Wanna Be a Steader!

Commenting on Jacque's Blog...

One of my favorite bloggers is dear Jacque Dixon.  Like many of us, Jacque has more than one blog (http://www.homeschoolblogge.com/Jacquedixonsoulrestes and http://dixonhomestead.com/Jacque/?p=215) and sometimes puts the same thing on each...and sometimes doesn't.  If you go to the "dixonhomestead" link, PLEASE read her post "Who Do We Christians Think We Are?"  It will really give you some food for thought...and something to pray about.  

Well, you know me, I can't resist a good chance to leave a comment!    So, below is the comment I left.  I would be interested in your thoughts - either on Jacque's post or on the thoughts in my comment alone.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Well said...heartbreakingly said.  If anyone doesn't recognize themselves in everything you said, they are lying to themselves.

I'm wondering at the age of your friend...it seems to me that a portion of the teens and 20-somethings who are professing Christians find themselves living with a love for the Lord - but - are standing ankle deep in the very dangerous pond of the world.  They are trying to live some sort of moral limbo.  JUST THIS YEAR 3 unmarried couples of our 20yodd's friends (2 from our own church!) have become pregnant.  It is staggering.  One couple just got married 2 weekends ago (she's almost 4 months along), one couple are trying to decide whether they love each other enough to get married or will adopt out the baby (she's 5 months along) and one couple has ALREADY moved in together and will marry after the baby gets here in August.

I have to be honest here and say that even though my heart goes out to these young people, it frightens me.  One of these couples, in particular, profess to be Christians but see nothing wrong w/the way they are living...it's just sort of hiccup in their plans.  My dd's are trying to be good witnesses to these couples, but my whole family is finding it hard to love and support them and NOT appear approving (although 2 couples are utterly repentant and have drawn closer to the Lord through this).  There are times when I'm afraid that THEY might not see the difference. 

My prayer is that our dd's are storing all of this in their hearts and seeing for themselves the hardship and the hard lessons learned - no matter how their friends might try to "romaniticize" it - and see and understand that the Lord's ways are just and true.  That what 'the world' sees as God's ways being a lists of 'don't's', our dd's will see God's ways as a protective hedge that will give you blessing and freedom INSIDE the hedge.  That stepping outside of God's hedge of protection ALWAYS leads to grief and hardship...no matter what the sin. 

They have walking, talking, living, breathing examples of the consequences of the arrogance of sin...even in anyone, any of us, that they love.  My prayer is that while they are watching others learn the hard way that they will not only store those lessons up in their hearts, but that they will be compassionate and forgiving.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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01:57, 2008-Jun-25 .. Posted by gokings13

My reply would be:

2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Verse 2: PREACH THE WORD, not a monologue that makes people comfortable and laugh. Not some watered down version. Not a 'dumbed down' version. Not some "kids" version. PREACH THE WORD.
BE PREPARED. Don't be asleep. Don't be afraid. Don't be alarmed. Don't be caught of guard.
CORRECT. Be ready to call sin what it is.
REBUKE. Be ready to purge sin.
ENCOURAGE. NOT the sin......encourage THE WORD. Encourage His Words. Not Beth Moore's words. Not Rick Warrens words. Not Kaye Arthur's words. ENCOURAGE GOD'S WORD!!
GREAT PATIENCE / CAREFUL INSTRUCTION
That means, teach THE WORD, not some cool 'supplement' not some latest "program". THE WORD.

Verse 3. This verse tells you what you get when you deviate from the Word. People want to be 'entertained', hear a 'feel good message' and do a little service and walk away feeling like they have done something big. Barf. This is what we get when we water it down. This is what we get when we make "church fun and exciting and give candy and treats for attendance". This is what we get.
Luke Warm chrisitans.

Verse 4: Myths? You mean like christmas? easter? Myths like 'all people are basically good'? Myths like 'everyone goes to heaven, no good god would send anyone to hell"?
Myths like that? Myths like: "if you do good works you 'get in'? Myths like evolution? Myths like global warming?

We are getting a belly full of what we have asked for.
Humility? Fear of God? Reverence for Houses of Worship? Respect for our Elders? They don't exist any more because churches are more worried about 'numbers, attendance and catchy programs' than they are about saving those who are CREATED IN HIS IMAGE from a real, real, hell.

That would be my reply.

Every day I spend time with a little girl, who is pregnant, unmarried, and unbelieving. Every day, I try to show her Jesus. And when she asks me a pointed question, I tell her TRUTH........and give her Scriptures.*I* don't judge her, but if the Scriptures convict her? That's between her and God.......and that's the way it should be!!
Laura

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02:56, 2008-Jun-25 .. Posted by wannabeone

WOOHOO!!! Amen, sister!!

KW<><

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06:23, 2008-Jun-25 .. Posted by Citygal

Jacque's post and your answer are both very thought-provoking. We are facing a few similar situations like this at the moment with family and some friends, and it is hard to know how to strike the right balance without appearing pious, but out of love for their souls. I always remember an old preacher saying once that the greatest sin is the rejection of God's Son - that all else is forgiveable, though it comes with consequences.
Very interesting post. I'll probably be thinking about it all day.
Rachel from NZ