Thoughts
Before we get started, please realize that the ideas expressed here are in no way intended to be provocative. What you will be reading are the ideas, thoughts and ramblings of someone who simply wants to share what he thinks and feels about God’s word, with anyone. There is no affiliation with any Church, organized group or Religion, and the intent of these writings is merely to get you, the reader, to read the Book from which these views spring. Our hope is to share, and in sharing, help.
We, at F.B.S., feel that it is important t read the Bible for yourself and open communications between God and yourself on a personal basis. As we look around Christendom today, we find many denominations and groups proclaiming their particular brand of Christianity to be the "one," way. Which one is correct?
Because ancient Greek form was without punctuation, punctuation was later added by those who translated the original writings. This leaves the door to error open. But why do we have so many denominations today? The answer may just be found in Matthew 24:5. If we remove quotation marks from around the phrase, "I am the Christ;" the line takes on new meaning. Christ, then, may have been declaring that many will come and say that He is the Christ, and will lead many astray. This does not mean that they will lead people astray on purpose, but that they will lead them astray nonetheless. Hence, there would be many denominations, with many diametrically opposed to each other, or nearly so.
That is why it is of utmost importance for you to read the Bible for yourself, letting God speak to you directly, through His word, deciding for yourself, through His help, what is being said and what it means. If someone tries to tell you that this is the wrong approach, (and many will), just ask yourself what you think God's opinion would be on the matter.
Galatians 6:7 reads; "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap."
This is one of my favorite passages. It is both a warning and a comfort. A warning that the ungodly life is futile, and, better still, a comfort in the sense that no matter what we do, we cannot hurt God. I am glad that I could not, even unintentionally, say, hurt His feelings.
Eleven times. That's how many times that I find Jesus stating, (sometimes mildly surprised), that His disciples do not understand Him, or His Father, or the message. At one point He says to Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan." These and other instances lead me to wonder how much the people who surrounded Jesus actually knew Him or what He taught. And it also makes me wonder how much people today know Him. I mean, from the meager beginnings described in the Bible, thousands of "Christian," denominations have arisen, each different from the others and each claiming to know the truth. They can't all be right, but when queried each will staunchly defend their particular point of view.
Perhaps we should all read the Book and see what It says to us. There are those who say that the layman cannot understand the Bible and that it takes years of study to get the meanings set forth by God. Hogwash, we say! If this is God's means of communicating with mankind, then anyone willing to read it openly, as a child, should get the message.
No one can tell you what God is saying to you. You have to hear it yourself!!
Repent!
When I looked up the word, "Repent," in a few Dictionaries, the sense I got of the meaning of the word was that, when one repents, they feel sorrow for past deeds or misdeeds, as the case may be. Repentence, on the other hand, gives more of the sense of actually turning away from past behaviors or misdeeds and starting anew. Changing the direction of one's life for the better, if you will.
I bring this up, here, because, from what I can see, much of the New Testament message is to repent. John called for it in the wilderness, Jesus continued the call during His life and Peter continued on this same theme after the resurrection.
Repent! I think that many of us in this "enlightened," age have lost sight of, or are afraid of, or just don't understand, what this word means.
If Jesus is to be believed, then, "only God is good." If, "only God is good," then repentance should be the rule rather than the exception. It should be daily. It should be constant. And so I say, "Repent!"
The Lord's Prayer
In Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 the Bible gives us what many have deemed, "The Lord's Prayer." It is, in fact, the answer Jesus gave to His disciples when they asked Him how to pray, but we will call it, "The Lord's Prayer," here, for convenience sake.
Now, I bring this up for a reason. Most Religious leaders that I've heard throughout my life have explained, "that although this is what Jesus said was the way to pray, it, in fact, was not what He meant." They go on to explain that, "repeating 'The Lord's Prayer,' when praying, is, in fact, committing the mistake Jesus warns us against in Matthew 6:7 by using, 'meaningless repetitions, as the gentiles do.'"
It is our belief that this is not the case. It is our belief, the "The Lord's Prayer," spoken to God, acknowledges our understanding of Who is in charge, and enables God to make the changes that He sees fit. "The Lord's Prayer," is a prayer of faith. It is neither demanding or pleading. It is a statement of fact, which allows God to help. Because, remember, "your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him." When you pray, "The Lord's Prayer," you are confessing to Him and to yourself, that not only do you accept that this prior knowledge is true, you also accept His decisions concerning you, based on that knowledge. And that is what, "faith," is.
Now, this does not mean that you cannot converse with God on any number of topics and tell Him everything you know and feel, if you want to. I am sure He will enjoy the talk. And, this does not mean that you cannot cry out to Him when in need or shout His praises when the mood strikes.
But when you pray. When you are composed and serious and ready to pray; "The Lord's Prayer," is the way to go.
