Being mindful for the Things of God

Comment

Comment by Nichaila Jacques on January 11, 2011 at 4:25pm

This is making me wonder about how many other "pardons" there are out there... Thanks for the heads up: )

Comment by Berkson Dierivot on January 6, 2011 at 11:14pm

Neekye, Ive been looking for a title that would surely grasp what I mean't by what I said, but it is plain to see that there are many titles out there. 

 

Here are some examples of how titles can be used:

 

[Pardoning: Homosexuality]I am a pastor---> Whether God has given me a feeling you cannot understand, remember that I am anointed.

 

[Pardoning: Receptiveness of guilt after events]I am only human--->mistakes like this one happens to everyone

 

[Pardoning: Judgement] I am experienced, I've gone through this before and I can handle this now, by myself

 

[Pardoning: Morality] I am a man, and I'm going to give these women what they deserve

 

[Pardoning: Pre-mediated sin] I am christian, The bible teaches that"no sin is greater than another, and he who is without sin, lies to himself... lord forgive me of the sin I will do now. 

 

Comment by Nichaila Jacques on January 1, 2011 at 10:59pm

@Berkson- You bring up an interesting point: ) What other sins do you think that Christians/non-Christians alike apply labels to as a means of spiritual/mental desensitization?

Comment by Berkson Dierivot on January 1, 2011 at 10:20pm

On another note, we sometimes tend to confuse ourselves with labels. The title of being a self-sufficient Christian sounds as if that kind of Christian were above what a Christian is when the exact opposite is true. Some Christians have gone as far as using such titles as ways of pardoning sins.

Comment by Nichaila Jacques on December 29, 2010 at 12:57pm

About the woman who made the statement regarding sin: There are people just like that in today's society; They don't know what sin is exactly based on ignorance or lack of morality. Even for Christians, some of us make distinctions between certain sins when they are all the same in God's eyes.

When it comes to self-sufficiency, I just don't agree with the emphasis on "self": 

To me, being a self-sufficient Christian is an oxymoron. If the bible says in Phillipians 4:13 that

"I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me" and that "greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4), then my source cannot be myself, but the Lord. I don't think this gives us a reason to act or feel incompetent for faith is an action word and many times, the people who got healed by Christ were the ones who took a leap of faith because they believed for a miracle so bad.

While I hold that there are some things that we can do on our own strength or through sheer will, my issue is with the attitude of self-sufficiency, the "I don't need God" perspective. And I believe Christians struggle with this more than they realize.

Comment by Berkson Dierivot on December 29, 2010 at 8:58am

Amen! I've actually seen this, "I don't need God attitude." Earlier this year, the infamous traveling Evangelist by the name of Brother Micah made one of his stops at the University I attended and what happened seemed like something of battle between the Christians as well as the Non-Christians and him. In a gated circle, he preached the consequences of a life without God as only going to hell, mocking everyone and calling them out of their name, even. A non-Christian next to me said "Why do you need God if you don't sin?!" as if she was living right by some means. How can one live right, without the right means to live by? 

 

And in response to the last questions of where God begins and ends in self-sufficiency, I suppose that God will forever be in self-sufficiency. For example, If you were Jesus and I a disciple,  my methods of getting to become more like you would happen from having conversation with you on a regular basis, learning what you have to teach. In our conversation, we decide to take a walks and exchange ideas along the way and I eventually learn more and more of what it means to be Christ-like. If in our walk, I just happen to fall, you will be able to sustain me before I hit the ground, if I am about to step in something you will be able to warn me, all because you are all knowing; If I am headed where you are not, you will be able to let me know or I will know if I have trouble hearing you.

 

This in total is self-sufficiency within Christ, and what society preaches and promote does not contain Christ in their sermon.      

 

Comment by Nichaila Jacques on December 29, 2010 at 7:47am

Agreed: ) A couple days ago, Joyce Meyer brought something to my attention: She stated that the biggest problem in the world is the independent and self-governing attitude; The I don't need God" attitude. Doesn't the bible state that we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us (Phillipians 4:13)? If I am in Christ but I have this attitude, something's gotta give: I must humble myself and realize that I can't even breathe without the help of my Father. I know today's society preaches and promotes self-sufficiency but where does God come in? And where does He end?

Comment by Berkson Dierivot on December 28, 2010 at 8:08pm

This is an interesting question, with having in caps, the words: YOU and GOD, almost as if there was a hint at the practice of you as a religion or God himself. It could also be an even deeper cause if one were to say many of us worship ourselves. 

 

For the New year, whether it be January 1st or February 3rd or even Easter, we should all think of how we can advance the kingdom qualitatively and quantitatively.