What happens in

I'm off to Vegas for a week of work. I know I know, it's a tough life. All joking aside. I work harder there than I do on most days back home. The old saying of "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" will not apply to me and never has :) A full report of every thought from sin city will follow when I get home. Many blessings to all my followers. May the love that Jesus showed us here on earth overwhelm all of you (whether you agree with my crazy ideas or not).

Today

Nope...this isn't photo shopped.

My stomach hurts. I feel sick. I feel convicted. HOW DARE I...

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.

That's Jesus speaking, recorded by Matthew.

I have been confronted in many different ways by several people since my blog started. Most are encouraging, but the "few" that have spoken/written of their rejection or separation have used the words of the bible to try to convict me of my wrong doing. My thoughts have been consumed with theological debate, translation issues, context, Greek/Aramaic and Hebrew language studies, modern teaching, dividing lines, lifestyles, interpretation, doctrine, definition, so on and so forth. These thoughts have dominated me. Why I am more right than someone else. I've searched my soul for any wrong doing. I pray every day for revelation. Search me Father for an inch of my heart that isn't focused on Yours.

Today I got my answer. LOVE

How dare I.

In my quest to redefine, in my quest to change the filter through which we see things, in my quest to help others understand...my eyes were opened. I have missed the big picture. I have been distracted by the argument. I need to find my "blinders". I need to set aside my offense. Who cares if "a few" ignorant people don't understand? There will always be "a few".

What about LOVE?

All of the B.S. we argue over, all of the denominational splits, all of the theological debates, they miss it all. We are just clanging symbols, making noise with no purpose other than to say we are right.

It's time to lay down our swords, it's time to beat them into shovels and our spears into hoes. Our weapons need to profit the needy. Our arguments need to benefit the helpless.

WOW Chris...You're JUST getting this revelation?

Sorry, I'm a little slow on the draw. This is where I am right now and I said that this blog would be for such a revelation. I hope we can all benefit from this, not because Ive got it figured out but because I think it lines up with what Jesus came to do.

I.M.H.O.

I guess it's time for me to start answering some of my own questions. I will do so over a number of blogs. But before I do, I think I need to state that just because I let my opinion be known, that it doesn't mean that I have it all figured out or that this is absolutely theologically sound or that I am teaching a doctrine. I will not pretend to have all the answers. Anyone who claims to have it all figured out really should get their head examined or at the very least, their heart. The questions within me/on my blog have been debated for centuries. Man will never completely agree on them, hence the fact that we are referred to as "Protestants" (which comes from the word: protest).

I'm going to start with "What IS sin?". This answer may as well indirectly answer a few of my questions/blogs. The best definition of the word I found was: (Sin-Actions by which humans rebel against God, miss his purpose for their life, and surrender to the power of evil rather than to God.)

Maybe before explaining my beliefs I should give an example that Jesus used. Matthew's letter (Ch. 5) records Jesus saying this: "You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt. "Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

In my opinion, Jesus is basically saying that a sin is a sin is a sin, that there is no degree of sin. All sin is equally bad. Adultery vs. lust = the same. Below is another example but from John this time.

The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together

I know that there are several places in the bible that refer to different levels of punishment for different types of sin and that some Christians typically believe/teach that certain sins are deserving of eternal damnation (homosexuality) vs. lying or adultery which only require church discipline and repentance.
I personally put a lot more clout on anything Jesus says vs. any of His disciples. (He was constantly correcting them about their understanding) When Jesus says something and He appears to be contradicted by something else in the bible. I always agree with Him. I believe that He alone was perfect.

So…What IS sin? I think the bible lists several things that it considers a sin. Some of those things we adhere to today and others we don’t. It also lists several things that are/were acceptable. Some of those things we adhere to today and others we don’t. I personally believe that each of us knows the difference between right and wrong (sin). Somewhere deep within us there is an awareness of sin. I believe that the Holy Spirit is “that” awareness. It speaks to us, nudges us, urges us, sways us, moves us, helps us, teaches us, forms us, shapes us………… so on and so forth. Sin isn’t a list in my opinion, it’s purposefully rejecting what we know is right for our lives. What is a sin to me might not be a sin to someone else and vice versa. I think this statement fits the definition given above.

Thoughts? I am always open for discussion.

A statement instead of a question

Today is a new day. Each day when I wake I thank the Lord for the day He has given me. Today I go in for a fairly simple operation to have a biopsy done on my esophagus, my stomach and my upper intestines. Long story short- I have had stomach problems/pains going on two years now. The ulcer medicine doesn't seem to help and a diet change has only affected me slightly. So they want to take a peek inside.

I laid in bed last night unable to sleep (for many reasons) It gave me the opportunity to think about what they might find.I didn't like where my mind was taking me.

I've been asking a lot of questions lately and I think "some" are kinda fed up with the questions so I will give it a break today and make a statement instead.

God is good.

God was good yesterday, God is good today and He will still be good tomorrow. Regardless of what the Docs may or may not find inside me, I believe the above statement to be true. Not only is it true before I know the results but it will be true after I know the results. No matter what they are (good or bad).

I told my kids this morning that "You can't live your life in fear of what "MIGHT" happen". I think I'm gonna take my own advice.

Question Authority

 This rides on the coat tales of a blog posted by my brother in law: Questions are powerful

I personally learn by asking questions. I have always been a question asker (this is another one of my made up words). More importantly...I am a listener. I have a great ability to hear and learn. When I was young, I would stand close to groups of grown ups at family gatherings or parties and listen with great interest to ALL the differing points of view. I continued this practice through my teenage years and found myself welcome in conversations that other people my age weren't accepted in. I "usually" kept my mouth shut and heard each point of view before expressing my opinion and when I did open my mouth...my thoughts echoed years of listening to many opinions (If any of you know my family, you know that we are all very opinionated).

The result of this practice was again and again told to me. "You are very wise for a person your age"

In my first blog  Took The Leap I laid a foundation for my coming blogs. I said "I want to use this blog in a way to create and shape a better me and a better world through deep, meaningful conversations with questions or concerns and not with definitive stances or harsh judgement." And that sums up my learning experiences through life. All that to say, I ask questions without agenda. Well, maybe I have an agenda...but that is to better myself.

So there is my "motive/agenda" behind these last few controversial blogs.

Why am I bothering to tell you this? Because I feel a certain disdain in the answers to the questions I am asking. I'm not bashing anybody for giving me their opinion. That's what I asked for, but why am I getting answers to a different question than I asked?

The questions I am asking are not easy, hence the fact of me asking them. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.I have been told that these questions aren't bringing fruit, That they aren't helping build up anyone, That they are causing or can lead to spiritual doubt. That's simply not true. I have had countless conversations stating otherwise. It may not be on the blog for the world to see but it's happening AND I can see fruit from it. In me and others :)

I do believe that certain questions can be destructive. But there is a significant difference between questions that bring wisdom and fuller understanding than the kind of questions that simply seek to validate the world and its ways.

What are we Christians so afraid of? If you truly believe that the bible is God's word and that it's infallible and without error and it's perfect and so on and so forth. Then there is nothing to be worried about. If I can be stumped or proven wrong about the bibles perfectness then I'm believing a lie. Do I want my faith founded on lies? No.I say ask away!


I think the real fear is: if you start to doubt one tiny part of scripture, then where do you stop?

And the winner is...

What an awesome experience this has been. I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned and gained from blogging. I've had good and bad conversations, either on the blog, via email and face to face. I've been encouraged and lectured on my differing points of view. I have surprised and stunned people. There have been a few times when I considered not writing anymore because of the conflict in misunderstandings/

interpretation. All of the bad has been far outweighed by the overwhelming encouragement I receive from "almost" everyone. Funny, the people who I've considered close in the past have been the most critical. But that's ok! I fully expected this to ruffle religious feathers.

In my last blog, I asked: what is sin?

Wow! What a great set of understanding there is amongst my "followers" :) I was pleased with the responses. The comments were exactly what I wanted to see. Which means I actually articulated myself in a way that was understood. Something I've not accomplished in writing in my past. Communication via text is difficult.

While I read a lot of great comments, I still find myself wanting a list of sins. I guess that's just my OCD mindset. It would be so much easier. Wouldn't it? But to be placed under the law again is something I can't imagine ever being pleasant. Oh wait, isn't that what religion tries to constantly do? All I know is that I'll never measure up to a set of rules. That was the whole point of the law in the first place.

So I didn't get my list, which is a good thing. Knowing me...I would purposefully break the rules anyways. Rebellion is something I constantly fight with. You might even say that I'm rebelling against my rebellion.

Know to the heart of what I'm trying to convey. I may not have found my list but I did find Something else. Jesus says 3 times in the new testament that there is only ONE sin which can't be forgiven. Denying/blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:32, Luke 12:10 & Mark 3:29).

Is His blood not big enough to cover that sin?

Or is this something altogether different? Is this beyond the situation of forgiveness? Is denying the Holy Spirit the same as denying Christ? No, it isn't (that will have to wait for another blog) See Matt. 12:32 if you don't believe me.

Did Jesus actually say that EVERY sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, except one?

This line of thought makes a very strong case for universalism (which I don't believe in). But how do we interpret this?

Your thoughts and time on this matter are appreciated.

What IS sin?

Judging by the comments, these last few blogs have clearly raised a few eyebrows (and blood pressure). I have tons of questions in my head of a similar genre. Maybe I should state that these questions aren't intended to invoke a typical response. I'm not looking to hear what you've heard from someone else on the matter and I'm not trying to lead you astray. I simply would like to discuss things from a different point of view. Answering without your theology or your text book answers will not make you a heretic. I'm interested in your thoughts and your heart. That being said...

There were a lot of assumptions made through replies in my last blog. The word "Sin" kept surfacing over and over and I started asking myself. "If the 10 commandments are the old law/covenant and they don't apply to us anymore (Jesus and Paul's words-not mine), then WHAT IS SIN"? I started searching the bible, commentaries and dictionary's for definition. I can't say that I got a clear answer. The bible gives no formal definition. Nor does it give us a complete account of the origin of Sin. Below is the best definition I could find:

Sin-Actions by which humans rebel against God, miss his purpose for their life, and surrender to the power of evil rather than to God.

We Christians sure throw around the word a lot for not having a clear understanding of exactly what sin is. So...In your own words What is Sin and How do you get your definition?