Have we been emotionally screwed
By living in a culture
That constantly promotes
The rude, the crude, and the lewd?
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” –Philippians 4:18
People choose churches for many reasons — because of: the building; the youth program; the pastor; their comfort level with the sermons; the friendliness of the people; the popularity (coolness) of the church; the size of the church; the influence of their husband, wife, kids, extended family, or friends; doctrine; denomination; the worship leader; closeness to their house; etc. How did you choose a church?
So what is the most important reason for choosing a church (a reason that is often ignored)? God’s will. How about ignoring all your reasons for choosing a church (including the church you currently attend) and simply ask God to show you which church He wants you to be in?
If you listen to God with an open mind and heart, He will tell you what church He wants you to be apart of. And His answer will probably surprise you. It will most likely be a church that you wouldn’t pick for yourself and your family. However, if you have the courage to deny yourself, obey God, and commit to His church choice for you, incredible things will happen. Try it and see.
Should church services consist of humanly planned and directed programs or be supernaturally led by the Holy Spirit?
Experience Spirit-led, participatory church where people show and tell what God has done at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee 37207 — Sunday mornings at 10:45.
The Holy Spirit flows through people. If people are kept silent in a church meeting and only allowed to listen to a speaker (or read from a program), the Spirit is quenched (limited in what He can do). See 1 Corinthians 14:26
Popular writer, Rob Bell, wrote a book called Love Wins where he gives his views about Hell. I’ve not read Rob’s book, but here are my views of Hell uninfluenced by Mr. Bell.
I believe that Hell is a spiritual place of unrestrained evil as a result of the absence of God’s presence (not absence of religion or religious ideas, but of God, Himself). However, in the physical dimension, God is omnipresent — He is everywhere.
Therefore I believe that Hell exists in another dimension of reality where human spirits go when their body dies. (Quantum physics supports the existence of yet undiscovered dimensions.) That dimension consists of two places: Heaven and Hell.
The Bible makes many references to Hell as a place of fire. Flames of fire, however, are a physical, material reality. Therefore I tend to believe that biblical references to hellfire and spiritual fire are metaphors — that the spiritual dimension does not contain physical fire.
I believe that the use of the fire metaphor to describe Hell is to illustrate the pain and horror of Hell. So what, in the non-material, spiritual dimension could be as bad as burning? Unrestrained evil in human spirits.
All human beings have a strong tendency toward evil thoughts, words, and behaviors. However, there is much that restrains us — police, courts, fines, incarceration, conscience, public opinion, family, God’s voice in the human heart, consequences, tradition, love, fear of punishment in the afterlife, respect, fear of getting caught, etc. And yet, despite those many deterrents, evil still abounds in every human society.
So how evil would we humans be without any deterrents? For example, do you go over the speed limit if no cop is around? Do you lie if you think you won’t get caught? What would you do if there were absolutely no negative consequences?
After Katrina, when the police were gone, people looted like crazy in New Orleans. After the fall of Baghdad to the Americans and before order and authority had been reestablished, people looted and got revenge by killing their enemies. Without restraint, the evil within us humans is hell on wheels.
So imagine an afterlife in the spiritual dimension of reality where God, good, and all restraints to evil are gone. That’s Hell!
A famous quotation by William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, boldly repeats the words “I’ll fight!” His wife, Catherine Booth, preached Aggressive Christianity.
They challenged their followers to be spiritual soldiers, not passive spectators. But how do you fight spiritually. Here are some keys:
Train. — No straining in spiritual training; no spiritual gaining. “Train yourself unto godliness.” Begin to listen to and obey your inner coach — the Holy Spirit.
See trials and temptations as spiritual work outs. — “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Growing strong in life’s spiritual gym will make you a spiritual gem!
Say “Enough!” — Get rough and tough. Say “Enough!” to the devil’s stuff. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Follow the spiritual training manual. — Know & obey the New Testament. Daily do the dynamic deeds, don’t just cough up comfortable creeds.
Swing your spiritual sword. — Memorize and boldly quote Scriptures. Claim them. Aim them. Proclaim them, in your mind and out loud throughout the day and night.
Courageously take your mind for God. — “Whatsoever is true, honest, pure, lovely, of good report . . . think on these things.” Make your mind mind your Maker!
Heroically, take your physical territory for God. — Cast down the wrongful strongholds that you’ve placed around yourself! Start with your home, your car, your computer, your phone, and your office or desk. Aggressively get rid of all apps, books, music, movies, TV shows, internet links, objects, conversations, pictures, etc. that contain any ungodliness or immorality.
Attack the darkness; go on the offensive; boldly and creatively speak the truth in love. — Be the spiritual salesperson, not the passive prospect. Talk back to society’s brainwashing. When you hear deceptive or dirty ideas, deny them! Declare, “That idea will mess you up,” or “God has a much more effective way to live than that — wanna know about it?” Boldly share God’s ideas in conversations, on social media, in blogs, in any place you can.
Pray with people. — Ask people, “May I pray for you?” You will be amazed at how many people will say “Sure.” Then pray with them on the spot. The Holy Spirit will move on them and they will be deeply touched. Go ahead, try it today.
Take your faith out of the church building and on to the streets. — A great way to do this is to prayer walk in your neighborhood with a Christian battle flag. (I use The Salvation Army Blood & Fire Battle Flag.) Just carry the flag, walk and pray, and share the Gospel with people who approach you and ask what you are doing.
Show and tell what God has done. — If you have ever experienced the working of the living God, then you have a powerful testimony. Don’t keep it secret. Come out of the closet and share it with everybody you can. Shout it on the house tops; text it; post it; send it; tell it!
If you live in Nashville, there is a spiritual training center at 225 Berry Street, 37207 (The Salvation Army Berry Street). Spiritual work outs are every Sunday morning at 10:45. No sermon, just praise and worship and then open sharing and testimony as everyday people show and tell what God has done.
