Very important truths
55Very important truths.
One of the things that has been on my heart alot lately is the fact that we as Christians need to become more serious about our faith in God. I've noticed in alot of ways that people are more concerned with not rocking boats (not saying things that will offend people) and getting to laxed about teaching what needs to be taught rather than what people want to hear. There are several reasons why it isn't taught.
1. Passing the buck (Someone else will do it.)
I believe that a reverence for God starts at the home. If parents don't take the time to teach their children to respect others and more importantly to have a deep love for God, they're not going to show it when they're at work, school, or anywhere else. Too often parents "pass the buck" thinking that someone else will do it because they allow themselves to be too busy and too wrapped up with what they want to do rather than doing what they need to. I believe a person can discern when a child respects authority vs when they don't.
When they don't, it's obvious. There is talking during church, they don't care as much about focusing on God as they do on talking with their friends. A greater emphasis is placed on friendship vs a relationship with God. This has trickled down to ministry. When kids don't respect the God given authority, it makes it where God given authority has to cater to their needs.
2. Wrong approach. (Entertainment over fellowship.)
Nowadays, people place a greater emphasis on going to a church where they're "entertained" that they are on getting the word. This is dangerous because by design, a church has to be able to give each person coming in something that they can't get anywhere else. People should be able to see WITHOUT A DOUBT the love of Christ OVER THE LOVE THAT THE WORLD GIVES. If they can't see it, churches aren't doing their job.
A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, so you also love one another. BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER. (John 13:34-35)
There's a song that I grew up listening to by Bryan Duncan called "Love takes time." This concept is so true. To show people that you love them AS CHRIST LOVED THEM, you need to give them the time. Most ministries here in America are so focused on "putting on a show" that they forget what love truly is. When you try to put on a show, people will only be dedicated to you as long as your shows are good. Eventually people will see what they like better in the world and stop coming. When a person is entertainment focused, they'll go from place to place every time they get bored with what's being done at a place and have no effect anywhere.
How do we reverse the trend of what's been mentioned thus far? First, each of us take ownership of what our responsibilities are. This means putting the children's needs if you're a parent above your own. This means taking time to teach them the truth of God's word and spending quality time with them. I know it's more difficult when there's so many more distractions than when this generation of parents were growing up, but IT HAS TO BE DONE. There's a more important aspect to consider.
3. You've got to have a firm foundation on God's word.
Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, will be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Most people nowadays have their foundation on the sand. Why do I say this? Because most people don't take the time to study God's word for themselves. They go to church and take what their pastor says as gospel or read one of these blogs and take what a Christian writer says as gospel. The thing is, THE BEST OF MEN ARE MEN AT BEST. This means that no pastor or Bible teacher is above making mistakes. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. Each person that studies the Bible and allows the Bible to interpret the Bible will find their lives are so much better. Second Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. You can't rightly divide the word of truth if you're relying solely on a Bible teacher to feed you the word without you studying yourself. Godly teachers are there to help you understand the Bible better, not to base your knowledge on what they taught you. Our spiritual growth LONG TERM DEPENDS ON OUR WILLINGNESS TO ACTIVELY READ AND STUDY GOD'S WORD. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH WHAT HIS WORD SAYS. WHEN HIS WORD CONTRADICTS WHAT A TEACHER SAYS, GO WITH GOD'S WORD.
Kasey
1. Passing the buck (Someone else will do it.)
I believe that a reverence for God starts at the home. If parents don't take the time to teach their children to respect others and more importantly to have a deep love for God, they're not going to show it when they're at work, school, or anywhere else. Too often parents "pass the buck" thinking that someone else will do it because they allow themselves to be too busy and too wrapped up with what they want to do rather than doing what they need to. I believe a person can discern when a child respects authority vs when they don't.
When they don't, it's obvious. There is talking during church, they don't care as much about focusing on God as they do on talking with their friends. A greater emphasis is placed on friendship vs a relationship with God. This has trickled down to ministry. When kids don't respect the God given authority, it makes it where God given authority has to cater to their needs.
2. Wrong approach. (Entertainment over fellowship.)
Nowadays, people place a greater emphasis on going to a church where they're "entertained" that they are on getting the word. This is dangerous because by design, a church has to be able to give each person coming in something that they can't get anywhere else. People should be able to see WITHOUT A DOUBT the love of Christ OVER THE LOVE THAT THE WORLD GIVES. If they can't see it, churches aren't doing their job.
A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, so you also love one another. BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER. (John 13:34-35)
There's a song that I grew up listening to by Bryan Duncan called "Love takes time." This concept is so true. To show people that you love them AS CHRIST LOVED THEM, you need to give them the time. Most ministries here in America are so focused on "putting on a show" that they forget what love truly is. When you try to put on a show, people will only be dedicated to you as long as your shows are good. Eventually people will see what they like better in the world and stop coming. When a person is entertainment focused, they'll go from place to place every time they get bored with what's being done at a place and have no effect anywhere.
How do we reverse the trend of what's been mentioned thus far? First, each of us take ownership of what our responsibilities are. This means putting the children's needs if you're a parent above your own. This means taking time to teach them the truth of God's word and spending quality time with them. I know it's more difficult when there's so many more distractions than when this generation of parents were growing up, but IT HAS TO BE DONE. There's a more important aspect to consider.
3. You've got to have a firm foundation on God's word.
Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, will be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Most people nowadays have their foundation on the sand. Why do I say this? Because most people don't take the time to study God's word for themselves. They go to church and take what their pastor says as gospel or read one of these blogs and take what a Christian writer says as gospel. The thing is, THE BEST OF MEN ARE MEN AT BEST. This means that no pastor or Bible teacher is above making mistakes. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. Each person that studies the Bible and allows the Bible to interpret the Bible will find their lives are so much better. Second Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. You can't rightly divide the word of truth if you're relying solely on a Bible teacher to feed you the word without you studying yourself. Godly teachers are there to help you understand the Bible better, not to base your knowledge on what they taught you. Our spiritual growth LONG TERM DEPENDS ON OUR WILLINGNESS TO ACTIVELY READ AND STUDY GOD'S WORD. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH WHAT HIS WORD SAYS. WHEN HIS WORD CONTRADICTS WHAT A TEACHER SAYS, GO WITH GOD'S WORD.
Kasey
