The Responsible Christian

 Thank God that we have grace, and forgiveness, mercy and love, for without these things we would not be here today. But there is a big difference between being saved apon death and living life to your fullest potential. The last time I checked most people have one goal in mind, comfort.   Some people find comfort in love, others money but none the less it is the same goal. We want peace and stability, we want to leave the world a better place than we found it, we want more than death. The people who find a purpose in this life live fuller and happier lives. We all seek meaning in our lives, it is our very nature as humans.  Possibly this same desire for fulfillment is the reason why we lie to ourselves about our choices, justifying every mistake we make. "God made me this way" is just another way of deferring the responsibility of our choices, it is a victim statement. It says that we can not be better than we are and we are what we are because of God and not oursel...

 Negative Vicarious Learning is a type of observational learning based on seeing someone performing negative actions without consequence, and so these actions then get reproduced into the observers own actions as acceptable. The scriptures warn us of NVL and how our actions can mislead someone into a sin nature (1 Corinthians 8:9).   We at this point have learned about our freedom from the burden of sin, we know that all are saved in Christ if we believe in Him. But here is where I believe the church has lost it's way. The interpretation of belief. As I have stated in previous post, I don't believe that belief is just excepting that someone existed. To believe in someone means that we trust what they said.  When my kids tell me their side of the story and I question them they will say "you don't believe me". Christ gave us instructions on how to live and demonstrated those instructions in his death. The message Christ gave us about forgiveness was never intended f...

 I hear many people talking about happiness and their pursuit of it. I am not saying that we can not find happiness, or that it doesn't exist, what I am saying is that emotions are not who we are but rather our choices are who we are.   One of the first words of wisdom that I share with people is to never make a decision from an emotional state. When we are angry we may decide to do something harmful and when we are happy we may choose to overspend in the moment but later regret that choice. The emotions have no bearing on our future but the consequences of the choices we make do.   I hear church members talking about fear as being a liar, and I agree with that completely.  We hear about the spirit of fear, and how it's not from the Lord, because fear is a self created feeling. Fear is an emotion. Choices made from fear lead to negative consequences, but fear does not dictate your choice. Emotions are a tool for your spirit to use to navigate this world, th...