Got Fruit ?

As I was preparing for work Friday morning, a conversation from Wednesday evening with the Young Adults group popped up.  We we’re in the "Why study and discuss discernment?" section of our study and discussion and as additional food for thought,I bought up the notion of being able to pick up on subtleties of what’s said with regard to doctrine, beliefs etc. 

As a very generalized example, I used Democratic presidential nominee Obam’s call for "change", and the frenzied response of supporters.  The idea being that those (not all inclusive) that are in support of Obama seem to respond (emotionally and in an almost cult-like following) to his message of change, but the question remains… "What change is proposed?".  Saying you want change is one thing, saying you have a vision or plan for change is another.   In another way think of someone professing: "I’m Christian", yet their life merely reflects being a "good person" by man’s standards of morals and conduct rather than being Christ led and thus Christ-like in attitude,behavior, etc.  Essentially it’s just a word with no godly weight or sense of Holy Spirit led conviction to it.

Updated 20080907 at 2:33 pm
Hmmm!?… reference the statement:  "In another way think of someone professing: "I’m Christian", yet their life merely reflects being a "good person" …"  My Pastor practically said the same thing in today’s sermon.

The thought that finally impressed upon me however was that regardless of a Christian’s political interest or involvement, we ought not to think of political figures as messiahs that will bring about moral change through the political process.  The Jews seemed to have made a similar mistake in their assumption that the messiah would free them from the occupation and influence of the Roman Empire.  They thought that political reform was His mission, at least in part.  I’m not discounting the possibility of a godly man or woman being used by God to address this country’s moral deficit however, I think that the call by God is for each of us to fix our eyes on Him and His Word, to be ambassadors of Christ that are an effective catalyst for spiritual change at a localized level.

By influencing those people in our immediate sphere of influence (family,friends,co-workers,employees,neighbors,etc) we can effect a change that works from the bottom up versus putting too much stock and energy in hoping for politicians to employ God’s message and values to the people from the top down.

Grace and peace be with you.

Character is property - it is the noblest of possessions.

Source: “An Apple a Day: Treasured Selections from Apples of Gold” by Jo Petty

Grace and peace be with you.

I spent most of the Labor Day weekend working on a PC for a friend of a friend, while Monday was spent catching up on my church’s web site and blog.  During the process, I realized that I had missed posting a sermon from the 2nd week of August so I took care of that as well.

At the end of the post, which is a summary (outline) of the sermon over the Beatitudes  (Matthew 5:3-12).  I noticed 8 points of application to the sermon that hit home, and that I thought would be neat to share.  The points cover areas that God performs "reconstructive surgery" of the heart.  I’m not sure if I’m up to #8 yet.

Grace and peace be with you.

I popped in to R3 late yesterday evening to see what E.B. has been up to.  I caught this post, which is a continuation from an earlier post titled: Prayer Thursday: Courage.

Thanks to E.B. for posting my comment, which I do hope was and is uplifting.  Be sure to read the first link!  E.B. speaks of some simple truths about God and one’s relationship to and with Him.

File under: "Wow" with a big ‘ole exclamation point.

Grace and peace be with you.

Before I get into the heart of this post, let me say or rather make clear that Got Fruit(?) is not being transformed into a discernment oriented ministry so to speak.  I sensed  after reviewing the past few posts, that impression may have been given.  Please do not take my  statement as me downplaying the importance of discernment, I believe that it is vital for Christians to be discerning, however, it is not an area that I feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to jump into with both feet.  There are countless areas of spiritual growth that we all must be matured in be it, forgiveness, discipline, service, humility, to name a few.  It is simply my opinion that a Christian, particularly one that is a "spiritual babe" (of which I consider myself), can become sidetracked from experiencing Christ in their life fully if they pursue a narrow scope of Christianity.  My own experiences and opinion tell me that an infatuation, particularly from an intellectual "collecting’ mindset, may not lead one to truly knowing Jesus.

Soooo.. with all of that said.   More on discernment.

I was in the process of replying to a reader comment  from the Emergent Motivational Posters post this evening (ok, yesterday evening by the time I actually get this posted, but I’m filling it under yesterday); and we we’re exchanging some ideas and thoughts concerning discernment, in particular the Emergent Church doctrine/theology.  I won’t rehash the entire conversation here, but one of the questions or thoughts that came up was about how EC leaders, speaking for the whole I gather, have a warped sense of SIN and REGENERATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT is.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist taking at least a little step upon the the ‘ole soap box.  The short of what I understand from reading EC propaganda is that their "gospel" is along the line of social transformation with a jesus twist.  Yes, no capital "J" on that jesus, because he is not the same Jesus that I read about in the Bible or pray to.  The jesus of the EC seems to be everyone’s homie, that’s just happy to have been  able to be crucified.  Not really sure why he was pleased to be crucified as the EC doctrine, or at least Rob Bell seems to not make it clear that the purpose of the crucifixion was to redeem us because of OUR sins against him.  For more in depth reading and commentary, I suggest heading over to Apprising Ministries headed up by Ken Silva.  You’ll find plenty of informative posts concerning EC doctrine and it’s leaders there.

Anywho… one of the comments by the reader regarding our discussion of the EC’s failure to comprehend the gospel was along the lines of a paraphrased passage: "Be ye transformed".   The Bible passage that came to mind for me is from Romans:

Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Kind of hard to understand God’s holy and sinless agenda if your trying to approach Him from your naturally sinful and unregenerate perspective, don’t you think?

Grace and peace be with you.