The leap after the fall

I believe a giant gap exists between asking God forgiveness and receiving the Holy Spirit. Let's break it down here, you go to church a few times or maybe once, and then you hear an amazing sermon that makes you feel so much remorse and then the alter call rings out offering forgiveness and a noble life. So you go up to the alter or begin to pray in your seat and ask forgiveness and promise to never do that bad thing again. You wipe the tears off your eyes and you genuinely feel better. Right?

For a few days you are on a sort of high, loving God and feeling great. Then it starts to fade and you are back in some sin until you go back to the alter.

It's like my relationship with my wife. When she asks me to do the dishes today, I agree. Then when the next day rolls around and the dishes are not washed, I genuinely apologize. Of course, she forgives me and do I change my ways? Maybe I wash dishes right there, but come next week, same thing happens. Once I finally decided that this is an area that I'm failing and started to make sure a dirty dish was never left over night, did I gain the respect from my wife in that area.

Similarly, asking God for forgiveness is not enough to feel that REAL Salvation. It's way more than an apology. It's a change. It's stopping dead in your tracks and turning around.

For me, I did not feel it until I worked at camp. I became fully aware of my inequities and begged God to use me as a vessel, agent, of His to portray that Holy love to the kids that I come into contact with. In doing so, God changed my heart. I am a way different man, in fact I became a man that summer. And I never want to look back at the life I lead before.


And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; Acts 9:18

Body of Christ

I've been going to Church my whole life and I think I've learned a few things about the Politic of churches and religion in general. I think this is a good place to hash out my thoughts.

So to begin, the body of the Christ or the body of the church is often characterized by a human body. I feel that was a good metaphor for the past two thousand years, but now bodies are not cared for, but the reliance on medicine and operations are depended on for long life. So let's say the church should be like a musical instrument. Have you ever played a cornet (cousin to the trumpet) without a mouthpiece? Even if you  take out the spit valve, the whole thing becomes useless.

Whenever you see an accomplishment in anything, recognize that it is the end result of more than one person. When more people help the better the end result will be and it will be easier for every single person.

What does this have to do with Christians, you ask? Well, it is understandable that people come to church to get in touch with God and listen to teachings of the Living Word; however, a pastor cannot inspire everyone in a diverse group of people to hear the Lord, by himself. Help is always needed and the Bible says the second you believe you should teach. And like I said, the more people that help the easier it will be for everyone and better too. So it is frustrating for me when people complain about programs not going well. You cannot expect the same person who is really good at teaching a very serious men's group Bible study to also, be amazing at creating a super fun and interesting end of the school year hoorah for kids 5- 10 years old. Right? That is where someone else (or a whole committee) to step in and say, "I have a small bbq and I bought too many hot dogs last time I went to the store, I'll bring the food!" or "I have a super sweet camera, I'll take pictures!"; "I know this super fun game I've played since I was five! I'll be in charge of one game!".

When everyone works together, amazing things start to happen. And when everyone works to save souls, they get filled by the Holy Spirit themselves. And as they grow they could start legitimately teaching the Word to each other. Sharpening each other as some do say, is not a one way street. If someone is teaching you about the Bible and you're not in the Bible alone, then you are fooling yourself into thinking you are actually learning and you are wasting the time of the people trying to get you to having a Saintly spirit. Redemption needs to be more like boot camp and less like watching a commercial.