Ive had several people ask me over the last several weeks if everything has been alright with me, due to my change in views on well, just about everything. So, I figured I would dedicate an entire post to that! A few years ago I set out on a mission to present and live nothing short of an authentic Gospel. Then in January of this year, I was at Books A Million looking for a new bible, because I was about to preach somewhere and wanted to use a different translation. So I picked up a New Living Translation of the bible, and read this from John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. When I read this, I was shaken to the core. It seemed like, and Im not quite sure why, everything began to unfold. It felt like I was beginning to see Jesus for the first time. It was like being born again, again. I began to see that God did not pour His wrath out on Jesus, but that Jesus revealed Gods love that is bigger than the universe. And, on the cross, He destroyed sin. The blood did nothing to God, the spilled blood of Christ reveals that God has always loved us and seen us as worthy of His own life, so that our focus would no longer be on just not doing wrong, but a vibrant, full, creative life with Him (John 1:14; 3:16). That to some may seem like a petty thing (not the Tom kind, either), but it completely obliterated my way of thinking. I no longer see God as a God who was super POd with humanity. I didnt see Jesus as the member of the Godhead who volunteered as tribute (Hunger Games reference) so that God wouldnt wipe us out as many do. Rather, I now see God as a completely loving Father (not just until you cross Him), who wrapped Himself in flesh to come reveal the fullness of His love. The teachings of Jesus are not just good ideas, but the way the Kingdom of God operates, and His teachings and ways of doing things such as turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor, etc. are the very ways of God Himself. My views on the end times have changed - in short, Gods people did an awful job of trying to figure out when and how the Messiah would come the first time, so we probably wont be do so hot on guessing when He comes again. My faith in works like Left Behind, the Blood Moons, and whatnot has been lost. Ive taken a very bold stance against anyone being de-humanized, whether it be due to religion, lifestyle preference, or their perspective. I dont fit in politically with liberals or conservatives. There are many other opinions that have changed because I see them as inconsistent with the nature of God revealed in Jesus. So, in the words of Queens frontman Freddie Mercury, Dont stop me now, dont stop me Cause Im having a good time.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 02:31:54 +0000
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