Comments for The Least of These

Comment on Legalism by Barbie

Barbie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:42:09 +0000

I think the thing here boils down to two issues.
The first is the idea of this “freedom in Christ.” We are no longer under bondage, and this is something which I take very seriously. That bondage relates, however, to sin and not to “man made tradition” as most people like to say. People feel under bondage to “man made tradition” because, for example, they do not like kneeling and don’t think they should be told when they should kneel. But I ask, then, is God so much your friend that you do not kneel before Him? Does it HARM you to kneel for Him? Surely not. I have seen people take their freedom in Christ to the wierdest levels– having “church” in a bar, doing whatever they want… even smoking marijuana! We have traditions, by necessity, because we hand down the faith. St Paul says to honor those traditions. Thus, to have a truly fulfilling faith life, we must follow both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Both are biblical mandates. Those who say they do not follow “man made traditions” are lying to themselves…. we ALL do so. That “Freedom in Christ” which we enjoy protects us from having to sin. And that is a WHOLE different matter.
Second, there is the question of Obedience. Obedience, one of the three evangelical counsels which we observe. Obedience, first, can only happen when we have a source of legitimate authority. We obey our Parents, because God gave them to us. We obey our nations laws. We obey our Church, because it has apostolic authority. Often times, we must obey even though things are unjust or seemingly “not right.” And yet, we obey, and in that obedience is revealed the realness of God’s Wisdom. Sometimes it is only through obedience that we can be tested and found true.
With my work in deliverance ministry, I could share some utterly eye-opening stories about the NEED for obedience.
Worrying all day long about legalism is, for me, the epitome of “milk drinking.”
After all, Church laws are in place so that we obey them, to protect our souls. We begin on the journey by doing so. As we progress and mature, we are moved to do so out of love and a sincere relationship we build with God and the Church. When we are “out of step” with God and faltering, we can ensure that we are still on the path to Heaven by remaining within the “rules” and thus safekeeping our souls. We may not quite BE there, but at least we are not floundering or running away. Rules and Church law are a security system set in place for our protection.
I agonized for years about missing my “rulebook.” Now I have a “Rule of Life,” which tells me how I shall live. Rules are structure, structure is safe, and wise. Fear of being “overly legalistic” just demonstrates the other side of the same religiously transmitted disease coin.
On the front side is lawlessness and rebellion. On the backside is heartless adhesion to God’s law. Either one is “wrong” but neither one are corrected by hammering. Rather, it is in meditating on God’s love for us that we are changed and want to obey Him.

Comment on Mid Week Thursday by Barbie

Barbie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:49:47 +0000

Girl, there is nothing small and modest about your home— it’s GORGEOUS! And shines all by itself, with the love that emmanates from it.
Don’t worry! You’re one of the best hostesses I know!
<3

Comment on Summer Reads – Hearing God’s Call by Barbie

Barbie — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:27:59 +0000

I love you! This was heartwarming reading. Wish I could join!

Comment on Ignorant – When did it become bullying? by Wayne

Wayne — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:43:49 +0000

Michel De Montaign is famous for many of his brilliant quotes and one of them is,” People believe the most in that of which they are least certain.” These people who are crying are doing two things, showing not only that they are idiots, but ignorant, and number two that Michel was right.
Socrates did this. He went around to every single person who claimed to be wise and/or was acclaimed to be wise and genuinely asked them for this wisdom they supposedly had… and every single time they turned out not to be wise at all and because of it they all hated him and eventually through corruption of the law murdered him.
Excuse me, but if you don’t know something then you don’t know it. You are more wise to simply say one of two things concerning the unknown, or both: “I take it on faith.” and “I do not know.”
Good form, be the gadfly in those situations.

Comment on 100 Words or Less… by Barbie

Barbie — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:02:11 +0000

I’ll say it, because it’s so beautiful!

Sh’ma Yis’ra’eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Barukh sheim k’vod malkhuto l’olam va’ed.
Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.

V’ahav’ta eit Adonai Elohekha b’khol l’vav’kha uv’khol naf’sh’kha uv’khol m’odekha.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

V’hayu had’varim ha’eileh asher anokhi m’tzav’kha hayom al l’vavekha.
And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart.

V’shinan’tam l’vanekha v’dibar’ta bam
And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them

b’shiv’t'kha b’veitekha uv’lekh’t'kha vaderekh uv’shakh’b'kha uv’kumekha
when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Uk’shar’tam l’ot al yadekha v’hayu l’totafot bein einekha.
And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

Ukh’tav’tam al m’zuzot beitekha uvish’arekha.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Comment on 100 Words or Less… by Farfalla

Farfalla — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:07:21 +0000

We don’t proselytize, really, but I’m human enough to like talking about myself and sharing my experiences

Here goes:

God has taken care of me since I was small, but I didn’t realize it until my late teens, as a constant presence to catch my compliments about all that exists and gently guide me when I’m screaming inside. I’m glad I have help to be the best me that I can possibly be. I’m also grateful for the experience of having been saved in a this-life sense; Passover is personal to me now. Thank you for cats and grapefruits, for the blessings of drive and intellect, and for a mother who cared and a wife I can trust.

(at this point I wanted to add SHEMA ISRAEL etc., but you said no ‘church talk’ and a direct quote from Deuteronomy is probably ‘temple talk’ )

Comment on 100 Words or Less… by maggielselah

maggielselah — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:04:47 +0000

A small group (at least at my church) is just a group of people who get together on a regular basis (in our case once a week).

What sparked this posting was….

1. Our pastor just wrapped up a series called “Blog” about sharing our stories as Christ followers with others. At the end of the last sermon, he shared a few tips – one of which was to be simple – under 100 words so as not to bore the person and to not use any “church talk” or terminology.

2. In our small group (SG), our SG leader challenged us to write up our story in 100 words or less.

3. Since I blog – I decided to do so.

Is proseltyzing (sp?) important in Judiasm? If not, I’d still be interested in hearing/reading your story.

Comment on 100 Words or Less… by Farfalla

Farfalla — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:46:34 +0000

I kinda like the idea of posting a 100-word “my story”, but what was the original prompt? Or just “my story” with no more rules than that, and the length?

(Is small group a church thing or a college thing?)

Comment on A Cheerful Heart by ryanskunk

ryanskunk — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:47:56 +0000

I’m so sorry, I’m new to wordpress. How do I post something like you have?

Thank you,
Ryanskunk

Comment on I caught the tWiLiGhT bug… by maggielselah

maggielselah — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:51:35 +0000

They really aren’t. To clarify if for any reason I stayed in the Protestant world, I lean toward Calvinism. As a Mormon, that’s not really a concern. Regardless, God is Sovereign and His will will be done, so I’m not too concerned. Hopefully that makes sense outside of my mind.