What does our doctrine say to the world?

The heart of the gospel is evangelism. Jesus will make us fishers of men, correct? Sure! There's just one dilema:

Church theology today has been a huge hinderance on this. How exactly? Watch this video, and maybe you will see:

While there are some flaws in his logic, he has a point. Can you really reply to this by saying "Well just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's not true." ?

See a doctrine that preaches eternal torment is one that provides an ultimatum for an evil injustice. We see right here how it is perceived by the world and the effect that it has on evangelism. How can this young man, who has a valid concern about Christian doctrine, find a reason to come to Jesus when he sees this off-the-wall idea that God creates people to suffer without end?

Just think about it for a bit.

What would you say to him?

Perhaps you wouldn't have anything to say. Perhaps you would simply pray for him. Do you believe it's his choice to accept? That God can't choose to save him and he must save himself by becoming a Christian? If so, why are you praying for him?

I pray for him because I believe God is sovereign over the will of man (Romans 9) and that He plans on saving this young man because He so desires it (1 Timothy 2:3-4). I was also able to write a loving reply in his comments that did not include post-death threats. You may disagree. And my one comment may not be enough to "convert" him, however, I can say from experience that I have had friends who were not so hardened to the idea of Christianity when they realized that eternal hell is not a doctrine taught by the whole church. For many, the doctrine of eternal hell is the one thing that has made them reject Christianity! I know not everyone agrees with me and that's ok.

But think about it...


Think about this young man, and his heart, and his logic...think about how he just needs God's grace...think about how you could witness to him.


I know how I do. I do by saying that's he's right. The idea of a God that torments eternally is violent, evil, and unjust. The idea of a God that reconciles through the blood of Jesus, however, well that changes everything.

And as the idea rises in the church it is about to spark the greatest hike in evangelism we've ever seen...


(In my opinion.)

Speaking always in His love,
Rebekah

Purpose

Purpose. The fuel in the engine, the dream in the distance. Purpose is the circumference of the entire journey. It will give you energy. Often times it's created out of where you've been and it becomes who you are. Purpose is the ingredient in life that is as vital as air and water. Without it, all life is in vain. One quote worth sharing really attests to this. It's by someone relatively famous, you may have heard her name before. She was known as Joan of Arc. (ok, so I really hope you actually do know who she is). :)

As she was being burned alive... these were her dying words:

"Every man gives his life for what he believes, and every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have. We live it and it's gone. But to live without belief is more terrible than dying. Even more terrible than dying young."

A lot of people have it backwards. I have most of my life too. People tend to see purpose as a goal worth accomplishing; a task needing to be fulfilled. Rather, as Christians, than seeing purpose as a victory we are working from, we see it as something we are working towards.

As I have the view that all people will be saved, I have the belief that victory is done. Christ already won, humanity is already saved, and God's will is already fulfilled. This idea of living with purpose comes through in many lights. From an evangelism perspective, it comes through in that since the victory is already won, I no longer evangelize in hope that I will be successful, knowing I have a limited amount of time. I evangelize knowing I will be successful because God has already won! I am now free to be His hands and feet and share His love with those around. Work from Jesus' victory, rather than for it.

Another light to shed this view in, is the idea that I can now live with a purpose that extends beyond this life. Use the victory we have in Jesus to create an eternal legacy that will live on beyond this world, rather than waiting to be raptured and escape this world. Instead of waiting to escape, I labor, with God, in the world He's given us, to fulfill the plan that is already decidedly complete. What a wonderful life! What a wonderful joy! What a wonderful God.

With a 3000ft view, then, of living with purpose, I delve deeper. How does this look? What plans for me does God have to manifest this? Where can I show His love and glory? How can I play a part in bringing His justice? This is where the journey lies.

Whatever your view, I know you must believe you have a purpose. Here is the challenge. Flip your view 180 degrees. Instead of working for victory, realize that you already have salvation, and a sovereign, loving God. Realize that no matter what, you are going to spend eternity with the Savior you love. And work from that victory to create a life that makes sense in the light of eternity. Don't work for victory. Work from it.

I must thank my friend and mentor Brad for helping me grab ahold of that concept. It is definitely a paradigm shift. I also found Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins" very encouraging in that light. He talks about living with that kind of a purpose in a way that brings so much clarity and joy to life.

In His love, I am learning and growing, and working from victory.
Rebekah

Thankfulness

Ok, this is short and simple. A sentiment to share. When I'm stressed, bitter, frustrated, and tired, I am so thankful God brings the right people at the right time.

Got coffee today with one of my most prominent mentor figures. He took the time to just listen to me and sew into me and counsel me. Lord knows I needed it!!!!

When you're tired just think about those people who encourage you and do so much for you. Reach out to them if you have to. God gave us each other to uplift and support.

I am so thankful.

Sharing Love

Leviticus:17-18:
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."


Over and over in the Bible we see a concept of loving each other. A simple concept, but one that is often forgotten. In our world today, we see bullying of all sorts, we see every kind of injustice, sin prevails around every turn. And love, it seems, is forgotten. It starts young, very young, with kindergarteners even, not sharing toys, calling names, etc. All our lives we grow up victims of name calling, teasing, insults, and more. So why, as we get older, do we tend to become a part of it instead of remember how it hurt and rise against it?

Here is an example. Growing up, I loved Hilary Duff. She was amazing! I had her pictures on my wall, listened to her music all the time, and just adored her. I was her biggest fan! I was also very distraught. I had friends and acquaintances who continually bashed her. Said terrible things about her, and intimidated me by telling me how stupid it was to like her. It caused many, many tears. I remember crying to my mom so many nights about how mean everyone was, and it wasn't fair that they should tell me I can't like her. That sadness turned into anger, and I became the fiercest defender of why she was good and how everyone who said she wasn't was dumb for not understanding. This lasted a good two or so years. Now while you may say I should have controlled my anger and not let it get to me, when I was 14 and everyone else was 16, 17, and 18, it seemed logical and right to me to model after their examples by "dissing" on them the way they "dissed" on my favorite Hilary Duff.

All in all, what came out of that is that I have a sympathy for fans of a younger age. These days I will not bash on anyone for who or what they like. We all have different preferences, right?

Now on that note, I think it's important for everyone to reflect on our words and actions daily. Ask yourself, "Is what I'm doing, saying, or posting, going to hurt anyone? Even if I don't think it will, could it? Would there be a reason for it?" If it could hurt, then it should not be spoken. Encouraging words uplift and share love, and never have the possibility to hurt. With the exception of a mentor or guardian giving corrective criticism as allowed, those of us who are out of place to speak ill never should.

Maybe this is a soap box, but all I know is it makes me so terribly sad to see people hurt over unnecessary words. In addition, I have noticed that there are people that believe in a literal, eternal hell, who make jokes about hell or people in it. How dare you. If you honestly believe there are people who will be tortured for eternity, how can you possibly joke about it or find any humor in it whatsoever?

There is a reason we don't make jokes about jews in concentration camps from the holocaust. When a terror is real it is never a joking matter.

Choose your words wisely. Find ways to uplift and encourage one another, and abandon anything that is counter to that. What other purpose have our words?

Proverbs 18:21:
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."


Your words have the power to destroy, or bring to life. Which will you choose?

As always I speak in His love.
Rebekah

Learning to Love

Isaiah 41:26:
Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.


Romans 3:10:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:


There is none righteous. Not a one. So why is it, that as Christians, we tend to see others living in great sin, and think less of them? Do you ever see a family who each of them looks stoned, dirty, maybe they cuss a lot, and present themselves poorly? The natural reaction of course is "wow...I feel bad for those kids. What a sad, dirty family." then proceed to justify the remark (or thought) with "they need Jesus."

Well, let me tell you, today I learned quite the lesson! I met a family like that. And to be honest, I am ashamed to say I sort of brushed them off. I wasn't in the mood to deal with "that type." I sure asked God to do a work on my heart though, when I found them to be strong Christians, as the lady proceeded to tell her testimony. At first I was annoyed, see I thought she was just complaining. I thought she was someone who just thought the whole world was against her and had to complain about her life. As she talked though, I realize how her story lead in to her testimony, of how she was brought to have a relationship with the Lord! At that moment I was ashamed. I asked the Holy Spirit to convict my heart. To help me love. I was reminded that we cannot judge. We cannot know a person's heart. And we have no grounds to ever believe God loves us more, or we are more worthy. There is none righteous. Not a one. We all need to be reminded of that sometimes.

So as I move from today into tomorrow, I pray that the Holy Spirit will really convict my heart and help me love. Sometimes I don't feel like I love other people. Sometimes I have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that God can love "that person" as much as me!! To be honest, sometimes I think that "I'm God's daughter! I'm a Daddy's girl! He has a special love for me!" But the truth is, we are all precious in His eyes. And God does have an incredible love and desire for me, but no more than for everyone else.

Think you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn to love?

Think on these things...
Rebekah

The Hot and the Cold

Has anyone else noticed something lately?

I've noticed that recently, God has been separating the lukewarms into either hot or cold. People that have long been a "Sunday Christian" if you will, are suddenly either developing a strong passion for God, or falling away from Christianity completely. I don't know what God is doing here, but it has stuck me.

As always, I turn to scripture. I don't have much discernment here as of yet, but I put up scripture anyways, perhaps if God grants me discernment regarding what's going on next, I will be able to fall back on these verses.

Psalm 39:3:
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,


Revelation 3:15-16:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.


Genesis 8:22:
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.


Matthew 24:12:
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.


Matthew 25:32:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats


2 Corinthians 6:17:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.


Jude 1:19:
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Alright, so maybe these verses aren't all in the context of the hot and cold separating. Fair enough. However, I love gathering verses with similar words and themes. You never know what connections might manifest.

Or maybe I'm just reading into nothing. Still, God is doing something...(when is He not?) and I thought it worth pointing out.

Are you becoming hot, or cold?

His Mercy Endureth For Ever

"His mercy endureth for ever."

41 times in the King James Version these words appear. Clearly, God wants us to know His mercy endures for ever. What does this imply though? Short answer, that His mercy endures for "ever."

A topic of great debate among the controversy of an eternal hell or a restorative fire is the meaning of ever and forever. Of course, it would suffice to examine every time these words appear and deduct the true meaning through context. For some, however, it is just not enough. Perhaps it seems too far fetched. Perhaps it's thought the term forever can have multiple meanings. I of course cannot know what would cause a person to reject context and deductive reasoning. Here, though, I see a simple point to be raised.

Mercy implies sin. Like compassion, grace, and forgiveness, there can be no mercy without sin. So if His mercy endures forever, does not also sin? Of course the objection raised to this point would be that once He has mercy on someone, it extends forever, and He never "takes back" His mercy or "unforgives" someone. That the mercy He shows on someone lasts forever. There is truth in saying that no one will ever be unforgiven. This is not, however, because God consistently has mercy to keep up with the memory of the sin like a never-ending neck-and-neck race. No, sins are never unforgiven because God cannot unforgive. A simple reason is because when He forgives He also forgets (Heb. 8:12). A forgotten sin does not require a continuation of mercy. A forgotten sin is vanished completely and finally. The other point is because sin is reckoned as debt. The only way to owe more money once a debt has been payed is to incur more debt. For God to forgive and forget the debt we owe Him means the only way He can possibly forgive again is if we incur more debt. So once again, mercy implies sin.

In order for God's mercy to endure forever, sin must also endure forever. God cannot forgive what does not exist. So the question to be begged is how long is for ever?

Sin ends, therefore mercy and forgiveness end. So for ever must also end. Perhaps this is why Jonah's time in the belly of the whale ended. For we see:

"I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God." -Jonah 2:6 KJV

The Hebrew word for "ever" in Jonah 2:6 and 2 Chronicles 7:3 ("His mercy endureth for ever") is the same word.

עולם
'Owlam
Translated here as "ever."


And thus we rely on scripture.


In His love,
Rebekah