Posted on 10/07/2017 7:56:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
My wife, Kasi, and I have five children. Our oldest two are both girls, eleven and six, and they both love to play with Play-Doh. They have all the colors and all the tools necessary to mold, shape and build anything their vivid imaginations can come up with. OK, now for a moment of confession. I love to play with them and create as well. It reminds me of my childhood, but my daughters often will put me in time-out when I mix the colors to create new ones. It's what I always did as a kid, but they can't stand it. "Daddy, you're ruining it!"
The reason we all liked Play-Doh as children is because we believed we could create anything we wanted. We'd mold, shape and bend. Plus, if we didn't like how it was turning out we could pick everything up, roll it in a ball, and start over.
I believe this is the same reason why so many people love to talk about Jesus, but don't actually read the Bible. In fact, we've all heard people say such things as, "I love Jesus, but I don't like the Bible. I have a deep respect for Jesus, but I don't agree with the Bible."
Is it possible that we are worshipping a Play-Doh Jesus? Meaning, the main reason we don't have an issue with Jesus is because it's a Jesus that we've created by our own imagination? We'll shape, mold and bend him to be what we want him to be. Then the very moment that particular Play-Doh Jesus no longer appeases us, we just roll him up and start over; we create a different Jesus more to our liking. When we do this we are not worshipping the Jesus of the Bible, but rather, a "Jesus" that we've created in our own minds.
The Jesus of the Bible will regularly disrupt our lives, call us to difficult things and stand in opposition to our personal preferences. He often does the opposite of what we think he should. Let's be honest. His holiness, His demand upon us to deny ourselves and His commandments to love others can all get pretty annoying in our pursuit of happiness. The Jesus of the Bible challenges our indulgences. He contests the egoistic fine art of "Looking out for #1." So, our natural inclination is to shape Jesus into something more palatable to our personal opinions and preferences.
Left to our natural devices, we don't want to be created in God's image; we want him to be created in our image. We don't want him to be the one in control; we want to be in control. We don't want him to be the potter and for us be the clay; we want to be the potters and for him be the clay our hands. We want to shape and mold our god to care about what we care about. We want to label him as a Republican or Democrat. We want to picture him as white, black or brown. We want him to be passionate about what we're passionate about. We want him to be angry about what we're angry about. We think he should tolerate what we tolerate.
If this idea of what you've created Jesus to be is what comes to mind when you worship, pray, sing, lift your hands, give, serve, and live, then ultimately that is idolatry. It is the worship of some created idol. You are worshipping a misrepresentation of the God of the Bibleone to whom you've simply attached the name "Jesus." It's sinful on our part, because it's not the true Jesus of the Bible that we're worshiping. If you truly love the Jesus of the Bible then you will also love the Bible that tells us all about him. We know nothing about the person and the life of Jesus apart from the Holy Scriptures. The extra-biblical things we think we know about Jesus are simply inventions of man.
Jesus said himself that we must worship in "spirit and truth," (John 4:24). An accurate view of him is absolutely necessary to authentic worship! So, who is this Jesus of the Bible? According to Colossians chapter one, he makes the invisible God visible (v. 15a). He is the first-rank over all creation (v. 15b). All things were created through him and for him, and he is the One who sustains all things (v. 16 17). He is the head of the church (v. 18a). He is the first-rank over death by his resurrection (v. 18b). In all things, he is preeminent (v. 18c). This means that Jesus surpasses all, ranks above all and deserves first place in everything. We're not the boss. He is. We're not the creator. He is. We're not in control. He is. We're not the potter. He is.
This is the Jesus of Scripture, so let us dive into his Word to discover who he is, and not rely on our own understanding. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding," (Proverbs 3:5). In knowing the real Jesus of the Bible, we'll begin to be passionate about what he is passionate about. We'll be angered by what angers him. We'll tolerate what he tolerates. We'll view things the way he views things. We'll live how he lives. This is the only kind of worship that transforms lives because it directs us toward the true and living Jesus!
At the end of the day, our opinions about him do not change who he is: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," (Hebrews 13:8). However, our faith in the real Jesus will absolutely change who we are.
Very bizarre. If true, this is an anecdote about some weirdo.
To start with, Jesus is mentioned all through the Mass. And sections of the Bible are always read out. No priest is considered as God, that would be a very strange and evil teaching.
Yeah, right. Uh huh.
The ironic part of it all is that when Jesus was on earth, the Jews were waiting for a warrior who would rule the world with justice. I believe that is why John the Baptist had to ask Him if He was the Messiah.
Today, people see Jesus as only a friend. Both groups of people need to read the Old Testament and the New Testament to get a grasp of the fact that Jesus is, in fact, the perfect apple that fell from the perfect tree.
He is God and all the names given to the Father are applicable to His Son. All the qualities that endear us to Jesus are also those of His Father.
Isaiah 43:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 You are My witnesses, declares the Lord,
And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
Because parts of the "so-called" bible are wrong and or false. For a critical read, try "The Fifth Gospel" by the Jesus Seminar.
(I know a lot here don't like my attitude, but that version of the Gospel brought me back to Jesus of Nazareth!)
Israel wrote the OT
and the NT was finished centuries before the papacy.
Bkmk for later
Makes sense why he could give sight to the blind, heal people of all sorts of ailments, lift up the broken-hearted, love the unlovable, help his neighbors and just be who he is for all to see and experience... and yet go wholly unrecognized. Worse, he downright angered all those who had false expectations and false doctrines.
Then again, Elijah was a fellow named John who said that he wasn't Elijah, even though Jesus declared that he was, so naturally that confused a few folks.
History repeats!
It is you who are ignorant for following the word of Man. Not just ignorant, blasphemous.
I have met people like this, those who claimed to have accepted Jesus and refused to read Scripture and did not approve of or accept much of what was written in it.
So you’re accusing prophetic of lying?
Why?
Cause it makes Catholicism look bad?
Based on what I was taught about the Bible and priests in my growing up years in the Catholic church, his comments are very believable. It meshes very well with what I was taught. It is much along the same lines.
I’m not following any word of man, but you obviously do.
That is your right, however don’t denigrate other Christian denominations just because they don’t believe as you do; that would be very Muslim of you.
I don’t base my belief in God or Christ in any denomination. Organized denominations are contrivances of men who will tell you that you will never be saved or will go to hell for not believing as they do. That is my belief and my right under our Constitution. If I chose not to believe at all, that would also be my right.
We all believe in the same God and same Son of God. If you want to believe in what some man tells you to believe or which is the right path to follow then that is great; just don’t let the preaching of men turn you into a Pharisee.
Also as I sat with the young lady and shared my faith with her and my freedom in reading the Bible and the fellowship I had with the brethren in Bible study and just simply reading, praying fellowship etc outside of the orthodoxy of a formal church meeting, there was a clear hunger for more of what I shared.
Anyways, this incident was some yrs ago and it was a brief 10 minute conversation with a 24 yr old young lady who walked into my restaurant to order chinese food to go and Holy Spirit set it up for me to talk with her and point her to Jesus and the full freedom he gives.
She was stunned to say the least and gave me a look of surprise. When I saw that the name was accurate and it had struck a nerve I decided to downplay it as I had other customers in line and didnt want to embarrass them so I just simply told her to come back and talk to me in a few min after the line of customers goes away.
So after she decided to return to the counter to talk with me I asked someone to manage the desk as I took a few minutes to step outside to talk with her for privacy. As we stepped outside she was bombarding me with frantic questions "How do you know me? Have you been watching me? Are you stalking me ???" I answered her question as to how I knew her name (the name tag) as I flatly told her that I am not any of the above but there is a God above who loves her very much and cares for her.
There is a store in the complex where the ALTERNATE LIFESTYLES is hosted several times a week and they have the Rainbow Triangle emblems all over the place and she had just begun to attend there. So in those few minutes the Lord used me to speak those few encouraging words to her and she told me of some of her upbringing from her mother. I've never met them after and I'll didnt follow up with them to get a name, address or phone# and I'd probably never recognize them if i saw them again.
I Know I have been verbose, but I recount the background details as much as I can, and the essence of the encounter that the Lord setup and did was to express & share the Freedom & Liberty that his people has in Him. Its very clear that by the fact she was attending a meeting of those in the Alternate Lifestyles and the Lord directed us to have the conversation that He had HIS finger on her life.
Weird how people freak out when you guess their name from a key tag that they have out with their name on it.
But I’m glad you had the opportunity to talk to her and share Christ with her.
Oh; they've met a 'jesus' alright!
However; the REAL One said...
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible.
See, I have told you ahead of time.
Matthew 24:23-25:
Or MORMON...
Rome glommed their's from a bunch of Jewish writings and a bunch of LETTERS to early church congregations.
“Your own personal Jesus....”
That seems to be the SAFE way to bet!
(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche)
1 | Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive powerful graces. |
2. | I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary. |
3. | The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies |
4. | It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. |
5. | The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish. |
6. | Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying Himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise Him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life. |
7. | Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. |
8. | Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise. |
9. | I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. |
10. | The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven. |
11. | You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary. |
12. | All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. |
13. | I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death |
14. | All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ. |
15. | Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination. |
"The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem,
no matter how difficult it is, wheter temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families...that cannot be solved by the Rosary.
There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary."
Sister Lucia dos Santos
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