"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." -John 15:4
I was going through the old notes on my iPad and I stumbled across this.
Before my girlfriend and I started dating she wanted me to write out what my role as a boyfriend consisted of. I like to use this as a reminder of where my heart is in this relationship.
I believe that every man in a Christ-centered relationship with a girl should abide by these principles.
Not because I feel like it's right, but because these are all biblical principles for relationships.
We all tend to battle to be unique and to be ourselves, but most of us end up like these people in this video...
(Don't ignore it because it's in Black and White. Trust me, It's worth the watch.)
We live in a world where being 'unique' is stupid. Nobody wants to be unique anymore. If you aren't doing what everyone else is doing, then you are scared, you are weak, and you are worthless. We all want to be unique deep down, but on the outside most of us live just like everybody else.
There are so many crazy trends that are going around that make absolutely no sense, but if everyone is doing it, then we feel like if we do that we will be different.
I mean think about it! What trends do you see going around your school or communities? Is there any logic behind them? 9 times out of 10 they wouldn't make any sense.
The only people trying to be unique anymore are hipsters. The only problem with that is the fact that they always burn their tongues on their coffee because they try to drink it before it's cool. Badum Tss
Now, saying that, these trends aren't always wrong. Many trends are just pointless. But as our culture begins to dive deeper and deeper into the sinful ways of this world, into drugs, into physical harm, into bullying, into partying, we see the power of conformity taking over our lives. We all have a desire to become unique, but we also are pressured by this world to do what "everyone else is doing."
Through this conformity, so many people are living in regret, shame, and rejection.
Through this conformity, so many young people find themselves stuck in addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, and other things.
Through this conformity, so many of your mind's are altered to believe that uniqueness, what makes you you, what makes me me, what makes us us, is extremely absurd.
THIS IS COMPLETELY MESSED UP!
God made you the way that you are. With all your unique qualities. You don't need to put on a fake personality to please people. Never forget that the person behind the mask is far more beautiful than the mask itself. Be Real. Be Genuine. Be who God made you to be.
When we start to be ourselves, be unique, and be the person whom God made us to be, we can start saying no to the pointless things and trends that the world is constantly throwing our way and finally start to understand our purpose in life and ourselves.
BE UNIQUE! Because God made you that way.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will enter inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Timothy 1:9-11 "For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless, rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God."
This is how the Bible was written...
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will enter inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Timothy 1:9-11 "For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless, rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God."
What's wrong with this?
I've sat in churches where, the second a preacher mentions the sinfulness of homosexuality, people would begin to applaud, cheer, shout, stand up and dance, and praise Jesus. And I HATED IT!
So what makes Homosexuality different? Why does it seem that Christians today think of it as the "unpardonable sin" and that homosexuals are the only people who should never set foot in a church or even contemplate God's existence? Why does the world believe that Christianity = Homophobia?
Who is at fault here? Christians or the world?
I'd say both.
This world is embracing godlessness to a level of pride and Christians have no idea how to handle it.
But I think we should handle it the way Jesus did. "But Jesus never mentioned homosexuality..."
I totally just read your mind.
According to John 8, Jesus was chillaxing at a temple teaching some people about God. Suddenly, a bunch of religious men brought an "adulterous woman" to him and said, "This woman has been caught in adultery! The law of Moses tells us to stone her! What do you say?"
Now, we don't know the specifics of the adultery that this woman has been a part of, and I am not saying that it is a fact of what I am about to say.
But, what if the adulterous act that she was involved in was homosexuality?
Suddenly we want to find a nice stone and throw it right?
I mean, according to the law of Moses, anyone caught in adultery should be stoned. She fits the bill.
But Jesus knew, he knew that everyone holding a stone was guilty.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone."
I think we should treat gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transexuals, and everything in between the same way we would treat a porn addict or a compulsive liar. With love.
So, How are we to treat homosexuals in the church?
THE SAME WAY WE TREAT ANYONE ELSE!
Our churches are full of liars, drunkards, thieves, sexually immoral people, and everything else. That also includes you and me.
The church is not just a place of meeting for the righteous, it's a place of healing for the sick.
I feel like we are so quick to judge them that we forget to realize how messed up we are!
Have you ever known that, according to the bible, Heterosexual lust is just as sinful as homosexual lust! And how many people who claim to live Christian lives are swallowed by their own lust!?
We are terrified of things we do not understand and through our fear, we become hateful bigots who judge people because they are just as bad as we are, but in a way that we cannot relate to. How much easier is it to judge a homosexual than it is to judge someone who struggles with the same things we struggle with.
The church today is slowly making me ashamed to call myself a Christian, imagine how it feels to be called Christ.
Are we living with the love of Christ?
Are we showing that love to this world?
Are we glorifying him with everything?
Or are we just the hateful hypocrites that the world says we are?
