Today, I had a very enlightening but frustrating encounter with some Christian friends of mine. I really love these people, but our conversation about living radical left me with a bad taste in my mouth and a heavy burden in my heart, a burden that weighed down the joy of a free and forgiven heart. I felt like Jesus--who promised, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)--was quoted as having said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will point out more areas where you are weak and heap further burdens on you and then chastise you for not being at rest."
Dan's comment: A good word considering all the finger pointing that goes around when the focus becomes imbalanced. When we become so focused on one aspect, we forget about God's call to glory. God desires our faith so that we can do the good works He has for us. But faith is dynamic, always there to empower the works that we've been assigned, if you call on it. Or as Ben hinted, sometimes that faith requires you to sit on your butt and wait it out, what ever it is God is requiring you to wait for.
A Major trait and 100% fact for any ‘new comer and/or saint’ to a Church as well as a group …you must be beaten down, cow down, and a very interesting story (Testimony) filled with juicy sins, wailing tears and above all helpless and down right stupid in the Word of God as well as stupid in your walk with God…if you step out of these requirements, bend over to take the ‘Left Foot of Fellowship easier’ or stand up straight and enjoy the ‘words of wisdom you’re not walking in love, and what denomination did you come out of (as you are shown the door for causing division….???? (smile)
By: Andrea on September 11, 2012
at 12:05 pm
New here. Some fine reading. My comment on the above article goes to interpretation. I believe some words we use in our walk as believers have been dumbed down. Faith as I understand it implies trust, personal trust and a deep rooted knowing. Yet I get the impression that to a lot of people, faith means trust that he exists, or rather belief that he exists. Having faith that the Sasquatch exists is not the same as knowing the Sasquatch is going to provide your meal tonight.
By: Keith on September 15, 2012
at 9:47 am
Sorry to use movies but the movie Indiana Jones and the last Crusade has a scene that so embodies faith. He looks through the opening and sees nothing but a chasm, steps out into what the mind says is oblivion only to have faith reveal, in the works (stepping out) the path to be taken.
Faith turns the wisdom of man into foolishness. But as you say, it’s more than just “believing”, it’s knowing….
By: godsfingers on September 15, 2012
at 10:12 am