If you are not "worshiping the picture" of a man depicting Christ, then why are you having the picture?
Do you wish that picture was Him? Then you are pretending it is Him, a form of lying about God, since we know it is not Him.
Do you look longingly at it as if you were in that man's presence? If you are, then you are pretending it is Christ even though you know it is not....a form of worship.
Why would anyone want to "pretend" that a man is God? Perhaps without props the faith is weak?
God said we are not to make "images" of Him in the likeness of any art.
Acts 17:29 ""Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man."
2 Corinthians 5:7 "for we walk by faith, not by sight--"
If we need to see a picture of Christ to build faith then we lack faith. When we look longingly at a picture of a man depicting Christ, we are desiring that man in the picture who we know is not Christ. There were no pictures of Him.
Those who need any kind of artifact to feel close to God are demonstrating lack of faith.
I am told the word for worship denotes the way a dog looks at his master. When we look longingly at a man wishing he was God then we are worshiping.
Often, believers criticize Catholics for having idols while they have some of their own. Why would pictures of a man depicting Christ be worse in the Catholic church than in the protestant church? Why would a statue of a man depicting Christ be worse than a picture doing the same thing?
Perhaps we ought to burn those depictions of Christ, knowing that our faith will soar as soon as we release ourselves from the idols that have kept us captive. The more I depend on the Holy Spirit that lives in me, the less I need to see with my eyes.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Immense and Intense Pride
When we were children, if we were rebuked by an adult, we were ashamed. Even as an adult if we were rebuked by another adult, especially if they were older than we, we were ashamed.
But now the children are fighting back and the younger adults are disrespectful to their elders. It is appalling to say the least, no humility just immense and intense pride.
But now the children are fighting back and the younger adults are disrespectful to their elders. It is appalling to say the least, no humility just immense and intense pride.
Pride Goes Before Destruction
Our culture is into what I call the mantra, "what does it mean TO YOU" illness. Everything is interpreted in terms of what "I like", "I want", "I believe." Things don't have to make sense they just have to be what a person likes.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to reason with anyone any more. Any attempt to bring good sense to a discussion is quickly attacked to prevent any sadness or correction.
As long as someone "wants" to believe in something, it is now off limits as far as reexamination is concerned, what comes to mind is what the people continue with, no matter how much it is proven wrong.
I am appalled at the amount of "pretending" that goes on in our culture today. Everyone is into so much pretense that it is very difficult to tell who is serious, who is living a counterfeit life and who is genuine. One must get to know a person on a much deeper level, asking serious questions, while watching what emerges from them, to be able to see their response to challenges.
Those who refuse to be challenged on nearly any level, will display anger and even rage at the prospect that they may be wrong about something.
Psalm 37:8 "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."
Proverbs 15:18 "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
Proverbs 27:5 "“Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
Those who cannot tolerate a rebuke, raging to intimidate the one who challenge them, show great pride and an inability to be taught. These people remain spiritual babies if they have ever been born again.
2 Timothy 4:2 "“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Titus 1:13 "This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
The purpose of a strong rebuke is to expose error, giving the one who is rebuked an opportunity to realize their need and ask God to change their heart. The Holy Spirit will not grow a resistant believer, they remain in their foolishness as long as they resist the correction of other believers.
Those who think they are special without need of correction, are arrogant and foolish ones, who must appear superior to others, while all the time remaining ignorant, lacking good sense and spiritual growth.
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
"16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil."
When we resist the Holy Spirit promptings long enough, He stops speaking to us. When God sends others to correct or instruct us and we resist, then God will not keep sending people and He will silence His Holy Spirit, leaving us vulnerable to the devil and the consequences of our own pride.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to reason with anyone any more. Any attempt to bring good sense to a discussion is quickly attacked to prevent any sadness or correction.
As long as someone "wants" to believe in something, it is now off limits as far as reexamination is concerned, what comes to mind is what the people continue with, no matter how much it is proven wrong.
I am appalled at the amount of "pretending" that goes on in our culture today. Everyone is into so much pretense that it is very difficult to tell who is serious, who is living a counterfeit life and who is genuine. One must get to know a person on a much deeper level, asking serious questions, while watching what emerges from them, to be able to see their response to challenges.
Those who refuse to be challenged on nearly any level, will display anger and even rage at the prospect that they may be wrong about something.
Psalm 37:8 "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."
Proverbs 15:18 "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
Proverbs 27:5 "“Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
Those who cannot tolerate a rebuke, raging to intimidate the one who challenge them, show great pride and an inability to be taught. These people remain spiritual babies if they have ever been born again.
2 Timothy 4:2 "“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Titus 1:13 "This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
The purpose of a strong rebuke is to expose error, giving the one who is rebuked an opportunity to realize their need and ask God to change their heart. The Holy Spirit will not grow a resistant believer, they remain in their foolishness as long as they resist the correction of other believers.
Those who think they are special without need of correction, are arrogant and foolish ones, who must appear superior to others, while all the time remaining ignorant, lacking good sense and spiritual growth.
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
"16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 DO NOT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil."
When we resist the Holy Spirit promptings long enough, He stops speaking to us. When God sends others to correct or instruct us and we resist, then God will not keep sending people and He will silence His Holy Spirit, leaving us vulnerable to the devil and the consequences of our own pride.
The Elephant Remains in the Room!
It is clear that atheists have chosen to believe what they want because they don't want to be accountable to God. God says the evil man has no excuse we have all seen His handiwork in nature.
There is no such thing as a person who does not believe in God, there are only liars who want to pretend He doesn't exist. "The fool says in his heart....NO God!!!!!"
Psalm 14:1 "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, (There is) no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
The words; "There is" has been added, meaning that the fool says no to God, He knows God exists and refuses to acknowledge Him. You might say he refuses to admit to the "elephant in the room."
There is no such thing as a person who does not believe in God, there are only liars who want to pretend He doesn't exist. "The fool says in his heart....NO God!!!!!"
Psalm 14:1 "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, (There is) no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
The words; "There is" has been added, meaning that the fool says no to God, He knows God exists and refuses to acknowledge Him. You might say he refuses to admit to the "elephant in the room."
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