Enough to Bless You, or Bug You?

My good friend and brother in Christ brought up an interesting problem. In many places it seems that to be a follower of Jesus is way to hard. You are expected to live up to a certain standard; of actions, of sharing your money, and of your time. Pray a certain amount, pay a certain amount, and be bus driver, janitor, usher, greeter, teacher, etc, etc.

It's called proving yourself, however these are man's standards not God's. "What have you done for the Lord lately", is the familiar theme of these men. In some cases it may be sincere, although in ignorance. Unfortunately there are others who use these arguments to control people, or to boost their own ego's. To these the praise of men, and honor among people is the motive, Jesus also dealt with these whom he referred to as Pharisee's. They are alive in our day as well.

Now to the Ignorant, it is no suprise to me that this is so vast a problem. We have in our day whole segments, that we call denominations, who have adapted the philosophy of the 15th century that the Lord is no longer interacting with His church, except through the written word. That the days of revelation are over, as far as personal requests you are to endure till the end, or pray "if it be your will". This is error; we are not Buddist, who wrap their requests in something sticky, and throw it in hope that it sticks, and their prayer is answered!

This view of God is wide spread, I can think of a dozen denominations with thousands of people and hundreds of Theological Institutions. Is it possible that all these are in Error; ABSOLUTELY. This is a gross underestimation of God's willingness and nature. If you were on a business trip, and you missed your wife, would you take out her picture and reminise about her, or would you pick up your cell phone and call her. Do we think God is not as smart as Nokia? Is God only the God of yesterday, and tomorrow, is he not the God of today?

The matter of healing is another area of misunderstanding. If our child was in need of a kidney or other organ, and we were a match for a replacement operation, all of us would volunteer. A almighty and loving God has all ready voluntered, as shown in Jesus. To say that he no longer heals is to say, he no longer shows Jesus. Jesus himself said, in my name, heal the sick. I tell you there are warehouses of body parts available in the Heavens, and available for the people of earth. Give him credit for being at least as smart as the Car Industry, in making spare parts!

There is a spokesman for God in the earth, his name is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who enlightens and instructs on the realities of the love and provision of God. The Councillor, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Quickening Spirit, amoung other titles. He is God, and is fulilling the plan, purposes, and truths of God. The word and Spirit agree, that means without the working of the Spirit to reveal the word man cannot understand the meaning.

The present problem is that the leadership has not waited for God's work, but ran off ahead into progams of men that were before them, who did the same thing. Thus, be lead by the Spirit, has been changed into men following man. It is then taught to the people who are under them, who teach it to those under them, on and on.

I get a little carried away with all the misrepresentatiion in the world. I'll try to answer the question of why it seems hard to be a Christian. "What are the vessels of the Lord's RESPONSIBILTY"? Jesus was asked this in a question,"what is the Greatest Commandment"? He said: to love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your mind, and all your strengh; and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is the fulfilment of the Law, and the Prophets. That's all there is no more.

When a person comes to know the Lord in the way of the Spirit, the love, nature, and personality, of God is more to be desired than gold, and sweeter than honey, as the Psalmist has witnessed. Then the meetings of the body, and individual churchs, will be a true blessed place to go and to share each others burdens, and witness to the Lords goodness.

First the doctrines of an uninvolved and indifferent God will have to be exchanged for the truth. How can they say God is love, and will not heal, or he may have a higher purpose, it's all up to Him? His will is to heal, then to set on a higher purpose. You see how this thinking stops all growth and trust in God. Jesus healed all who came to him, he still does, that's where we come in as the Church. Such thinking is not very likely to produce the witnesses that God intended. Let's start getting it straight, and quit blameing God for our lack of knowledge.