Just Bloggin' by Wardo

As I walk through church greeting people I notice that many folks want a handshake. For others it is the grip of death and the stare down, while others prefer the dead fish. Some people just want a nod to acknowledge them, while some folks are looking for a fist bump and others want a bro hug. Then when I greet ladies at church some only want a “hi” or a wave, while some ladies want a hug and other ladies favor a kiss on the cheek. Through this simple weekly process I’ve come to the conclusion that people are very different. Each person is an individual made in the image of God, as God saw fit to make them and because of this we are each very distinctive and we should acknowledge and celebrate these differences.   We should be very understanding of our differences. We should be very accommodating to those that are vastly different from us. There should be tolerance and acceptance and not ridicule or gossip of those who differ from us. People who are different socially, econom...

I was sitting in church this morning and the pastor spoke about “modeling” Christianity and the need to find someone to “model” after. It is true that I would like to be a good model of God's grace, although much of today's teaching on the subject takes it in a different direction. The modeling I heard about this morning sounded good and probably tickled a few ears, however one of the problems with this philosophy that I see is that this “model” is usually created by a person pushing their version of a Christian agenda. You see, the whole premise of a model is wrong, unless of course Jesus is your model. You know Jesus he is the one who dealt in unconditional love. The one who used mercy, grace and kindness to upend the religious zealots of his day and their wayward philosophies passed off for godliness. The one who deals with people on an individual basis and not some preconceived idea of cookie cutter Christianity where everyone looks the same, talks the same and interacts t...

In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to put God first in all aspects of my life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love God above all else. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love my neighbor as myself. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love other Christians in such a way as to show the love of Christ to a lost and dying world, even those Christians with whom I disagree with! In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to follow the precepts of the Bible and not man's interpretation or man's tradition of Biblical teaching. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to place my complete faith and dependence upon the Sovereign God who knows best for me and my life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to die to self and allow the Spirit of God to live through me, the only possible way to live a spiritual life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to be motivated by God's love in word, action and deed.

Matthew 7:1-6 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Here is a passage that the modern day fundamentalist does nor care for. As God continues to take away the layers of motes from our eyes it enables us to see clearly and in love and compassion want to help those trapped in modern day fundamentalism. It is not an aurora of superiority and ar...

I was reading on a forum that I post on regularly about a church that had set a goal of having over 2000 people at their church on a given Sunday. At first glace it seems good and plausible, but as I began to ponder deeper on this I wondered 'but is it scriptural'? Having spent 17 years in the world of IFBx and always pushing for numbers, numbers, numbers ...my mind went back to the philosophy that taught about numbers. The problem I saw was that it just isn't scriptural. I know there were 3000 baptized on the day of Pentecost. I also know there is a book in the Bible called numbers. I am aware of the feeding of the 5000 men along with many other accounts in the Bible. But where in the Bible is the goal of having 3000 baptized? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of feeding 5000 men? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of personally having 10 saved in a week or 100 in a day? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of o...

2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. The veteran preacher Paul is giving instruction to his 'young preacher-boy' as to how and what he should preach. Much is made of the latter part of verse 2, (reprove & rebuke) but most gloss over the statement " Preach the word ". Why is that? Maybe many think that the statement is so self explanatory and simple that it needs not to be discussed. Although I must say that the modern fundamentalist preacher likes to apply the 'preach' part of this verse by going to Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. The reason for this is so that those who are "apt to teach" (NT pastoral requirem...

Luke 9:49-50 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. This verse is teaching that people may not be following with you who are truly following Christ. Just because someone does not live by "your" prescribed standards or "your" convictions does not mean they are not following Christ. Just because they are not in "your" prescribed religion or use "your" approved methods does not mean that they have no relationship with Christ. Just because they do not listen to "your" music genre or dress in "your" approved style does not mean they are not living for Christ. Yet many in the Christian world will preach against others that don't live as they do and don't follow as they follow and will lead their people to avoid them or to separate from them. Th...