I hear people say...."Well, they don't go to my church, so they can't be saved."
"They use modern music, so they're not really saved."
"They use *that* liturgy and have candles and bells and stuff. You know, they're just all worshiping ritual so they CAN'T be saved."
"They're too formal." or "They're too let-loose."
"They use this prayer book and everyone knows that's not good."
"They use the wrong translation of the Bible...so you know...they are NOT part of the flock, that's for sure."
"That church has people who have tattoos. Or dress differently. Or. Or. Or. Or."
It is sad, really, how we think we can determine who is saved and who is not. Who is in the Redeemed..and who didn't follow Christ.
You think dress code has anything to do with it?
Dress code change from society to society, culture to culture.
You think worship style has anything to do with it? God demanded formality in one part of the Bible, and Christ taught the sitting, dirty masses casually at another.
You think a particular style of music is important? Isn't it the intent and purpose of the music that matters?
What are the basics of salvation?
As long as someone:
*believes the basic tenets of the faith (in our church we call it being a creedal Christian)
* trusts in Christ alone for salvation (and not works)
* doesn't believe that God is their personal butler/servant/genie or Santa Claus (for if we believe we can worship God to get monetary results..won't the devil just offer you a better deal?)
*repents from sin and attempts daily to walk with God as best they can
*and shows love of God and neighbor in their daily life
.....then they fit the rudimentary fundamentals of what it is to be a Christian.
But it is more than that. It is so much richer than that.
It is abiding in God. Resting in the Lord, living for the Lord. Being in awe and wonder and grace and dancing to the tune God has set before you because it is all your soul really wants to do in the first place.
Abiding helps you to value all the more all those around you, to treasure and cherish, because not only are they important to their friends and family, but they are made in the image of God...and thus are priceless.
Abiding lets you know that you don't deserve grace, but that God wants to lavish it upon you.
Abiding lets you know that while other people are fallen, so are you, and just as God called you, He seeks after them.
Abiding lets you just barely have a foretaste of the joy, peace and wonderment that God has in store for you, and already you are overwhelmed.
Abiding is where faith becomes all-encompassing. It touches every facet of your life. And you want it to do so.
And Abiding is humbling. Because when you rest in the Lord, you stop and consider all that He went through just so He could have *you*....How deep His love goes.
That Abiding allows you to stay with your Shepherd, through all of life's twists and turns, ups and downs, because you trust Him. You've been through valleys and mountain passes because you know Him. You walk through frightening medical procedures, and heart breaking family moments and stressful job experiences and you know...that your Shepherd will not abandon you. He will see you through this.
And you know that, because somewhere deep inside, you recognize His call, you know His heedings. His guiding hand and calming voice are what get you through those dark times, and make the joyous times even better.
Abiding lets you hear the Shepherd's call.
Then you realize, with a deep wave of emotion, that just because *you* don't recognize all of the other sheep in the Shepherd's flock, that doesn't mean He can't. That He hasn't, that He won't.
You may not be able to pick out the others that are His sheep, but He can. He calls them, just as He called you. They may worship differently. They may hum different songs, or wear different outfits.
But they're His.
And He'll guard them just as zealously and tenderly as He's watched over you.
Don't try and block other sheep from His pasture. There is plenty of room for all of us.
"They use modern music, so they're not really saved."
"They use *that* liturgy and have candles and bells and stuff. You know, they're just all worshiping ritual so they CAN'T be saved."
"They're too formal." or "They're too let-loose."
"They use this prayer book and everyone knows that's not good."
"They use the wrong translation of the Bible...so you know...they are NOT part of the flock, that's for sure."
"That church has people who have tattoos. Or dress differently. Or. Or. Or. Or."
It is sad, really, how we think we can determine who is saved and who is not. Who is in the Redeemed..and who didn't follow Christ.
You think dress code has anything to do with it?
Dress code change from society to society, culture to culture.
You think worship style has anything to do with it? God demanded formality in one part of the Bible, and Christ taught the sitting, dirty masses casually at another.
You think a particular style of music is important? Isn't it the intent and purpose of the music that matters?
What are the basics of salvation?
As long as someone:
*believes the basic tenets of the faith (in our church we call it being a creedal Christian)
* trusts in Christ alone for salvation (and not works)
* doesn't believe that God is their personal butler/servant/genie or Santa Claus (for if we believe we can worship God to get monetary results..won't the devil just offer you a better deal?)
*repents from sin and attempts daily to walk with God as best they can
*and shows love of God and neighbor in their daily life
.....then they fit the rudimentary fundamentals of what it is to be a Christian.
But it is more than that. It is so much richer than that.
It is abiding in God. Resting in the Lord, living for the Lord. Being in awe and wonder and grace and dancing to the tune God has set before you because it is all your soul really wants to do in the first place.
Abiding helps you to value all the more all those around you, to treasure and cherish, because not only are they important to their friends and family, but they are made in the image of God...and thus are priceless.
Abiding lets you know that you don't deserve grace, but that God wants to lavish it upon you.
Abiding lets you know that while other people are fallen, so are you, and just as God called you, He seeks after them.
Abiding lets you just barely have a foretaste of the joy, peace and wonderment that God has in store for you, and already you are overwhelmed.
Abiding is where faith becomes all-encompassing. It touches every facet of your life. And you want it to do so.
And Abiding is humbling. Because when you rest in the Lord, you stop and consider all that He went through just so He could have *you*....How deep His love goes.
That Abiding allows you to stay with your Shepherd, through all of life's twists and turns, ups and downs, because you trust Him. You've been through valleys and mountain passes because you know Him. You walk through frightening medical procedures, and heart breaking family moments and stressful job experiences and you know...that your Shepherd will not abandon you. He will see you through this.
And you know that, because somewhere deep inside, you recognize His call, you know His heedings. His guiding hand and calming voice are what get you through those dark times, and make the joyous times even better.
Abiding lets you hear the Shepherd's call.
Then you realize, with a deep wave of emotion, that just because *you* don't recognize all of the other sheep in the Shepherd's flock, that doesn't mean He can't. That He hasn't, that He won't.
You may not be able to pick out the others that are His sheep, but He can. He calls them, just as He called you. They may worship differently. They may hum different songs, or wear different outfits.
But they're His.
And He'll guard them just as zealously and tenderly as He's watched over you.
Don't try and block other sheep from His pasture. There is plenty of room for all of us.
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