NOT THINKING THROUGH THE PROBLEM

I always encourage people to read their Bible, pray, and try to live a sinless and holy life.  STAY CONNECTED to God I say.  But in thinking about it, I think I am confusing the issue.  It is arrogant to think that my denomination, my rites & rituals, prayer, worship, Bible study, and a holy life are this magical bridge to God.  Is this backwards & legalistic like most major religions will tell us?

YES!  Of course we should pray, read our Bibles, and work through our walk of sanctification in a holy lifestyle.  YES, we should do all of these things, but do they really bring me closer to God?  I find that by abiding within the context of His word, prayer, worship, etc., I somehow am responsible for my oneness with God.  I realize that I pray because I have a connection with God.  I worship because I AM connected to God.  I pray for the very same reason.  Oneness with God.  I don’t live a holy life to be accepted by God, and therein lies my power!  It all begins with our TRUE REPENTANCE and my sonship with God.

This marriage I have with God is no different than with my wife.  She serves me, I serve her…heck, I’d die for her and give her my all as CHRIST SO LOVED THE CHURCH!  Just because we disagree on a point, is that any different than us disagreeing with God on His timing in our lives?  NO!  I just look at her and think “whatever” and she does the same with me. 

Let me ask a simple question of how many times a day do we get in the argument with God because of our simple approach to His love for us?  I yell and plead at God all of the time!  We want a faster microwave, toaster, air fryer, & the list goes on.  We want it NOW!  I have come to realize its God’s time & not my own.  He owns it.  Oneness through repentance & boldly & fearlessly taking up our cross each & every day in the fight for, by, through, & with Him.

My prayers are my “all of the time” conversation with my Father in Heaven.  My worship is because He is my king.  My study of the Scripture is that He breathes through every word & teaches me something new.  Flip your thoughts…I do it because He is my king & I am the faithful bride awaiting His return.

Next to last thought (in the words of my father on average Sunday when mom was looking at her watch and giving him the nod), for all of my King James Version friends, the Hebrew was misquoted when Jesus (Yeshua—meaning Salvation) tells us to “turn the other cheek.”  It does NOT mean “hit me again.”  Rather it means to stand your ground—let me repeat, it doesn’t mean hit me again!  Jesus was no sissy.  Of course, thinking about the historical exegesis of the passage, what did King James demand?  Subservience of the realm, so his translation softened it.  The true idiomatic translation of the text means again to stand your ground and confront the evil.  Essentially, controlled strength & moral power without revenge.  Remember, this Jesus of love flipped tables in the temple three times.  His charge was to drive out the corruption of the religion with authority.  I say, be a rebel for DIVINE JUSTICE, never a preacher, priest, rabbi, politician, or king for blind submission.  ONLY in Christly courage comes freedom.

Okay…last thought.  I think it must be such a GREAT privilege to be triggered and protest all of the time.  I guess having the time, space, and safety that I provided in the defense of our great republic as a career Marine to react & be upset about about everything must be a wondrous thing.  People like me who work long days & struggle to take care of people with food, clothing, & lodging really don’t have that kind of luxury.  This fomented luxury of outrage fascinates me.  Caring for my community does NOT include spitting on law enforcement officers, calling them vulgar names, or stop them from their duties to uphold the law.  For the smooth-brains each & every irritation is deemed a social injustice.  I think that these triggered, micro-aggression crazies actually go out looking for things to be offended by because they have no perspective of logic, common sense, law, & even REAL hardship—not do they have the intellect to debate their position.  I choose to feed off of intellect, knowledge, music, art, & my faith and not anger.  Instead of being disappointed with stupidity, I have simply come to accept it & anticipate it.  While the triggered micro-aggression folk are dying their hair, screeching, protesting, and acting out in violence…I prefer to read a book, gain knowledge, feed & clothe people, play music, & obey the laws of God and what are on the books in our community.  Enough said.