Three sheets to the wind...I wish it be September 19th; shiver me timbers! Really like t' go 'unseaworthily round talk'n like a Pirate. What be more blistering fun than talk'n an' dress'n like a Pirate.
May be tooblunderingly old t' join th' festivities.
As followers o' Christ yer Cap'n be speakin, "Handsomely, all hands on deck!" Shark bait be tip-toein roun' me ship, wait'n to be sent to Davy Jones' Locker.
Blimey! The lookout has spotted enemies wit' his spyglass. Some of ye lads an' lassies need yer faith swabbed and hoisted like th' jolly roger on me ship! Some of ye got blackspots. There'll be no pillagin' of yer souls aft I'm don' with ya. It'll be ye most expensive swag 'n yer arsenal.
To survive on th' seven seas ye need to get yer grub on less ye feed the fish...all me sea dogs know, "dead men tell no tales". Time fer th' singin' of a shantey, "Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum; a pirate's life for me!"
[Today's English Version of the introduction: Hello everyone. I wish it was September 19th because I want to talk like a pirate; even better, talk and dress like one. I might be too old for that. As followers of Christ, I'm calling you to increase your faith because the enemy has been noticed by one of our men keeping watch. Some of us have already been marked as easy prey, but there'll be no stealing of your faith after I'm finished with you. Time to fill yourself with more spiritual food because everyone knows if you're not alive, every word you'd speak is a word you "never" said.]
Dear God,
Thank ye fer this day and me many blessings.
Argh-men.
Who has not ever been fascinated with Pirates at one point in time during their life?! If that's you, sadly to say you're nuthin' but a landlubber (i.e. non-sailor). It's kewl though. We forgive you...no walkin th' plank fer ye.
There's a lot to be learned from Pirates, specifically how they tend to approach their quest in searchin' for buried treasure, being the most notorious crew on the high-seas and simply mastering the ability to sail with proficiency across the waters. Much like Pirates we should tend to approach our faith journey in a similar manner. Even if you aren't a person of faith, you're on a life journey and you'll want to be sure that you have a pirate-esque approach to how you live your life. For this context we're "good" Pirates, so we won't go around pillagin' from others :-).
A Renewed and Genuine Higher Calling of Faith #argh
Argh
1. An exclamation of annoyance, exasperation, or other negative factor.
2. Sound made by a stereotypical pirate
If you haven't had a chance to check out some REAL truth talking about homosexuality and the Bible, make sure you check out Gomer pt 1 and pt 2. These entries touch on some commonly heard themes around this "controversy", but even more so provide a path to action, a path not often taken by people who should be on that path (e.g. Human Beings, Christians, and the like).
During the time immediately following President Obama's "Gayest Decision" back in May and some interesting things surrounding graduation, I began to sense a call to action which needed a response from believers. This call to action can be answered by just about anyone. When thinking about the Christian faith though, Christians have a duty to respond to this call in very specific ways.
Most if not all of the controversies, separations, disagreements that occur in the body of Christ find root in the varying levels of maturity amongst believers. Some of this has to deal with the fact that a handful of folks may continue to search deeper into the meanings of Scripture whereas a majority of us may (as my roommate puts it) be comfortable with "certainty" (e.g. This is good, that is bad.) or whatever our leaders tell us. There's nothing wrong with placing trust in our leaders and being shepherded by them; however, this is not a replacement for our own seeking, discernment, and study of what it means to be a people of faith.
Do you ever find it funny that older generations and younger generations can believe in the same thing yet view a situation in two different ways? That doesn't add up. We're reading the same thing, but not saying or thinking the same thing. Generational differences aside, this has (largely) to do with the level of faith.
When I'm speaking on "faith", I'm not touching on anything different than what Hebrews 11:1 says, "...is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"; however, what I am saying is that when one has a "higher" level of faith, a "grown up" level of faith they will tend to see things in a different light (i.e. Milk vs. Meat vs. Meatier).
God has called us (and has been calling us since the text was around) to a renewed and genuine higher calling of faith. He's tired of us going to church on Sundays thinking that it is enough to suffice. He deeply yearns for us to seek to know him as he knows us (Psalm 139:1). The Bible says to "draw close" to him and He'll "draw near" to you.
SN: I find that funny. We draw close and he draws near. Why doesn't he draw closer?! It's almost as if near has its limits...perhaps on purpose o_O
How is it that 2 people can read the same book yet lead two drastically different lives?! It's because of the measure of faith that one is exercising in comparison to the other. Don't get me wrong, this isn't about comparing ourselves with each other, it is however about being challenged to grow beyond what we've been told, "what little we know", and where we're at. You have to get into the Scripture and study for yourself. This includes referencing multiple Bible translations, researching the historical context/background, and gaining a better understanding for what the author is saying and why. Concerning homosexuality and different sexual orientations in general, studying the context/historical background of the verses used to condemn these alternate lifestyles will breathe life not only into your understanding but also your view on the "controversy".
One thing that remains true is this: People hate/dislike/disagree with what they don't know/understand. People also many-a-times won't seek to understand. This is how you get older folk who think they know it all based on "living" when they don't know squat...that's not being disrespectful to elders, just telling the truth. This might also lend to the idea that wisdom comes solely from living/experience, which isn't true. Back in undergrad I mentioned ever so carefully at a Bible Study that I had asked for wisdom the Summer leading up to my senior year in high school. I got #thatLook from many of my brothers sitting around the table. Why? Because they didn't understand that wisdom had less to do with age and more to do with application of knowledge and/or a better understanding of how to discern certain things. That's funny though because Solomon asked God for wisdom and he was given it; hmph...maybe b/c my name wasn't Solomon at the time it was a little far fetched.
How many times have you read a book of the Bible from back to front (e.g. All of Romans at once)? Take some time to do that. See what a difference it makes versus breaking it down by chapter or even by verse. This is how we sometimes run into doctrinal and interpretational errors because we don't have the full context of what's going on in this or that scenario.
For example, when new Christians come into the family, things are generally smooth (at first). Emotions are high. God tends to answer prayers about the "little things", allowing one room to grow in faith by having simple requests "answered". At some point they'll be faced with some type of adversity that will cause them to: 1) Give up, 2) Tarry (stay) a little while longer...and possibly give up eventually, maybe due to another adverse situation, 3) Face the adversity head on and grow from it.
Note: With option number 3 there are 2 sub-paths that can be taken. The first is for someone to be faithful during the test/trial, whereas the other is to allow the test/trial to literally "beat them up" without much of a fight until it is over. The latter does not equate to failure. Based on my experience it is better for one to go through adversity knowing that it will be over and being able to look back and see that you remained "strong" throughout the experience. Either way, to be in the confines of option 3 is a good place to be.
What's my point? Just as you see there are many different ways that we respond to adversity, likewise is our response to Scripture and our faith. Some people view Christianity as a "religion" with rules, regulations, statutes, etc. It's something that you do and not necessarily who you are. Others will say it's about a relationship. Hmm...how do you grow in a relationship? For you who believes that your faith is about being in a relationship, how well are you doing...and before you answer that you should get your partner's thoughts on it first (i.e. God).
One way to grow in your faith (and there are countless ways) is to try a different "approach". During my time in Pittsburgh while attending my church I learned various ways to pray and that praying the Lord's prayer in different tones/settings proved to change my thoughts about it (i.e. Something that I should do versus something that I believe is happening). For example, my Pastor suggested standing in a chair and shouting it or singing it as a song (which we often do in service). I couldn't begin to tell you all of the different spiritual disciplines you could check out that would help broaden your faith perspective. One thing that's been great for me over these last two years is understanding that we are all on a journey (I know I keep saying this), with various spiritual paths. Part of the spiritual paths include the things we can't see, don't see, and don't know. Science agrees with religion on this aspect. Majority of the Universe is made up of dark matter (I believe over 90%). If the universe is a reflection of the God who made it, this directly implies that there is much about God which we don't know. For someone to say they know God in his fullness (i.e. Complete) makes them out to be a liar. In an apologetic type of debate with what turned out to be a cultish group, one of the members disagreed that "we would never know all there is to know about God". I'm 95.9752% sure he's young in the faith...besides the fact that he's being misled by false teaching #anotherStoryAnotherDay.
I digress...
Specifically, one way to grow in your faith as I heeded to earlier is suffering. I know, I know...we don't want to suffer. Life should be good, fun...and I should be happy. Christ talks about the abundant life and being prosperous in our soul. Why must I suffer?! It's an easy question to answer: Suffering brings you closer to God. Sometimes suffering is self-induced because of decisions that we make which breathes life to sin. Other times there are situations and circumstances which occur beyond our control (e.g. Involving other people) and cause us to suffer, often times under the veil of some form of hidden persecution.
My question to you: "When's the last time you suffered as a Christian...no, seriously?!"
Is everything going good and has been going good for the longest? Do you feel like you're comfortable where you are in your faith? Have you become complacent regarding learning more about God, his Word and his Creation? If you've answered yes to any of these...you may be in need of some suffering.
I suppose the good thing is that suffering comes automatically for people, and moreso for Christians in general.
If suffering shows up to your front door; embrace it...also note that suffering doesn't last always, nor is it supposed to (that's too big of a sandwich to try and eat in one sitting).
Part of our higher calling is to move beyond the church. Too many of us are comfortable. We'll fund mission trips and the like, but not actually go. So much for putting our time where our wallets are. Anyone can give money. True worth is measured in time given. John Wesley once said something similar in that we shouldn't just send aid, but go with it. In all honesty there are days when people in foreign nations would rather have us be there than have the aid sent without us.
Before I close there's one thing I want you to know: Persecution is on its way...#uReady?
I suppose the next thing for you to do would be to learn what (true) persecution is...
Why?
The quick skinny:
- I'm tired of suffering by myself and getting all the benefits (i.e. Growth)
What does this mean for me? #theReader
No pain. No gain. #trueStory
For further insight:
Read-Suffering for Doing Good, Christian Suffering, Why We Should Embrace Struggle, Tired of Your Faith Being Tested?
This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs)
Use your KEYS
- Know that suffering is inevitable
- Expect to grow from your suffering; even more so when you fight during the trial
- Your level of suffering may very well determine your amount of growth
- Stay focused and don't lose hope (perseverance->character->hope)
Challenge
- Search your current life situation for areas that you might be struggling/suffering in. Is there a possibility for growth from this? If so, how do you expect to grow from it (maybe a question after it's all over)
