America the Beautiful. America the Bountiful. America the Obliterated

““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”” – Matt 5:14

 This verse uttered by Jesus was part of a series of statements he made in HIS famous Sermon on the Mount. Much of life can be uplifted by reading and studying this Sermon. But for this article we focus on verse 14 above.

 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -- John 8:12

 

Shine a light on a mirror and it reflects. Shine light on a prism and it reflects but with characteristics inherent in the prism. While mirrors will reflect the light perfectly, Christians, being flawed, may be more like a prism. We reflect the LIGHT of Jesus through our individuality. Doesn’t matter our prism, Christians reflect Jesus’ light.

 A well-lit city on a hill attracts attention when seen from a distance. If you’ve ever been to Los Angeles area and visited the South Harbor areas you will see a prominent well lit area in Long Beach called ‘Signal Hill’ When I was little it was actually a home for antennas but now it is more Nob Hill. In any event, it stands out in elevation and in lights. If the entire LA Basin were to go dark except Signal Hill it would truly stand out.

 It is a notion expressed by two former presidents of the USA, Pres. John Kennedy, and Pres Ronald Reagan. They likened America to the city on the hill and thus by deduction, the proverbial light. While that notion may strike a patriotic chord in the hearts of those who thought it apt -- today it is considered a quaint notion. Possibly because America cannot compete with THE TRUE  source of the LIGHT thus America's is extinguishable. But, the fact remains, Christians are to reflect the LIGHT of Jesus wherever they are in the world and that reflection is not going to cease until the ‘reappearing’ happens and the Church is removed. Not by anyone’s hand but the hand of the Groom, Jesus.

 For many a year, America has enjoyed a reputation as being one of beauty, one of bounty and one of liberty. The beauty still abounds as the topography of this nation is so diverse and it has something for most anyone. As the song lyrics go:

 

“O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!”—Wikipedia/History/1911 Version

We also enjoy bounty in nearly all walks of life and in every aspect of life. Not all equally but all in comparison to other nations.

But now we enter a different time.

 We enter a time when spacious skies, waves of grain, purple mountains, fruited plains, shining seas seem no longer enough to expand the heart in gratitude. Yet, since many in this nation have denied, turned away, do not believe or acknowledge GOD – HIS Grace on those who do and the crown of good that brotherhood does -- has been greatly impeded – and,  all the more as time marches when the feet marching are antagonistic, rebellious, atheistic and terroristic with no apologies for any crime committed against another! In a matter of weeks indiscriminate destruction of 400+ years of American history has changed the lay of the land. The stated goal of one group is ‘to burn it down’ figuratively or actually if what he believed were important issues to him were not met.

 When we put a single person or group above the masses and their goals demanded more important than that of fellow Americans, we have utterly obliterated the principles outlined in our nation’s founding documents. We are no longer indivisible, can no longer insure domestic tranquility, provide for common defense nor secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves much less our posterity. Thus, if it continues we will no longer be a more perfect union with Justice.

 The Light

But what about the Christian? They made up a large part of ‘we the people’ back in the beginning. As time and secularism continued to grip ‘we the people’ then 'post modernism' was added and the next phase of the secularist movement the effect on the portion of Christians, the ones who ostensibly responsible for the shining light, has decreased dramatically here in this 21^st Century. And the city on the hill? If it is America, it is experiencing some serious outages.

 The light is as bright as the reflected surface can reproduce. It does not mean the source of the LIGHT has diminished. Never! The City on the Hill? With diminishing radiant light reflectors, it becomes as indistinguishable as anywhere else.

 But were Christians ever to put their trust, their faith, their passion in this nation as the sole reflections of illuminations? If we are to be making disciples, the world over, wouldn’t they also be reflections? Is our goal for all eternity America? What is America’s place in the coming worldwide global governance? And ultimately it's influence bad or good as it relates to Israel? There is an answer but perhaps that will be a later topic when it is more timely.

 Christians are to be good citizens whose comportment is lined up with the Bible. They reflect the various fruitages of the Spirit –goodness, kindness, patience, faith, peace, joy and love to name a majority of them. Would we not continue then to provide stark contrast to the world we see today? Where hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, murders, revelries to name the majority of the works of the flesh fill our television and device screens? – Gal 5:19-23

 Of course, contrasting the LIGHTed fruitage of the Spirit to the grotesque works of the flesh is so hideous to many they won’t tolerate the reflection of light onto their darkened souls. Yet, we are still commissioned by Christ to preach, teach and make disciples – baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -- new points of reflections of HIM, until HE returns.  – Matt 28:19-20

 As we watch our country being obliterated and the voices we hear telling us to submit or burn we are to continue to reflect all the fruitage of the Spirit including: long suffering, self-control and gentleness. Why? Because according to GOD “Against such there is no law.” Our primary citizenship is with our Savior where HE abides. For now, we have a job to do and we do it. We also know we have a season upon us we entered some decades ago and we are seeing fulfilled daily. But the end is not yet according to Jesus at Matthew 24:6-14.We still have much to endure but we have this promise as Christians: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” -Rev 3:10

“12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”—Phil 3:14 [Message Bible]

While our nation literally topples down around us we maintain our constant vision on the prize.

 If you are a Christian, remain prayerful as you hear of disheartening news. We have known it from the minute we accepted the Lord as our Savior. HE left us well informed about the things to come. 

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. “—John 13:16-17

 

 

NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

 ^“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send ^[c]Jesus Christ, who was ^[d]preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since ^[e]the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

 If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

 

EM: contact@lightwritingmatters.com

 

 

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

 >>>>>>All artwork contained on this blog entry as well as archived/historical entries belongs to ©Lightwritingmatters 2015<<< permission must be requested and approved by the author to reproduce in any format and for any reason.√† 

 NOTE: Artwork not copyrighted by Lightwritingmatters 2015 stands with this statement: “no copyright infringement is intended” or is otherwise attributed.

 

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Church: Are You Led by Religion or GOD? Is there a difference?

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”—John 4:24

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Heb 10:23-25

Topic of Debate

Many Christians feel strongly about attending a church regularly as part of the Christian calling. Some believe this so strongly they consider those who do not attend a church to be ‘lesser’ in their Christianity/even weaker in their faith.

Let’s Catch up from the beginning

The Christian Church began on Pentecost in the year of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The three and a half years leading up to that beginning was a core group of called individuals who are known as Christ’s Disciples. At the time of its initiation, Jesus called 12 men to come along with HIM. Jesus' ministry traveled to different areas with HIS disciples. Jesus taught the crowds who came to listen and some who would become followers. They were comprised almost exclusively of the Jewish folks of HIS day. Jesus went to the synagogue and taught; HE observed Jewish traditions based upon what HE knew to be acceptable according to the scripture of HIS day. HE taught crowds out in the open, on Mounts, in a boat, a cemetery, in private homes, at a resurrection. HE was ‘religious’ in HIS worship and demonstrated to those who observed what HE believed acceptable.

On Pentecost, there was 120 believers gathered together in a meeting place – per Jesus departing instructions, in Jerusalem, on Pentecost.

The Apostle Paul was converted to ‘The Way’ from being a ‘religious’ zealot for the Jewish ‘religious’ leaders of his day. After conversion, Paul, like Jesus, preached and taught in town centers, in the Synagogues, in prison, on ships, and in believer’s homes.

After a few years of Paul’s ministries, he had started ‘congregations’ and ‘church homes’ where they received instruction as to their faith.

What do all of these statements have in common. Jesus used any place to congregate people to hear HIS teachings, receive HIS blessings, exhort the religious leaders, demonstrate HIS love for and reliance on HIS Heavenly Father. HIS disciples, like HIM did the same. Jesus’ Apostles, including Paul, preached in the same fashion, Synagogue, town center, believer’s homes, jail, prison, before Governing Authorities including the leading Jewish Religious Zealots. During trials and persecution, Christians practiced the caution by meeting surreptitiously. Some would be couriers of messages of encouragement, information, instructions to the homes of church members in a specific territory or neighborhood.

So, practicing religion for them was purposeful. Down through history the church has known troubles in the practice of its faith including missionary works. Some martyred themselves for their faith; others chose to practice a stealthy faith by being as inconspicuous as possible. Martin Luther sequestered away from everyone -- in a monastery under a pseudonym -- in order to accomplish the work he felt led to do which was to translate the entirety of the Bible into the German language so the lay person of his day could read and study it themselves and be freed from the oppressive religious and national leaders who used precepts not found in the Bible to extract taxes, tithes and obedience. He was not shy in standing for his beliefs and Biblical exposition but at a time he wanted to be unreachable to accomplish a task for GOD he opted out of the larger community into anonymity.

Today, there are churches everywhere teaching and preaching some Christian message or another. Many find alliance in ‘organized’ religion because it provides extrabiblical structure, beliefs, routines, etc. Most find a church they feel comfortable for any number of reasons. Other’s find online ministries they prefer to be their ‘church’ experience some for safety, some because it is difficult for any number of health reasons to go to church, and others have not found a church that meets their spiritual needs. Where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name there HE is also.

So now the question: Are Religion and GOD mutually exclusive?

What is Religion

The dictionary has several definitions for ‘religion’ and can be found here: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/religion?s=t

Let’s take #1,2 and 6 for the purpose of this post.

1-a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.—Dictionary.com

          Self-explanatory

2-a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. -- Dictionary.com

          Self-explanatory

6- something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice. -- Dictionary.com

          Under this definition we depart from the idea of a religion and it’s tenets in a ‘spiritual’ sense and move into the arena of ‘causes’ like fighting prejudice, or Climate Change, or other causes where emotion sometimes denies facts for a carefully constructed ‘truth’ that is not based in total facts. So, we can make this the matter of another post but for this post #2 is most germane. It can be an altogether honorable cause someone feels passionately about like child sex trafficking, abortion, various Constitutional issues.

Question: Are Religion and GOD mutually exclusive? Clearly, they are not mutually exclusive because some believe strongly in their faith and live it ‘religiously’ which includes meeting regularly at a place to worship in response to the exhortation of Paul to the Hebrew Congregation as cited above. And for those so inspired then they must follow their conscience or run the risk of what James wrote: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” [James 4:17] For those who do not feel that the exhortation is ignored if they gather as a family and participate in online ministries and are edified, encouraged to do fine works, etc. then again, it is not mutually exclusive.

However, the danger is when a church membership in any Christian body requires your attendance, requires your volunteerism, requires you meet regularly with the church leadership for some formality or ritual, THEN, YES, Religion or GOD becomes mutually exclusive because the body who demands such obedience generally also equates obedience to them is obedience to GOD and likewise disobedience…you get the picture.

One may ask is ‘membership’ in any church required by GOD? YES! But only ONE. The body of Christ, the CHURCH. That requires membership and that by way of belief in Jesus as having died and rose to life and HIS sacrifice for our sins is satisfied with our confession of sins then belief in HIM. Sometime thereafter, baptism both by water and the Holy Spirit, typically follows. Primarily, you must be born again and that can happen in a church but in those places where a church is forbidden by the government the new believer can be submerged in any body of water in the name of the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT. Yet, last, and most important to remember, your belief in Jesus. [see NOTICE after this article] your new heart and transformed mind and your obedience to GOD whether or not you can be baptized, or attend a place to worship, is actually known by GOD as well as the circumstance of conversion and most importantly the relationship you begin and enjoy with GOD.

Remember in all of this to adhere to the wise counsel from Jesus and Paul.

“Judge not, that you be not judged 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”—Jesus :Matt 7:1-2

“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”—Paul :Rom 2:1

If Church attendance is your routine then no, religion and GOD are not mutually exclusive. However, those who do not attend church regularly are free to worship as their conscience allows without judgment by anyone but GOD.

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

^“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send ^[c]Jesus Christ, who was ^[d]preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since ^[e]the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

EM: mailto:toni@lightwritingmatters.com

                                                       

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

 >>>>>>All artwork contained on this blog entry as well as archived/historical entries belongs to ©Lightwritingmatters 2015<<< permission must be requested and approved by the author to reproduce in any format and for any reason.√† 

 NOTE: Artwork not copyrighted by Lightwritingmatters 2015 stands with this statement: “no copyright infringement is intended” or is otherwise attributed.

©Lightwritingmatters 2015