Too radical for Christ?

It seems these days when people try to live out their faith as is laid out in the Bible and being totally committed to God, we are called radical or fanatics. Well I have heard of sports fanatics, and being fanatic or radical about things people love. So, if you want to call me a fanatic for God, then that's fine by me. I don't mean radical as being hateful, judgmental, unloving, or violent, actually the opposite. Christ calls us to radical love and the giving of ourselves. Let us "waste" our lives for God.

If people can scream and holler about a sports team or singer/performer, then why am I weird for wanting to shout praise to God, the creator of all?

One of the biggest reasons people are turned away from Christianity is because people don't live out what they claim they believe, I say Amen to that. That's why I believe it is so important that as true followers of Christ, we need to be totally committed to Him and live as He said to live. Different than culture, yes. He gave us the model, and it's not enough to excuse it off and say, well He was God.

We are to strive to live as Christ, for Him to be our example, not other humans!

The Bible says we have to live in the world but not to be apart of the world. If you call yourself a Christian then you should feel very fortunate that God rescued you and called you out from your old life. We don't seek Him on our own, Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.

God has called us for a reason,

Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 Thes 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Tim 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus

1 Pt 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Jon 5:3-5 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

God just wants us to love, obey, and worship Him. For all that He has done for you (me), why is it so hard for us? Radical, fanatic ? Not really, just not what we are use to. Different than our culture and what the world sees as important and worthwhile, YES !!

Love and Blessings, Roger B.

Stronger than David?

First off, this is not for people who don't believe in God and are not following after Jesus.

This is for followers of Jesus, who want a relationship with Him and to live a life pleasing to God.

As the bride of Christ, His body (the church) God has called us apart to be different than culture, not apart of this world. In the world yes, but not apart of it. He wants us to be holy as He is holy, to live as Jesus did and be an example to others. Let us turn to the Bible for what is truth, even if it seems weird for our technology driven generation. Let's not be apathetic by all the blessings we receive. Let us live a life that gives back and blesses others. I need more of Jesus and less of me, my flesh is weak and I need to die to it moment by moment in all my choices. Do I want to live a life of momentary pleasures, lustful, selfish desires or live for God and strive to have the mind of Christ, even if it means giving up some of the luxuries in life? For me it's Christ, no question, to spend an eternity in His presence. This life is short, make it count for Him!

A lot of us feel we are not in need of much and therefore don't see our need for God. We all need God and are in need of a savior. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

As followers of Christ I don't understand how some can say that what they listen to or what they watch doesn't affect them. They say, I can handle it, it doesn't affect me, or I'm mature enough. So if you read your Bible and are familiar with the OT story of King David and his affair with Bathsheba. In 2 Sam 11:2 it says, "One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive." (net)

I notice that one, he SAW a woman bathing and two, that she was very attractive.

Now at this point he had a choice to make, does he continue with his lustful desires or go back inside and go to bed. Well, we know what choice he made and he didn't stop with lustful pleasures, but went on till he had Bathsheba's husband killed in battle. In this case this verse rings true,

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.

We know that sin starts in the heart and then is shown by how we act. We all have weaknesses and we probably all know what ours are. James 3:2 says, We all stumble in many ways...

For many, and I would say for most, what we view and listen to affects our thoughts.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Rom 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. Then David would write in the Psalms in 101:3, I will not set before my eyes a thing of worthlessness. Job would say in 31:1, “I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin? Rom 12:2 states, Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. So are these all just words, or do we take seriously what is written in the Bible for us? We want God to be loving but not just or righteous, but to be loving he has to be those things also. So are we honoring God with our time, money, what we watch, and listen to? Do we not care about watching mindless "entertainment", listening to vulgar or degrading music, and spending hours playing violent video games? I'm not condemning anyone but I think the body of Christ (church) needs a wake up call in America. I come to share my journey and what God has done and shown me. If this gets you to think or the spirit of God convicts you of some things, then you have a choice on whether you take action on those convictions. I come as someone who has wasted way to many hours watching tv and playing games, when I could have been spending time with my former wife, with God, or many other worthwhile activities. If we are always "entertaining" ourselves, how can God speak to us? Have you had the desire for God to speak to you? The Lord would say in Ps.46:10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I think resting, waiting, being still, has taken on a negative idea in America. We are not to be slothful, but taking time to rest, relax, and wait on the Lord is important. Look up all the verses that talk about waiting on the Lord. In the rushing around in our busy lives it will be hard to hear from God and then harder to be used by Him. Have you ever asked God to be used by Him? I have not had cable or dish for over 2 yrs now and I don't miss it. I am careful to what I listen to and I have been spending more time in the Bible. This is my journey, what's yours? Where are you headed? I will sum up with a verse from, Phil 3:12-14, Not that I have already attained this-that is, I have not already been perfected-but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Sorry if this seems too radical for you.......God loves you and is jealous for your devotion. You will have to talk to Him about what He wants from you. Shalom, brother in Christ. R.B.