It's a beautiful sunshiny day here in Arkansas but a wee bit hot--we are supposed to get to almost 90 today and I am wishing for a nip in the air.
In a couple of weeks we should be having some cooler days--will look forward to those.
I hope your day and your weather are wonderful wherever you are. When we are in the presence of God all of that is really just superficial however.
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Yesterday I mentioned "too preachy"--and I wanted to explain my position on this.
Some years ago when I first started my blog and was wanting to help disciple those who would read it, I started doing research about writing magazine articles for Christian mags.
You must remember I am old and from the "old school" so to speak but I was somewhat disappointed when I kept coming upon information that stated we shouldn't be "too preachy" in our writings.
I kept going back in my mind to those early days of marriage when I had just changed denominations. I had a wonderful upbringing in church even though it did place its thrust many times on "dos and don'ts." |
Because of its emphasis on
don't smoke, don't chew
don't go with boys that do
(get my drift?)
somehow I could justify my behavior that I was a "pretty good Christian."
When I started the new denomination, its emphasis was more on the inner workings of Christianity--thought life, bitterness, anger, envy, impatience, lack of love, resentment, and the list goes on.
We had a wonderful preacher who was like steel velvet. He could be so very hard and so very gentle and loving.
In my old denomination, we did not have "altar calls" every service--only when "the Spirit was moving."
In my new denomination, we had an altar call every service and because I had so much gunk in my heart (that I really hadn't realized before), it seemed I made a steady stream to the altar almost every service.
Month after month and year after year for several years, I was like an onion being peeled back--one layer at a time. There were probably some who wondered, "What's wrong with that woman that she feels she must walk the aisle every service?"
Ever since then I have cherished "those hard sermons preached with such passion." They led me to a freedom in Christ I had never experienced before.
Ever since then I have cherished "those hard sermons preached with such passion." They led me to a freedom in Christ I had never experienced before.
TIME OUT for the record: Yes, I still struggle at times with those same sins BUT I know God's way and want to follow it and I know the steps to take to get my life back in line with following in His footsteps.
So I am thankful for the "too preachy" sermons.
I am concerned that we are becoming a body of Christians who too often wants only to hear things that make us feel good about ourselves.
Actually, the Bible has this to say about that--
Let this be clear--I am talking about teaching and preaching the truth in love.
One day we will all be judged by God but none of us wants to be judged by our fellow man. However, I believe the Bible teaches that leading someone (in love) to a hard truth that will enhance their walk with Christ is a an act of obedience.
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
Let this be clear--I am talking about teaching and preaching the truth in love.
One day we will all be judged by God but none of us wants to be judged by our fellow man. However, I believe the Bible teaches that leading someone (in love) to a hard truth that will enhance their walk with Christ is a an act of obedience.
SERMON OVER!
HALLELUJAH!
Love all of you!
And here is my Random Acts of Poetry Day poem that I penned about 20 years ago as I was jogging around a park close to my house--Now let's hope I can remember it--
At the Park
When meeting those walking on a dark and dreary day--
It's easy to tell the pessimistic from the optimistic fella--
One has his sunglasses--
The other--his umbrella!
This actually happened to me one day and it got downright amusing--almost no one had both--
