Be Ye Separate

It's Black and White!

Blessings!

   I pray this finds you all well.

   I am recovering nicely although I do tire out easily but this too shall pass:)

   Over this past week the girls and I have been doing a bit of studying and searching and studying some more. Here's what our ponder finally produced...

   THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "CHRISTIAN HUMANIST"!

   It's a pretty basic oxymoron. One cannot serve both God and Mammon. Cut and dried it's not possible to be both at once. How do I know this? I tried!

   You see, I came from a jaded past. It's past and I don't look back since the Lord has forgiven me and helps me to move on. Like Paul, I do not look back and live in my past mistakes, I look back to see how far I've come and rejoice in it:)

   I was one of those people who believed in the philosophy of "Live and let Live". I wanted my children to "experience" reality. For our family to be the bulwark of all walks of life. I wanted to accept people and their lifestyles and teach my children that it was alright to have "alternative" lifestyles as long as they didn't "recruit" us and as long as WE didn't go that way. Make sense? Right:s Sooooooo, my children had the idea that life was simply a place to accept everything as "relative". (Ooooooo, there's that bad word again) Truth, choices, practices...all relative.

   It's been many years since I had that outlook on things. I am so very blessed to know now that Truth is not relative at all. It's a black and white issue. It's either Truth or it's not. No in between.

   Abortion is not simply a choice, it's murder! It's killing with intent. It isn't okay for you but not okay for me. That is a mindset that plagues so many women today. There were several women in our old church that believed the same thing.

   Borrowing something without asking is not just a choice, it's stealing! It isn't okay for you but not okay for me. Children learn this at an early age. They take something that doesn't belong to them and when caught they say there were only borrowing it. We come up with a calm and flowery way of helping them understand that we don't borrow without asking instead of calling a spade a spade...it's stealing!

   In the light of all the controversy about certain books/authors, I know many "Christian" families that have taken the stand that the Harry Potter books are benign. I'm not saying that reading fairy stories and fantasy is a bad thing (within reason) but when there are hidden meanings in so many things it's no longer benign. It's like a cancer that goes undiagnosed until it's too late. I know... that cancer destroyed my eldest children. My complacency over certain books, movies, activities all led to the demise of my eldest children. I take full responsibility. I will have to answer to my Lord for it once day.

   Listening to crass jokes isn't just a choice, it's "keeping company with the corrupt". Our human nature causes us to find humor in such things. Our desire is to be part of something and to be accepted so we tend to follow like sheep to a slaughter, unaware of the danger ahead.

   Homosexuality isn't just a choice, it's an abomination! It is our desire to be accepting of people and meet them where they are. Many professing Christians will say that it gives them chances to witness to these folks and to share their faith. It took me many years to realize that these folks knew my faith, they have heard it all before and not just from me. They were accepting me just as I was accepting them. Humanism.

   Cults are not just a choice, it's pagan! Worshipping nature, rituals and ceremonies, among other ungodly things, is not of God. There is no such thing as "white" vs. "black" witches. The bible teaches us that sorcery, witchcraft, pagan rituals, pagan ceremonies, worshipping anything but God is wrong.

   As Christians we cannot walk a line. We cannot be fence sitters. We MUST take a stand for our faith and be firm in our desire to serve our Lord. We must walk away from that which is corrupt. We cannot be humanists because it's not okay! Those things are just as wrong for them as it is for us. If we keep company with it then we are showing the world that we condone it. We Christians have become afraid of causing upset or offending the ungodly. Our voices are being silenced and we are welcoming it by being complacent.

   I have come from the valley and I am so blessed to look back and see how far I've climbed with the help of my Father in Heaven. He has brought me to this place on the journey to the cross and I am humbled. I pray that I will always shout His Name and never allow myself to be silenced by worldly ways.

   I do not appologize if this has offended anyone. I do pray that we Christians will take a stand and be firm and unwaivering. I pray that the Lords will is done in our lives as we journey forth into the world about us. I pray that we will no longer consider humanism over Christianity. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It's black and white!

   God bless each of you this day and may the Lord keep you and make your journey swift and your burdens light.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

I appreciate your thoughts and your stand..

{ 12:25, Sunday, October 21, 2007 } { Posted by momma25js }

I believe you are so right and hope that the other Christians feel the same as we do.. Most of us have a double standard on things and it is time to stand up and take the LORD's STAND NO MATTER WHAT.. THank you again
Marcia

~~Amen!
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 11:51

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{ 12:30, Sunday, October 21, 2007 } { Posted by Kitty }

As usual, inspiration! I have to admit that I tend to maybe "sit on the fence" like you said, but Im not sure if that is what you call it.
I have the attitude of "as long as they don't do it in front of me or mine, I will let God handle them." Do you know what I mean. I live my life and let them live theirs knowing that what some do is wrong in the eyes of God, but try not to judge them knowing that He will have the last word in their lives. Is this what you were talking about? Is this sitting on the fence? I sometimes have a hard time speaking up when I know someone is doing something unGodly, I guess Im scared of upsetting people, yes Im a wimp who doesn't want any trouble. Is this wrong too?
I would like to know your thoughts on this. I will check back soon to see what you've said.
Kitty

Blessings Dear Kitty!
I see "fence sitting" as folks who go to church on Sunday, live life on the "wild side" during the week, not standing firm but waivering side to side because it all "sounds" good. I wouldn't call your way "fence sitting" but rather not being invovled in it. Unless I'm misreading it:)
What I mean is, we sit the fence if we KNOW that certain things are going on (even if it's not happening when we are present) but we don't take a stand to denounce it and remove ourselves from it. Does that make sense?
An example: I had a neighbor that was homosexual AND an avid user of marijuana for "medical purposes". Neither was done in our presence. However, I knew that the "medical purposes" was simply an excuse to do what they were doing as I had witnessed (and had it confessed to me by this person) that they were not at all ill and in need of it. They also partied hard and abusing themselves with their partying.
I finally felt that I needed to confront this person. Hard as it was, when we were visiting (they would come over often to just "shoot the breeze") I got it out in the open about how I felt and boy the fireworks! I knew they would be angry and I said so. But it had to be done.
The entire town (120 folks) knew what I knew about this person. My children knew. If I wouldn't allow my children to do such things then I couldn't very well show them that I condoned it by inviting it into our home.
It was a sad parting but I knew it was the right thing. I didn't judge this person at all. It isn't for us to judge a mans heart but...Ezekiel 44:23 says, And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
It's important to understand that one can judge a wrong or ungodly thing and not judge a persons heart. It's our duty as Christians to know "Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
This is not to say that we need to sit and point out everyones wrongs, Lord knows we have enough of our own...Matthew 7:5 "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." It doesn't mean we need to have confrontations but we do need to discern things and put those things away from us and our families. Sometimes that means separating ourselves from friends and family members too.
I do pray that this made sense:) I am not so very good with words and getting my meaning across at times and pray that Gods words are spoken here:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 15:49

Great post

{ 13:52, Sunday, October 21, 2007 } { Posted by rashel }

I think this was a great post, thank you for sharing it.
Blessings,
Rashel

~~~I am blessed!
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 11:51

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{ 14:18, Sunday, October 21, 2007 } { Posted by Kitty }

OK now I get it. I would have to say that I guess I am a little guilty of not opening my mouth when i know a friend is doing something not right. I tend to just want to keep the peace. I opened my mouth once to a friend and lost her for years.
Thank you for addressing my comment and thanks for words of wisdom. You are a great source of peace here on the HSB.
Kitty

~~~Sometimes sacrificing what we cherish on this earth for what we cherish in Heaven will bless us beyond measure.
And thank you, you bless me:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 11:53

I so need this right now!

{ 20:54, Monday, October 22, 2007 } { Posted by savdn4gvn }

(((SISTER LORI))) Oh dear sister.............you have been blessed in such a way that is most inspiring to many. God Bless you for that! As I told you, I am not always good at words or writing..............but my heart is "in the right place". God knows my true and loving heart.
~Carrie

~~~You are a sweet friend. I am blessed:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 11:56

WOW

{ 11:22, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 } { Posted by Chas }

Wow, great post... I am glad to hear that you are feeling better and I hope you feel better and better!!!
Blessings to you my friend!

My Cup Runneth Over...
Chas

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{ 20:57, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 } { Posted by stitchnchick }

Hello dear friend!

I am so grateful that you're better now! I haven't been online much and was sad to find that you've been so ill. (Mothers don't have time to be sick you know!) I'm doing some better myself, though we're just now going into the nasty cold and flu season, so I had better brace myself!

Thank you SO much for this post. I stand in total agreement with you. My sister and I have been discussing this very thing and I'd like for her to read this as well. Thanks for stopping by to visit me~ you always make me smile. :o)

(I should have some pictures of the upholstery job up, soon!)

Amy

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{ 19:38, Thursday, October 25, 2007 } { Posted by PrairieLady }

Excellent post!

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{ 07:56, Friday, October 26, 2007 } { Posted by cdorsey }

Great post! Thanks so much for sharing.

Catherine

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{ 06:41, Saturday, October 27, 2007 } { Posted by LivingSimple }

Its so good to see others standing for what is right..You are a true blessing to me!

Hugs-
~Kris

GREAT POST

{ 12:03, Saturday, November 3, 2007 } { Posted by Jeannie }

I am so glad I stopped by your blog, this post was very inspiring for me, You made such valid points! Its true alot of folks use the attititude of " Party like H*ll today and make right with GOD on Sunday..... For me now( I know where I have been in my past too) I question people with this who have that kind of attitude, What if your Sunday became today( in the sense of that person dies and its on a tuesday ect) and your standing face to face with the Lord, what excuse are you going to give him?