman to man? Well, in my opinion, we do it like we do everything else concerning biblical matters. We do it by acknowledging that His ways are not our ways and that we do not have to always understand in order to carry through with it. We do it by reading the scripture and getting intimately familiar with the One who wrote it so that we can be in the right in this and in all things as we ought. This post is not to convince you that its right, the Bible speaks for itself and you believe it or you don't. All I'm trying to accomplish at this point is to get us to start thinking of submission as a God-thing and not some scheme masterminded by the men of this world. It begins with a Holy God...where it goes from there is determined by our attitudes and those of our husbands. Where it goes from there is our choice. We either accept it and embrace it knowing it is God-given or we don't

What will you do? 

Whale Belly

“You have only always to do what is right. It will become easier by practice, and you enjoy in the midst of your trials the pleasure of an approving conscience.” 

- Gen. Robert E. Lee

The title of my blog is "I Got It Honest" and the information that follows it serves as a description of what I hope to accomplish through the writings that appear here. I hope to always be brutally honest when I write here, sometimes to the chagrin of my husband, friends, and family who often believe some things are better left unsaid. I agree with them on this to a certain extent. However, I firmly believe that one goes through trials, tribulations, joys, and monotony in order to learn. We learn life lessons from these things and, to me, its almost useless if those things are not shared so that the masses can learn as well. I understand that, more often then not, the lessons we pass on to others becomes more or less like the things our parents try to tell us; we hear them, understand where they are coming from, and often even agree with them. Does it always keep us from repeating those same mistakes? Of course not. Why? Because we are a stubborn society who has to do it for themselves.

However...


Occasionally warning bells will go off inside us that say, "wait, I've heard about this once before. I probably shouldn't go that way or do that thing." When this happens, we are usually able to avoid unnecessary stress or burdens because we opened ourselves up to wisdom given us by someone wiser and smarter than ourselves. Now, I would never claim to be wiser or smarter than anyone else; Lord knows I have and will continue to make my fair share of mistakes (thus the blog), but it is with that slim chance you might take my advice to heart and apply it that I continue to share these lessons I have learned and will continue to learn.


In the last sentence of my informational paragraph (located under the blog title), I mention that I want to share what happens when I choose to do what God wants me to do and also what happens when I refuse. I am holding myself to that promise today by sharing with you something about myself that I have recently been forced to come face to face with. I am a coward. Now, that's a strong statement and I mean to clarify and specify what exactly I mean by that by sharing my story and hoping, once again, that you can take some piece of wisdom from it and learn to not repeat after me in this instance. When I say that I am a coward, that is to say, more specifically, that I have a tendency to run away. When God brings something big into my life, some task or duty I am to perform, I often get scared like a child and run away as far and as fast as I can. I have never seen that aspect of myself more clearly than I have in the last two months. God has brought me forward, shined a spotlight on that attribute of mine, and said, "Hey! You need to do something about this because I'm not going to leave you alone until you obey me."


So, what have I been running away from you ask? The story is this: I have in my possession a fair knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL). I can carry a conversation and, more often then not, have no issues knowing what signs to use to say all that I need to. My introduction to ASL began in elementary school when I came face to face with some cold hard truth: I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. Nope. Couldn't sing a lick. I was too shy to do so even if I could. So, when I went to a church camp and sign language was offered as a track I could take, I jumped on it. Why not? That way, I could still participate in the worship and not embarrass myself. In that track, we learned some basic signs and used them to perform a song on stage at the end of the week. I was hooked that first day and I haven't really looked back since. I continued using what I had learned in that track and continued taking that same kind of track at the other camps I went to right up to middle school. In high school I was able to take ASL as my foreign language and did so for 2 and 1/2 years. Also while in high school, I used my growing knowledge in my youth group where I taught my friends worship songs in ASL. We often performed them in front of the church. I used my sign language to lead the worship at other events like women's bible study classes, adult drama ministries, youth group vacation bible school, and other youth led services. I was in love with the language that allowed me to express my love of Christ in an elegant manner using something other than my physical voice.





That weekend has been in my mind ever since and probably always will be. Despite my inexperience, I was able to convey the approximately 5 messages, not to mention plain conversations, prayers, announcements, etc..., in such a way that she had no real issue understand my meaning. Thankfully, that friend is an amazing woman of God and had seemingly limitless patience with me because I am 100% sure I made ample mistakes. So what went wrong then? What happened that weekend that caused it to be burned into my memory indefinitely? I became afraid. I kept remembering myself messing up over and over trying to interpret the many messages of that week and seeing (or believing) how utterly I had failed. My confidence took a blow that weekend and it scared me to the point that I took Robert up on that Psychology class very shortly after! Admittedly, all that fear and feeling of failure was mostly in my head because, again, my friend was amazing with me and would never in a million years have let me leave feeling that way if she'd known. She did nothing but offer praise of my work and thankfulness for my help...and yet. And yet I still left feeling the way I did. I decided the only thing left to do was run. I ran way from God's calling for my life at that time. I got my Psychology degree instead and I didn't practice my sign language for almost two years after that.


I married Robert and we moved to Atlanta, Georgia where we attended Forrest Hills Baptist Church with his parents. Something I had learned a while back about Robert's mother but had tucked away and not really thought about, was the fact that Roberts' mother was an interpreter at that church and also taught special needs deaf children at a local school. Wow...there was no escaping it. Despite this, I still didn't get involved with the deaf ministry the church had. Instead, I avoided the both the deaf and the hearing who spoke using ASL. Occasionally, I couldn't avoid them and was forced to use it, shame burning inside me because I still felt so inadequate. Ironically, I complained quite a bit about how I felt there was no ministry I could really get involved in while there. Newsflash right? Anyway, it was Christmas time around year two of our attendance there and they were putting on a Christmas cantata. I was approached and asked if I would be willing to interpret all the songs because the main interpreters really wanted to be singing in the choir and another would be playing piano. They were desperate and so, again, I was given this chance to use my abilities to serve. I practiced and I practiced and felt so much more confident than I had that one dreadful weekend! I was ready! They needed me and I was excited. When all was said and done, I felt I had done a good job; no mistakes that I could recall. I was clear and precise and even elegant. So why wasn't I satisfied? Why didn't I feel a renewed desire to become involved with the deaf ministry? This time, my problem wasn't ability or lack thereof. This time, my problem wasn't a lack of confidence or shame at a job I thought I had done poorly. This time...it was selfishness. I didn't want to get involved in the lives the deaf or hearing interpreters at our church. I didn't want to take the time to hone my ability, learn new techniques, perfect my vocabulary. I wasn't interested in deaf socials or interpreting conferences or anything of the sort. Why? Because I knew it would take time. I knew it would take effort. Neither of which I wanted to give or exert. I had other things to do that I thought were more important. So I ran away. Again.  I stopped volunteering and eventually we stopped attending.


This brings us to the present. My husband and I just spent the last year in Nashville, Tennessee for my husband's job. In January we moved to Huntsville, Alabama because we wanted to be around family and we wanted to be back at Capshaw Baptist church; a church we had joined right before we found out we were going to Nashville. When we came back, we met with our Pastor and his wife for lunch. Over the course of that lunch, we talked about many things including how Robert and I desired to get involved in ministry and what those ministries were. Many things came up in that discussion and I happened to mention that I knew sign language. Oops. Pastor Zach jumped on that in a heartbeat, informing me that there was need for an interpreter at our church as a couple had been coming but were unable to catch much of the message due to obvious reasons. I was eager to please and I jumped on it. However, I must admit I was more excited about being needed and knowing I could be useful more than I was concerned that God could or would use me. In fact, I didn't even consult him on the matter. I simply agreed to seek out this new couple and to introduce myself. As excited as I thought I was, I intended to do things slowly. I wanted to get back into the swing of things at Capshaw, meet new people, get into a Sunday school class, among other things. I figured this interpreting thing was something I could instigate but would not need to actually be a part of. I had visions of grandeur thinking I'd find someone in the congregation who knew ASL and they could interpret messages while I could get back to doing what got me involved in ASL in the first place: the music. I'd teach others to sign the songs as well so that, when my husband and I traveled, as we always do, I wouldn't have to worry about leaving an empty void. This time, I wasn't running away. I was diving into a pool vanity. I was being arrogant, thinking I had this all figured out and this it would all work according to my plans (insert God laughing here).


Needless to say, it didn't and hasn't worked out that way...at all. Indeed, within a week of that lunch with Pastor, he had announced on Facebook that Capshaw was starting a new Deaf Ministry and that, if anyone wanted to get involved or knew anyone who could benefit from an interpreter, to let him know. Say what? Wait a minute! This was not the plan! Right after that status was posted, I received a message from his wife saying she'd seen the couple out and about and informed them about me...I was contacted by them the next day. All of this in a week! I was thinking months! Like maybe 12! That's when I began to hyperventilate. What had I done? More importantly what was I going do! I couldn't back myself out of this one. I couldn't run away, I couldn't move away, I couldn't do anything. It was too late for all of that. That's when the fear started. That's when the doubt started. That's when I went to sleep crying because I knew I had screwed up big time. How was I going to interpret an hour long message and songs when I had never done it before (at least not in at least 8 years) with any great success? All this time I had been like Jonah; knowing what God wanted and going in the opposite direction. Now I was stuck in "Nineveh" without a boat or a whale to carry me away. I thought I was lost.


So, in a last ditch effort to put up my own internal kind of protest, I asked the couple I'd be interpreting for to give me one more week to prepare myself. I told them I would be there Sunday but that I would not interpret; I would wait until the following weekend after I had cleared things with Pastor Zach and our worship leader, Pastor Brandon, to make sure I was all clear to proceed. I attended church that Sunday and that is where I met them. Instantly I was drawn to how sweet and kind they were towards me. I was tripping all over my own hands trying to get some sort of coherent thoughts out and they didn't seem to mind my "stuttering" at all. After those introductions, I felt a tiny bit better. I sat down a few rows behind and to the left of them during service. Never in my life have I ever felt so convicted as I did that Sunday as I sat observing them throughout the service. Having never had a deaf ministry to speak of, there were many things that hindered understanding for them. The lights blocked lips that they might have read to understand, the music in the first service is softer than in the second and thus vibrations did nothing either. The Pastor, not aware of his actions turned his body and face away from them, keeping them from hearing what they might have otherwise. I am in no way implying that this amazing couple needed me because of me. I am not in anyway saying that they are ignorant or incapable of handling their learning on their own. I am not even saying that they are incapable of gaining as much from the pastor without me as they would with me. In other words...they don't need me. I am nothing special as I've well stated. But, as I sat there watching them flip through pages, not quite sure what chapter the pastor had said because he'd turned his mouth from them, I died a little inside. Ok, I died a lot. I felt so horribly overcome with guilt that I wanted to jump up in the middle of the sermon, grab a chair, and do the best I could with no preparation of any sort. I thought to myself, "what kind of person are you that you would withhold even your meager talent from them?" I was horrified at the hard-hearted person I had allowed myself to become. Did I think it was all an accident that I had been brought here? Or that I had been put through those other situations? Of course it wasn't. God knew from the beginning that I would be brought here, to this church, to this ministry, to this couple. He knew all along and had tried to help me prepare and I had chosen to jump ship, ending up in the belly of a whale headed right back down the path he was bringing me down before...with or without my permission.


Unlike Jonah, I don't seek to have destroyed those whom I have been sent to serve. I have since interpreted three times for them and each and every time I have done so I have felt so terrified all the way up until time to start only to find that, right afterwards, I felt relief and gratitude because of the patience and kindness of the two I was interpreting for. It is still a struggle for me and I have to be honest and say that I still freak out and try to argue my way out of it sometimes but I am learning to obey. I am learning to do what I know is right simply because it is so. All of that is not to say, however, that I don't enjoy doing it. I do. I still love ASL and I love to use it. I just habitually feel inadequate. I even feel sometimes like I don't deserve such a position; a position of sharing biblical truths, as preached by Pastor Zach, to those who would otherwise have a hard time getting it. Its basically a love hate relationship if you will. I need to let go and let God or so I've been told. Will I continue to be petrified? No question. Will I ever be perfect at it? Probably not. Will I continue to make mistakes? Of course. Do I still have a really (really) long way to go and a whole lot to learn about interpreting? Absolutely.


But will I try? Yes. I am tired of running away. I need to stop being a coward and I need to face these fears that have been haunting me since college. I need to accept this commitment and do it as unto the Lord. Why? Because with knowledge comes great responsibility and because I can and I should....and I will. 


"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

Spirit Wind

“In the essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love”.

- Augustine

I write today from a heart that hurts for my church family. We are going through some things right now that I think, for the most part, all churches go through at one time or another. There is some disagreements among our members and it is causing a lot of pain, suffering, and agitation. There are hidden agendas and not so hidden ones that are breaking apart what should be a strong and binding chord, our congregation. 

Personally, I am not privy to everything that is boiling beneath the surface of this storm. What I do know, I don't feel the need to elaborate on as it really does no good in light of what I'd really like to say instead. I will simply focus on one of the issues brought forward and share my opinion on that. People in our church are hurting. Some come from a place of bitterness and some come from a place of disbelief in what is going on around them. Some have been utterly clueless and some have been drug in kicking and screaming. Some are surprised and others knew this was coming, maybe even had a hand in its creation, a long time before the problems were ever brought to light. I fit in the category who never saw it coming. I've been a member at our church, technically, for a year and 6 months. The first six months of my membership, my husband and I fell in love with the body of people there and their pastor. My family attends there also and that made the experience all the more enjoyable for us as a couple. 

Then, we found out that my husband, Robert, was being relocated to Nashville, TN for his job. While in Nashville, we attempted, although admittedly it was half-heartedly, to find another church we could belong to. We visited a few but could never find one that we really felt drawn to. After a while we simply stopped looking. After a year spent in Nashville, we are back in Alabama and, thankfully, back at the wonderful church we had been made to leave due to the move. When I realized we'd be able to once again attend, I was thrilled. I had realized that the thing lacking in the Nashville churches we'd attended, was life! A real vitality and motivation to do what God had called them. Now, I only attended a few so don't judge them, but I really can't say I'd been called to any of them. I never felt drawn to them as I had with the church we'd left. As soon as we got back we had lunch with the pastor and his wife and were immediately plugged back in. I was asked to start a new Deaf ministry, a chance to reach out to some members who attended but had no interpreter. I was thrilled that Pastor had seen the need and seen fit to meet it or find someone who could. He was also working on the two services they held, trying to meet the needs of the older and younger generations; a sort of traditional first service and a more contemporary second service. He hoped this would help reach others who may not have liked the loud music, contemporary choruses, or stage lights. I applauded this insight into our culture and whole-heartedly agreed it was needed. 

When we really got into a routine of going to church, we started learning and hearing things...grumblings from some who were not content with the direction the church seemed to be taking. I didn't understand what the big deal was. I felt that the pastor was taking outreach seriously and the numbers were obviously reflecting that. What was the problem? It came out one Wednesday night in a storm of emotion and anger. I was surprised and flabbergasted at such blatant disrespect of the office of pastor. I won't detail what all the issues were but I will speak to one. It seems there is a tremendous concern about our pastors' beliefs concerning Calvinism. Isn't there always some sort of controversy where that subject is concerned? I would say yes...without a doubt. The point of concern was how many points of the acronym "T.u.l.i.p" did the pastor agree with? In case you are unaware, "T.u.l.i.p" refers to the five points known as the basis for the Calvinistic belief system (though of course I am no expert): 

* Total Depravity

* Unconditional Election (predestination)

* Limited Atonement

* Irresistible Grace

* Perseverance of the Saints

Turns out, some people in the congregation feel that this is a deal breaker. What our pastor believes concerning these five points is of utmost importance according to some (though I do not believe this is the case for the majority). These issues and "concerns" were brought up this past Wednesday at the regular Q&A session our pastor holds on occasion. I knew that these issues would be brought up. I knew that they would be discussed thouroughly and would not be dropped. However, I was completely unaware that this Q&A session was going to be, not an informative session at all, but a witch hunt and little else. I was appalled to see the behavior of some members and the disrespect that was thrown at our pastor. I am all for having an open forum and I am all for the right to ask questions and disagree when the need is there. I do not, nor under any circumstances would I ever, be for the horrid treatment that was bestowed upon our God-given leader this past Wednesday night. Was there yelling? No. Were there raised voices? Some. Were names called? Yes, albeit subtly. Questions were flung at him regarding whether or not he thought he was still fit to pastor our church because of his beliefs on these five points. Are we serious right now? Because the man may or may not believe in predestination we're going to slaughter him this way?


The truth of the matter is this: most Southern Baptists subscribe to at least one or more of these points. The Umbrella of the title "Southern Baptist" is so broad that it houses those who are one point to those who are four or five pointers. I will not go into what I believe about any of these points because, truly, that's not the point of my blog post today. In fact, it's almost the opposite. I could care less about these five points if I were being honest. I don't think they matter in light of eternity. I don't believe they are worth all out war in the middle of a church service! Anyone who disagrees with that is entitled to their opinion but I do not share it. I don't know who we think we are sometimes, but I feel like its all gone too far. I say this with the understanding that, in every other regard, our pastor has proven himself worthy and chosen by God to lead this congregation. He is beyond reproof when it comes to his own walk with Christ and with the way he shares the gospel. He preaches that Gospel in its entirety, leaving nothing out. So, the only basis upon which he is being judged (and found wanting by some), is his stance on predestination? We go too far. 


If we, as the body of Christ, trust him to preach a true gospel, trust him to win souls and represent us and teach us, what do we care if he believes in predestination? In light of everything else, I feel this is a trivial matter; a splitting of hairs when there is no need. Now, that isn't to say that if his belief kept him from doing the Lord's work, saying there is no need to spread the gospel because God has already "predetermined" who will and will not be saved, that that would be acceptable...because it would in no way be so. But he isn't doing that. His stance is such that, even knowing God has predetermined who will be saved, he's not God and he would never presume to know who those "chosen" are and thus he must continue to preach it. So why are we so outraged? Why are we seeking to have him burned on stake? My only question to pastor was this (which I indeed stood up to ask): "Are you going to preach the true gospel or not?" To which he responded, "I will. If I don't do it here, I will do it out there." And again, my response was "Then it doesn't matter to me what you believe about predestination. Keep winning souls."


Why can it not be that simple? Why can we not stop being so hateful concerning issues that are not going to determine whether or not we get into heaven? As long as he's preaching what will get us there, why are we being divisive? It's not WORTH it! Can we just go back to being about the work of the Lord? Isn't that what we should be focused on? I'm tired of people being so utterly consumed with being in control, committees who don't know their place (as servants to aid the pastor in leading, not ACTUALLY leading), of pettiness that ruins communion with the whole body of Christ...it's stupid and not worth it. If you want to discuss it then fine. Do it. But do it with respect. Do it with an open heart. Do it in such a way that allows for discussion and not argument. Do it privately with the one whom it concerns. Don't stand publicly on your soapbox just so everyone can hear the sound of your voice. 


James 4:11-12 says this: 

"Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only ONE Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" 

Seems we should be taking notes. Again, all of this is simply my opinion and I know there will be those who question it. You are entitled to do so just as I am entitled to disagree. No reason to be unpleasant. I only ask that you act with dignity and respect, showing the same to others. Other than that...speak as you wish.

"Spirit Wind" Casting Crowns

Big Purple Dinosaur

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” - Jonathan Swift

Homophobia. Sexism. Racism. Antisemitism. Classism. This list of categories we separate people into for us to hate or discriminate against can go on and on if I were to let it because, often, we can and do hate people based on a variety of distinguishing factors like the following: race, religion, culture, hairstyles, tattoos or no tattoos, gender, sexual orientation, weight, height, occupation, class, political party, marital status, salary, sports team, birth location (i.e. north or south, etc...), IQ, family size, family situations (divorced, widowed, etc...), age, and so many other things. Because there is no end to our differences there is no limit to the reasons we can choose to like or dislike someone. These kinds of prejudices are the reasons behind many of the great tragedies in history. The Crusades were religiously motivated campaigns against Muslims, heretics, and pagans. The Holocaust was the result of one mans' desire for an Aryan race. The Civil War was, though admittedly along with a number of other factors, fought in part because of a disagreement on whether or not to allow the enslavement of others to continue. The attack on 9/11 was brought about because of certain religious hatreds and disagreements. This list, too, could go on an on. 

So what does this have to do with me? What does this have to do with anything since we are all very aware that there is hate and discrimination in the world and are all probably aware, at least to some degree, that it's wrong? Well...it kind of has to do with everything. Everything, that is, that relates to us as Christians. In my last post I talked about not being a so called "convenient Christian." I talked about how we can't choose to say we're saved but then choose to walk however we please right after. It doesn't work that way. Well, this ties into that whole conversation of not picking and choosing when we do or do not do the right thing as we are so called by God. When we take on the mantel of "Christian" we accept that there are certain requirements or commandments that we are expected to follow. So, following this logic, doesn't it make sense to know what exactly those commandments are so we can do them? Well, in Mark 22:35-40, a question was raised concerning those commandments: 

"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 

Reading this, we now know what the two most important commandments that we, as Christians, are to follow. I realize there are eight others, but a blog post pertaining to all of them could take forever and so I will simply be focusing on the two most important ones as they pertain to the subject at hand which is hate for our brothers and the complete lack of understanding I have for it. This is a hard subject for me, I must admit, because, starting out, I have to admit I'm guilty. I don't write posts that don't apply to me or begin with me first and foremost. That's a hard thing to come out and say; that I'm racist or homophobic or sexist or whatever the case may be. I don't feel the need in this particular area to designate to you which of the ones I struggle with because I feel its more info then needed to get my point across. I hope that it will suffice simply to say that I struggle and that you struggle and that everyone else does as well whether they come right out and admit it or not. We all have our biases and we all discriminate or have preference for or against someone and its a problem that encompasses the world.


I was reading through some of the smaller books of the Bible and it surprised me just how many times loving one another was mentioned and the strong language used to drive the point home. Here are some of the examples I found:

1). "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." - 1 John 2:9-11

2). "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." 1 John 3:10-19

3). "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us...We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21

All of those verses are from the tiny book of 1st John alone. So many verses on the one subject of loving one another and what it means if you don't...all crammed in a few chapters. It seems to me that this matter is of great importance to the God who inspired the Word. This subject was so important that God made it the second greatest commandment! Second only to loving Him! More important than not lying, murdering, adultery, and all the rest because it all comes back to those two commands. If you love God and you love your brother as yourself then you'd never lie against them or to them, you'd never kill them or commit adultery with them and so on and so forth because it wouldn't be right or loving or in accordance to His Word.

And yet...

And yet some of us still drive through certain areas of town and see some kids with saggy pants and instantly lock our car doors as we drive past, you know, just in case. And yet some of us still walk right on past that homeless man in the street without a second thought because he should go and get a job instead of begging me for my hard earned money. And yet some of us still look at a person with a turban or head covering and begin creating scenarios in our heads where they are the villain in some made up terrorist plot. And yet some of us still look down on homosexuals as if they are less then the creatures God made them and, because we know we couldn't possibly be anything other than justified because homosexuality is a sin, we treat them like scum not worthy to come in our churches and not worthy of love and grace and the same all-sin covering salvation that we ourselves have but never once deserved! And yet some of us still cling to the old-school racism that our parents taught us because somethings never change and we are not willing to learn any different. And yet some of us still look at the rich people on Wall Street and feel entitled to everything they have worked for because no one who had honestly earned that money would ever think that keeping it for themselves was a good idea! Spread the wealth! And yet some of us still look at people from other countries and think they most certainly must have come here illegally and are not paying taxes and are stealing our benefits and jobs and everything else they don't deserve!

And yet and yet and yet! Whether we hate someone because of the job they hold, where they are from, whether they love cats or dogs, whether they drink or don't, it doesn't matter. Its all wrong. God was very clear when He said that he who says they love and don't is a liar. He was clear when He said that he who hates his brother is a murderer. He even went so far as to say that he who doesn't love doesn't know God because God is  love. This is serious stuff! Newsong, the singing group, has an older hit called "Living Proof" and I think it helps shed some light into this subject.

Verse 1

Slow down for a minute. Take a look at the love He gave.

Just hold on for a minute. Look at how we’ve gone our separate ways.

We’re building walls of confusion and doubt out of pettiness and pride.

While all the while the world we’re here to love just passes right on by

Chorus

If we could stand together this world would be a better place

If we could love each other we’d be living proof of the love He gave

Of the love He gave

Verse 2

Slow down look around you. Is that your brother you see standing there?

Just hold on think about it. How can you say you just don’t care?

It’s up to us we can change this world when they see love in me and you.

How can we say that we love our God if we can’t love each other too?

Chorus 2

If we could stand together this world would be a better place

If we could love each other we’d be living proof of the love He gave

We’ve got to get close enough to our brothers heart

To feel his fear and doubt and know that’s what it’s all about

If we could love each other we’d be living proof, living proof, living proof of the love He gave

I think that song both asks the right questions and gives the right directions. We need to stop and take a deep breath and think about everything we know to be true according to God's commandments. Are we doing everything we can to share the love that Christ exemplified by His death on the cross? Are we looking above and beyond our own preferences for perfection and seeing Christ's preferences keeping in mind the whole time that God is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34)? I don't think I have been and I don't think many of you have either if you're anything like me. I hope you'll take some time to consider all of this information. I hope that you'll take the time to figure out what it is in your life, what hatred or prejudice or difference, that is keeping you from loving those around you. We are all made in the image of Christ (Genesis 1:27) and God makes no mistakes so where does that leave us and our pettiness and pride? Out in the cold and no longer welcome.

(Eli360.com)



The 7-Eleven

"Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another." - Homer

Today I have decided to come back to the series I started a few posts ago. I was writing not just about things I've personally experienced but about things I felt were affecting everyone. My last post of this nature was about drinking and all of its problems. Today I want to discuss something that I feel is worse: the idea that we can live one way on Sunday and another way the rest of the week. More specifically, I guess, is the idea that we would go so far as to call ourselves Christ followers and never act like it. I call this, though I'm sure I'm not being original in doing so, convenient Christianity. 


I guess the easiest way to start this whole conversation is to give an example of just what I mean. We don't have to go very far; all we have to do is look at how the attendance numbers at all the local churches skyrocket on Christmas and Easter. People flock in droves and it's standing room only almost every where you look. I never understood this concept. So...you don't go to church 363 days out of the year but, because you go on those two holidays, you're set? You're Christian duties or obligations are met for the next 363 days? Where does it say that in the Bible? It doesn't. In fact, it says the opposite. In Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 it says that we are not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is..." So why only go twice? Why go at all on those two days if you don't feel the need to do so the rest of the year? What exactly is the point? Do they think that going and playing religious and spiritual will erase all the bad they do the rest of the year? As I said before: I just don't get it. That's what I mean by "convenient Christianity." It's convenient for these people to attend on the holidays; a time when family gathers and it just feels like the thing to do. Maybe because everybody expects it. I don't know. 


What I do know is that you can't choose when you want to be a Christian and when you don't. You can't decide that you are saved and then decide not to follow anything Christ has said you must in order to fulfill your purpose as His child. Christianity should not be treated as some sort of twisted fire insurance; there to protect you in case of an emergency but otherwise ignored. In other words, you can't keep living your life as if you never accepted the sacrifice Christ made for you on the cross. That kind of gift demands a certain amount of respect and awe and honor. How can we act so indifferently towards something that is beyond extraordinary? He died a gruesome and horrific death not so that we could continue living our lives in the same manner as before but so that we could have life more abundant (John 10:10). It's insanity the way we behave. That's like having the lottery tell us we won the jackpot when we never even bought a ticket and then going home and eating the same ramen noodles! What possible sense does that make? 


The point is that it doesn't. The point is that some people like to have that religious or spiritual label but don't want any of the responsibilities that come with it. They don't want to give up going to the bars on the weekends and getting wasted with their friends because it might make them look dull. They don't want to let go of those nasty habits of profanity and smoking because they just don't see why they should have to. They don't want to go to a "boring" church service on Sundays or Wednesdays because then they might miss their favorite t.v. show (because you know it's not the same when you DVR it). They don't want to give up sexual immorality because they never want to be mistaken for anything but sexy and cool and free spirited. They don't want to do Bible study or daily devotions because who really has the time to sit and analyze the King James version, or any other version, with all those big words? They don't want to give up their racism and hatred for their brother because that goes against all they were ever taught growing up and they don't want to be the kind to sit around a campfire and sing kumbaya. They don't want to be faithful in their marriage or even work at it because that would mean letting go of everything in the past and opening up and possibly being mushy.They don't want to tithe 10% of their income because, gasp, that would mean not going out to eat every night or not going to the movies or buying coffee at Starbucks. 

They want their cake and they want to eat it too. Truth is you can't do that. Not in this instance anyway. You can't walk around with your "light under a bushel" so to speak because the nature of thing is in complete opposition to that very idea. The gospel begs to be shared not hidden in your heart to be called upon on a rainy day. It begs to be brought into the darkest regions of humanity so that its principles may bring sunshine to even the most depraved. We are called for that very specific purpose in Mark 16:15: "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Nothing about the verse, or any verse for that matter, says we should keep the gift of life to ourselves! Now, this particular post is not really about the actual spreading of the gospel because that's a whole different post all together, but it all ties in one way or the other. If we are only going to church on holidays, or even once a month, but we refuse to live as new creations in Christ the rest of the time then we are neither fulfilling our purpose to witness to the lost nor doing ourselves or our personal lives any favors. Indeed, we are kidding ourselves in this awful game of sharades and we will pay the price eventually.

You either are a Christian or you are not. There is no middle ground. God talks about this straddling the fence of sorts in Revelation chapter 3: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." I think that He's making Himself pretty clear: you can't play the field here. You're either fully in or you're out and to be in the middle is spew-worthy. If you want the spiritual or Christian "label" you have to accept that with it comes the responsibilities due a child of God. You have to accept the mission as well as the blessings and gifts that God is so desperatly trying to give you. It says this in 1 John 2: "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning." Basically everything I've mentioned to this point was said here first. You can't say you are abiding in Christ and not walk that way too. To this end, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John as well as 1st and 2nd Peterare amazing books to read on the topic.


So now, you have a decision to make. Are you in or out? Are you ashamed and unwilling to go the distance or are you proud and willing to be the salt of the earth? We need to be willing to cast off our old sinful selves. As Christians we need to step up and be what we are called to be...do what we are called to do. If not us then who?

Ramblin' Man

"Father, hear my prayer. I need the perfect words. Words that they will hear and know they're straight from you. I don't know what to say. I only know it hurts to see my only friends slowly fade away. So maybe this time I'll speak the words of life with your fire in my eyes. But that old familiar fear is tearin' at my words. What am I so afraid of? 'Cause here I go again, talkin' 'bout the rain and mullin' over things that won't live past today. And as I dance around the truth, time is not their friend. This might be my last chance to tell them that you love them...But here I go again." - Casting Crowns

So far, in my blog writing "career," I have only written a post when I had a personal life example or story to go with it. I do that because I find it has more of an impact. When someone can see that you've experienced first hand what you're talking about, they seem to be more drawn in to it, more likely to take what you say seriously. Today is not one of those days. I don't really have a particular story in mind or a personal example to share, just some personal feelings I've been dealing with lately. I have a lot weighing on my mind and heart and I just need to get it all out there because maybe, just maybe, I'm not the only one struggling with these issues.

My heart is burdened for my friends, my family, and for the people I encounter everyday while I'm going on about my normal life. I see people struggling with circumstances they feel they can't change and I see people looking for a hope to break through and rescue them. None of these issues are things unheard of, but rather they are so common that they are often forgotten or seen as less important than they really are. Divorce, affairs, lying, cheating, drinking, porn, music that erodes the soul, sexual promiscuity, and any other thing you can think of that is commonplace in the carnal life. These things are affecting people and causing them to die slow deaths. For those of you who are not saved, I am afraid for you and I feel for you because you are dealing with these things alone. For those born again, don't think that we are above such things. Don't think for one minute that we can tune out just because we have a Savior who died setting us free. We are not immune to the world and it's temptations. If anything, we have farther to fall because we often stand so high and mighty. 

I don't intend to discuss every one of those issues at length or even at all, but I would like to briefly comment on a few of them over my next few blog posts that are nearest and dearest to my heart. With each new post I'll be giving my opinions, and maybe a story or two, on a different subject from the list I gave earlier. I hope that, while reading, you'll take the time to consider whether or not I could be speaking to you directly and what you can do about it. I'll be asking myself these same questions. And remember, there is always a choice and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel; only you can decide if that light comes from a speeding train about to take you under or the light of the Son who loves you with an undying, unwavering love.

Today I'd like to talk about drinking. There is quite a big debate going on about drinking and whether or not the Bible directly or indirectly forbids it or whether its even an issue it discusses at all. I am not an expert on the subject and I don't and won't ever claim to be one. I have opinions and I am entitled to them and I hope you will take them as such and no more. To me, drinking is indulging in unnecessary temptation. It's playing with fire and hoping not to get burned. Alcohol impairs judgement which can bring about anything from embarrassing situations to deadly accidents. This year alone, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes- one every 50 minutes (MADD.org). That's insane! By the time I'm done editing this blog, two or three people will have been killed because of the effects of alcohol. It's needless death! 

Now, I know that most people will look at this and say something like, "that's not going to be an issue for me, I'm only a social drinker or I know what my limits are." I think I hate those reasons more than any other. It somehow seems as if some believe they are above making mistakes. Like they are above having one too many in a happy social setting. I have news for you...you aren't. No one is. And, just for arguements' sake, say that you are. What about the person sitting next to you? What about the child looking up at you? Will your self-control seep into them? Can they hold their liquor like you can? In these situations, I find it's always better to remember Romans 14:13-23:

"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."

What do you say when you are witnessing to someone and they turn you off because they know where you were last Friday night? Down at Silverado's drinking shots of Patron...socially of course. They begin to think, "Why would I want to be a Christian when you are not acting any different then me?" We should be shining examples not stumbling blocks for our brothers and sisters who may struggle more in that area than we might.

Looking at this from another angle, 1 Corinthians 16:19-20 says this: 

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 

How is drinking alcohol, something known for its harmful side affects, a good way to honor God with the body He gave you? Newsflash: it's not! He bought us for a price. That price wasn't cheap...it cost Him His very life! He gave up His life to set us free and we do what in return? Sour our minds with drink? Drink that has no real benefit? I get that wine has antioxidants etc, etc...but come on. Does that one tiny benefit out weight the mass amount of harm caused by alcohol? Not even close.

There are so many other wonderful drinks in life, why do we have to have the ones that can not only quench our thirsts (temporarily) but our very lives? Personally, I would rather have a milkshake and never have to worry about what clothes (not to mention dignity) I left on the dance floor of some bar. I'd rather drink sweet tea and not have to wonder if taking one more sip would end the life of another. I'd rather sip on ice water than fill myself with something toxic that would keep me from using my body and my mind to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'd rather just not even go there...its more trouble than its worth. 


Again, I'd like to make it clear that I am not an expert on what the Bible does or doesn't say about drinking. Maybe I should be or try to be more knowledgeable in that regard. The truth of the matter is that what I do know makes me want to stay away from it. I know that it can kill people, break apart families, and destroy the mind and body. I know that I don't want to cause someone else to stumble in their walk with Christ just because I may want a drink occasionally. I refuse to even cross that bridge...I want to only do what will glorify God and edify others.

Products Mentioned:

Doppleganger

"I never did like the word mediocre. I never wanted it to be said of me. Just point me to the top and I’d go over, looking for the very best that could be. So what is this thing I see going on inside of me? When it comes to the grace of God sometimes it’s like I’m playing gameboy standing in the middle of the Grand Canyon. I’m eating candy sittin’ at a gourmet feast. I’m wading in a puddle when I could be swimming in the ocean. Tell me what’s the deal with me? Wake up and see the glory!" - Steven Curtis Chapman

Music. In today's world that one simple word is the topic of many controversial discussions: Contemporary or traditional? Hymns or choruses? Fortunately this is not exactly the topic I will be discussing. Similarly however, I will be discussing one aspect of music that has affected me and my walk with God for better and for worse. I love music; country and Christian in particular. I grew up listening to my father sing while he played his acoustic guitar. My parents are divorced so those moments were few but they were and remain precious to me. They are, in fact, some of my favorite memories concerning my father. He would sit on the couch with his guitar and my brother and I would sit Indian-style on the floor just looking up at him and listening. Whether it was "Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash or "The Fightin' Side Of Me" by Merle Haggard, it didn't matter. I just loved watching him strum on that acoustic and sing to us. 


As a teenager, those songs changed from Merle and Johnny to N'sync and the Backstreet boys. I even fancied myself a choreographer for a while in middle school. It was ridiculous and when I think back to it I am utterly embarrassed. However, when I hear the opening notes to "Bye Bye Bye" I can't help but smile and sing along. Now, as an adult, I love the likes of country singers Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, and Lady Antebellum. I also love Christian artists like Sidewalk Prophets, Casting Crowns, and Third Day. As you can see, my taste in music has changed quite a bit. One thing that has stayed the same however, is the fact that whatever genre I was into at the time, or even now, the impact of that music has stayed with me. Songs like Faith Hills' "Like We Never Loved At All" got me through a break up and songs like "Words I Would Say" by the Sidewalk Prophets help encourage me when I feel like things are going wrong in my life. These songs stick with us. They encourage us, bring us up or down, bring tears to our eyes, make us laugh...every emotion under the sun has a song to go with it. Every life situation, good or bad, has a lyric made just for such an occasion. 


With that in mind, I was thinking about how often I look for a song to associate to particular situations in my life. I'll be listening to a T.V. show or a friend speaking and something they say will trigger the memory of a certain set of lyrics stored away in my mind. I was sitting in church one Sunday listening to the preacher and he was speaking about lust and about how the journey from the mind to the hands is short. Immediately I thought of "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. This was a simple association because the words my preacher used were almost identical to the words in the song. I sat there and just kept thinking how cool it was that my preacher was talking about something I'd heard in a song. It made me happy and it made me smile thinking, "See? Who says there is anything wrong with contemporary Christian music? Pastor is almost talking about that song directly!"  I sat there smugly for a while and had basically tuned out the rest of what was going on.


The problem here is not whether contemporary Christian music is good or bad, that's another discussion entirely. Any guesses as to what the real issue was? I didn't realize it for a while after the service; months later actually...today to be precise. I had it all backwards! I would read my bible or listen to preaching and instead of being like, "Yes Pastor Zach, I remember that scripture!" I was more focused on what song it reminded me of. The truth of the whole matter is that I have more songs memorized than I have scripture. So, while those songs are great (especially because they are Bible inspired), why settle for a song that only reflects the true treasure of scripture? After all, isn't that where most Christian artists got their inspiration? Its not the other way around, songs didn't inspire the Bible...God did. The scripture that Pastor Zach was referring to was 1 Corinthians 10:12 which says to "be careful if you think you stand, lest you fall." That's the verse that inspired Mark Hall to write the song "Slow Fade" and that's the text that Pastor Zach used to support his sermon. It is sad that I recognized the song but not the verse.


In Psalm 119:15 it says "I shall meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways." We should be taking the time every day to think about God's words so that we can have them on the tip of our brains, ready to call them forward for the different situations in our lives. We do this with songs, or at least I do, so why not with the Word of an All mighty God which are far more important and eternal in value? Our discussion should not be whether we should choose hymns or choruses but whether or not we are choosing either for the right reason. Are they enhancing the scripture or detracting from it? Are they bringing focus to God or are they bringing focus to the singer or songwriter? I have been invited to several churches where the main thing wasn't God, it was the Worship leader and the praise band. "Why should I come here?" I'd ask and the response given was "Well, we have a great worship band!" What I should have said was "Whooptie do! What about a great preacher who tells about a great God? What about a Sunday School teacher that helps you learn about The Great Teacher? What about a choir or praise band that sings songs about the one who inspired the Psalms?" 


But I didn't. 


Why? Because I didn't have the right focus. I was settling for less than the best. I was content to settle for piece of the puzzle instead of striving to have the whole grand picture. Its kind of like the moon and the sun. The sun is the source of light. The moon simply reflects that light. Would you rather have a reflection or the source itself? Similarly, why settle for a mere reflection of the Son, Jesus Christ, in song when we could have the source itself through His word? I don't want to settle anymore. I want the real thing! I want God to speak to me first hand through His Word and not be content to hear it second hand from someone else. 


Besides...I never did like the word "mediocre."   ;)

**Disclaimer: I just wanted to briefly state for anyone who may be confused, that I am in no way condemning either hymns or contemporary choruses. I love using music to enhance a point and feel it can impact people in ways that a simply spoken word can't sometimes. I just wanted to make it clear that scripture should come first. Its amazing to have music with godly lyrics because that only helps our walk, but I just didn't want to get so caught up in the music that I forgot who inspired it. Hope this is a little more clear.**