Category: Christian

Someone asked my yesterday: ‘What kind of Christian are you?’
I first swallowed when I read the question posted to me on a non-Christian forum. You see, I use the same signature on all forums (‘I can do everything through Him who gives me strength’ – Phil 4:13 (NIV)); Christian and non-Christians. This question was asked of me by someone on a non-Christian forum; to be exact, an IT forum.
How would have you answered the question?
Here is my answer: “Hhm – not sure how to take that question, but I have been ‘raised’ in a Lutheran church in Germany and now worship at a Lutheran Church (LC-MS) in Gilbert (Arizona that is). For me, it really is not important which church you belong to, e.g. Baptist, Methodist, Catholic etc. It is important to me that you believe in the Holy Trinity – One God – Three In One (Father, Son & Holy Spirit); and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior. The Bible is the only Truth, no matter what ‘church’ or denomination you belong to. Hope this information is what you were looking for. In His grip,…”

So, now my question to you is: How would you have answered that question? I truly believe that we are all One body in Christ, no matter which denomination. Honestly, do you think that this is what Christ wanted, the different denominations I mean? I don’t think so. For me, the Bible is the only Truth – no matter where I attend church. I love all God’s people, Saints & Sinners. Does your ‘belonging’ to a certain church body mean that I can’t fellowship with you?

As I stated above, I was raised in a Lutheran church in Germany and still consider myself Lutheran. But guess what, some of my favorite teachers in this age are not Lutheran. Beth Moore is one of the best teachers in women’s ministry – and she is Baptist. Greg Laurie, one of my favorite preachers – Baptist. So, what does that make me – a ‘Lutheran Baptist’? No, it makes me a follower of Christ and His teachings.
So, again, I’ll ask you the question: ‘What kind of Christian are you?’

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2 NIV
This verse came up in a discussion yesterday and it came back to me tonight as I was preparing dinner for my guys. Paul is talking about the bondage we have to sin, which ends in death. First spiritually and then the ultimate death of the body. He is also talking about how Christ is the fulfillment of the law. I know that I would never be able to fulfill God’s law to His satisfaction. No person can.
Does that mean that we don’t have to honor the Ten Commandments? Of course not, because the Ten Commandments show us our daily sin. I guess that is why some people say that they don’t need Jesus, because they don’t recognize that they are sinning. They do not acknowledge that the Ten Commandments were given to us to show us how God wants us to live our lives. They say “I am a good person – I do good things for people”. They might be very good people, but still, do they fulfill God’s perfect law? I don’t think so, because it is our nature to be sinful.
So, be honest, look at the Ten Commandments, and if you can honestly say that you can fulfill them, then you are a much better person than I am.
(Thank you Carlene, for sorting out my thoughts on this post)

Are you a good person? Be honest with yourself! The other day as I was driving home, this passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans popped into my mind: “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate …And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway”. (R omans 7:15, 18-19 NLT). Ouch – that hurts! Really, nothing good lives in me? – Well, I have to admit – NO, nothing good lives in me – especially driving home from work, after a long day. I have mean thoughts about the people I share the road with (and I call myself a Christian – ha); but I do have those thoughts. Paul said it is “our sinful nature” and how true those words are. I really want to be good (and do good), but I just can’t.
Do I have to depend on my own ‘goodness’ to spend Eternity in heaven? Not if I put my trust and faith in Christ and believe that He died for my past sins and the sins I will still commit in the future. WOW – that is cool (I really can’t stand the thought of spending Eternity in hell, but than again AZ in the summer is not too much different – just kidding).
God promises in John 3:16 (NLT): “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (now you know what those signs at sports events mean).
So – don’t try to be ‘good’, because you just can’t; but you can be nice to others.

I just want to wish a blessed Easter to all my Blog visitors. Although it is a day of new beginnings – most people forget what Easter truly means and what it is all about. I hope that you will not forget the true meaning. If you want to find out more – visit www.harvest.org.