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Tag Archives: spiritual

Spiritual but not Religious

15 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by Ron Thomas in Bulletin Article, Faith, love, Presumptuous

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

committed, love, religious, spiritual, Willie Nelson

I once listened to an interview Dan Rather had with Willie Nelson. Dan asked Willie if he was religious. Willie replied he was not, but he was spiritual. This was an interesting answer, but not sure what that means. What does spiritual mean? In Willie’s case, it does not mean religious, though he might have some religious inclinations in him. Google defines it as relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. To me, this definition is not helpful. Relation to or affecting the human spirit? This is another way of saying something like, “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth” (Prov. 30:12, ESV).

This boils down to: “I don’t want to commit myself to the Lord and His way of thinking and doing. It demands too much of me, so much that I simply don’t have time, neither do I want to take the time to adjust my life to comport with His.” Do you know of many people like this? I do.

People who think and operate this way will be the first to tell you they love the Lord. Yet, in spite of the words they use, their “I love the Lord” life does not correspond to the teachings of the Lord they declare they love; thus, they give the Lord a partial commitment. The Lord demands total commitment, not partial (there is no such thing as partial commitment). Those who love the Lord, on purpose, separate themselves from the ways of this world.

Those who are “partially” committed know the Lord desires more from them. In order to bridge the gap between where one is at and what the Lord desires, they apply an ointment of their own making. This ointment allows them to think they are spiritual, though not religious (as the word is commonly understood). Though one may not be as “bad” as Willie Nelson’s spiritual outlook, they still choose a different approach than the Lord’s. “I love the Lord, but I love Him as best I can given the circumstances I am in, even if that means I can only obey Him some of the time” is adopted. The “I am spiritual” outlook says things like, 1) My husband is not supportive of me attending church. 2) My children have so many activities, activities that I want them to have a part in. 3) I don’t want my kids to stand out from the crowd, because they made fun of, and I know how I felt when that occurred to me so many years ago. 4) Work takes me away, and I must make a living. 5) I am tired!

On and on it goes.

On the other hand, the Scripture teaches, “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:57-62, ESV).

None of this applies to me! Perhaps it does much more than you think. How many, on judgment day, will say to the Lord, “But, Lord, though I was not religious (i.e., committed), I was certainly spiritual and did love you. Won’t you let me in?”

Perhaps one will hear on that day, “Why should I commit to you when you never did to Me? You committed to your work, your family, your charitable service, but never to Me. I did not fail to see what good you did, but I never saw what good you did in My name with My life controlling yours” (John 14:6). RT

I am a Mess!

17 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

baggage, burdens, emotional, spiritual

You are a rock with little to no emotions. At least, this is how some have interpreted your words, mannerisms, etc. It’s funny how when one looks at another person who seems to be a “rock,” there is wonderment by the one looking about “why can’t I be that way?” On occasion, some look at this so-called rock with a far different perspective: “Since you present yourself as a ‘rock’ on some sort, I don’t think you can relate with me and my own experiences.”

Interpretation. One struggles how to properly understand what he interprets in the words and actions (or the lack of each). Others will look at the very same thing and struggle not one bit. It is often the case that those who are quick to interpret negatively (regardless of the frequency of this actually being done) have internal negative interpretations of self. That with which one continually struggles is (or can be) debilitating. So pitiful and miserable does one feel that there seems to be no person who can be of any help.

We all have psychological baggage of some sort. Some have a good deal more than others. Whatever our baggage load is – why is it that we insist on carrying it around with us wherever we go? We recognize that it is too heavy and it serves no real productive purpose for those things that we are doing to today, so why the “carrying-case”? A counter reply to these two questions might be this: “On the contrary! Because of my experiences I am better able to handle events today than I was yesterday. I will keep my baggage, thank you!”

I suppose there needs to be a similar understanding in the words used. I use “baggage” as unnecessary emotional and spiritual failures (primarily) one carries. With this in mind, let me offer a couple of thoughts. First, the use of the word conveys a weight, sort of an albatross around the neck. You might be a very powerful person (emotionally and physically), but even with that, you are human and you will be worn down. You might last a little longer than someone else, but you will end up at the same location. Second, related to the first, the word “baggage” is that past experience that keeps one down in the spirits; it is a weight that is discouraging. It moves us to the point where we descend to the point of being immovable. In this context, this is not what Paul was talking about when he said Christians are to be immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58). It is true that my experiences of the past have certainly helped me to be the person I am today, even including my baggage. But I am tired of carrying some of that load. In fact, I am tired of carrying any of it! Aren’t you? I need to leave it in the baggage compartment. Better yet, I don’t even need to pack it.

The apostle Paul did not bring his baggage with him (Philippians 3:12-14).

Psychologically, we all address ourselves in ways that make us feel better. When I was younger, I played sports, lifted weights, engaged in activities that required some energy. Today, midway through my 6th decade, my sports playing is all but gone, my energy level is directed in more studious events, my lifting weights and aerobic exercising is more for health and less to compete. I address my psychology; I don’t want to be a mess.

The apostle Paul had, I am sure, more than just a piece of baggage he had to discard before he took the mission of Christ and made it his own. Surely, he was not different than you and me today. His baggage, perhaps, could have filled up a wagon cart pulled by oxen. Whether this was how he considered it or not, what he did consider is this: he could not serve the Lord in the way he wanted if he kept carrying things of the past that slowed him down.

Neither can we.

Paul’s solution needs to be ours. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NET).

Summary of Romans 9

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Israel, Romans 9, spiritual

Chapter 9 is Paul’s concern for the physical nation of Israel and their failure to receive what they desired. Earlier, he said there was much in the way of blessing from God to them in receiving God’s oracles (3:2). Now he resumes that thought, but brings it to an ending that is contrary to what the physical nation (Israel) anticipated. The blessings of God are His to give because of His sovereignty. In this context, the blessings God gave Israel were not because of any partiality God had toward an exclusive people (cf. 2:11, 16), but because of who He is, the Lord of all. In fact, though physical Israel is not in the Lord’s plan to save, it is still the case that Israel will be saved. The Israel in this case is spiritual Israel, all those who call upon the Lord, being children of the promise (9:6-7). Thus, His sovereignty is not exclusive to physical Israel, but includes all those who live on the earth (10:12-13). This includes Esau, Pharaoh and the salvation of the Gentiles. This point relative to the salvation of the Gentiles takes the reader into chapter 10.

Restoration in Africa

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

church structure, restoration, spiritual

Dear Ron

How are you, your family and the saints at Sullivan church doing? I am pleased to inform you that our University has satisfied all the conditions to merit a permanent license from the National Universities Commission. We have passed the probation stage. Thank you for your prayers and support for this work.

I have attached a copy of the letter from the Commission here.

There is a question some one asked me and I could not deal with it satisfactorily. Will the church in our age or oncoming age restore the church fully before Christ comes? It will be a pleasure to hear from you. Greet the saints there for us. We plan to leave for Nigeria, the Lord willing at the end of this month.

In Christ

*************

Here is my reply to him:

Moses, Thank you, brother for the information. It is great to hear and it is great that the work is going that good for recognition.

With regard to the question, it is my view that the structure of the church is clearly restored. That is, the NT order of elders, deacons, and the various members of the church carrying their load to serves the Lord in the congregational setting. If a congregation is fortunate enough to have a preacher who works alongside the members, then that is all the better (a lot like Paul left Titus in Crete or Timothy in Ephesus).

[There is another point of emphasis in the biblical idea of restoration. Just as it is important for the structure of the church to be patterned after the teaching of the New Testament, it is also important that the gospel plan of salvation be restored to its rightful place. It is a shame of immeasurable tragedy when someone will be taught that to become a Christian one needs to pray the “sinner’s prayer.” This is nowhere taught in the New Testament, and for those who teach as much they teach falsely.

In fact, with regard to the teaching of the New Testament, the apostles taught that love of God is the foundation of salvation (Matthew 22:34-40). Build upon that, one needs to hear the word (or read) of God, believe that which the Lord said (Acts 16:14; 16:31), allow that belief to change one’s thinking with regard to the life lived. This is called repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31). This belief and repentance expresses itself in a willingness to confess the name of Jesus, calling upon God to save. When a person calls upon God to save, that one who hears God will submit to and associate with the Lord in the death, burial, and resurrection, called baptism (Acts 22:26; Romans 6:3-7).

This is the idea behind the restoration movement. Getting back to the Bible in matters that the Bible teach.]

Now, if there is a compromise of NT teaching, then to that degree (or point) there is no proper restoring taking place.

In another respect, with regard to the life of the individual saint, there will always be a “work in progress” with regard to restoring NT Christianity (cf. 1 Peter 2:21-25). Along this line, we all rely on the Lord’s mercy to make up the difference (for we lack much) when He returns.

I hope this helps, brother. If I can be of any further help, I will be at the ready to serve you.

Have a great day, brother!

 

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