CHANGING THE RULES

Where I live, one of the never ending tasks in autumn is raking leaves. Actually I mow them. I read in the newspaper's garden section that mowing leaves is good for your yard, so I mow them. So while doing this routine task, I listen to the radio and as I did, I heard a most interesting program.
In a nutshell it was a story about a preacher in a church that somehow studied the Bible and learned that there is no hell. The story was about the consequences of his new teachings from the pulpit and the changes he experienced.
As I listened to this story and learned about this man, I realized what lead him to this errorous teaching, he went from poor Biblical knowledge to even worst.
He went from a very, very large congregation to a very small one very quickly. And the people that that came to hear him now, based in the interviews on the radio, are the kind that would love that there be no hell. That God is all love, and no judgment, all mercy and no wrath.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. God is God and not What We Think He Is.
Let's look at some scriptures:
But we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. (John 9:31)
on hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the eternal times, (Titus 1:2)
And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)

This event is not unique. Wouldn't you go to a church that said, come as you are and you are already saved? Their message? Continue to live a good life, by whatever standard or definition you desire. God is love.
I do not read this in the scripture. Yes I read God is love, and we are to love, and yes I read that and more.
I read that God wants us to love Him. To love each other. To worship Him and also to commit myself to change my life, to become something more than what I am. To actually be different.
Jesus said "and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. "(Matthew 18:3)
Notice the word-converted?
Post-modernism is just what this article is about. Do what you want, justify it anyway you can, come are you are and stay as you are, "just grow in yourself" and don't worry about what the scripture really says.
So we reflect and self-reflect on our reflections some more. The scripture tells us to hold up the mirror (the Bible) and compare how we look. Unfortunately, some are holding up their own mirror and looking at themselves.
Until next time on my front porch.

Do You 'Google'?

When I was younger, and needed some information, my parents would say, look it up in the dictionary. Look it up in the encyclopedia! Don't ask me!
Today, when my children ask me, how do you spell this word? where is outer wherever? what does this mean? I tell them to google it.
Do you know what that means? Do you know what a wiki is? Wikipedia? Do you know what a blog is? How about 'jump the shark'?
If you think signal to noise ratio is something radio people need to know, then think again.
Have you had your nosh? No? Good, then you won't spoil your supper.
(If you don't know these words, then it is homework time, try www.urbandictionary.com. Warning: when searching this site, certain words are not appropriate!)
Our language changes constantly. I have a reproduction of a medical phamplet from colonial America. It is a slow read due to the words and spelling conventions of that time. And hey, do you remember groovy? Far out?
There is one thing that never changes, the eternal truths of the scripture. How we speak will change, what language we read will change, but the Word of God does not. It is a constant standard.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
That is a wonderful verse. Especially in an age of rapid change, a philosophy of "no truth" and anchor less lives.
The last time you visited this page, you read about post-modernism. This is part II of this series.
Not that language changes, but that man's philosophy (philosophy is defined as man's thinking about himself-which is quite a clue in itself, wouldn't you think?) is what changes.
God does not change, but society certainly does. And yet, the inner person never changes. We all seek answers to the same questions as those who listened to Paul and Peter.
I have heard the following explanations: in the 1930-40-50's church members were duty bound. That was our society. Do your duty. Be responsible, etc. Then from the 1960's on that mind set slowly changed.
I like to generalize the change as going from "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" to "Ask not what I can do for my country, but what can it do for me?"
As we stare into the face in the mirror, we do not like what we see and so we go reflect some more.
How often have you heard, "I do not get anything out of worship?" "Worship isn't spiritual anymore?" " I need a more spiritual worship?" or the famous one "Worship is boring"?
I call this the Season of Discontent. This will be another post.
Remember, God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
Go in peace.
See you next time on my front porch.