Is the Bible Simply A Fairytale?

Some may be shocked at the thought of this; others are not. Many, especially College and University students, believe this is true. So what if it was true? What would that mean?

Wikipedia defines Fairytale this way: "... to describe something blessed with unusual happiness, as in "fairy tale ending"... [it] can also mean any far-fetched story... [that] couldn't possibly be true." To most, this definition alludes to the negative connotation that a Fairytale is fictional, but what if our interpretation of this definition is deceptive?

If you believe the Bible is a Fairytale, then by virtue you should also believe in the main elements that typically constitute a Fairytale. They are: a villain, a victim and a hero. The villain (bad guy), wants to battle the victim (good guy), but a hero (Fairy god-mother; knight in shining armor; or Prince Charming-depending on the tale) comes to the rescue.

What if I told you this is rightly what the Bible is about-it's a story about a bad guy (devil) trying to mess up the life of good people (us), until our hero (God) comes to the rescue. Wikipedia defines devil this way: "... a devil is a bad spirit that tries to create problems for people... someone who tells lies to hurt you."

As indicated in the Fairytale definition, understand far-fetched means: exaggerated, unconvincing-it does not mean untrue. And although the phrase "Couldn't possibly be true" appears definitive, it is not. Possibly means perhaps, maybe, or probably. As a society, we skim though things so quickly we believe we know what we're reading and understanding without taking the time to learn what is truth. Consequently, the first time you read this definition, you may have believed it stated Fairytales are absolutely not true. Yet this is not what it says.

The battle it talks about in the Bible is not against other people. It discusses a spiritual battle taking place in our minds between the devil and God; each wanting our thoughts, our beliefs, and ultimately our life. God wants to Bless us with unusual happiness, and a fairy tale ending; the devil wants to create problems, and tell lies to hurt us. The battle comes when we hear lies and believe them. When this happens, God fights for us to know and hold onto the truth. But the devil also fights for us to hold onto the lie. If we don't know what the truth is, we will likely fall for the lies; ultimately losing out on the Blessed life God intends for us to have.

Whether to believe in all this, or in Fairytales is our choice. Yet one thing is for sure: nobody wants to believe the devil exists; it turns the thought of a Fairytale into a nightmare. Is it provable God and the devil exist? Is it far-fetched? Is it possible? Only you can determine for yourself, by your own free will choice, what you choose to believe. The Bible qualifies as a Fairytale by this definition, but could it be society's misinterpretation of this definition that has resulted in deception? If so, who are the ones who ultimately stand to lose out if they don't believe the truth-is it not us?

Do you believe the Bible is a Fairytale?

Author of Insight In Sight: Was I Born Like This? A straight gone gay gone straight lady, who shares the journey and how she did it. http://www.sylviehache.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvie_Hache

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God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Is God Wrathful Or Wonderful?

I grew up believing God was a wrathful God. As such, became afraid of Him. I believed I was unworthy and a sinner, in what I did, and failed to do. I figured if there was no pleasing Him I would be better off to go it alone, and simply live life my way. Am I alone in these thoughts? Or have you had them too?

It was only when I turned to a gay-friendly church that I received a different message. There I was taught God was actually a loving God. They promised He would Bless my life with all good things to enjoy abundantly. Insisting I was free to love whomever I choose, since we are supposed to love each another unconditionally, without judgment, which includes same-sex relationships. They justified God doesn't make mistakes and loves us all equally - gay, straight or otherwise, and that we are all uniquely and perfectly made. That He is accepting of all our differences, and loves us just the way we are. I wanted this God. With the support of this church I became gay, out and proud - not straight.

But after years of living this way, my life became plagued with "bad luck." I began to lose things that would seemingly crush others. Through it all, I tried gaining some sort of sanity and semblance in my life. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, my life kept messing up. My prayers were not getting answered. My hope and peace were withering quickly. I lost my spouse, home, business, children, and was in financial ruin. More bad luck forced its way into my life; I became mentally, emotionally and physically distraught. My health was gone, my faith was gone, and all hope was non-existent. My life was completely broken; it had turned into a hellish merry-go-round and I desperately wanted off. The God I found in the gay-friendly church was not doing as they had promised. Something was missing.

That's when I went in search of what was missing. I searched for this God. The One Who truly does answer prayers, and desires to give us all good things to enjoy abundantly. Then I found Him!

This is the God I want to introduce you to. He is truly awesome! He wants to be in relationship with you, and share in your life. To help you make right decisions, and guide you through life's challenges. He never meant for any of us to live a broken life. He never created us to live that way. He wants to prosper us in all areas of our life. A loving, kind, generous, gracious, giving God able to pick up, and fix all the broken pieces in our life, and restore all that is lost. A God so loving He fills our heart with peace, happiness and hope. To those who believe and accept His help, He Blesses abundantly. If we simply follow His lead, our life will become more than we even hoped for or imagined; yet if we do not to follow, He cannot lead us the right way - this, was the 'something missing.' I had not been following, so He was not leading.

God loves us so much He gave us free-will to accept His love or not. To be in relationship with Him, or not. To follow His lead, or not. To believe in Him, or not.

If your life is a mess, and you want the pain, hurt, confusion, and frustration to stop, let me introduce you to God - the One who created you. Accept Him into your heart, and follow His lead, and He will turn your life around. He's been waiting to help you. Are you willing to give Him a chance?

Author of Insight In Sight: Was I Born Like This? A straight gone gay gone straight lady, who shares the journey and how she did it. http://www.sylviehache.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvie_Hache

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7355580

God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Experiencing Conflict in the Workplace?

Work is a fact of life. Bills need to be paid, food needs to be bought, clothing needs to be worn and shelter needs to be sought. So what are we supposed to do when met with conflict in the workplace?

The answers to solutions can seem as varied as the persons involved. One may opt to rebel, another to ignore, another to use their authority, still another to claim harassment. So what is the right way to handle conflict? And is that way the right way in all circumstances?

There are many concerns to contend with when facing conflict. But the most important to consider is how to handle it. Should we follow our feelings? Should we seek other's advice? Should we try to discredit the offender? Or should we attempt to fight back, in order to secure our future in the company? Any one of these options may appear viable, depending on our particular situation and current position - corporately, economically or emotionally.

However, there is truly only one method we should consider. That is to follow the golden rule: "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you."1 This can be very challenging at times, since we live in a world run by everyone's own free will and those initiating conflict oftentimes do not share this same opinion - evidenced by their actions. So what can we do then? This is a tough question to answer, because the right answer still remains the same - follow the golden rule.

Will it resolve the conflict immediately? Possibly not. However, by practicing it, we can better prepare ourselves to be less offended in the future. Oftentimes, simply treating others respectfully has a way of defusing the situation; but if it does not, then it's best to politely turn away. If you fear being ridiculed, or worse yet, considered an easy target for future conflict - have no fear. Because fear itself oftentimes makes things worse than they really are. We ultimately have two choices: fight our problems or face our problems. Most of us naturally want to fight our problems, which can lead to bitterness and resentment. But if we choose to face them the right way instead, we can keep our peace and remain happy.

It's easy to get caught up in our feelings and be led to do something we may regret. It's much harder to control our feelings and do what's right instead. However, handling situations the right way is always better in the end. Treating others with respect and having good conflict-resolution techniques is useful in other areas of life also - whether at home or at play. So if you take the opportunity to practice doing what's right when faced with conflict in the workplace, by opting to follow the golden rule; it will make other areas of your life easier to manage as well.

The choice is ours: to follow our feelings or follow the golden rule instead.

1 New American Standard Bible ((c)1995) Luke 6:31

Author of Insight In Sight: Was I Born Like This? A straight gone gay gone straight lady, who shares the journey and how she did it. http://www.sylviehache.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvie_Hache

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7396230

God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Does Genesis 2 Support the Gay Affirming View of Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage?

The Creation narrative recorded in Genesis chapters 1-2 is a fixture in the debate over homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Traditionally, many Christians believe these chapters demonstrate beyond all doubt that homosexuality was never God's intention for mankind, and that the first marital model--Adam and Eve--is the only model that carries his approval. However, tradition has a way of causing people to accept a premise without due analysis and deliberation. Does this narrative, in fact, provide unquestionable opposition to homosexuality, or have traditional Christians overlooked evidence in this very passage that actually lends substantial support to the very thing they oppose--same-sex marriage?

[18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him..." [21] So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. [22] The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:18, 21-22)

You'll notice in my quote of this popular narrative that I skipped verses 19-21. Tragically, this is how the vast majority of traditional Christians perceive this story, as though those intermediate verses don't exist at all. But, it is what takes place in those verses that casts a dark shadow over the interpretation held by so many. By skipping these verses, people understand the story to progress as follows: "God makes man. Man is alone. God makes woman as man's companion so that he won't be alone." This flow is very convenient, as it allows people to conclude that God prescribed Eve for Adam, thus prescribing woman for man. But, when we add verses 19-21 back to the narrative, another story altogether begins to form.

[18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." [19] Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. [20] The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. [21] So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. [22] The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. [23] The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." (Genesis 2:18-23)

What people can't seem to remember is that after God determined that it wasn't good for "the man" ("the" being a definite article that points to a single individual--Adam), He didn't immediately create Eve. First, He brought all the animals He'd created to Adam. Now, we must ask why a God who is concerned that all things are "good" (remember how He pronounced what He made good after each successive stage of creation) would take this time-consuming step of having Adam name all of the animals before creating Eve to resolve Adam's "not good" state of being alone. Why not create Eve immediately, so as to remedy Adam's loneliness as soon as possible, as most Christians wrongly assume He did?

The answer is found in the second half of verse 20. Although God brought the animals before Adam to see what He would call them (v. 19), resolving Adam's loneliness was in His mind and purpose the whole time. After Adam named all the animals, there was still "not found a helper suitable for him." This means that even this naming process was a part of God's purpose to remedy Adam's loneliness. Unfortunately, nothing in all of creation was found to be suitable.

But here's an interesting question: What was an omniscient (all-knowing) God doing searching for a suitable companion for Adam? Why did He have to find one, seeing as He already knew that nothing in creation to that point was suitable? The answer is simple. God wasn't searching... Adam was! It was he, not God, who named the animals; and it was he, not God, who determined that none of them were suitable for him.

Now, if God already knew that no animal was suitable for Adam, why would He go through this time-consuming process, allowing Adam to search for something he would not find? There's only one reason: God needed Adam (and, by extension, us) to understand that when it comes to finding a suitable companion, it is not He who does the choosing, but us. Sure, He knows who would be best for us long before we do; but no purpose is served in His assigning a companion for us, when we don't make that choice for ourselves. We're the ones who have to come into covenant with our companion for the rest of our lives, so it makes perfect sense that God would leave the determination of suitability to us.

It was only after Adam found that nothing in creation was suitable that God fashioned Eve. But notice something important at the end of verse 22. As God did with all the animals He'd created, so He did with Eve. Rather than assigning her to Adam, telling him, "This is your suitable companion," He brought (presented) her to him, allowing Adam to give the okay. And so it happened. In the next verse (23), it was Adam, not God, who gave approval, saying, in effect, "Now this is someone I can become one with!"

Notice one final point in the text. On multiple occasions, the text demonstrated that it was God's intention to provide Adam with a companion that was suitable for him (for Adam). This is born out in verses 18 and 20. The companion was not to be suitable for mankind, but for one man--Adam. 
Traditionalists would like to require that what was suitable for Adam is suitable for all men; but this absolutely violates what Scripture teaches. Not only do we find in this particular passage that Adam determined suitability for himself; but a necessary consequence of traditionalist logic would be to conclude that as it was not good for Adam to be alone, so it's not good for any man to be alone. Because what's good for the goose (Adam) is good for the gander (all men), singlehood is not appropriate for anyone, since it was not good for Adam! This line of reasoning indicts many heroes of our faith as people who violated God's supposed intentions, including the prophets Elijah and Elijah, but also the apostles John and Paul, and, dare I say, even our Lord, Jesus! None of these men married; yet by traditionalist logic, they were supposed to based solely on the fact that Adam did.

Traditionalists would obviously try to wiggle out of the consequences of their (ill)logic by claiming that the Adam model only applies as a spiritual law to those who decide to get married, and only in relation to whom they marry. But this just isn't true. Their logic requires us to conclude that what happened in relation to Adam's sexuality is a requirement in relation to all of humanity's. If it was not good for him to be alone, it must not be good for any of us to be.

Now, although their logic has already failed on this point, let's assume that it did not. Problems still exist with the traditionalist line of reasoning. Adam's model was one man with one woman, as conservatives incessantly spout today. Yet, in Scripture, polygamy (or more specifically, polygyny--one man with many women) was not only allowed and facilitated, but God even established certain polygynous unions (2Samuel 12:7-8), violating this presumptive principle. So, either God violates His own word, or this law of the Adam-Eve marital paradigm (one man, one woman) exists only in the minds of people who refuse to study Scripture objectively, allowing it to speak for itself.

So, what do we learn from the creation narrative, a passage of Scripture presumed to hold a smoking gun against same-sex marriage? We find that:

1. Adam determined suitability, not God.
2. What he determined as suitable was only suitable for him.

Marriage (and sex) was intended to satisfy the human need for intimate companionship. Now, in order for this purpose of marriage to be fulfilled, those involved in it must necessarily be suitable to the individuals; else, it's a marriage of form, with no real godly purpose. This absolutely necessitates same-sex marriage for homosexuals, else those with a natural inclination only to the same-sex are caught in an unresolvable "not good" situation: needing of companionship, yet unable to have it in a suitable way (suitable as determined by the biblical testimony, meaning suitable for the individual).

The best solution traditionalists can come up with is lifelong celibacy; however, according to 1Corinthians 7:9, that's not an option, either. In fact, verse 7 of that same chapter explicitly says that celibacy is a gift, meaning that not everyone has it. For gay people not gifted with celibacy, the biblical remedy pronounced in Gen. 2, as well as 1Co. 7:9 is sex through marriage. But this requires a suitable companion: Eve for Adam in the case of heterosexuals, but Steve for Adam, and Jane for Eve in the case of homosexuals. There is no other solution.

Pastor Romell Weekly has committed his life to objective examinations of Scripture, divorced from personal or religious agendas, ideology, or tradition. For more eye-opening teachings of what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality and same-sex marriage, visit Pastor Weekly's website dedicated solely to this important topic: http://www.affirmingtheology.com

Pastor Weekly's latest book is titled, The Rebuttal: A Biblical Response Exposing The Deceptive Logic of Anti-Gay Theology. Download a free chapter at: http://www.TheRebuttal.ws

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God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

The Best Christmas Gift Not In A Box

As a child, I remember celebrating Christmas and receiving brightly-wrapped presents from a friend or relative. Immediately my thoughts began to wonder what was inside the box! I barely gave thanks as I began to tear open the wrapper, first from one side and then the other, until the contents were finally revealed and my happiness was tested. Had my loved one met my expectations, or not?

Back then my Christmas list consisted of stuff I longed to receive: stuff to hold and behold; stuff to play and have fun with; stuff to listen to and learn from; stuff to show off to my friends with; stuff to make my life easier and stuff to simply make me feel special.

How devastating I would feel to find an item I was not expecting - or worse yet, did not want. This situation could only be made worse by my well-intending parents insisting I give a hug and thanks to the giver. I could actually feel my heart ache, since my gratitude was not real. A different story though, if it was exactly what I had been hoping for, then a quick leap into the arms of my giver was easy to muster - since that gesture of appreciation was genuine. This hug, although heart-felt, was often cut short since its purpose was to give thanks for the gift; as such, my attention would promptly be redirected back to the gift instead of the giver.

As the years have passed, I've received many presents - and for the most part - don't remember many of them; but I do remember the special times spent with family and loved ones. What irony that the substance within the box has long been forgotten, yet the substance outside the box has left a lasting and memorable impression.

I have come to realize how special Christmastime truly is; not for the presents or stuff, but for the priceless gift we receive outside the box - special time spent with loved ones. Family and friends are a gift from God, and time spent together is something that cannot be found in a box. Instead of seeking stuff, we ought to seek: loved ones to hold and behold; friends to play and have fun with; family to listen to and learn from; time to shower our friends with; laughter to make our life easier and love to simply make us feel special.

Nothing found inside a box could ever compare to the priceless gift we receive outside the box. I pray this Christmas your greatest gift is found, not in a box!

Author of Insight In Sight: Was I Born Like This? A straight gone gay gone straight lady, who shares the journey and how she did it. http://www.sylviehache.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvie_Hache

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7417229

God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Learning To Let Go of Guilt and Shame

It's a fairly commonly used phrase, that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; yet, as much as I hear this phrase, I routinely see Christians living under a cloud of guilt and shame that provides no freedom and joy in their Christian walk. On one hand, it seems good that someone cares enough about their spiritual walk that it bothers them deeply when they sin; but on the other hand, it can't be good for us to live under such a yoke of bondage, never feeling worthy of being used by God--of living up to our potential.

Here's a fact: There isn't a person among us who is truly worthy of the rich grace that God consistently bestows upon us. From the pulpits to the doors, from the parsonage to the gutters, no one deserves to take upon themselves the name of Christ, or to experience the blessing of His presence. Yet, we do. So, what gives?

We have a tendency to think that our generation is the only one that has struggled with these types of issues. Surely, those who came before us weren't quite as bad as we are, so they don't know the magnitude and quantity of things we have to repent of constantly. Scripture can't really speak to us in a way that's relevant and relate-able, can it?

Actually, it not only can, but it does. We fail to realize that with all of our technology and advancements, we really haven't invented new sins. We've only created new and inventive ways to go about doing it. Internet porn is just porn via a new outlet; but the Romans were drawing porn in books and on frescos well over 2000 years ago. Prostitution is commonly called the oldest profession. Murder dates back to the second generation of humans. In fact, guilt and shame go back as far as the first humans, Adam and Eve, who hid in shame after sinning against God's single command. So, we definitely don't have a monopoly on any of this. Surely then, Scripture addresses the matter in a way that can help free us from this cloud.

Some of us from a holiness tradition (Pentecostal, Apostolic, etc.) may assert that the way to be free of guilt and shame is to stop sinning! Their emphasis on "living right", though not in error, often skirts the reality of sin--that it shall persist both in the world and in our individual lives until "this corruptible put on incorruption, and this mortal puts on immortality" (1Corinthians 15:53), i.e. until we are transformed into morally perfect beings at the end of this age. So, although we must all pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14), what do we do when we screw up, especially when it happens more often than we'd like to admit? What do we do when we continue to have to ask forgiveness for the same things over and over again?

Once again, there are those who would claim that if we continue to sin in the same way again and again, we must not truly have repented. But, I beg to differ. Repentance is, by definition, a change of mind. To repent of sin means to change your mind about it, or to turn your back on it. But, just because you've turned your back on something in your heart does not mean that your flesh is not still weak and susceptible to it.

For example, you could be promiscuous and repent of it, yet your body can still crave sex to the point that you give in repeatedly, even though it's the last thing you want to do in your heart. It doesn't make your repentance insincere, and it certainly doesn't mean that God has stopped forgiving you. It just means that you need to start building up the discipline that it will take to overcome sin in the practical realm, so that it can align with how you've already overcome it in the spiritual!

But, how does this affect our spiritual walk in the here and now? Are we, for all intents and purposes, useless to God until we've overcome in the practical/natural realm? Again, many would say yes, if not with their mouths, certainly with their actions. The Christian Church is chock-full of examples of people being defrocked, removed from their offices or positions, kicked out of their auxiliaries, or even excommunicated because of the sins (or even the perceived sins) they commit. So, even if sin doesn't make us useless to God, His people certainly do all they can to make us useless! What a tragedy.

Let's leave the Church's oftentimes hypocritical and judgmental approach to sin, and examine what Scripture itself teaches about it. While we're in the process of what one may call "deliverance," how does that impact our spiritual walk, or our usefulness to God in kingdom ministry?

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. [15] For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. [16] But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. [17] So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. [19] For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. [20] But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. [21] I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. [22] For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, [23] but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:14-25)

In my view, this is one of the most profound passages in all of Scripture. In it, Paul defies the Christian propensity to present ourselves as having it all together spiritually. He exercises commendable transparency and speaks plainly about sin, not simply to his close friends or mentors, but to the very people he's charged with leading spiritually. He is an apostle, yet he openly acknowledges that even he has areas in his life that he has not conquered. It's not just a matter of him generically saying, "Hey, I sin, too." He confessed to habitual sin--committing the same sin over and over again, even though in his heart, he didn't want to. This is a perfect case-in-point for the reality that the presence of habitual sin neither delegitimizes one's repentance, nor prevents one from being anointed of God for kingdom service.

Here, we have the man who wrote more books in the Bible than any other individual; yet he was also a man of unconquered passions. Like all of the other people God used, he was a mess, both before and after God anointed him. He was David, having Uriah murdered after God had already declared him to be after His own heart. He was Peter, contradicting Jesus to His face just because he didn't want to believe what Jesus prophesied about His death. He was the everyman--a flesh and blood human being who, like the rest of us, was an imperfect sinner, wholly dependent upon the grace of God. In fact, when it came to being a sinner, Paul considered himself chief amongst us all (1Timothy 1:15).

While it's true that misery loves company, and it's wonderful and encouraging to see an example of an anointed man of God being so phenomenally used while simultaneously being so phenomenally jacked up, what we can learn from his example doesn't end with that single point. We must ask how Paul could even stomach being used by God when he still hadn't conquered certain areas of sin in his life. Why did not guilt and shame hold him back, making him cower in the dark corners of his spiritual existence, as it does for so many of us?

The last verse of the reference is the key. Paul came to realize that even though this internal conflict between sin and righteousness was taking place, it was ultimately not the "real him" who was sinning. You see, Paul remembered that he was born again. Spiritually speaking, the old man had died in his conversion; so even though he lingered in the natural realm, the spiritual reality was that only righteous Paul existed. It was not, therefore, Paul--the born again new creation (2Co. 5:17)--that was sinning, but that old man, still clinging to whatever vestige of life he could find. The great part about it was that his old man was continually being crucified daily, and eventually, he would be forced into the grave, never to rise again! It was just a process, and Paul wasn't going to allow the fact that he hadn't finished the process prevent him from being used by His God and King in the "here and now."

It was precisely because he was born again and wasn't truly the one committing those sins (spiritually speaking) that he could continue his thought in the next chapter...

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2)

People often quote Ro. 8:1 without considering that the word "therefore" is there for a reason. The antecedent is what we just read in chapter 7. The real Paul--the born again inner man who was born of the Spirit (John 3:5)--wasn't committing those sins, but rather, the sinning nature of the old man; therefore, he was not condemned! Therefore, he could hold his head high and not let his sins plague him and cover him with a cloud of guilt and shame. Therefore, he could let God use him without feeling so unworthy that he would allow the body of Christ to go lacking because his rich and wonderful gift and anointing wasn't rising to its fullest potential.

You see, this is why Jesus warned us to stop judging one another. We don't know people's hearts. All we know is the external that we see. So, we judge them as unholy or unrighteous because they sin; yet we never hold ourselves to the same standard. But, Jesus warned that even if we don't hold ourselves to the same standard we dish out on others, He will! Even later in Scripture, we're told that when someone is overtaken with a fault, those who are spiritual should restore that person in a spirit of gentleness and humility (Galatians 6:1). Instead, we convene councils or investigative committees and prevent such people from continuing to serve. This isn't God's way. In fact, it's the devil's way, and it has infected God's Church for far too long!

We have to understand that guilt and shame are tools of the devil. That bastard may already be defeated, but we don't need to underestimate him. He's very cunning and deceptive--the father of lies (John 8:44). Not only does he tempt us to sin, but when we do, he turns it back on us, using our desire to live right against us. He exploits it by accusing us, goading us into guilt and shame, which will ultimately paralyze us spiritually. He then uses the self-righteousness of so many Christians against us, causing them to judge and condemn us so that the great jewel of God's glory resident on the inside of us will be hidden from the world, if not forever, at least for now.

We cannot... We must not allow this age-old tactic to continue to work. Sin has an impotent, powerless state. It barks loudly, but only we can allow it to hold us back. Since Christ has already given us the victory over sin (1Co. 15:56-57), let's stop handing that victory back... and let's stop allowing Christians to try to wrest that victory out of our hands and give it back to sin. Let us pursue holiness, as we are commanded; but let us also realize that although we will falter, we will not be defeated. For that matter, we will not even be slowed down. We who have suffered the violence of our adversary for so long must recommit to taking kingdom territory by the force of our faith--full of boldness and confidence, knowing that the love of Christ is infinitely greater than the sins we commit on this journey to moral perfection.

So, child of God, be free from the dark clouds of guilt and shame. Know that God uses us not only when we are at our best, but even when we are at our worst. What He wants is honesty and humility--being honest with ourselves, and being humble toward others. If we can offer that, there's nothing that can prevent us from reaching our fullest potential in Him, not even the sins we may habitually struggle with.

Be free, in Jesus' name!

Romell Weekly is a Christian pastor and teacher whose areas of special concern center around the controversial and difficult issues of life and Scripture. He has committed his life to the objective reading of Scripture, divorced from agenda, ideology, or tradition. Although it has earned him many theological adversaries, it has also help a great many Christians realize their potential in Christ.

To learn more about Pastor Weekly and his ministry, connect with him on Facebook and Twitter:

http://www.facebook.com/romellweekly
http://www.twitter.com/pastorweekly

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God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Are You Stuck - Wanting To Improve, But Can't?

A new year oftentimes brings new resolutions, coupled with anticipation of hope for a better future. So why is it so many of us fail to succeed? Are we making unrealistic goals? Are we setting our sights too high? Are we simply incapable of making change? Or worse yet, are we destined never to change? Are you stuck - wanting to improve, but can't?

In order to figure out why our attempts often fail, it would seem important to figure out why we seem stuck to begin with.

There are many aspects keeping us from moving forward in life: old thoughts, old desires, old habits. And although we may recognize these old ways need to change, we're not always sure how to make that happen. Point being, many of us find ourselves stuck-not because we cannot change-but rather, we're unwilling to let go of our old ways, which offer us comfort and stability. So the question then ought to be, are we willing to let go of the old to get unstuck and gain success?

Most new resolutions stem out of a desire for a different result; for a physical change either in our health, finances or relationships.

If you are seeking results in any of these areas, using willpower to make physical change will rarely work. Truth is, many resolutions we desire don't begin by making physical changes - the physical changes are actually the result. Change cannot come from the outside in, but must begin from the inside out; from our innermost place, which is our heart, connected to our free-will thoughts. We need a change of heart. Once our heart is fully committed, then our thoughts can begin to change. It's our thoughts that affect our emotions, which influence our decisions. Those decisions then turn into action and form our habits. Then those habits determine our lifestyle choices, ultimately resulting in physical change. If we desire to make physical change in our life, we need to begin by changing our heart and thoughts - only then can we receive our desired results.

Consider which thoughts are holding you captive, hindering your progress from successfully attaining your goals. If you've made a new year's resolution, but have already failed, what old thoughts are holding you back? If you're succeeding temporarily, but cannot foresee continuing in the future, what new lifestyle choices do you need to instill?

Successful change within our lives is not a physical or willpower issue. It's a heart and free will issue. Change your heart; change your life. If you don't know how to change your heart - pray. God will change it for you.

Author of Insight In Sight: Was I Born Like This? A straight gone gay gone straight lady, who shares the journey and how she did it. http://www.sylviehache.com

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God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

GLBT Christian Stories: sweetladyj on storymash.com

Follow me on twitter for daily inspiration: jcchristianles

Connect with me on yahoo messenger: pamlover2011

"Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone" - Sarah Bowling

“True prosperity is having EVERY thing that you need in EVERY area of your life to accomplish God’s purpose for your life” – Ms Jini (jcchristianles)

"THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow with it" Prov 10:22

Join me in building a Prosperity mentality (100 Lessons on Prosperity) for the next few weeks!

Join me in discovering 58 Blessings found in the Holy Bible as discussed in Mike Murdock’s book “The Covenant of 58 Blessings”.

Join me in Fasting From Wrong Thinking this year!

Is There Such A Thing As A Gay Christian?

To a substantial number of Christians, the concept of a gay Christian is not only oxymoronic, it's highly offensive. To them, any such designation flies in the face of all that is holy and right. This is based primarily off of their view that homosexuality is a sin--an abomination in the eyes of God. While that particular point is debatable (and not the point of this article), let's grant it for the sake of discussion. Even if homosexuality is a horrible sin against God, could there possibly be such a thing as a gay Christian?

I had a somewhat frustrating discussion with someone on my Facebook wall recently concerning this designation. He believed that the phrase "gay Christian" was a slap in the face to God because it amounted to making someone's sexual orientation more important than God--based solely off of the fact that "gay" came first in the phrase.

I explained that the grammar of the phrase actually placed the import on the "Christian" part, seeing as it was the noun that "gay" simply described. Someone claiming to be a gay Christian is, in fact, claiming to be a Christian. They were simply a particular type of Christian--one who has same-sex attractions.

What many people don't seem to realize is that just because someone considers him/herself a gay Christian doesn't mean that they hold to any particular view of homosexuality, or of their own orientation. In fact, you know nothing whatsoever about such a person, except that they are a Christian and also have same-sex attractions. You don't know their theological view of homosexuality, or whether they welcome their attractions as a benign part of their nature. They could, in fact, hate that part of their lives with every fiber of their being. It doesn't stop them, however, from being a gay Christian... a christian who happens to have same-sex romantic attractions.

So, whether homosexuality is sinful or not is actually immaterial, as it relates to this designation. A person can be a compulsive liar (e.g. because of a psychological defense mechanism), yet be a Christian. They're struggle in this particular area doesn't invalidate their salvation; yet the simple fact is that they are, indeed, a liar. So, while the designation may seem weird or contradictory, a person can be a liar Christian. The same can be said for any type of vice.

The difference, as it relates to homosexuality, is that you aren't gay because of what you do, whereas you're a liar because you lie. You're a gambler because you gamble. You're a thief because you thieve. But, you're not gay because you've done anything. You're gay because of inner attractions you have toward the same sex, whether you act on them or not... whether you welcome them or not.

So, if you ask me, even if homosexuality is a sin (and I personally do not believe this one bit), the designation "gay Christian" is much more benign than any other sin designation. Heck, a person can be a gay Christian, and yet be celibate--something a number of straight Christians aren't!

But, this issue goes far beyond a simple designation based on the descriptive adjective, "gay". It runs to the very core of the most fundamental doctrine in Christianity--soteriology: the doctrine of salvation. The idea that someone is not a Christian because of sin that they commit (even if habitually) flies in the face of our being saved wholly as a result of the grace of God, through our faith. If someone cannot be a gay Christian, no one can be a Christian ever, under any circumstances. Since we know that no one is without sin, no one could qualify for salvation. Consequently, either gay Christians exist, or Christians don't exist!

There are those that say that one should not accept a sinful "identity" if they are born again. Their identity is in Christ alone; so whereas they may struggle with same-sex (gay) attractions, they aren't actually gay. I think that's not only a dishonest and disingenuous way to understand reality (both spiritual and practical), but it's also self-deceptive.

One of the primary things you learn in Alcoholics Anonymous is to accept the reality that you are, indeed, an alcoholic. People stand and publicly own up to something they may have denied for years... "I am an alcoholic." They understand that a primary component to recovery is acknowledgement. The same applies in the spiritual sphere. Even if homosexuality is a sin, one cannot be "delivered" from it if he/she never acknowledges the fact that they're gay. Yes, they may have, struggle with, or be challenged by same-sex attractions... But after finding a million innocuous ways of referring to it, the simple fact is--they're gay!

It's a shame that people in ex-gay ministries are taught to lie to themselves about who they are. It's a shame that when Scripture tells us that the truth will make us free, gay Christians are convinced to live a lie. It's a shame that the type of loathing and self-hatred that causes a person to distance themselves from who they are is thrust upon gay people by the traditionalist wing of the Church.

But, times are changing. The fact is that there is a gay Christian movement in progress. People across many denominations, backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations are finally realizing that God does not condemn people because of their sexual orientation, or even if they live in accord with that orientation (e.g. marry someone of the same-sex). They're coming to realize that not only do gay Christians exist, but they are... we are a valuable part of the Christian and human communities.

Pastor Romell Weekly has committed his life to objective examinations of Scripture, divorced from personal or religious agendas, ideology, or tradition. For more eye-opening teachings of what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality and same-sex marriage, visit Pastor Weekly's website dedicated solely to this important topic: http://www.AffirmingTheology.com

Pastor Weekly's latest book is titled, The Rebuttal: A Biblical Response Exposing The Deceptive Logic of Anti-Gay Theology. Download a free chapter at: http://www.TheRebuttal.ws

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God bless...

Ms Jini (jcchristianles)
"For With God Nothing Is Impossible" Luke 1:37

The Message (MSG) John 3:16-18
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

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