Controversy in our world.

A few days ago, I was reading the blog of an acquaintance of mine, and I came across something very upsetting. I first must say, I realized that these kinds of thoughts existed in our world - it's nothing new to me. I've even met people who believe things like this. I know America (especially the youth) is in a very pitiful state. I've seen things happen to point to these kinds of beliefs, but when I read this it just...bothered me. Here's what it says:

"Well, it is hard to argue the teachings of Jesus — whether you believe or not. But the jerks at the Southern Baptist Convention and the freaks at Focus on the Family have completely hijacked those teachings of Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount is all about turning the other cheek. I think if Jesus were to come back he would more likely hang out with low-lifes and perhaps be in a really bad cover band, but do his good work. The Bible good teachings but the story line has too many,hate to say it, but contridictions.

How has religion influenced me?

I was baptized in the Catholic church. The Catholic church is very ceremonial. I don't mind that. I was raised in a small town where we were the only rednecks and wanksters, so we would go to my mother's Baptist establishment. My cousin and I made a complete mockery of it. My mother and aunt were upstanding members, but I think they appreciated us making a mockery of it a bit. As kids we went every Sunday to church and it gave us loads of material for ridicule. My aunt would say we were going to Hell but would laugh at our diatribes about the church. Also, a Catholic priest tried to get me drunk at his house one night when I went to dine with him so I could get a recommendation from him for a job at the Vatican. Two weeks later he was arrested for rubbing the altar boys the wrong way. I was older and had my guard up, so nothing happened — even though he was adorable. That last part was made up."


Okay. There are a few things in there that there's nothing wrong with. Like the part where it said, "...it is hard to argue the teachings of Jesus..." Well, it IS hard to argue the teachings of Jesus because they're true. And He probably would be more likely to hang out with the low-lives, because that's what He did when He was here on earth. He spent His time healing people and reaching them with His gospel.

I do know that there are a LOT of hypocrites in our churches today, even people that are children of God. And I do know that it makes Christianity look really bad to the lost. But there are quite a few believers that actually live their lives to the glory of our Savior.

What's even more disturbing than the actual post are the comments. Here they are:

1st comment - "This is incredibly sad. And this isn't religion, this isn't anything but complete misinterpretation of what Jesus really wanted his church as, and I'm sorry this happened to you. But people are people, imperfect and sinful just as God made us, therefore this is what we do (crap like what you were talking about above and even worse). And it's not an excuse, it's just the truth. I'm pretty sure you know this, but Christians aren't all like that."

2nd comment [the writer of the blog] - "I just don't think there is a God. And I think that Jesus was merely the Ghandi of his time. And people in power needed a martyr and a following so they used him and his story to control what they could not. Sorry I just refuse to accept this."

3rd comment - "I guess i could say i side with you on this..because i myself am not religious. And yaeh like you said at the bottom, i think "god" or jesus or whatever he is called is used for a coverup for some people to completley hit rock bottom and blame it on him, or for people to use "god" for a reason that their lives changed drastically to the most amazing life in the world. I think thats all head tricks. And oppurtunitys are endless and i think that its PEOPLE whom hit rock bottom and get back up, and certain people who change things in the world. Not religion. But its easy for me to say since me, or my family arent "religious " in many ways. I dont think we need a book, or a few hypocrits at some church to make us good people. I dont live life with limits. Or fear..If thats going to send me to "hell" than so be it. Ill see the rest of the 99% of people in this world there too. Yeah i agree with you thow. ^_^ im done."

The first comment is mostly right, except for the fact that the person said "...imperfect and sinful just as God made us..." We ARE imperfect and sinful, but that is NOT the way God made us. In fact, it's the complete opposite.

The 2nd comment is just...yeah. It offends me, as I'm sure it offends any other believer because it is completely wrong.

And the 3rd comment. Wow. I think that's what woke me up, if you will. She sounds as if she WANTS to go to hell. But I'm sure she hasn't be taught about it enough to know what it's really like.

I posted all this so, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your eyes could be opened. Think about it. This is HOW THE WORLD SEES US! What kind of witness is this? I'm hoping this urges you to go into the world and spread the news of our Lord. Our lives are not about us. Galations 3:26-28 says, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." And Colossians 3:3 says, "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." All throughout the Bible, it tells us that we do not belong to ourselves, as in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." Your life fully belongs to God, so why don't you start living like it? We have to GO.

And I posted this, so if you have not come to know my Jesus, you will be drawn to His infinite love, grace, power, and mercy. In the 3rd comment (above), the girl says that she thinks it's certain people who change things in the world, not religion. She's right. Religion doesn't change things in the world. A relationship with Jesus does. Religion doesn't get you anywhere but in the mud. It's our faith in God's Son, who came to earth to die for YOU, and for me. Our sins separate us from God, because He's absolutely perfect and cannot have one spot of sin in His presence. He MUST punish sin. But Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to take EVERY SIN that had ever been committed (or will ever be committed) upon Himself. He was willing to be punished by His own Father, even though He had never sinned once in His life. He took it ALL for you. God had to punish someone for our sins, or else we'd all die and burn in hell for eternity. So Jesus took the blame, so we could boldly stand before the throne of God and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
John 14:6 says, "Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.' " Jesus is the ONLY way to get to heaven, and through Him we can be called His friends. Despite what you've heard about getting to heaven by being baptized, or doing good things your whole life. It doesn't matter. It can't wash your sins away. But Jesus blood can. All you have to do is have faith in His sacrifice.

If you have any questions about this, or wish to know more about having a relationship with Jesus, please leave a comment. All comments are welcomed, and you can leave one even if you aren't a member of Blogger. Just click the link at the bottom of the post (Comments), and you can choose the way you want to be seen on the comment. It's really easy, and please don't hesitate. I'm praying for YOU. Jesus loves you. ^_^

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God's Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever. " - John 3:16

Losing is finding.

She was wondering...why do things that you thought were taken care of come back and hurt as bad as they did before? Like the pain of a broken heart. Or the shame of your past. Or the feeling that you need another person to complete you. She hated those thoughts. She didn't want them back. She knew that God was the only person she really needed in her life. She knew He made us to be with other people, but she came to a point in her relationship with Him that He was all she needed. He put some people in her life, and that was enough for her. So why did she find herself sitting around thinking about what could have been? Then she would think to herself, "C'mon! God already taught you this!" But she couldn't seem to pull herself together.
Her mind wanders. It wanders far away, to a place where she can see him standing next to her again. She can hear his voice. She can feel his hands. And that's where it ends. She pushes it away because she doesn't want to have to deal with that again. God already delivered her from who she was.

The girl who lived of the world. The one who thought love was meant to be manifested physically. The one who went too far in her relationships...especially with him. But love was supposed to be that way, wasn't it? It wasn't wrong. It was okay.
It was okay until he tore her heart out. It was okay until she realized that maybe he didn't really want HER, and maybe all he wanted was her body. So then she had to deal with that. It hurt so bad. When you love someone, and you give them all of you, it's like a brutal death when they leave you. Or when you leave them - as it was. But she had to leave him. She loved him, but she was tired of his games.

Leaving him was the death of her. She would be all alone, but she could still feel him next to her. For a split second, she could rest in his arms again. She could feel his heart beating on her back again. She could turn around and try to place her hand on his chest again, but it's then that she'd realize it was only her mind playing tricks on her. Again.

Then her insanity returned. The hopelessness that found residence in her heart seemed so long ago, but she found it crawling back. Her mind turned into a sea of swirling scenes: flashbacks; dying hopes and dreams. She'd sit alone in a corner and lay her head in between her knees. She'd lie down at night and pull the blanket over her head, sobbing herself to sleep. She'd wake up in the morning with a feeling that something was desperately wrong, then remember that it was him.

After what seemed like forever, an amazing event happened. God saved her soul. He'd dealt with her for a long time about what a terrible sinner she was, and she finally surrendered to Him. What happened after that? He changed her life. Completely.

But then Satan got a hold of her. He told her that she had not been forgiven for her sins related to him. And stupid as she thought she was, she believed him. Though at the time, she didn't quite know it was Satan. She felt so guilty. And ashamed. She struggled and struggled with it day and night. Her head would swim. She hadn't a clue what to do. She prayed and prayed and prayed. She searched for answers. Then she felt God. She heard Him saying something to her. She saw that He had put someone in her life, and this was an appointed time.

So she went to this person and asked her if she could talk to her. They talked a lot. Over and over, she would tell this girl things that she had learned in her own struggle with a similar situation. And over time, those little pieces of truth grew on her. After 5 months, she came to a point in her walk with Christ where she could finally see the light. She realized, deep in her heart, that she was clean. She was forgiven. It just took time for her to grasp that. It took time for her to forgive herself.

Through this whole situation she realized so many things. Things she'll never forget. God instilled something within her. A peace, a hope, a glimpse of His blood. He'll always forgive, but He'll never take consequences away - those are things we have to live with. They can be extremely painful, but they're our responsibility to deal with them. Her biggest consequence are the unseen scars on her soul. The memories she'll always have. The shame that burdens her at times. God cleansed her heart, but she has to live with the same body. Sometimes she'll look at herself and think, "These are the very same hands. The very same mouth. The very same body..." And she gets disgusted. But God will always carry her through. His blood was enough.

Leaving him was the death of her. Jesus was the life of her.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36