Category: Jesus

3/27/2020

Spineless?

Invertebrate: an animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, .. and some forms of Christians.

But first a bunny trail>
With all things COVID-19 related it is easy for everyone including Christians to hyperfocus on this very real health risk. So hyperfocused that we almost forget to breath. Almost.

But the world does not truly go on hold. Life is still lived and as Christians we should not lose focus on Jesus and living out His truth. The evening news does not give you truth.. it gives you what will get you to watch their 'shows'. Cynical much? you ask. No, I think of it as being realistic.

So no matter, we all of course need to be careful, stay healthy but this is NOT the Black Plague. Stay informed, but don't swallow the bait cast out every night at 6pm at your favorite news fishing spot.
<End of bunny trail

Now put down your Purell for a moment and let's talk about the Church. Not the buildings where we all gather in, but those good folk called to be the body of Christ.

A strong body will have bones, muscles, a heart pumping, brain thinking, lungs breathing, and we have eyes, ears, nose to enhance our senses to the world around us. This is why the body analogy works well in describing the Church and how it should function. All parts of the body are different but important.

So here is my concern of the day.. the church appears to suffer at times from a hardened and/or weak heart.. and our brain perplexed while attempting to blend God's truth into a 'very' secular world view (a true square peg in a round hole dilemma). Of course we should instead share how this very secular world needs to align with God's Truth.

AND.. then my cartoon mind smriks.. Maybe the Church is an invertebrate? Spineless, unable to stand up in this sinful world.

At the very least the church appears to be slouching.. and maybe the slouching is because it has no spine.

Spineless Christianity? I am 62 years old guy with chronic back issues. Images of my spine a few years back indicated I have several bulging discs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis that give me at times considerable pain. So The Bad News is.. I have pain. The Good News is.. I have a spine!

But I have grown fond of my spine.. not sure I could live without it. LITERALLY.

So goes the same when we talk about the Church Body. The Church must have a spine (stand unflinching with God's Truth with no apology) or I believe will die.

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. .. John 15:18-19

AND THEY DID hate Jesus for sharing God's unflinching loving truth. Not in rude manner we 'Christians' sometimes are known for, but the kind of love/truth where Jesus spoke more about Hell then He did Heaven. It matters eternally what we believe, what we say, or DON'T say.

But, we the Church worry, dare I say is afraid.

People won't like me and/or laugh at me. They will label me just another judgmental hypocritical bigot. I'm cool, really.. but ..

Who am I to tell others the wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23)?
Who am I to share wide is the road that leads to destruction (Mt 7:13)?
Who am I to share there is only one way to Heaven (Jo 14:6)?
Who am I to say what a woman can do with her own body (abortion),,
that love is love (gay marriage) is not truth. In fact it is sin. (1 Tim 1:10)?
Who am I to tell someone what gender they are or how many genders they are, or that if they are 'gender fluid'.. guy today, girl tomorrow, or who knows what tomorrow?
Who am I to say divorce is not a part of God's plan and that it is too too convenient (we just grew apart? really?)
Who am I to say PORN is a dark evil and not harmless 'naughty' fun.. but instead warps true sexuality, damaging both the body and soul, and warps intimacy in marriage... and fuels sex trafficking.
Who am I to say sex outside marriage is wrong,
Who am I to say not all religions are the same?

Hmmm.. let summarize my concern with these attitudes.. Any Church (or person) without Biblical convictions.. that does not follow Christ teachings, listen to the Holy Spirit cannot truly worship/obey God and.. is maybe not really a Christian. And certainly appears to be a 'Christian Invertebrate'

To exist in a luke-warm compromised Oprah Winfrey morning blend of religions that serves self with at best a wink and a thumbs up gesture towards Heaven will not get you to Heaven, and certainly not lead others to God.

So what better time than now to grow a SPINE. In the midst of the pandemic panics, partisan politics, border & homeless crisis, racial tensions, failing marriages, and LGBTQ confusion we (The Church) best grow a spine. I MEAN NOW.

It has been a long time since I was a student in Biology class but I am pretty sure our physical bodies cannot grow a spine. And I can't go to a body junk yard and pick up a spine that is used but in pretty good condition (no arthritics, or bulging discs) to replace my aching back.

But in contrast I believe any church body with a repentant heart desiring revival, and obedient to God's unchanging Truths (His Word) can be restored by God for His glory.

A Church Body with a Heart/love for God & others, with hands and feet serving God and others, and our minds renewed (Ro 12:2) and obedient to God's unchanging truths .. God will bless us as we stand tall and straight for God in this crooked world.

And just like that. Viola' - The Church has a spine again.

May God bless you and the Church to be seeking Him. May He find us faithful, standing straight for His truth in this twisted secular world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16

Blessings

Jeff (aching back) Larson

3 Comments

10/24/2019

1 Comment

Open Hand.. Closed Fist

Life again reminds me we are all so very busy with days filled and choices to be made. Sometimes I feel like a contestant on the Price is Right TV show and I randomly choose door number #3 today.. and hope for the best.

So to help guide our life decisions I would like to suggest the Closed Fist and Open Hand approach.

Open Hand Views are those up for discussion and possible change.
Closed Fist Views on the other hand are not negotiable. Closed Fist views make up the foundation we build our lives on.

But.. a serious dilemma occurs when we mix our Open Hand and Closed Fist views. Just think if an alcoholic who continues to drink, a marriage without fidelity, or if I decide not to pay my bills on time.. or pay them at all. All are a recipe for disaster.

Of course, Open Hand and Closed Fist views are rubbed in our faces when we turn on the evening news where Washington is filled with Closed Fists ready to punch political opponents in the nose.. or lower. I guess this is what Washington calls 'reaching across the aisle'.

Now finally, how's the old Open Hand v Closed Fist working with God's people? From my vantage point, not so good. Just a glance on my Twitter account I could imagine..

Catholics v Protestants in a steel cage match on Pay-Per-View?
Charismatics v Baptists in a competition combining aquatics and calisthenics ,
Beth Moore v John Macarther in a stare/sneer down?
A King James Only v The Message Bible Drill
Benny Hinn v SnakeHandlers just for fun, and finally
Should church coffee include gourmet coffee (lattes, mochas, and espressos), or is this a steep theological slide instituted by 'progressives' that will not stop until there is 'beer on tap' in the Fellowship Center?!

Seriously, the church can be a prickly place. Not just your basic Predestined v Free Will, eternal security, or are Infant Baptisms ok debates? There are more serious divisions where when we do not agree on the interpretation of a passage of scriptures then someone must be a HERETIC... when maybe we really don't know and simply disagree. But then to be fair again.. some teachings are heresy.

God save us! No really, GOD SAVE US!

Now take it with a grain of salt that you are reading a blog from 'a grownup' who draws cartoons, but the following is my exhaustive (or exhausting) guide to Closed Fist and Open Hands in the Church.

Closed Fist issue #1 - love God and others. Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 Have this be true and we are off to a great start.
Closed Fist issue #2 - Stay true to God's word, be in a church that preaches and lives out these timeless truths of love and Grace. God's word is not malleable dependent on cultural 'enlightenment'. Belong to a church that is passionate about His word and not just on Sundays.
Closed Fist Issue #3 - It matters what you believe. Not all roads lead to Heaven, and just being a pretty good guy or gal will not cut it. For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have life eternal John 3:16. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Closed Fist Issue #4 - It matters how you live. While our salvation is secure and we are not in and out of God's grace dependent on a good guy or gal score card, but realize.. God is not mocked. To willfully choose to live in sin, to live for self instead of God is not a safe place to be. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7 , What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-26 So, what does my life look like to God? Are their works born out of love for God and others? If not, what good is my faith? I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelations 3:15-16
Now.. Open Hand Issues (to me).. there are a bunch. Note, I have opinions on most of these issues (just ask my wife) I just pray that where we differ with other believers is tempered by evidence of the above Closed Fist Issues 1-4. So here is my Open Hand Issues.. Women Preachers, Infant Baptism, Predestined v Free Will, The Gifts of the Spirit (Tongues & prayer languages), Catholicism, eternal security.. and I am sure about 150 more. So while I have often strong opinions (again, just ask my wife) on most of these issues, they are open hand issues in comparison to CF 1-4.

The reason for writing today's blog was fueled by ongoing battles among well known evangelicals, and then watching the 'Christian' media and 'Christian' social media fanning the flames that divide us.

Of course I do believe in addressing sin and true heresy in the church. BUT.. I pray for a biblical approach.

I appeal to you, brothers,by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 Corinthians 12:26 but also..
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Sigh.. Maybe from time to time I will just open my clenched fist and slap myself.

I am not positive today's blog is helpful, but the spirit of it is on my heart. May God use my fumbling words to speak truth or the desire for us all to seek truth.

May God bless you in your busy lives. Be true to God, stand for Him, know your Bibles, have good friends, and eat all your veggies. :)

Jeff ( in between a slap, tickle, & a fist fight) Larson

1 Comment

3/28/2018

2 Comments

The Temper in the Temple

As the final week of Jesus continues, we find Jesus frustrated with more than just a case of the Mondays. This special Monday he enters the temple where it was reduced from being God's House of Worship to a first century Holy Land Mini Mall.

Of course in my Back Pew way of looking at things I have imagined and illustrated a few of these temple violators. There were The Temple ..

Money Changers ... Were these ATMs?
A Temple Bird Salesman, the ...
Slinkee and Pet Rocks table, and the 'standard'
Bible Bobblehead vendors

All these and more turned the temple into as Jesus called it "a true den of thieves". So I guess frustrated was a true understatement as I will call Jesus state of mind The Temper in the Temple.

After turning over a few tables Jesus left the temple not in the mood for encountering a 'fig-free-fig-tree' which he promptly cursed. This was a lesson NOT LOST on his disciples.

It is not fair to assume the mind of Christ, but from my human perspective I imagine Jesus did feel the elation of his triumphant entry that first Palm Sunday.

Then Jesus frustration of this broken world where on Monday the Temple was shameful, and the fig tree bore no fruit.

Simple emotions for someone like me but deeper and more complex for our Savior as his foretold arrest and crucifixion were only days away.

While my cartoons are a smirky look at very real biblical events my prayer is we remember the Holy Week. Remember and honor the amazing truth of salvation realized between that first Palm Sunday and that first Easter morning.

Blessings

Jeff

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