I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

I am not out to hurt or judge anyone. I find it odd how non-religious people think that religious people hate them. No where in our doctrine is there a commandment that says "hate those who are different from you" I think there might have been some oddballs on both sides of the isle who decided to fight instead of love. I can see that and we are now all polarized. It's like the rules of the first date "No Religion, No Politics" because people who have made up their mind can't be swayed and will argue their point until they are blue. It's like, you either do believe or you don't, Which is true. The problem arises when both groups decide that people who don't believe like them are oppressing them and hate them.

So what can one do to get these groups to stop hating? Since we Christians are all grouped together in the eyes of the non-Christians there is a passage that makes sense:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

You see there are many different types of Christians. They all serve different purposes much like appendages. One group might be like an arm that is strong and unwavering. Another group might be like an eye that is forever watchful for Jesus. Another group might be like a heart that puts caring and loving above some of their doctrine. We all have different purposes in Christ. The passage above though shows that we need to be Loving others and put aside our differences. Matter of fact I think it evens gives us a command to conform to their beliefs as long as it doesn't conflict with Jesus. For example I can easily walk into a bar, have a drink and talk about Jesus. There is no conflict. I can easily walk into a casino, bet on blackjack and talk about Jesus. In the Adult Baby community I can easily go into a party wearing just a diaper and talk about Jesus. He is everywhere. Jesus even said:

Matthew 9:9-13
9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 "But go and learn what this means: `I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

So what are some oddball Christians doing? They are making sure that they don't ever see or hear anything that is not of Christ. They are the super-fundamentalists that live in a vacuum. The problem with that is this:

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
So we Christians need to be out there in the world. We have to hold fast to our beliefs because we are no longer of this world. But we still have to be in the world. We need to conform to those things that do not matter and not conform to the things that are against Jesus's teachings. It takes a wise man to know what doesn't matter.

So what can we do to get past this stigma? We must be loud in our acceptance of others. We must be loud in the beliefs that we share with the world. It is then, and only then when the world will become interested in our faith. That is when we introduce them to Jesus and give the world something to believe in.

So what about the Christians who believe differently than I do? That is completely acceptable. Matter of fact, while I do put my beliefs in this blog they are not 100% correct. I cannot know what is or isn't correct, but I have faith that the Holy Spirit has led me to my beliefs and is still guiding and teaching me. Who knows? I could completely reverse all of my positions and if the Holy Spirit leads me to do it I will trust Him and not feel bad at all. Maybe you are here, reading this, and are finally understanding that Christianity, while simple in its doctrines has a lot of leeway and is all encompassing of the world. All you need to do is accept Jesus Christ as your Resurrected Lord and Savior with all of your heart and mind. DO IT NOW

Understanding The Biblical Equation of Love

This a quick lesson today, but it involves something very important to all Christians. It is about getting to the Truth and Meaning of the Bible. How many non-Christians have you heard say,"But whose translation is correct?" "Isn't it just a matter of interpreting it different?" and such they will dismiss the whole Bible. I am not going to go into the validity of the Bible but I just have to say that it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into the correct translation, because once a person is a Christian the Holy Spirit is there to guide and comfort us.

Now this lesson has to deal with semantics. It is very important when talking with other Christians to fully understand the following verse, and also to fully understand how it has nothing to do with being an Adult Baby.

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

Just by reading one sentence people assume that they understand the message. It sometimes works when that sentence is the summary sentence in a paragraph, but in this situation that passage is NOT a summary sentence. Matter of fact it is actually an allegory and parallels what Paul is trying to say about SPIRITUAL GIFTS and not about being childish. Here is the full context:

1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

OK, read that over and over and over again. Lay out the parallels to each sentence. It seems disjointed in English, but as it become known this is what you will discover. Paul is talking about Spiritual Gifts in this whole passage. Now I know that some Churches believe in speaking in Tongues and Prophecy, but if you read this over and over you will realize that Paul takes away these gifts and leaves only 3 gifts left: faith, hope and love.

Here is the equation(notice how Love is the beginning and ending):

A = Love never fails;

B = When I was a Child (In Christ):
if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away = reason like a child
if there are tongues, they will cease = I used to speak like a child
if there is knowledge, it will be done away = think like a child, now I know in part
now we see in a mirror dimly

C = When I became a Man (In Christ):
I did away with childish things(the gifts).
then we see face to face
then I will know fully

D = But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

A = C - B = D

So you see. This whole passage is about how Love is the greatest and never fails. It has nothing to do a lesson in putting away childish things. Paul just says as a fact that he put away childish things when he became a man. He never tells us that we need to do the same. It might just be assumed, but the problem happens when people use that as an excuse to not be like a child. I leave you with a paragraph of why Jesus says we should be like a child:

Mark 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.