Popular in our social discourse, today, is the idea of a "Spiritual Journey." Many folks are on one but there doesn't seem to be any codified explanation of what being "on one" means.
Generally it falls into the category of a search. People are searching for spiritual truth or spiritual reality. Is there a God? What is He (or She) like? What does this God want from me? How can I live in harmony with His purposes? Does it really matter?
To this end people pursue all sorts of religious and/or spiritual, activities and beliefs. Colleges offer Comparative Religion Classes which "searchers" can take. There are Bible Study groups and Discussion Groups, books, tapes, and even weekend retreats to help people find what they're looking for.
Not a few have looked into several differing Christian denominations, Judaism and a host of lessor relgious traditions, looking for truth and/or meaning. Do any of these have the absolute answers my soul craves?
The Bible doesn't understand any of this as a spiritual journey. Paul paraphrases Psalm 14 in saying, "...no man seeketh after God" [Rom. 3:11] Why? Because they are all unrighteous and none understand God, nor what He represents.
The human search for truth or purpose is not a search for God. It is a search for something that will satisfy our need, without God. If we were seeking God:
a) it would be because the Spirit of God was at work challenging, convicting and drawing us [Jn. 6;44], and
b) it would lead only to Jesus Christ, God's Messiah.
And don't think ultimate truth can be found in any Christian Church or Denomination! None of them have absolute truth. They all have their own ideas about what constitutes a truly biblical approach to both doctrine and practice. Of course, some are better than others. And not every organization that uses the term "church" is a Church in the biblical sense. Some are not even Christian.
The only "spiritual journey" the Bible recognizes is the one undertaken AFTER a person has relinquished control of his life, repented of his sin and committed his life completely to God, in Christ. From here he/she grows and develops, becoming conformed to the image of Christ. [Rom. 8:29]
The real searcher's journey begins and ends with Jesus. Until then he is serving a god of his own manufacture, often Self. Improving the Self seems to satisfy most searchers. And the process whereby they find that satisfaction is what they mean by a "Spiritual Journey."
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Should Chrisitans Be Non-Judgmental?
The Rev. Michael Shuenemeyer, Executive for health & wholeness advocacy in the National offices of the United Church of Christ says that the church should be "nonjudmental" when it comes to HIV/AIDS. [CNSNews.com Nov. 26, 2008] He says Jesus sent His disciples out to heal the sick, not criticize them. Other Religious leaders and AIDS activists want Christians to stop labeling sex outside marriage as sinful or having multiple partners as immoral because these terms are "biased" and society has "moved beyond" this.
Question: What is the message of The Church in the world? It has only one Message: Jesus Saves! Aside from babies being born with HIV, due to mothers who are infected, and medical accidents, is it possible to contract this disease without engaging in an immoral act? Is immorality a sin?
The effort to stop Christians from being "judgmental" is designed to eliminate the idea of immorality from the public discourse. If that happens, what's the point in having a Church in the world? If there is no sin there is no need of a Savior. If there is no need of a Savior the message of The Church is moot!
A common teaching in churches across this land and around the world is that Jesus came, in large part, to bring healing to afflicted people. According to this teaching, sin is the cause of human sickness and salvation brings physical healing. But the clear message of Scripture is that The Great Physician came to heal our sin-sickness, not diabetes or epilepsy. Can He heal our body? Yes. Will He heal our body? If it serves His purpose -- which is always to get glory and praise to Himself.
If the result of immoral activity is a deadly disease, and Christians stop being critical of that behavior, the Enemy wins! So what is Rev. Schuenemeyer's point? According to him it's being real: "Creating a safe place for people to ask questions and share their views, experiences and ideas. To provide them with value-based, medically accurate information, along with the tools for making healthy and responsible decisions."
This all sounds sweet, generous, and understanding. It's everything BUT facing sin and repenting, apparently.
Question: What is the message of The Church in the world? It has only one Message: Jesus Saves! Aside from babies being born with HIV, due to mothers who are infected, and medical accidents, is it possible to contract this disease without engaging in an immoral act? Is immorality a sin?
The effort to stop Christians from being "judgmental" is designed to eliminate the idea of immorality from the public discourse. If that happens, what's the point in having a Church in the world? If there is no sin there is no need of a Savior. If there is no need of a Savior the message of The Church is moot!
A common teaching in churches across this land and around the world is that Jesus came, in large part, to bring healing to afflicted people. According to this teaching, sin is the cause of human sickness and salvation brings physical healing. But the clear message of Scripture is that The Great Physician came to heal our sin-sickness, not diabetes or epilepsy. Can He heal our body? Yes. Will He heal our body? If it serves His purpose -- which is always to get glory and praise to Himself.
If the result of immoral activity is a deadly disease, and Christians stop being critical of that behavior, the Enemy wins! So what is Rev. Schuenemeyer's point? According to him it's being real: "Creating a safe place for people to ask questions and share their views, experiences and ideas. To provide them with value-based, medically accurate information, along with the tools for making healthy and responsible decisions."
This all sounds sweet, generous, and understanding. It's everything BUT facing sin and repenting, apparently.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Forbidden Fruit....The Subtle Seduction
Stephenie Myers is the new JK Rowling! Her book series, Twilight, is taking America by storm. It is finding a ready audience among girls in Christian Schools and even those who claim to be Christian. It's a story about an independent-minded teen-aged girl who feels like an outsider, having moved to a new town and school. A girl who meets a mysterious boy who piques her interest.
The problem is that this boy, Edward, is a Vampire! Of course, he doesn't drink blood, he and his family have chosen not to do this -- although he is tempted on occasion, usually in response to heavy petting. But he IS immortal. He has enormous physical power: he can run faster than a mountain lion and stop moving cars with his bare hands.
The movie depicts threatening beer-toting males surrounding a lone girl on a dark street. A vampire bites the necks of his victims. Two men are chased, attacked and killed by vampires. One vampire is beheaded, dismembered and burned, presumably to create sympathy for Edward's plight as a member of a persecuted minority.
The movie is rated PG-13 because the truly gruesome events are off-screen or simply illustrated in a book. But the real danger is NOT in the violence. It's in the subtle seduction of our youth. The heroine is shown engaged in a near-obsessive attraction to Edward that pushes him to the edge of his self-control. She lies to her parents and friends, jeopardizes the safety of Edward and his family, wears a low-cut dress with the expressed intent of allure and kisses passionately in a bedroom. For love?
We are watching as our young children are being hurried into adult situations by an aggressive media, without parental control. Girls are increasingly seductive, both in fashion and in behavior. Boys are increasingly assaulted by graphic sexuality. Dating is looking more and more like marriage and children are having babies. (the out-of-wedlock birth rate is climbing again)
When do we say "enough!?" When do parents step up and take control? Why are we letting our children make adult decisions about romance and relationships? Because they look like adults?
The Wall Street Journal opined: "Twilight has targeted the collective soul of teenage America, and will surely have its way."
If the goal was to undermine Christianity, incite rebellion against parents, eradicate biblical values and spread moral chaos, surely this book / movie will do the trick. If your daughter is reading this "stuff" she is At Risk.
The problem is that this boy, Edward, is a Vampire! Of course, he doesn't drink blood, he and his family have chosen not to do this -- although he is tempted on occasion, usually in response to heavy petting. But he IS immortal. He has enormous physical power: he can run faster than a mountain lion and stop moving cars with his bare hands.
The movie depicts threatening beer-toting males surrounding a lone girl on a dark street. A vampire bites the necks of his victims. Two men are chased, attacked and killed by vampires. One vampire is beheaded, dismembered and burned, presumably to create sympathy for Edward's plight as a member of a persecuted minority.
The movie is rated PG-13 because the truly gruesome events are off-screen or simply illustrated in a book. But the real danger is NOT in the violence. It's in the subtle seduction of our youth. The heroine is shown engaged in a near-obsessive attraction to Edward that pushes him to the edge of his self-control. She lies to her parents and friends, jeopardizes the safety of Edward and his family, wears a low-cut dress with the expressed intent of allure and kisses passionately in a bedroom. For love?
We are watching as our young children are being hurried into adult situations by an aggressive media, without parental control. Girls are increasingly seductive, both in fashion and in behavior. Boys are increasingly assaulted by graphic sexuality. Dating is looking more and more like marriage and children are having babies. (the out-of-wedlock birth rate is climbing again)
When do we say "enough!?" When do parents step up and take control? Why are we letting our children make adult decisions about romance and relationships? Because they look like adults?
The Wall Street Journal opined: "Twilight has targeted the collective soul of teenage America, and will surely have its way."
If the goal was to undermine Christianity, incite rebellion against parents, eradicate biblical values and spread moral chaos, surely this book / movie will do the trick. If your daughter is reading this "stuff" she is At Risk.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Wave of The Future
A recent Associated Press report indicates that 64% of U.S. High School students had cheated on a test, 36% had used the internet to plagiarize an assignment and 83% had lied to a parent about something significant.
The results of this study are not as shocking as the response by Educators who questioned any suggestion that today's young people are less honest than previous generations.
They pointed to the intensified pressures on young people today, prompting them to cut corners. "The competition is greater, the pressures on kids have increased dramatically," said Mel Riddle of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "They have opportunities [to cheat] their predecessors didn't. The temptation is greater."
Children lying or cheating is nothing new. But the percentages are huge!
Where does all this come from? Is it simply a matter of increased opportunity?
Or is there something more basic going on?
I would suggest to you that this is the direct result of two factors:
1. the elimination of objective morality from our social system
2. the mental health community's 70-year effort to blame circumstances for our problems.
If I am simply a highly evolved animal, shaped by my environment and answerable only to my own value system, why would I do anything that did not benefit me right here and right now?
On the other hand, if I am a divinely created person, shaped by my perceptions of that reality and accountable to an objective, unchanging moral code, why would I give in to the temptation to gratify the immediate need? Especially if the temptation is to violate that moral code?
Educators don't "get it." The Mental Health Community doesn't "get it." Social Architects don't "get it." And, sadly, too many preachers don't "get it."
A society operating according to it's own moral standard is destined for moral decline. Children lying and cheating is only the tip of the ice berg.
"Victims" never accept responsibility for their condition nor their responses.
So, strap yourself in! It's going to be a very bumpy ride when this crop of morally-challenged young people start affecting our world!
The results of this study are not as shocking as the response by Educators who questioned any suggestion that today's young people are less honest than previous generations.
They pointed to the intensified pressures on young people today, prompting them to cut corners. "The competition is greater, the pressures on kids have increased dramatically," said Mel Riddle of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "They have opportunities [to cheat] their predecessors didn't. The temptation is greater."
Children lying or cheating is nothing new. But the percentages are huge!
Where does all this come from? Is it simply a matter of increased opportunity?
Or is there something more basic going on?
I would suggest to you that this is the direct result of two factors:
1. the elimination of objective morality from our social system
2. the mental health community's 70-year effort to blame circumstances for our problems.
If I am simply a highly evolved animal, shaped by my environment and answerable only to my own value system, why would I do anything that did not benefit me right here and right now?
On the other hand, if I am a divinely created person, shaped by my perceptions of that reality and accountable to an objective, unchanging moral code, why would I give in to the temptation to gratify the immediate need? Especially if the temptation is to violate that moral code?
Educators don't "get it." The Mental Health Community doesn't "get it." Social Architects don't "get it." And, sadly, too many preachers don't "get it."
A society operating according to it's own moral standard is destined for moral decline. Children lying and cheating is only the tip of the ice berg.
"Victims" never accept responsibility for their condition nor their responses.
So, strap yourself in! It's going to be a very bumpy ride when this crop of morally-challenged young people start affecting our world!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)