what did they learn?

Alcohol was strictly prohibited at the college that I attended, even off campus. When I turned 21, some of my girlfriends and I thought we would “be bad” and go out for a drink.  The four of us split one cocktail and we giggled about how “rebellious” we were being.
Someone among the group felt it was her spiritual duty to rat us out (give me a break) and the next day we were each called to the dean’s office. Oh what a predicament I was in. If I tell the truth, I would get kicked out of school my senior year of college for sharing one drink with four girls at the age of 21. I am a truth person to the core of my being, but I had watched great Christian girls get kicked out of Bible school for similar behaviors.
I was honest with my parents about what was happening and they advised me to keep the truth to myself.  They had just spent thousands of dollars putting me through college and were not about to see their daughter get kicked out of school for such a small crime. I regretted not obeying the rule because I was now in a place where I had to lie. Oh how I wrestled within my soul.
I was faced with two commandments:  Honor they father and mother OR lie? I chose to honor my parents and their investment and thank God I did because the girls who admitted the truth got kicked out of school. I know lying is wrong, but the heavy spirit of legalism I was under was even worse. I strive to never put myself under the authority of legalism again, as it was crippling to my soul and even served as a stumbling block for me to sin.
This is one of those stories where I am oh so thankful for the grace of Jesus Christ and that by His sacrifice I am forgiven for my sins!  I will strive not to lie for the rest of my life, but I am certain I will lie again and anyone who says they won’t ever lie again is a liar. The love of Jesus surpasses all of our mistakes and sets us free to be in a genuine relationship with Him.  He does not see our sin any longer if we are in Him and He is in us.  He doesn’t just love us, he likes us despite our human flaws.






The above is from a blog.  On the surface, it seems like an injustice.  However the person who ratted on them, I wonder where they are now and what their relationship is with God?  She must have know that her confession would cause trouble and result in them being expelled and yet she did it.  I do not think drinking in itself is wrong, but this college had such a rule and it was only for the duration that the student is there.  One learns discipline from rules, even ones we do not agree with.

the person who ratted, had a much more tender conscience.  the writer of this has still not learned the lesson in humility.  Many of us have to endure rules we do not agree with and sometimes not for a short duration.  I live under a rule, I do not agree with, but does it cause me hardship? NO.

One can appear to be serving God, yet be a mighty rebel.

Self examination

Matthew 7:21-23New International Version (NIV)

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I find these words of Jesus very sobering.  They should cause all of us to examine ourselves and ask the question, “ Am I a true believer, or have I deceived myself”?  You will notice that these people whom he is talking about actually prophesied and did miracles in his name.  They will think that they know Jesus only to find out too late that they were wrong and he whom they claimed to serve will say that he NEVER!  Knew them.  Not once you were a Christian and then fell away ( real ones are secure in the lord) but that right from the start they were never true disciples.

It also shows that doing mighty works is no guarantee of God’s acceptance.  You will note that it is their works that they are claiming makes them belong to him.

We have to remember that contrary to what the TV commercials may say when we are told, “ WE are worth it”, we are not worth it.  God in in his love has provided a sacrifice for us even when we were his enemies.  He did not have to do that.

I do not think we should take these verses and use them to judge other people who profess Christ.  What we should do is take these verses and use them to shine a light into our own lives and if there is anything we find there that is in doubt, then we need to address the issue before it is too late.

Self-examination is a good thing.

GODS NOT DEAD 2 Interviews, feat: Melissa Joan Hart & Jesse Metcalfe

JM

Many Christians don't seem to realize the pain female ministers face throughout their lives. Our very deepest longings are openly debated & Christians continually dismiss our callings as sinful or a figment of our imagination.
We watch our sisters in Christ, who deny our calling, become prinicpals of schools, head nurses or doctors, and CEO's; yet, we are not permitted or preferred among our own "family in Christ" to be pastors, elders, & Bible teachers to adult men & women. Sometimes, not even worship leaders, youth directors, college directors, and the list goes on.
We watch our male peers, who are often less educated than us and have less unpaid experience than us, get hired to be pastors. We love our minister brothers in Christ, but most of them have blindly stepped over us. Most have not defended us. Most have simply enjoyed their privlage.
We volunteer and work with children. We make the coffee. We serve with a smile on our face, hoping someday, someone will see us. But they don't. Many of us have given up. Many of us have lost hope. Sometimes it all feels pointless.
How long will it take to convince the Church that we are here? That we are called? That we are gifted for the task? That we exist?
I am not sure, sisters, I wish I knew. But, do know that I see you and if I see you as a mere human, then God must see you too. I believe God has collected all of our tears and not one ounce of our suffering will go to waste. God will not forget us. God will not leave us behind.


the above is from JM. the remark about about tears was originally about those who are being persecuted and even put to death, which in the USA they are not.  Also the issue about being called is a feeling, it is not validated by what the bible actually says in bold black and white.

Beadles About Theme song

CHIC MURRAY. Telling the Long Nose Story.

women and the church

Youths oppress my people,
    women rule over them.
My people, your guides lead you astray;
    they turn you from the path.

The above is what God said to Isaiah in chapter 3.  If God has declared it then we have a choice. We can choose not to believe it, or we can choose to believe it.  In this verse we see that the people had women ruling over them and God was not pleased.

Likewise the apostle Paul said the following

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Note he did not confine it to the local situation that Timothy faced. Indeed he reminded Timothy of the creative order.  To put it another way, what Paul was saying is that Adam was not deceived, Eve was because women are more intuitive that men.  Feelings can and often do deceive and for that reason in the church women were not permitted to hold authority over men, nor to teach.  It is these two things we have to concentrate on. 

Today we use the term, “Leadership” It is a somewhat vague term.  In most churches the treasurer is part of the leadership.  The fabric convener (the early church did not have fabric, ie buildings) is part of the leadership and there is a whole host of other positions that the early church did not have.  They neither teach, nor have authority over men for their spiritual wellbeing.  In fact they are more like deacons.

The usual approaches to what Paul said, it to ignore it, or to confine it to Timothy’s local situation.  However Paul did not do that it was s command from God.  So where does the debate come from?  It comes from the same lie that the devil told Eve, “Did God Say”.    In this case, Did God say you were not permitted to teach men or hold authority over them in church ( note it is confined to church)  The answer is yes he did, but there are those who are deceived into believing God has called them to do just that, when it is written down that they are not.  God means what he says and one day he will judge us.  If we fight against his word then we can expect that God will not be pleased.  Today it seems to me that many women feel Called of God (even if they are in fact not) because what Paul revealed does not suit their ambition and that is what drives it.  It has nothing to do with being called by God.
Furthermore, I think the debate is fuelled by a wrong attitude to God. For many years, in order to reach out to people, the gospel was watered down and made more palatable.  Less offensive.  God was your friend.  Indeed for those of us who are saved he is our friend. However he is also holy and just and mighty and a whole host of other things including just.  How do we think he will judge those who rebel against what he has revealed and encourage others to do likewise?  He is not our buddy or pal, he is to be revered and worshipped and obeyed.