Insightful reader Chewhi sent me this email and has given permission for me to post it. Good stuff! Ya'll be sure to give her a shout out in the comment section! ~S~
Chewhi says: Incredibly interesting subject matter in your last post!! Jesus growing us is such a beautiful topic.
I responded twice and could respond again because it's such a personal topic but I don't know that we (I) could say enough to "explain" our (my) thoughts in print... know what I mean?? Not to mention... God may grant me insight (please do Lord!) to something that may change my thoughts yet again!
Your path description is so right with Jesus being that path or way. Otherwise, it can become a different path, can't it? I have an aunt who is Seventh Day Adventist... http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/ and she is lovingly fearful for my Mom (her sister), myself, and my sister. She knows us to be true believers, she knows we love the Lord, and that we diligently seek His will BUT..... and that's what makes her fearful for us. She is fearful that we will not "make it till the end." Now that said, I know she believes in salvation only thru the shed blood of Jesus'death and His glorious resurrection and that her "works" don't change that... period... BUT....
Talk to a Jehovah Witness and they'll say "yes, we believe in the salvation of Jesus... but" And we know they are NOT true believers. They are a cult, promoting a dangerous deception. And they are definitely exclusionary.
But so are the Seventh Day Adventists. So are the Amish (though some Amish do NOT believe in the finished work of Christ). Out where my Mom lives is a large Mennonite community and they are beautiful people. There's an incredible store near Mom's house that I love to visit. It's run by a family with everyone partaking and they are a wonderful example of family in a community where the family is definitely deteriorating and it being a farming community! I tried to talk to the mother and thought I was being friendly but quickly realized they don't welcome such from outsiders. You could be plainly dressed, wearing a cross, and obviously wanting to speak to them about Christ or family or even homeschool, but they are not interested in what you have to say other than "can you break a $20?" I'm friends with a gal (known her since high school... she's a Christian homeschool Mom, takes care of her ailing parents and she runs one of those quaint country hairdresser shops in her backyard... love it!) who's sister married into the Mennonite community and she has some great insight. They do believe in the finished work of Christ but they are exclusionary... yet talk about strong views of family, purity, and education... wow! I suppose the mother in that store couldn't begin to judge me because she wouldn't even begin to know me but she most suredly judged me to not even bother. But you know what... it doesn't matter... because what they have I would not begin to dare question. So should I be convicted to pursue their lifestyle?
Aunt Lynn loves us and her convictions are real and she has scripture after scripture to back up her/their "more" beliefs. But I think she (they) is/are in error to what the whole Word of God teaches, they are exclusionary. They are a church people who are incredibly dedicated to living a godly life yet they are also extremely judgmental because of their dedication though they won't see that because they're living scripturally "pure" in many more ways than many of us quite frankly. I know Aunt Lynn and I know her God is the LORD and not the church (so different from the Jehovah Witness) so I don't feel the same insistence to convince her I think she is being taught some error but I believe she's missing out on a wonderful peace I'd love for her to experience. But I do believe her faith is properly placed (in Christ) though some wouldn't agree. It was hard for Mom because Aunt Lynn would plead with her that she (Mom) needed to comprehend the whole Word of God, not understanding Mom's security and peace in her salvation. Aunt Lynn has let up some though she'll still give us pamplets.
So where does that place Aunt Lynn? Quite frankly, she and her church lives a much "purer" life than a lot of other denominations I know.... are they more right? Those Mennonite families definitely live godly lives, yet they don't see each other that way either. So there they are, both denominations truly actively striving to live godly, to please God, even to an exclusionary level, believing in the finished work of Christ, yet judging most other Christians and even each other. And here I stand, shaking my head knowing I stand in their judgement but KNOWING I'm not called to live in their exclusionary way of thinking... which is judging also because they ARE scripturally living a more pure life than I am on the surface but I think I have a greater peace and possibly more love. Am I confused? No... and I hope I'm not causing confusion either. And even more, I pray I'm not missing something either!!!!! The kids question these things too and there's no way I'm going to try to "peu-shaw" anyone wanting to live a pure godly lifestyle. I want to live and encourage a pure godly lifestyle and strive to do so. But it is most important to me that I strive and encourage in the Spirit and not in my flesh, and that's my greatest personal challenge. It's also how I challenge the kids... seek Him, ask for more of Him... abide in Him....
The peace I have is only because of Jesus. He said it and I firmly believe it... He is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no way to the Father but through Him. Thomas (John 14) was worried he was missing something, would miss the way, (I get that, I don't like thinking I've missed out spiritually somehow), and he was assurred in the way that completely assures me. First thing... look to Him, place your faith in and abide in Him. Jesus continues and lovingly talks about the "more" yet it doesn't negate His promise. And in this "more," He does talk about works and commandments and this tells us there are works to do when we're His people (as does the book of James), the greatest being loving Him with our whole selves and after that, loving people as we love ourselves. I'm still tackling those two! but I do believe that as long as I'm looking to Him, placing my faith in Him, and abiding in Him... He'll make sure I don't miss out on something I need to pay attention to. It truly is all about Him.
Hope you don't mind another book!! ... but this is an important and interesting topic to me and I just wanted to share some more, hope you don't mind! Did I ever tell you that I came "this close" once to allowing myself to be taught by some Jehovah Witnesses?? Mom's training ringing in my head, fear of what Rod would do, and God's Spirit in my heart is the only thing that saved me from that heartache! But it was a wake up call. God's truth is very important to me and I truly don't want to miss anything, which actually makes me susceptible to incorrect teaching. Realizing that about myself, I've learned that the way to not be susceptible is to know the Lord and His Word more and more... simply put but a continual process, though I've never been more sure of His peace than these past few years.
Blessings! Later... Cheryl
5 comments:
I made an error in deleting this comment. Hope she can forgive me!
Also- Chewhi: I see you deleted yours too...please re-post it!
From Chrystal: I had a Jehova Witness lady come to my house once. She was a sweet looking woman and she had her 15 year old daughter with her so I couldn't just slam the door in their faces. (I would never do that to a kid) Also, I had a 20 month old and a newborn and was delighted/relieved/thankful to God to have some company. We chatted. She held the baby while I changed the other baby's diaper. It was nice. I told them that I was a Christian. Raised that way, planned on staying that way. She simply smiled sweetly and said she'd been raised a Lutheran (whatever that means) until she heard the truth in Jehovah. I shrugged and went on about my coffee making. I don't particularly care for talking about "religion" because obviously I'm at a disadvantage. I don't study the bible and yada yada. I told them, all I know is Jesus died on the cross for MY sins. He will come again for me. That's it folks, all I know. Don't scoff or try to teach me. It's all I need to know. You can put me in your "poor thing!" category if you want to, I'm okay with that. I've been in Steph's for a while!:) Back to my point that I meant to make short and sweet. Eventually, Payden toddled up and asked the daughter to read him his Rudolph book. She wouldn't and they explained that it was against their religion. Scuse me? Did you say that reading a cartoon board book is sinful? They left, I told my hubby about it when he got home, he said not to let them back in. Next day, I told the lady that my husband didn't want them talking to me anymone. AND THEN....... she said my husband was obviously from the devil and would lead me to the devil. I SWEAR!! Can you believe that? Hear door slamming here. They are now in my "poor thing" category. Bummer.
January 19, 2008 5:50 AM
Duh, Her name of course is spelled CRYSTAL. Sorry Crys!
From Chewhi:
I'm with you Crystal. Here's the bigger story about that. I was brought up in and saved in a Baptist church at age 11 during a fire and brimstone revival. I married an unbeliever but we had been friends since we were 12. He joined the AF and we traveled all over and I just stopped going to church. About the 13 year mark, we were in Holland with twin toddlers and a newborn. We lived off base "on the economy" and I was pretty much isolated. No real friends, far from family, (wonderful father and trying husband), but I was semi-depressed and feeling completely overwhelmed (no internet or cell phones at this time) and everything was so strange! Knock-knock-knock on our metal Dutch door while Rod is working...3 ladies standing there speaking ENGLISH holding their Bibles and telling my they would come regularly to sit with me and study while the little ones played safe and sound at our feet. Company, study, and help with the kids! I didn't say yes that first time but flirted with the idea. I knew who they were but curiousity had me looking at their bible and not seeing any differences and hearing all the "right" answers when I asked them some questions (ba-ha-ha). I knew Rod wouldn't be happy but my "need" was almost greater. On their final return visit I had pretty much decided to actually let them in and just give it a try BUT when she asked to come in, I felt/heard a clear resounding NO. It was almost scary but I repeated it "sorry but NO and please don't return" and closed the door in their surprised faces and cried. They didn't return and we were soon ordered to Germany and the very first person I met, at the hotel while looking for housing, was a Christian mom of 4 who asked me during our first moments together "so are you a Christian?" and my recommitment to the LORD began right there because she wouldn't take my flimsy excuses to not attend Bible study with her.
He used that Rudolph book via Payden so you would know too.
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