Redeeming Life Archives - Page 7 of 35

This time of year I see article after article from Christians about why it is sinful to decorate Christmas trees, wrap presents, and sing “Deck the Halls.”

Here is an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xqD9-9RA0

Whenever I see these blog posts, Facebook articles, and YouTube videos, I always want to ask if they celebrate Easter, drive a Mazda, or use a Calendar.

Why?

Because the exact same logic people use to say that Christians should not celebrate Christmas can also be used to say that Christians should not celebrate Easter, should not drive a Mazda, and should not use a Calendar.

Here is the logic some Christians use to teach that it is sinful to celebrate Christmas:

Christmas has roots in the pagan holiday of Saturnalia. It was celebrated with decorating trees, baking cookies, putting up lights, passing out presents, and singing songs.
If we do these things for Christmas, then we are participating in a sinful, pagan holiday.

This is the basic logic, and some Christians occasionally find passages like Jeremiah 10:1-5 to support this view.

But let us plug the same logic in to the holiday of Easter:

Easter has roots in the pagan holiday that celebrated Ishtar, the sex goddess. Among other things, the spring celebration of Ishtar was observed with sunrise celebrations, decorating eggs, giving candy, and cute bunnies. It reminded people of new birth and new life.
If we do these things for Easter, then we are participating in a sinful, pagan holiday.

And how about driving a Mazda:

The Mazda car is named after the chief Persian deity, Ahura Mazda. Even the early symbol of the Mazda line of cars (1936-1962) resembled the dual-winged image of Ahura Mazda and can still be seen in the modern winged “M” logo of the Mazda (see the three images below).
Therefore, driving a Mazda is a tribute to Ahura Mazda, the pagan Persian deity, and is sinful for Christians. The same thing can be said, by the way, about driving a Saturn or a Mercury.

Following the Christmas logic, we also cannot use a calendar:

All the days of the week are named after pagan deities.

Sunday = Sun’s Day
Monday = Moon’s Day
Tuesday = Tyr’s Day
Wednesday = Woden’s Day
Thursday = Thor’s Day
Friday = Frey’s Day
Saturday = Saturn’s Day

And most of the months of the year are also named after various pagan deities.

January = Janus’s month
February = month of Februa (pagan purification)
March = Mars’ month
April = Aphrodite’s month
May = Maia’s month
June = Juno’s month
July = Julius Caesar’s month
August = Augustus Caesar’s month
September = the seventh month*
October = the eighth month*
November = the ninth month*
December = the tenth month*

^{*The Roman calendar originally only had 10 months, with the first 60 days of the calendar being “monthless.” January and February were later added to the Calendar, but the final four months of the year retained their numbered names.}

Therefore, to talk about the days of the week or the months of the year is to give honor to the false gods and deities after which they are named.

As long as we are at it, we should also stop wearing Nike clothes and shoes, eating Mars bars, using Venus razors, buying Hermes handbags, or investing in Janus funds. And since all the planets are named after pagan Roman deities, we shouldn’t talk about our study our solar system. We also shouldn’t visit the Statue of Liberty. And no matter what, we should definitely stay away from the Washington monument and churches with steeples since they are symbols that come from pagan rituals that celebrated the male phallic.

Do you see where all this is going? As soon as Christians start to try to avoid and condemn anything and everything that has pagan roots or symbolism, we end up having to just sit at home twiddling our thumbs. Of course, even that is fraught with danger, because as Paul himself writes, every single human being has a background that is filled with paganism (cf. 1 Cor 6:9-11). So we cannot even be around ourselves!

Yes, this has now crossed over into the realm of the absurd.

But that is exactly the point.

All these condemnations of various aspects of life because those areas of life have pagan origins are nothing but absurd.

They also deny and reject the absolute fact that our God is a redeeming God. That Jesus Christ is a redeemer. That everything in heaven and on earth has been placed under the feet of Jesus so that He is all in all. That everything can be received with joy and thanksgiving in the name of Jesus. That everything is “Yes” and “Amen” through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all.

So this Christmas season, go put up lights on your tree. Go bake cookies and pass out presents. Go drive your Mazda to your job on Monday while you wear your Nike shoes and snack on a Mars bar. And while do you do all these pagan things, give praise to Jesus because He has redeemed everything, including you and me.

So go ahead! Cut down the tree, decorate it with silver tinsel and gold ornaments, bake the cookies, hand out presents, sing the carols, and do it all with praise to Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer!

If you want to read more about this, I have written a short eBook on the subject, titled Christmas Redemption. Get your copy on Amazon today for $2.99.

Better yet, “Hope” and “Love” Members of RedeemingGod.com will get this book for free a few weeks after signing up. Join now.

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What is Love? (Baby, Don’t Hurt Me…)

By Jeremy Myers

48 Comments

Sorry for the song reference to Haddaway in the post title there … Although it was a really good song.

A reader recently sent me an email which I was unable to answer. (GASP! Yes … there are numerous such questions!) So, with his permission, I am putting it up here on the blog for you to weigh in on. His basic question is this:

We have all been told that true, biblical love (agape love) is not a feeling. But in 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul describes and defines agape love, he basically says that it is not actions either. Even if you do all the good and loving works described in 1 Cor 13:1-3, none of it matters if you don’t have love. So love seems to be something more than just loving actions as well. Therefore, what is love?

Here is an example: Do you love the poor and homeless? Well, probably very few of us feel a whole lot of love for the homeless. But many of us are involved in loving actions toward the poor and homeless as we give them food and clothing and try to help them obtain a better life. But taking care of the poor is one of the specific actions that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 13:3 as not meaning anything without love.

So again, I ask, “What is love?”

Here is the email I received from the blog reader (the email has been slightly edited for the purposes of this blog):

I was told countless times that love (Christian true love) is not a feeling but a decision.

And of course, we have 1 Cor 13, whatever you do without love is worth nothing. Even if you give your life to the poor, if you don’t love, it won’t do you any good.

Let us suppose someone has a chronically mentally ill spouse whom they have spent the last 30 years caring for, and will probably continue caring for them for another 30 years, unless death comes first.

The healthy spouse often feels like running away. They sometimes wish they had never gotten married. Sometimes they wish their spouse would just die. But the healthy spouse promised to be faithful in good and bad days, in sickness and in health. So far, the healthy spouse has stayed with the mentally ill spouse, but often does not feel any love, even though the constant care and companionship are loving actions. So is it love?

If the actions of love are present, but the feelings of love are not, is it love?

What should such a person do? Should they try to redeem their thoughts? Should they try to brainwash themselves into feeling love? Or is it enough to just keep the promises, stay faithful, and serve with ongoing love, support, and care, despite the absence of all feelings?

Maybe people don’t face this exact situation, but maybe they care for the poor, look after refugees, help support persecuted Christians, or work to protect orphans. These are all loving actions, but if they do not actually feel any love, is it really love? Does it really matter? Love is not a feeling, we are all told, but it seems that without the feeling, the actions of love are also worthless.

So, if love is not a feeling, and if according to 1 Cor 13 deeds do not suffice to prove love … what is love?

What thinkest thou, O wise one? Let us know in the comment section below!

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How does God talk to you?

By Jeremy Myers

21 Comments

This is a guest post by Mike Edwards.

Mike asks questions in hopes one may reconsider any beliefs about God that may discourage one from pursuing God and spirituality. Mike blogs at: What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God. Visit his website to learn more about him and his books.

Note from Jeremy Myers: I am publishing several guest posts this summer as I take some time off to rest. I am also preparing for something HUGE this fall. Stay tuned! If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.

It can be very confusing how one is supposed to relate to an invisible God.

Frustrations can lead to simply giving up having a meaningful relationship with one’s Creator. I understand that some people claim that God speaks to them directly, but this is not the experience of the majority of those who seek a relationship with God. Many may prefer that God would speak more directly but this doesn’t always leads to the results we may think.

The Bible suggests that God spoke directly with the first couple in the garden, but this experience seemed to wane as history progressed. And while Moses says he spoke to God face to face (Exod 33:11, when God sets out to communicate to the Israelites, He did so through the mediation of Moses, and by inscribing the commandments on stone with the finger of God (Exod 31:18). We don’t know exactly what types of communication these were but most would agree that God was no longer communicating in the same way He communicated with Adam and Eve.

Since God doesn’t speak audibly or write in stones to us, how can we know that we hear the voice of God?

Many of us talk out loud to God or we pray silently and then thoughts come into mind. Are such thoughts from the mind of God?

Well, there is some bad news and some good news.

We can’t know for certain that our thoughts are inspired by God, but the good news is God’s love is supportive not controlling. God gives us freedom to make decisions in an open future. Any number of decisions can be made in our situation. God does not predetermine our future. This indicates that while we want to hear more directly from God, God indicates His responsiveness to us by not predetermining everything we think, say, and do. He responds to us as we respond to Him. This means that while we may not be able to hear the voice of God, we can see His response to us through how life unfolds as we pray and communicate with Him.

God always listens

One benefit to God’s approach to us is that He always listens. Most of us want a good listener in a relationship. Very few of us want to be told what to do, or we would always take the advice of others rather than frequently having a comeback as to why one’s suggestion won’t work. Opinions are not always helpful or welcomed. Besides, one’s interference can prevent growth and self-satisfaction resulting from making independent choices. We want to be heard by another soul to talk out situations and share burdens that are heavy to carry alone.

If can be comforting to know God is always available to listen. We may be embarrassed to share our latest relapse with a friend. God doesn’t heap more guilt on us. God has endless mercy and forgiveness so we don’t give up no matter how demoralized we may feel. God is always available in times of loneliness. Friends can’t always be available in the middle of the night. We may feel that we are overburdening our friends by constantly going to them. God’s shoulders surely are much bigger.

But, I want to hear what God thinks!

We all want to know what God thinks. But the truth is that we already mostly know what God thinks. If you think about it, we already know most of what God thinks about most issues. Therefore, talking with God is mostly for emotional support.

And as for the issues where we want God’s input on our life decisions, God withholds His input because He wants us to make our own decisions.

It is helpful to think about moral versus immoral actions. When it comes to most moral issues, God has already pretty clearly told us in Scripture what the best course of action is.

But many decisions aren’t moral – what job to take, whether to move to a different city, etc. God doesn’t predetermine our future so we have to wonder the “right” decision. God doesn’t know if your partner is suddenly not going to honor their commitment when challenges arise. Wise decisions are simply taking into account past experiences, current circumstances, future aspirations, and going for it. God’s love is both freeing and uncontrolling. He doesn’t tell us what to do in such cases, because in some sense, He is just as excited as we are to find out what we will do and what will come of it.

Some relational decisions seem to have a touch of morality that we aren’t sure what God would do. God’s love is still freeing. God isn’t hiding. Should we forgive a mom and sibling for participating in favoritism? Neither admits to any favoritism but such actions are clear to most outsiders. The Bible can be used to suggest always forgive or forgiveness is only possible when one acknowledges wrongdoing. Jesus once said to rebuke others but if they repent forgive them (Luke 17:4). One may forgive to best deal with personal bitterness. Others may not forgive to avoid further bitterness since the guilty denies wrongdoing.

In relationships there isn’t always a “right” thing to do. It is more complicated for leaders of nations for they are making decisions for millions, thus governments best have checks and balances.

Still, a relationship with God isn’t about being told what to do. It is considering how a loving God may think on a matter and feeling free to make a decision based on your present circumstances. If you are insisting God guarantee a certain outcome, then you are asking God to be a controller. A loving God would speak audibly if necessary; otherwise, assume you have God’s blessings if it isn’t immoral or violating the rights of others. Don’t live in fear; live in the knowledge of God’s love. And don’t demand certainty, for this is something even God cannot guarantee in a free world.

I know some of what I have written is controversial. So what do you think? How can we hear the voice of God? How can we know what to do with certain decisions in life? How does a loving God help guide and direct us through life? Share your input and ideas in the comment section below.

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God’s Mirror, Our Looking Glass, and the People We Bump into

By Jeremy Myers

12 Comments

This is a guest post by Grahame Smith.

Grahame was most influenced in life by Christians who lived out their faith by rolling up their sleeves and taking risks by helping others. He is a Chaplain and Crisis Counselor and with his wife Rhonda has raised 3 children and is helping to raise 4 grandchildren.

Grahame has two sites where he interacts with people from many countries. They can be found at Soul Care Counselling and SoulCare

He has a passion in asking people to consider what the 21st Century Church should like through social media.

Months ago, a man in his early 30s passed me in the hallway. I had got to know him at one of the workplaces I visit. As one often does in such circumstances I asked him how he was going. This is a question which can easy roll off our tongues perhaps with little thought of what may come next.

He actually stopped me and said “life is hard and I have made a mess of things.”

Now I have come to realize many years ago, God does provide divine opportunities for us to extend His grace to others. What do I do now I asked myself?

I could see in his eyes a lot of pain, and I had a meeting to go to. If I put him off, the chance to listen and perhaps to help is lost. The clock was ticking in my head; I really need to be at this meeting I told myself.

I said “Bill (not his real name), I have to be at a meeting in 5 minutes, I really want to chat with you, say in 2 hours?” I was thinking he would say no, instead he said “See you at 1300hrs!” (He’s in the armed services). From experience I’ve learned these opportunities involve a lot of emotion.

The meeting was difficult and draining so I didn’t feel up to my 1pm appointment.

When I arrived, Bill was waiting for me. (Not a good sign, I said to myself.)

I had accidently pressed an emotional button in Bill earlier that day, and so for next 2 hours he poured out his tragic story.

In short he had been deployed overseas for 10 months as a UN peace keeper and when he had come home he found that his marriage was over and his kids very distressed. He blamed himself for the mess. He saw himself as a failure as a husband, father and as a provider. His self-esteem was a rock bottom. So I was concerned for his safety. He said he had nowhere to turn to, except to me as it turned out.

Much more has been said in the 10 sessions I have worked with Bill, even very recently. The impact of how Bill saw himself across his total life became the most profound part of the story. But over our time together, Bill came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior, and significant change happened.

We had considered in one session; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 to 4:1-2, where it tells us, that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty in our lives. We are also told, as we gaze in the mirror of God’s word by the Holy Spirit, that we are transformed each day, more and more to the image of Christ.

Now Bill tried to describe to me what this verse did to him. He said the hardest thing he found was to try and see himself as God sees him. He had a strong belief he was a failure and was unforgivable but this was being challenged by a voice within him. Despite him finding Christ he would still go fishing in his mind “re-living past sins and kicking himself all over again”.

On one occasion I introduced a small mirror and asked him see his reflection and answer two questions.

1. Look at the mirror you are holding, what do you see, what do you think of yourself really, not your appearance but the inner you.

2. If God was looking back at you, what would He see in your opinion?

Both answers were similar. I then asked him to consider a list of bible verses that demonstrates God’s love for us and how He really sees us.

He told me the light bulb went on in his head. And amongst his tears he had got it. He said he could now forgive himself and his wife. Gods Mirror had become his Looking Glass helping to correct his false images, false assumptions, beliefs and helping him to avoid making poor choices when sorting his life out.

All this came out of a chance meeting in a corridor and me trying to find reasons why I didn’t have the time to chat. Divine opportunities just pop up, even if we don’t want them to!

Are you looking for the people God brings into your life? Keep your eyes and ears open! You never know who you might meet in the hallway.

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Hell on Earth

By Sam Riviera

10 Comments

Sam Riviera is a frequent and popular contributor to this blog. Many of his posts on loving your neighbors and ministering to the homeless are consistently among the most popular articles on this blog.

Based on his many years of friendship with lots of homeless people in San Diego, Sam Riviera has learned the stories of several of them, and, with their permission, is writing their stories in the form of letters to their dads. These are the letters that they might have written to their dads. Since it has been a while since Sam wrote one of these letters, you will want to go read the explanation about these letters here, and especially read the First Letter to Dad: Killing Me Softely, as the letter below follows on the events from that previous letter.

Dad,

It’s been over a year now. I’m still alive. Sort of.

You have no idea what it’s been like for me the past year. You can’t even imagine it. This isn’t rural Georgia, the town where you and I were born. This is the United States of America, land of the sick and twisted. I know ‘em. You’ve never made their acquaintance. Pray you never do.

Hell. They talked about it in church. Where I am isn’t a lake of fire, but it might as well be. Hell can’t be much worse than this. Maybe this is really hell and the lake of fire thing with devils and pitchforks was invented by Dante and Hollywood.

I’m not sure why I’m writing you. I guess I want mom to know I’m alive, but will you tell her? I’d tell her myself after you’re dead and buried, but I doubt I’ll be alive by then. Get on your computer and look up the average life expectancy for a homeless teenager who is a drug addict who is regularly raped by dirty old men.

I’ve got a death sentence. You were the judge that handed it down. You convicted me without a trial, with no evidence. Even if what you were told was true, so what? I’m your son. I know you’re more concerned about what people think than you are about your own flesh and blood. I might as well have terminal cancer. At least then I might be able to get treatment. As it is, I have no hope.

Hard to imagine, but Jesus is here with me right in the middle of all this crap. I was hoping he’d rescue me somehow, but it’s not happened. Maybe it’s drug-induced hallucinations, but I don’t hallucinate about anything else. I see him walking the streets, and he sits and talks with me. The other guys say it’s just some guy, but I see something different. I know what I’m seeing. He told me only small children and a few older people see him for who he really is, and most people don’t notice him at all.

I asked him if he hangs out in churches. He laughed. He said he does, but not many notice or recognize him. He said he spends most of his time where he’s wanted and needed. Not like me. I’m not wanted, needed, or loved anywhere. I’m just a user and mostly just used.

Remember those baby birds in the nest by our front door when I was little? We watched the mother bird build the nest, then looked in after she laid the eggs. The babies were about a week old. One day the mother bird disappeared and never came back. The babies were dead by the next morning. Abandoned and soon dead. That’s going to be me. Except I’m more like the baby the mom kicked out of the nest. Something must have been wrong with it. That’s what you thought about me. But nothing was wrong with me. You were wrong. But you still kicked me out and it’s too late for me to survive. I’m cold and sick, starving and afraid, and so lonely lying here in the filth waiting to die.

I’m still a teenager. I didn’t miss my childhood, but I will miss being an adult, all because of you. Can you live with that?

Jason

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Why Christians should not Celebrate Christmas or Easter, Drive a Mazda, or Use a Calendar

What is Love? (Baby, Don’t Hurt Me…)

How does God talk to you?

Since God doesn’t speak audibly or write in stones to us, how can we know that we hear the voice of God?

God always listens

But, I want to hear what God thinks!

God’s Mirror, Our Looking Glass, and the People We Bump into

Hell on Earth

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