After long, heated discussions, we often conclude by saying, "We will just have to agree to disagree." This sounds very noble on the surface - but is it the attitude that God wants from us?
Certainly we should give a nod to behaving as grown ups. You may as seen video clips of government officials in other countries resort to physically fighting during sessions of parliament. While we may find it amusing on some level, it is hard to believe that much is resolved by this kind of childish behavior.
However, "agreeing to disagree" does not seem to accomplish much either. This philosophy is designed to bring unity - but its does not really accomplish that. Rather it sends us on our way with an anger that is simmering within us - ready to boil over at the next provocation.
Even in the church, we seem to celebrate many diverse views of God. While we should not go to war over certain minor points, we should to diligently seek the truth, according to God's point of view, with all our hearts.
I am not advocating pressing our own views until we see results. I am advocating personally upping our games in our walk with God. We can see alternative views of God and life - as long as it is still God we are looking at and describing. It is easy explore our imaginations or desires and create a god to our liking. But those are not really gods. There is only One, True, living God!
Paul teaches us the secret to unity:
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 2:1-2
Today the church is in conflict on many issues, both theologically and politically. This should not be so. But may I suggest that the answer is not in "agreeing to disagree" but for each of us to seek God more diligently so we can all get on the same page - God's page!
The members of an orchestra cannot bring their own piece of music to a concert and "agree to disagree." They must all tune in to the same piece of music and understand it thoroughly. A beautifully played piece of music will be the result.
We must each examine ourselves:
How much time have we spent deeply meditating on God's Word?
How intense is our prayer life?
How strongly do we seek God's point of view?
How willing are we to submit to God's will when we do find it?
How can we claim to know the will of God if we do not know Him intimately? When we all get on the same page, there will be unity of the Spirit. Until then, we can only (sigh) settle for "agreeing to disagree."
Many Blessings!
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
HOW TO PLEASE GOD!
How does a Christian know that he or she is pleasing to God?
The Christian must deal with sin. We have many preconceived ideas about what pleases God and those things we define as sins. If we use only our preconceived concepts to guide us, we will fail. Why? Because man is fallen and does not instinctively or intuitively know right from wrong.
How then can we know God's will, or discover what God considers as sin?
The Psalmist leads us toward the answer:
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalms 119:11
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1-3
The Word of God is inextricably linked to knowing what pleases God and in correctly identifying sin. We cannot know the will of God apart from a mastery of God's Word. We are clueless when it comes to identifying sins unless we have God's Word hidden in our hearts.
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalms 119:130
Without the light of God's Word to guide us, we can only make feeble attempts to please God, using past experiences and preconditioning to guide us. We are completely unenlightened in our attempts to do God's will. We have no light to shine on the sins in our lives and those of the world.
For the man or woman who diligently seeks God and meditates on, and studies His Word, the light will begin to shine on their hearts and minds. New revelations will flow into us which will move us to bow before our holy God and confess our sins to Him.
We are called to seek God diligently and dig deep into His Word! When we do, we will be equipped for God to flow through us and to be used by Him to minister to a lost and dying world.
The Christian must deal with sin. We have many preconceived ideas about what pleases God and those things we define as sins. If we use only our preconceived concepts to guide us, we will fail. Why? Because man is fallen and does not instinctively or intuitively know right from wrong.
How then can we know God's will, or discover what God considers as sin?
The Psalmist leads us toward the answer:
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalms 119:11
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1-3
The Word of God is inextricably linked to knowing what pleases God and in correctly identifying sin. We cannot know the will of God apart from a mastery of God's Word. We are clueless when it comes to identifying sins unless we have God's Word hidden in our hearts.
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalms 119:130
Without the light of God's Word to guide us, we can only make feeble attempts to please God, using past experiences and preconditioning to guide us. We are completely unenlightened in our attempts to do God's will. We have no light to shine on the sins in our lives and those of the world.
For the man or woman who diligently seeks God and meditates on, and studies His Word, the light will begin to shine on their hearts and minds. New revelations will flow into us which will move us to bow before our holy God and confess our sins to Him.
We are called to seek God diligently and dig deep into His Word! When we do, we will be equipped for God to flow through us and to be used by Him to minister to a lost and dying world.
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