The young man came to interview me last Thursday night on my beliefs about worldliness, and as you know, uneasiness settled over me.
I figured out the problem: My ideas were all over the place. I had a pile of good scriptures, but I hadn't organized my thoughts and what I believe.
I kept working on it, studying the Word, and praying. Then it all came together.
Worldliness is our attitude about life.
1. WHAT WE DO WITH OUR TIME
For example, would we rather be in God's house than a sports stadium?
2. WHAT WE DO WITH OUR MONEY
If we are not worldly, we will give joyfully God's 10 percent and perhaps more.
3. WHAT WE DO WITH OUR TALENTS
if we are not worldly, we will spend at least some time in ministry and take advantage of opportunities to witness.
Our motivation in what we do is behind worldliness. If we love God with all our soul, mind and strength, obey His Word and love others, it changes what we do and our attitudes toward it.
The Christian life is serving God, walking after the Spirit instead of our flesh (Romans 8:1KJ). Our primary motivation won't be seeking after acceptance and admiration of others.
With TIME, our attitude changes so we'd rather be in God's house than in a sports stadium. Not that there is anything wrong with sports. I'm a fan myself. But Jesus needs to be first. We gain faith by "hearing" the Word, and we need fellowship with believers. We need the intimate worship experience that comes only in God's presence where two or three are together and He is in the midst of them.
No matter what the activity is, if we put it before the Lord, it's worldly. It could be as simple as a farmer who won't take Sunday off because he wants a great crop. If we honor God first, usually He supplies our needs.
With MONEY, if our attitude about it goes haywire, it's worldly. If we are consumed by saving it to the suffering of our family, our attitude is wrong. If we spend it so freely we have so much debt it affects our marriage and witness, we are worldly.
With TALENTS, if we are consumed with desire to be admired or we seek acceptance excessively, we are worldly.
I'm often amazed at how decisions affect us spiritually. Who we are depends on our daily decisions. Our character is impacted by our affections--what we feel is important--and so is our relationship with God.
Walking after the Spirit instead of the flesh helps us bring our affections into the right place where God can bless us and use us for His glory. This is where we find contentment.
When our desires and motivations are right, we don't have a problem with worldliness.
If you're interested, the interview went well.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Setting affection on things above
I've always known my brain works better with my fingers at the computer than it does my mouth. Last week a young man asked to interview me about my views on worldliness. He's using the interviews with different age groups for his master's thesis.
It was an honor to be asked, but I already knew he'd be contacting me, so I assembled a long list of my views on the subject, noting why I believe as I do. I ended up with three pages of notes.
The main pastor from my childhood seldom preached on outward appearance as a sign of holiness. Yet, he taught about the catching away of the church and the Second Coming. He included the warning from Jesus to be ready, for the Lord will come in an hour when we don't expect Him. Then I noticed John wrote that when He comes, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-4).
My church was heavy on learning scripture and I became familiar with verses such as "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:14-16).
My mom's favorite scripture was Romans 8, and time after time she read it during family devotions: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). Interesting that the NIV and ASV omit the part about walking after the flesh.
Other scriptures I was acquainted with early in life: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof: (Romans 6:11-13). "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-19). "For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world" (1 John 2:15-17).
Church people often are good at hiding their worldliness. One of the things I think about is this vision of Ezekiel, one of the end-time prophets: "And the Lord said unto him, 'Go thorugh the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof'" (Ezekeil 9:3-5). Those with the mark were delivered from judgment.
Yet, holiness is much more that abstaining from or hating sin. "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:16-17).
What I've discovered is that when we set our affections on the Lord, worldliness isn't much of a problem.
The first commandment is to have no gods before the only real God. Jesus told us the commandment means to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength (Mark 12:29-31). He added we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10).
When I love God, others, and myself enough to obey God's Word, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the Holy Spirit will fill me with power to resist the devil. The fruit of the spirit will enhance my character. I will not be a slave to sin.
I won't be perfect because I'm still human, but because I love God He forgave my sins and cleansed me from unrighteousness. Every day I can grow in Him. The Lord is there guiding, convicting and nurturing--making me not the greatest person on earth, but a new creature that is much better than I used to be.
Furthermore, His joy is greater than any worldly pleasure.
Perhaps that's why I love to sing the song, "Take this whole world and give me Jesus. No turning back. No turning back."
It was an honor to be asked, but I already knew he'd be contacting me, so I assembled a long list of my views on the subject, noting why I believe as I do. I ended up with three pages of notes.
The main pastor from my childhood seldom preached on outward appearance as a sign of holiness. Yet, he taught about the catching away of the church and the Second Coming. He included the warning from Jesus to be ready, for the Lord will come in an hour when we don't expect Him. Then I noticed John wrote that when He comes, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-4).
My church was heavy on learning scripture and I became familiar with verses such as "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:14-16).
My mom's favorite scripture was Romans 8, and time after time she read it during family devotions: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). Interesting that the NIV and ASV omit the part about walking after the flesh.
Other scriptures I was acquainted with early in life: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof: (Romans 6:11-13). "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-19). "For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world" (1 John 2:15-17).
Church people often are good at hiding their worldliness. One of the things I think about is this vision of Ezekiel, one of the end-time prophets: "And the Lord said unto him, 'Go thorugh the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof'" (Ezekeil 9:3-5). Those with the mark were delivered from judgment.
Yet, holiness is much more that abstaining from or hating sin. "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:16-17).
What I've discovered is that when we set our affections on the Lord, worldliness isn't much of a problem.
The first commandment is to have no gods before the only real God. Jesus told us the commandment means to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength (Mark 12:29-31). He added we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10).
When I love God, others, and myself enough to obey God's Word, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the Holy Spirit will fill me with power to resist the devil. The fruit of the spirit will enhance my character. I will not be a slave to sin.
I won't be perfect because I'm still human, but because I love God He forgave my sins and cleansed me from unrighteousness. Every day I can grow in Him. The Lord is there guiding, convicting and nurturing--making me not the greatest person on earth, but a new creature that is much better than I used to be.
Furthermore, His joy is greater than any worldly pleasure.
Perhaps that's why I love to sing the song, "Take this whole world and give me Jesus. No turning back. No turning back."
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A Blue Jay's Cry
The Blue Jay’s cry
When I arrived in the kitchen this morning to start coffee, a Blue Jay called from a cedar tree in my back yard. The cry was insistent. One call, then silence. Another pierced the neighborhood; then quietness. Over and over.
I listen to birds trying to determine how I would describe the sound they make. I’ve decided the “not so humble” red cardinal’s favorite word is “pretty” and often it’s whistled. On the other hand, a starling sounds like a squeaky gate, unless he’s just waking up, and then he softly pretends to be musical.
While I’ve admired Blue Jays’ varying shades of blue and white feathers, their little top knots and long tails, I hadn’t listened to their voices. The loud cry today fascinated me. What was that word?
Then I heard it. “Come.”
Another Blue Jay flew from above and landed on a nearby branch. Soon the two flew off together. Perhaps the word I heard wasn’t true Jay “dialect,” but it reminded me of a similar persistent cry I’ve heard from my childhood, “Come.”
“Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16KJ).
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:21).
I answered the call, and have never regretted my decision.
When I arrived in the kitchen this morning to start coffee, a Blue Jay called from a cedar tree in my back yard. The cry was insistent. One call, then silence. Another pierced the neighborhood; then quietness. Over and over.
I listen to birds trying to determine how I would describe the sound they make. I’ve decided the “not so humble” red cardinal’s favorite word is “pretty” and often it’s whistled. On the other hand, a starling sounds like a squeaky gate, unless he’s just waking up, and then he softly pretends to be musical.
While I’ve admired Blue Jays’ varying shades of blue and white feathers, their little top knots and long tails, I hadn’t listened to their voices. The loud cry today fascinated me. What was that word?
Then I heard it. “Come.”
Another Blue Jay flew from above and landed on a nearby branch. Soon the two flew off together. Perhaps the word I heard wasn’t true Jay “dialect,” but it reminded me of a similar persistent cry I’ve heard from my childhood, “Come.”
“Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16KJ).
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:21).
I answered the call, and have never regretted my decision.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Busy Writing a Novel
I've neglected my blog recently because I am rewriting my historical romance novel. During May I attended the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and pitched the book to editors and agents there.
First, let me say it was a terrific conference, although Estes Park was cold and it snowed while we were there. We had a cold winter in our state, and spring wasn't normal since it rained so much. So I looked forward to some of Colorado's famous sunshine. When I first started working as a reporter in Colorado years ago I wrote weather stories frequently and one of the things I learned (if I remember right), Southern Colorado has about 300 sunshiny days a year. None of them showed while we were there.
But the conference sessions and the friendly professionals attending made up for it. So I was invited to send my book proposal to an agent, an editor, and to another editor who wants the whole book. Only thing--she wanted the word length increased by 15,000 words.
So just a few weeks ago I started at the beginning and here I am. Yesterday, I arrived at the end only about 2,000 words short. Now with a little more tweaking suggested by my crit partners, I will send it soon.
I'll keep you posted on what's happening in my writing life. If you are a writer, the hardest thing to do is keep believing you have a worthy idea and working until your book or article is finished. The wise thing to do is have a target market with which you are familiar in mind before you even write the first page. Ask for God's wisdom and guidance all along the way. Then turn your "grown-up" baby out into the world to find success.
First, let me say it was a terrific conference, although Estes Park was cold and it snowed while we were there. We had a cold winter in our state, and spring wasn't normal since it rained so much. So I looked forward to some of Colorado's famous sunshine. When I first started working as a reporter in Colorado years ago I wrote weather stories frequently and one of the things I learned (if I remember right), Southern Colorado has about 300 sunshiny days a year. None of them showed while we were there.
But the conference sessions and the friendly professionals attending made up for it. So I was invited to send my book proposal to an agent, an editor, and to another editor who wants the whole book. Only thing--she wanted the word length increased by 15,000 words.
So just a few weeks ago I started at the beginning and here I am. Yesterday, I arrived at the end only about 2,000 words short. Now with a little more tweaking suggested by my crit partners, I will send it soon.
I'll keep you posted on what's happening in my writing life. If you are a writer, the hardest thing to do is keep believing you have a worthy idea and working until your book or article is finished. The wise thing to do is have a target market with which you are familiar in mind before you even write the first page. Ask for God's wisdom and guidance all along the way. Then turn your "grown-up" baby out into the world to find success.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Separation of Church and State
Although “separation of church and state” doesn’t appear in the Constitution, to those who desire to strip everything that has to do with religion from our government, I hear you. But you don’t go far enough.
With tongue in cheek, this is what I propose:
• No person who graduated from any of the following colleges or universities should be allowed to serve in a government position, especially the President or a member of Congress, because these schools were established by religious denominations: Harvard, Yale. Vanderbilt, Baylor. Boston University, Fordham, Cornell, Rutgers and others. Some had seminaries and were established to train preachers.
• If a person knows how to read, he shouldn’t be allowed to work for a government agency because religion was the reason people learned to read. Since the Middle Ages, there has been near universal literacy among Jews because men were required to read the Torah by age 13. The Protestant Reformation played a part in the invention of the printing press because everyone wanted access to the scriptures. In America, parents taught their children to read so they could learn the Bible, and the public school system grew out of a nation’s desire that each generation become familiar with scripture.
• No person who works for a tax-supported agency should be treated in a hospital established by a Jewish or Christian denomination.
• No public or government agency or employees should accept charity from a religious organization.
In addition, the person or organization that coined the phrase or used the phrase, “separation of church and state” should be barred from participating in anything that has to do with law because obviously whoever did it has a background in Christianity. Otherwise, the phrase would say, “separation of religion and state.”
Of course, all of the above would be impossible to achieve. Deleting Christianity from our history is just as impossible. You’d need to destroy most of our historical documents, many landmarks, and even the U.S. Supreme Court. After all, “What hath God wrought?” was the first telegraph message sent, and it originated there.
Our nation should use the sense God gave us and look at the wonderful things Christianity brings to us. Take out the church and what will remain in our state? Not much.
With tongue in cheek, this is what I propose:
• No person who graduated from any of the following colleges or universities should be allowed to serve in a government position, especially the President or a member of Congress, because these schools were established by religious denominations: Harvard, Yale. Vanderbilt, Baylor. Boston University, Fordham, Cornell, Rutgers and others. Some had seminaries and were established to train preachers.
• If a person knows how to read, he shouldn’t be allowed to work for a government agency because religion was the reason people learned to read. Since the Middle Ages, there has been near universal literacy among Jews because men were required to read the Torah by age 13. The Protestant Reformation played a part in the invention of the printing press because everyone wanted access to the scriptures. In America, parents taught their children to read so they could learn the Bible, and the public school system grew out of a nation’s desire that each generation become familiar with scripture.
• No person who works for a tax-supported agency should be treated in a hospital established by a Jewish or Christian denomination.
• No public or government agency or employees should accept charity from a religious organization.
In addition, the person or organization that coined the phrase or used the phrase, “separation of church and state” should be barred from participating in anything that has to do with law because obviously whoever did it has a background in Christianity. Otherwise, the phrase would say, “separation of religion and state.”
Of course, all of the above would be impossible to achieve. Deleting Christianity from our history is just as impossible. You’d need to destroy most of our historical documents, many landmarks, and even the U.S. Supreme Court. After all, “What hath God wrought?” was the first telegraph message sent, and it originated there.
Our nation should use the sense God gave us and look at the wonderful things Christianity brings to us. Take out the church and what will remain in our state? Not much.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Victorious Attitude of the Conqueror
This morning I read a cute article in The Gospel Tract Society's Harvester Magazine, "Diligence with Attitude!" The illustration accompanying the article caught my eye and drew me to read the piece written by Debbie Corum. The photo by iBeck showed an enthusiastic woman holding a broom and mop in one hand and giving a "Yes!" gesture with the other, her eyes squinted and her mouth wide open. I could almost hear her cry of victory.
I've had days I felt like that, empowered by a new filling of God's Spirit and faith. Then there are days I still have an "attitude" but lack the cry of victory.
In that wonderful Bible chapter Romans 8, I read our enemy has us lined up as sheep for the slaughter, because Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He's just not after our earthly lives, he is going for the spiritual jugular, our eternal self.
How many people start the Christian life with a diligent attitude, but the cares of this life and sin encroach into their lives like wild trees in a wet climate taking over a yard or an entire farm because the person living there no longer cares that undesirable seeds blowing in are taking root.
Christians often wake up and find they aren't strong enough to cut the overgrowth down anymore. Too late, they realize they aren't the only ones affected, either. Each person is said to have a close circle of influence of about seven people, and at least 200 in an outer circle. The people we influence most are our family members. If we drop out of church, that increases the chance of our children not making it to heaven. If we drink alcohol, commit adultery, break the law, our children are more likely to drive drunk, become alcoholics, have lousy marriages, spend time in prison.
Just thinking about all this makes me want to serve God with a diligent attitude, to never give up, to keep on my knees, to stay in the Word, and be faithful in attending His house.
Paul told the Romans that although Satan has us lined up as sheep for the slaughter, we are "more than conquerors" though Him that loves us. That sounds like a jubilant, victorious attitude!
I've had days I felt like that, empowered by a new filling of God's Spirit and faith. Then there are days I still have an "attitude" but lack the cry of victory.
In that wonderful Bible chapter Romans 8, I read our enemy has us lined up as sheep for the slaughter, because Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He's just not after our earthly lives, he is going for the spiritual jugular, our eternal self.
How many people start the Christian life with a diligent attitude, but the cares of this life and sin encroach into their lives like wild trees in a wet climate taking over a yard or an entire farm because the person living there no longer cares that undesirable seeds blowing in are taking root.
Christians often wake up and find they aren't strong enough to cut the overgrowth down anymore. Too late, they realize they aren't the only ones affected, either. Each person is said to have a close circle of influence of about seven people, and at least 200 in an outer circle. The people we influence most are our family members. If we drop out of church, that increases the chance of our children not making it to heaven. If we drink alcohol, commit adultery, break the law, our children are more likely to drive drunk, become alcoholics, have lousy marriages, spend time in prison.
Just thinking about all this makes me want to serve God with a diligent attitude, to never give up, to keep on my knees, to stay in the Word, and be faithful in attending His house.
Paul told the Romans that although Satan has us lined up as sheep for the slaughter, we are "more than conquerors" though Him that loves us. That sounds like a jubilant, victorious attitude!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Squeezed into a mold
When I enrolled in a state university in the 1980s, I noticed students come from multitudes of backgrounds and take into every class beliefs, attitudes and goals that grew from what their parents and their associations taught.
If they were Christians, at a least a few scriptures implanted in their minds stood ready for recall.
Then in every classroom, even a music history class, textbooks and professors proceeded to tweezer out faith in God, morality and allegiance to America. Everything grew out of our appearance on earth without a Creator. Obscene books were among texts. If you wanted to graduate with “honors,” classes on the value of One-World Government was required.
Often as I walked about the hilly campus carrying books and going from building to building, I thought of how students come in talking differently, believing differently, dressing differently, laughing at different things, but they went out like so many painted mechanical toy soldiers speaking alike, living alike, dressing alike, believing alike and pursuing the same types of goals.
I actively resisted their attempt to squeeze out God’s Word and my faith, but 27 years after I graduated, I worry about how the minds of my children and grandchildren are changed by those who wish to remold their minds.
Today, it’s not only at the college level, but the molding of minds by our secular society starts in kindergarten. Thinking is being skillfully crafted by our media, and their world view carved into every age group from babies who can’t even talk to senior citizens who can barely see a television screen and hear the speakers.
Like the person Saint James spoke about that went out and looked into a mirror, but didn’t remember what he looked like, we don’t realize we are being changed. “If anyone be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:23).
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you” (Romans 12:2LB).
One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Romans 8, which starts, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8: 1). The chapter gives us jewels to add to our faith, such as nothing can separate us from the love of God, but so often we remember “we aren’t condemned,” but forget why we aren’t condemned. We need to “walk according to the Spirit,” which I believe is living in obedience to God, guarding our minds and allowing Him to renew it.
We’re told in Scripture to “resist the devil” and “shun even the very appearance of evil.” That gives us guidance about what we should put into our minds. James speaks of God’s Word being a mirror that will show us the smudges on our character, the needed hair cut, stray hairs we need plucked from our eyebrows, and the weight we need to lose.
Romans 8 also talks about us being “conformed to the image of God’s Son.” How amazing! Jesus told John in his vision, “They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine“(Rev. 3:4-5NLT).
If they were Christians, at a least a few scriptures implanted in their minds stood ready for recall.
Then in every classroom, even a music history class, textbooks and professors proceeded to tweezer out faith in God, morality and allegiance to America. Everything grew out of our appearance on earth without a Creator. Obscene books were among texts. If you wanted to graduate with “honors,” classes on the value of One-World Government was required.
Often as I walked about the hilly campus carrying books and going from building to building, I thought of how students come in talking differently, believing differently, dressing differently, laughing at different things, but they went out like so many painted mechanical toy soldiers speaking alike, living alike, dressing alike, believing alike and pursuing the same types of goals.
I actively resisted their attempt to squeeze out God’s Word and my faith, but 27 years after I graduated, I worry about how the minds of my children and grandchildren are changed by those who wish to remold their minds.
Today, it’s not only at the college level, but the molding of minds by our secular society starts in kindergarten. Thinking is being skillfully crafted by our media, and their world view carved into every age group from babies who can’t even talk to senior citizens who can barely see a television screen and hear the speakers.
Like the person Saint James spoke about that went out and looked into a mirror, but didn’t remember what he looked like, we don’t realize we are being changed. “If anyone be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:23).
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you” (Romans 12:2LB).
One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Romans 8, which starts, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8: 1). The chapter gives us jewels to add to our faith, such as nothing can separate us from the love of God, but so often we remember “we aren’t condemned,” but forget why we aren’t condemned. We need to “walk according to the Spirit,” which I believe is living in obedience to God, guarding our minds and allowing Him to renew it.
We’re told in Scripture to “resist the devil” and “shun even the very appearance of evil.” That gives us guidance about what we should put into our minds. James speaks of God’s Word being a mirror that will show us the smudges on our character, the needed hair cut, stray hairs we need plucked from our eyebrows, and the weight we need to lose.
Romans 8 also talks about us being “conformed to the image of God’s Son.” How amazing! Jesus told John in his vision, “They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine“(Rev. 3:4-5NLT).
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