Life in the fast Lane.
With all of the things that we have now to make our lives easier, and that keep us connected to all the things we have and all the people we know, it seems that we just don’t have enough time in the day to do all the things that we need to do. We get all caught up in the things that don’t have a lot to do with the main reason that we are here to begin with, to spend time with God.
We have time to do all the thing that we are ask by our friends and family, we have time to do the things that bring joy to us, but when is the last time that you have taken out time to listen to what God wants you to do, I know that I fell into the trap that the world has set, I became all the things that I hate in this world, to busy to just sit and listen to what God has to say, to lost to just be with him and not ask him for anything, except to really be able to hear what it is that he wants and to be able to understand his will. I was that pot that we all have heard about that was calling the kettle black.
For me this is what I found when I just stopped doing and started to listen, the world does not care if you make it through another day it will just keep going, but God will always talk to you and carry you through all the world if you will just sit and listen.
Prayer: Father, let me just listen. AMEN
By: ChristMusic92
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
What Is Destroying The Positive Influence of Christianity In the World and Unity Among Christians?
As a minister, I’m finding one thing concerns me above all other problems among Christians in general. That problem is a lack of Biblical knowledge. This problem is not just found among the ranks of young Gen X’ers who are more into feelings rather than truth. This problem plagues Christians who have been in the pews for forty and fifty years as well.
Only when Christians KNOW what the Bible teaches will we understand that there are very few genuine teachings in the Bible that our different interpretations of are important enough to divide Christians into zealous separatist who refuse to worship or even fellowship with one another.
To Illustrate my point, take a look at how many denominations there are, all under the umbrella of Protestant Christianity. You have major ones such as Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Methodist. Then you have hundreds of smaller denominations and thousands of independent churches. Why can’t we all just call ourselves Christians and follow Christ? It’s because we don’t all believe the same things. Why don’t we all believe the same thing if we read the same Bible?
There is a serious lack of Biblical knowledge today. To a great degree this can be attributed to our loyalty to a particular denomination or specific congregation, and even to a cult like following of some popular ministers that is more important to the vast majority of Christians than there is a desire to be unified as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let’s face it, we can’t all be right. The Bible can’t both accept divorce and condemn divorce and remarriage as adultery. Homosexuality can’t be both a disease someone is born with and a sin condemned by God.
Someone at the top of our churches has made the decision that these things are either right or wrong. And we were either born in this denomination or we joined it from the outside. Whatever the case may be, we either blindly accept our church’s position on these issues or it doesn’t bother us enough to find another church. Why? Because many don’t personally have a clue what the Bible teaches on most issues.
But the real question is: do you know why your church takes the stand that it does on these issues. I’d venture to say that most Christians can’t cite Bible passages to support what they believe – they’ve just always been taught that way.
The lack of Biblical knowledge doesn’t stop here however, and this is where I get concerned. There are plenty of issues of interpretation that I disagree with other ministers on and I’m capable of agreeing to disagree. But it’s really troubling that there is a sheer lack of knowledge of the gospel and how to help the lost accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Sadly there is even a lack of knowledge among Christians about general Bible stories. Even Christians who have attended church for years can’t properly give an accurate accounting of Jonah and the whale, or the miracles of Jesus Christ, even of the resurrection of Lazarus. Who is going to be capable of teaching our Children the basics of the Bible when the there are no adults left who know anything about it?
If Christians want to be taken seriously in the world, they need to know what they believe and why they believe it. If they want to know why they believe something, they need to have an understanding of the Bible.
It is my prayer that Christians would get back to studying the Bible and really know what it says from cover to cover. Only then are we going to be able to reach others with the gospel or to even personally stand firm and against the Devil’s attacks.
Again I Repeat: Only when Christians KNOW what the Bible teaches will we understand that there are very few genuine teachings in the Bible that our different interpretations of are important enough to divide Christians into zealous separatist who refuse to worship or even fellowship with one another.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
Only when Christians KNOW what the Bible teaches will we understand that there are very few genuine teachings in the Bible that our different interpretations of are important enough to divide Christians into zealous separatist who refuse to worship or even fellowship with one another.
To Illustrate my point, take a look at how many denominations there are, all under the umbrella of Protestant Christianity. You have major ones such as Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Methodist. Then you have hundreds of smaller denominations and thousands of independent churches. Why can’t we all just call ourselves Christians and follow Christ? It’s because we don’t all believe the same things. Why don’t we all believe the same thing if we read the same Bible?
There is a serious lack of Biblical knowledge today. To a great degree this can be attributed to our loyalty to a particular denomination or specific congregation, and even to a cult like following of some popular ministers that is more important to the vast majority of Christians than there is a desire to be unified as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let’s face it, we can’t all be right. The Bible can’t both accept divorce and condemn divorce and remarriage as adultery. Homosexuality can’t be both a disease someone is born with and a sin condemned by God.
Someone at the top of our churches has made the decision that these things are either right or wrong. And we were either born in this denomination or we joined it from the outside. Whatever the case may be, we either blindly accept our church’s position on these issues or it doesn’t bother us enough to find another church. Why? Because many don’t personally have a clue what the Bible teaches on most issues.
But the real question is: do you know why your church takes the stand that it does on these issues. I’d venture to say that most Christians can’t cite Bible passages to support what they believe – they’ve just always been taught that way.
The lack of Biblical knowledge doesn’t stop here however, and this is where I get concerned. There are plenty of issues of interpretation that I disagree with other ministers on and I’m capable of agreeing to disagree. But it’s really troubling that there is a sheer lack of knowledge of the gospel and how to help the lost accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Sadly there is even a lack of knowledge among Christians about general Bible stories. Even Christians who have attended church for years can’t properly give an accurate accounting of Jonah and the whale, or the miracles of Jesus Christ, even of the resurrection of Lazarus. Who is going to be capable of teaching our Children the basics of the Bible when the there are no adults left who know anything about it?
If Christians want to be taken seriously in the world, they need to know what they believe and why they believe it. If they want to know why they believe something, they need to have an understanding of the Bible.
It is my prayer that Christians would get back to studying the Bible and really know what it says from cover to cover. Only then are we going to be able to reach others with the gospel or to even personally stand firm and against the Devil’s attacks.
Again I Repeat: Only when Christians KNOW what the Bible teaches will we understand that there are very few genuine teachings in the Bible that our different interpretations of are important enough to divide Christians into zealous separatist who refuse to worship or even fellowship with one another.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Differences Between Religion And Spirituality
When speaking about the differences between religion and spirituality we need to remember that there are different perspectives when looking at this question. This answer will focus on a Christian perspective.
From A Christian Understanding There Is A Difference Between Religion And Spirituality. Though there is a difference between religion and spirituality, this does not mean that two are incompatible. From a Christian perspective to be Spiritual is to know that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and is King and Savior (1 John 4:2). From a Christian understanding nothing else is Spiritual. This might seem harsh, especially considering all the different religions and spiritual perspectives that there are in the world.
But Spirituality Is Not Determined On What People Feel Or Experience. Spirituality is determined on knowing God, because God is Spirit and the only way to worship him is through his Spirit (John 4:4). And knowing the truth about God can only come from God (1 Corinthians 2:11).
This makes sense when we think about it. In that we can never know what a person is thinking unless they tell us what they are thinking. In the same way, no-one can know God unless God tells us about himself.
In Terms Of Religion, It Is An Organized Matter Of Worship. It is humans following rules and regulations in the worship of God. But religion is not incompatible to knowing God. When we look at history in the Bible, we see that God created a religion for the nation of Israel at Mt Sinai after they came out of Egypt (Exodus 19).
But Following A Religion Was Not As Important To God As The People Being Committed To Him (Isaiah 1:13-14). That not is to say that religion is not important to God. But if a person’s heart is not in it, then being religious will not impress God. For as God says, a Christian is saved by grace (a free gift given by God because of Jesus) and not by works so no-one can boast (Ephesians 2:8).
A Final Point On Religion. Because people are different but we need to come together to serve God. That takes organization, and religion provides Christians with an organization they need to serve God.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
From A Christian Understanding There Is A Difference Between Religion And Spirituality. Though there is a difference between religion and spirituality, this does not mean that two are incompatible. From a Christian perspective to be Spiritual is to know that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and is King and Savior (1 John 4:2). From a Christian understanding nothing else is Spiritual. This might seem harsh, especially considering all the different religions and spiritual perspectives that there are in the world.
But Spirituality Is Not Determined On What People Feel Or Experience. Spirituality is determined on knowing God, because God is Spirit and the only way to worship him is through his Spirit (John 4:4). And knowing the truth about God can only come from God (1 Corinthians 2:11).
This makes sense when we think about it. In that we can never know what a person is thinking unless they tell us what they are thinking. In the same way, no-one can know God unless God tells us about himself.
In Terms Of Religion, It Is An Organized Matter Of Worship. It is humans following rules and regulations in the worship of God. But religion is not incompatible to knowing God. When we look at history in the Bible, we see that God created a religion for the nation of Israel at Mt Sinai after they came out of Egypt (Exodus 19).
But Following A Religion Was Not As Important To God As The People Being Committed To Him (Isaiah 1:13-14). That not is to say that religion is not important to God. But if a person’s heart is not in it, then being religious will not impress God. For as God says, a Christian is saved by grace (a free gift given by God because of Jesus) and not by works so no-one can boast (Ephesians 2:8).
A Final Point On Religion. Because people are different but we need to come together to serve God. That takes organization, and religion provides Christians with an organization they need to serve God.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
Friday, September 7, 2007
TRUE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY IN A NUTSHELL
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
In a nutshell, that is the belief of Christianity. Christianity is unique among all other faiths, because Christianity is more about a relationship, rather than religious practice. Instead of adhering to a list of “dos and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God the Father. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ, and the ministry in the life of the Christian by the Holy Spirit.
Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and that its teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but that sin separates all men from God (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (Hebrews 9:11-14, Hebrews 10:10, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8).
In order to be saved, one must simply repent of their unbelief and place his faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If someone believes that Christ died in his own place and paid the price of his own sins, and rose again, then that person is saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. Nobody can be “good enough” to please God on his or her own, because all of us are sinners (Isaiah 64:6-7, Isaiah 53:6). Secondly, there is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
So, while many religious systems require that a person do certain things or not do certain things, Christianity is about having a relationship with God. Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for your own sin, and rose again. Your sin debt is paid and you can have fellowship with God. While all Christians sin from time to time, if we turn away from them, agree with God that we have sinned against Him, and ask for forgiveness, we can walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
In a nutshell, that is the belief of Christianity. Christianity is unique among all other faiths, because Christianity is more about a relationship, rather than religious practice. Instead of adhering to a list of “dos and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God the Father. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ, and the ministry in the life of the Christian by the Holy Spirit.
Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and that its teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but that sin separates all men from God (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (Hebrews 9:11-14, Hebrews 10:10, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8).
In order to be saved, one must simply repent of their unbelief and place his faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If someone believes that Christ died in his own place and paid the price of his own sins, and rose again, then that person is saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. Nobody can be “good enough” to please God on his or her own, because all of us are sinners (Isaiah 64:6-7, Isaiah 53:6). Secondly, there is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
So, while many religious systems require that a person do certain things or not do certain things, Christianity is about having a relationship with God. Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for your own sin, and rose again. Your sin debt is paid and you can have fellowship with God. While all Christians sin from time to time, if we turn away from them, agree with God that we have sinned against Him, and ask for forgiveness, we can walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity.
Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net
Some people just don’t understand: even when they think that they are doing God's work
By:ChristMusic92
On this past 4th of July at Augusta Commons, I was approached by a woman passing out pamphlets, so I asked her what they where for, and she told me they where for a local Catholic church, so I told her thanks but no thanks, I told her that I did not agree with some of there teachings. Well the next thing I know, she is trying to tell me that I have misconceptions’ about the Catholic church and that we must unite under the one true church in order to go to heaven and if I don’t convert that I am condemned to hell. Then she tells me that all the other churches allow homosexuals to become priest, etc, etc, all the time I’m thinking to myself “ well isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”
Well that is when I just looked at her and said “that is not what I was taught. The way that I understand it, Christ die to forgive the sins of the world, and that who ever believes in him WILL have everlasting life and be forgiven their sins in the name of Christ.
Well that just made her mad, and she said that she would pray for me, and I told her that I would pray that she finds Jesus, because this is not how Jesus wants us to draw people close to him, he wants us to love each other into the Holy Sprit, not condemn others who do not see thing the way that we see them.
Add reading: John 3:16-21
On this past 4th of July at Augusta Commons, I was approached by a woman passing out pamphlets, so I asked her what they where for, and she told me they where for a local Catholic church, so I told her thanks but no thanks, I told her that I did not agree with some of there teachings. Well the next thing I know, she is trying to tell me that I have misconceptions’ about the Catholic church and that we must unite under the one true church in order to go to heaven and if I don’t convert that I am condemned to hell. Then she tells me that all the other churches allow homosexuals to become priest, etc, etc, all the time I’m thinking to myself “ well isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”
Well that is when I just looked at her and said “that is not what I was taught. The way that I understand it, Christ die to forgive the sins of the world, and that who ever believes in him WILL have everlasting life and be forgiven their sins in the name of Christ.
Well that just made her mad, and she said that she would pray for me, and I told her that I would pray that she finds Jesus, because this is not how Jesus wants us to draw people close to him, he wants us to love each other into the Holy Sprit, not condemn others who do not see thing the way that we see them.
Add reading: John 3:16-21
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Lost
To be aware of one surrounding all you have to do is take a good look around you and you can pretty much know where you are, some things in life are just that easy, but to find one’s own Christianity is some times harder than it looks.
To some people finding Christ is easy, they are taught at a very early age about him and they just seem to know what it is that he has planed for them. Others don’t find Christ until later in life and are in awe at how he has given them the piece of mind that all of their sins have been forgiven, even as they ask Christ into their heart. Then there are the ones that I like to call the “tweens”, these are the ones that grew up in church and never found Christ, the ages between 15 and 35 usually, these are the ones that found nothing in church to grab onto and just fell between the cracks, they make themselves out to be hopeless, because there is nothing they can do in their lives to help themselves. This is the time in which people tend to be prideful and self indulgent, they turn from family and steadfast friends, they follow pop culture and imitate thing that they see on T.V. and become everything that goes ageist the teachings of their parents, they fall out of love with others and fall in love with themselves, they become prideful, self abusive and anti-social, bent on destruction of the person that they where before, and then they forget about love, not the love of man, but the love of Christ.
This is where we have to go, we as the Church, the Body of Christ, we need to find these lost and lonely souls and bring them out of the darkness and show them the light that is Jesus, not for our own joy but for the joy of Christ, we need to LOVE them back to God and show them there is more to life than just living, if we all did this, in the name of Jesus, not a tear would be shed, for when the day of judgment comes there will be many sheep to follow HIM.
Added Reading: 1 Corinthian 13
Revelation: starting at 19:11 through 22:6
By: ChristMusic92
To some people finding Christ is easy, they are taught at a very early age about him and they just seem to know what it is that he has planed for them. Others don’t find Christ until later in life and are in awe at how he has given them the piece of mind that all of their sins have been forgiven, even as they ask Christ into their heart. Then there are the ones that I like to call the “tweens”, these are the ones that grew up in church and never found Christ, the ages between 15 and 35 usually, these are the ones that found nothing in church to grab onto and just fell between the cracks, they make themselves out to be hopeless, because there is nothing they can do in their lives to help themselves. This is the time in which people tend to be prideful and self indulgent, they turn from family and steadfast friends, they follow pop culture and imitate thing that they see on T.V. and become everything that goes ageist the teachings of their parents, they fall out of love with others and fall in love with themselves, they become prideful, self abusive and anti-social, bent on destruction of the person that they where before, and then they forget about love, not the love of man, but the love of Christ.
This is where we have to go, we as the Church, the Body of Christ, we need to find these lost and lonely souls and bring them out of the darkness and show them the light that is Jesus, not for our own joy but for the joy of Christ, we need to LOVE them back to God and show them there is more to life than just living, if we all did this, in the name of Jesus, not a tear would be shed, for when the day of judgment comes there will be many sheep to follow HIM.
Added Reading: 1 Corinthian 13
Revelation: starting at 19:11 through 22:6
By: ChristMusic92
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