What I am witnessing amongst the generation around me is a fresh love for God! I am loving being around people who have a desire for Jesus and long to see Him lifted up- being around that freedom- because in that atmosphere His Spirit can move freely, and where the Spirit of the Lord is... there is LIBERTY!!!
However, there's another thing I have also witnessed. A type of religious mindset that does not come in the form or shape of a tambourine, a big hat, no perm or earrings - but one where somebody has an experience and expects others to live according to that experience also.
I write this blog- not to say just voice opinion,but for us to walk in such a way that we carry that fresh love for God- not any condemnation. Remember Christ came not to condemn but to save, and it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance - but when we start to place restrictions on people - 'they must do this, they must do that' we are hindering them from seeing the goodness for God.
The type of mindset I have seen is a sort of over-zealousness ... "Hold up no she didn't! She said you can't be over-zealous"... lol stay with me hear people, please read what I said again- 'a type of over-zealousness'.. it's like the argument, can you be over spiritual? But that's a whole nother blog! Some might now say "In Titus it says we are to be zealous".... sho' nuff it does say that :) ....
It says we are to be zealous for good works, or totally committed to good deeds! Let me clarify why I point this out. A lot of people get zealous over things that do not come under that category and get upset with Christians when they are also not zealous for the same things. We should encourage each other to be eager to do things, not condemn each other to do so. I like how Colossians puts it - Colossians 2:16-23
16-17So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.
18-19Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us.
20-23So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
We make the faith complicated when we tell people they must live by our standards! And if you find you are on this walk but living according to somebody else's standards! Get out now!
Two great commandments that was left for us- Love God, Love people! It gets complicated when we do anything other than that- and I blog this, because that is what I see.
So guys in conclusion ( and this is my first blog so please forgive the rough edges :p) let us walk in love towards one another! encouraging and edifying each other in our walks...not imposing on people our standards but pointing them in the direction of Christ, the author and finisher of our faith :) Walk in the freedom of Christ :)
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