23 - Common Christian Principles

                       COMMON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES:

                                                       (HOLINESS)

With holiness, we are NOT waiting for heaven but we allow heaven to come to us. With holiness, we try to be perfect with our personal love as the Father is perfect with His love for us. Holiness is a positive response to God’s will in our lives. Through holiness we abandon many of the wishes of our sinful desires and dedicate ourselves to moral transformation (serving the will of God).

We humans have a history of holiness from time to time.  Christian siblings from our past have expressed their faith through devoted actions are that history (they are our spiritual heritage). They inspire our love for God. We need our roots of holiness, we need to recognize the foundation that our faith is built upon. Christian heritage becomes real when we can experience Christ just like Peter and Paul or even our early Church Fathers.

There are so many before us that can inspire us through holiness towards God. Also there is the larger Church that serves all of Christianity and it energizes our being into holiness with Christ (who is living today and now within all his followers). Let us try to be at peace with everyone and try to live a holy life with our Lord.   

                                                       (THE SEED)

Deep within us, there is a seed. It is a desire for holiness. It is a desire to find God, to know God and to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Deep within us, we must realize that God has planted His seed. He did this though the works of others and when our conscience was formed.

Personally (For most of my life), this seed had laid there so dormant, so unattached from me. This seed became surrounded by my own human selfishness - so it becomes forgotten by me and by all (except God). Then my heart became harden into sin for I had lied, cheated, lust, gossiped and so much more. I became filled with false concepts like pride, greed, financial power, success at any price (false things compared to God). Then the workers of the Christian field removed the rocky and sandy soil that surrounds my heart. In addition, my pain started a decay process and the decomposition produces some of God’s finest fertilizer. For it took pain (the great teacher) to create enough energy to germinate my seed. Some roots of holiness shot downward (as a solid foundation) and some vegetative shouts of desire rushed upward to God’s warmth (as a hope in Christ).

Let us look upon all the painful souls with seeds waiting for germination and see the poverty of Christ within them – the moral poverty of ourselves and others that need God, they need love and they need our understanding, forgiveness and compassion.  Let our love build. For the seed of Christ can create a beautiful tree of faith for us and others.

Personal note: I remember, there were so many good Christians who expected me to go from a seed to heaven on earth (without the necessary stages of struggling in between that produces the fruitful tree that I am today). My tree needed punning through the struggles of life. Maybe going from a seed to heavenly bliss works for some people, but I could not just discover Christ and then be in a state of total holiness. I could not be Christ for others until I fully felt Christ within me. I had to know what Jesus expected and wanted of me as I followed his steps. I had to be open and ready to hear his call.

Remember, The Christian soul longs for God and the heart yearns to receive God’s love. Let Him come to nourish the soul and to rejoice within the heart. Let Him come, this most lovable friend of the soul of human kind, to inflame us with His love (so we may never separate from Him). That will form a fruitful tree of faith (pruned for the best fruit).

                                                (SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES)

We can so often find ourselves struggling between our own personal darkness and a world filled with life. Jesus once said: “things that make people fall into sin are bound to happen, but how terrible for the one who makes them happen” (LK 17: 1-4).  Jesus wanted us to find the source of our sinfulness or deal with the causes that produce our personal darkness. He once said: “If you hand or your foot makes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away! … If your eye makes you to lose faith, take it out, and throw it away” (MT. 18:8-9).

In New Testament times amputation was used to control the spreading of contagious infections. You went to the source of the infection and cut it off in order to save the person’s life. Our most deadly sins can help to cause hundreds of minor sins; therefore, we must go to the source of our most deadly sins. If a person is a chronic liar, it is not the tongue that is the source of the lying (it is the deceitfulness within the heart that must be amputated). If a person has a compulsive stealing problem, it is not the hand that is the source of the stealing (it is the selfish desire to want more than necessary that must be amputated). We need help with deadly sins – talk to your pastor (or priest in confession) so that rationalizing will not be a factor. We must first identify our deadly sins. Deadly sins are those sins that separate us from God’s will (very fast). The Ten Commandments are good examples also the below list will be helpful to identify the deeper sources for deadly sins.

Some of the sources of deadly sins are: pride (LK 18:9) (IS. 3:24), anger (MT. 5:21) (Eph. 4:26), greed (LK. 12:15), lust (Gal. 5:24) (Tit. 2:12) (1 Cor. 10:6) (MT. 5:27), envy (MT. 20:1) (RM. 13:13) (Jas. 3:14, 16) (I Pet. 2:1), gluttony (MT 11:19) (Prov. 23:21) and laziness (Prov. 6 – the ant) (Eccl. 10:18) (MT. 25:26) (Tit. 1:12). Laziness is not the lack of work but instead the lack of ambition to work. It is a free choice not to do your part when the opportunity and abilities are there. Gluttony has nothing to do with weight or size. It is freely choosing an excessive way of life – for example, a lot of drinking and partying every night, or obsessive sexual behavior. It is not addictions or any obsessive compulsive behavior because they can be considered mental illness. It is our free choice to want more and more beyond our needs in life.

Not dealing with these sins can produce guilt (from the Holy Spirit - not the false guilt that causes such things as low-self-esteem).

Let us be sorry for our sins because they offend God, ourselves and others. We can resolve them (through the help of God’s grace), deal with the causes of our sins and finally avoid new opportunities to sin.

                              (LIGHT versus DARKNESS)    (LIFE versus DEATH)

Christianity at its roots has dualistic concepts, one is to be good and the other is being evil. Personally I feel, there is always more behind the behavior choices we make. However, there is a way that leads to eternal life and another that leads to death only (see JN. 10:10 & Deu. 30:30:19 & RM. 5: 20-21 & JN. 14:6). There is an early Christian writing (140 AD) called The Didache – The Teachings of the apostles. It says: “THE WAY OF LIFE is this: you should love your God and secondly your neighbor as yourself, bless the people who curse you, pray for your enemies and your persecutors, if someone strikes you on the cheek give them the other, beware of lust, tell no lies, do not parade your merits, accept as good whatever experiences come your way, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not seduce children, you should not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not procure abortion nor destroy a new-born child.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.” In contrast: “There is THE WAY OF DEATH. It is evil and in every way fraught with damnation. In it (are people who do not wish to change), there are murders, adulteries, lust, fornication, thefts, witchcraft, robbers, deceit, pride, malice, foul language. Here are those who persecute good people, hold truth in abhorrence, and love falsehood; who do not know the rewards of righteousness”. NOTE:  The Didache was written for the children and grandchildren of the first generation of Christians. Some of these people might had heard firsthand accounts of Jesus’s deeds. Now we are removed from the first generation of Christians by 80 generations or even a lot more. These Early Church Fathers are part of our Spiritual heritage.

A PERSONAL REFECTION: Satin is not someone in a red suit chasing me with pitch folk (completely against my free will). He is the sin that creeps up from within me and all people. Peter was called “Satin” by Jesus for being not in God’s will (MT. 16:23) but Peter was not the Devil.

God can forgive us (as he did for Peter), he can change our darkness into light (like he did for Peter), and he can mend hurt, pain, grief and all those things that are the result of sin. God can heal and protect us from your own brokenness to bring us all together as one (if we allow). Sometimes, we are the obstacles to our own transformation into faith.  It is hard to accept God’s forgiveness when we cannot forgive the actions that we have done ourselves. We can be our worse enemy. Having the opportunity to change and be forgiven is a major part of our Christian belief (and we can forgive ourselves and others through Christ).

Let us shoe our feet with the Gospel of Peace (the teachings we do through our walking for love), let us belt our waist with the Circle of Truth ( spiritually surrounded by God’s will within our lives), let us dress ourselves with The Clothing of Righteousness (recognizing God’s holiness upon us and upon the faces of others), let us cap our heads with The Crown of Salvation (our church’s light that gives us hope and eternal life), let us bless our surrounding with The Blood of Christ (the sacrifice that produces our forgiveness for others and God’s forgiveness for us), let us stand under The Umbrella of Faith (our shield of Christian unity as the “Body of Christ”) and let us pick up The Sword of Spiritual Love (living like Christ with our words and actions each day). – Ref. See Eph. 6:11-17    

NOTE: Some people interpret Eph. 6:11-17 as a personal battle between you (the individual believer) and evil. St. Paul was telling the Ephesian Church to be a Christian community that stands up against sin. Verse 10 states that they must grow strong in union with Christ. It is a Church battle – not an individual one. We put on our Church armor, not our individual armor – for we find our daily protection through unity. We need one another.

                                                  (SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS)

With spiritual struggles, where do we place your emphasis? Are we running (more) away from evil or running (more) towards Jesus? Is our cup half empty or half full? We should have only one fear AND ONLY ONE: that we will separate ourselves from God (IS 59:2). But this fear is not real (as long as we have the love of Jesus within our heart). There is no room for anything else. It can consume us to such levels that the love of God is flowing through us (and to others).  We run to Christ and never look back at evil – it is not Christ-like to look back (see LK 9:62 & the story of Lot’s wife in Gen.19). When we see God’s love, we grab hold of it then we share it with all that we meet (by being a changed person). We are not running forward and at the same time looking backwards (that would cause us to stumble or fall or “Back Slide” into sin). We must recognize our sinful desires in order to go forward (Amos 5:15); therefore, we can place emphasis on a new life in Christ – Eph. 4:22 & 24 (not on the sins), it is not a fear with anxiety about Satin but a loving Christ that motivates us. Fear God (or rather have a fear of being outside of a loving relationship with Him) because to fear something is to give it some value or respect (in God’s case, He should be given your value and respect - and not evil).

Personally, I do not need to tag any human quality that I do not understand as evil. I do not need to call the dark periods in my life evil (they are human struggles), they are normal growth or testing in Christ, they eventually bring me closer to God - I rejoice with that idea. Evil only has power in my life if I give it power. Evil is only in my life if I recognize it as a part of my life. I refuse to live a life of fear (where someday a dark spirit will slide down my throat to consume my Spirit in Christ). Nothing is that powerful but God. Everything in my life belongs to God (I give nothing to evil or in other words - to my selfishness).

Let us understand better and love more because no one is junk (or truly bad) within God’s creation. All people are a part of God’s creation and God does not create mistakes (only people do). No one cries for the sake of crying (there is always some loving need behind the crying). No one commits evil for the sake of evil (there is always a need for God’s love behind the hurt inflicted against oneself and others). Our faith removes any fear of evil. We focus only on Christ (not fear of evil).  We see human sin is separation from God; therefore, when we forgive (like God), we separate people from their sins too (not by liking the sin but by loving the person, by recognizing the sin with concern but encouraging the human good in each person. Let us run with the smiling spirit of Christ on our faces and see evil only in human terms, as hurt, as unnecessary suffering, as misunderstanding, as greed, as gossip, as war, as persecution, as selfishness and all the other things that humans do to humans because they are looking for God in the wrong places.

                                                        (GOD’S GRACE)

Jesus told a story to demonstrate God’s forgiving grace and love for all people (LK 15:11-32). He said: there was once a man who had two sons. The younger one left home with his early inheritance and squandered it. The older one faithfully followed through with his duties with his father. The younger one returned home poor and broken spirited to a homecoming celebration for him. The older son resented the acceptance of the younger son. Somehow the father is to represent God and the sons are to represent aspects of us.

NOTE: Most people emphasize the over whelming love and forgiveness from the father given to the younger son. There are also two major points that are often over looked in this story. ONE, The Father loves us all the same but he cares more for his children who are in need more (those who are in difficult situations that separate them from him). He cares so much for his lost sheep that he leaves his other sheep to find the lost one (see LK. 15:4-7). We, as Christians, should do the same (instead we care more for those who are like us – who have our interest and beliefs). TWO, the older son was asked to perform works (from the heart) because of love for his father (to forgive the younger brother and to comfort his repenting and needy soul).  The father asked the older son to enter his home for a feast (like “The Wedding Feast of The Lamb” – Rev. 19:9). But the older son could not do this act of love that father asked of him. The older son was living a life of obligation (spiritual law only) and not the father’s will.

The story message (in my simple lay opinion) is that God’s grace can also be given by people too (not just by God alone). We must be able to allow God to use us to deliver His grace to others; therefore, we can forgive and love like God does.  If true faith is to exist within us, it must be more than just a part of our intellect (like it was with the legalistic faith of the older son with no forgiveness for his brother). It must be in the heart and in our actions (in our whole being). We can’t set on our butts and say “We are saved” – and then do nothing (see Jas. 4:17). We must believe it by being a part of God’s movement of grace and love within this world (through being Christ-like for others and seeing Christ grow within our hearts). Because of this faith, we experience grace and share God’s grace with others.

God’s mercy is an act of His compassion when justice demands punishment. Because of God’s mercy, He gives us grace; because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we can be saved from our sinfulness. Eph. 2:8a states: “By grace you have been saved”. We have a very loving God to do this for us. However, we are not islands onto our selves, we worship in a church community and be receive God’s grace best within a church community.  Let us remember that God’s grace is His forgiving kindness that is given to us (in spite of the fact that we do not deserve it). It makes us pure (justified or righteous) and we are set a part (sanctified) from our confessed sins.

His grace transforms our human nature so we can function on a new level towards God. This new level is “Life in God” (Eph. 4:24). Because we become justified, we can maintain our faith on the new level or put our faith into action (both within our hearts and within our behavior). Because we become sanctified, God enables us to turn to Him in faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13). Our hope in Christ is a hope for the future with certain confidence (as long as we remain in Christ).

The whole process begins with God, then faith, then confession, then repentance (or change), then grace, then justification, then sanctification, and finally a “New Life in Christ” (working and living within us). The whole process is not a onetime thing, it is a continuous process of moving closer to God (through His holiness).

Circumcision was part of the Jewish law (for human purposes) to hold down disease (RM. 2:25-29). It cut away material that could harbor infectious agents. St. Paul referred to a new circumcision of the heart (cf Jer. 4:4) - baptism (see RM. 6:2-4 & Phil. 3:3) that cuts away at the material that causes the infection of sin. The purpose of Christianity is salvation not to argue over salvation concepts. Our hearts do need the new circumcision (a new way of thinking when Christians argue with Christians).

                               (SALVATION ARGUMENTS between Christians)

Some Christians will say: “I hope I am saved” but others will say: I have assurance that I am saved”. There is no difference since hope in Christ is our assurance (see PS. 119:99, 1 Tim. 6:17, 1 Pet. 1:3, PS. 31:24, RM. 5:2, RM. 5:5, RM. 8:23-25, IS. 40:31, Heb. 10:22 & Heb. 11:1). God promise of salvation is assurance for heaven but sincerely living the Christian life is a condition that gives us hope for that assurance (Phil. 2:12). God gives assurance but we can walk away (with free will) from it. I hate to see this as a source of division between good Christians and I would hope all Christians could grow without judging the salvation of other members of the Body of Christ. If some Christians appear weak to you look closely at MT. 7:1-5, for your own salvation rides on how much you reject and persecute those who appear weak (RM. 15:1-5). Let us stop persecuting in the name of Jesus and start loving the stranger MT. 25:38 (who is also your sibling in Christ).

                      

                          (JUSTIFICATION & SANCTIFICATION - A Continuous Processes)

Let us remember, within scripture “Justification” and “Sanctification” are continuous processes that we have to work at, giving us assurance of being in God’s Kingdom. As we go through the process mistakes could happen but the process renews us. God knows our hearts.

(JUSTIFICATION) This is the process by which sinful humans are made righteous (acceptable to God). The following are examples of this continuous process in the past, present and future tense within scripture:

(Past Tense) “We have been justified” (RM. 5:1)

(Present Tense) Are justified freely” (RM. 3:24), “Have now been justified” or Being now justified” (RM. 5:9)

(Future Tense) “May be justified” (Gal. 2:16), “Wait for righteousness” Gal. 5:5), “Leads to righteousness” (RM. 6:16)

With deep humility, let us adore God. He has made our souls his dwelling place to adore him as our wonderful creator (from whose hands we came). Let us be so very grateful for his forgiveness of our sinful ways as he surrounds us with his gentle love.

(SANCTIFICATION) This is the process in which God purifies the believer (based on the sacrifice of Christ). The following are examples of this process using the past, present and future tense in scripture to show the continuous process:

((Past Tense) “Have been saved” (Eph. 2:8)

(Present Tense) “Are being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18)

(Future Tense) “Being made holy” (Heb. 10:14), “Gentiles might become acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (RM. 15:16)

NOTE: In the above justification and sanctification scripture quotes, St. Paul was talking to known Christians in known communities having faith struggles (like us today). Back sliding or falling into sin again is not desirable but is a fact of human life that we struggle with. When Paul wrote Romans, the whole letter was read at one time (not portions) and this interpretation agrees with the whole letter of Romans - faith should be because of belief in God’s will. However, our obedience to faith is God’s will working through us (it is works for God not for us). Both justification and sanctification are works through a process (not a onetime ticket to heaven). A onetime conversion experience does not mean that we should not maintain ourselves as converted - it takes work and determination (especially confession and forgiveness - 1 JN 1:9) especially with all the temptations of modern times upon us. It takes faith (continually renewing our Christianity in our hearts - through our thoughts and actions). Let us thank God that he allows us to participate in our own salvation process and not just do it all for us - as spoil children. We become closer to Him because of this.

We are continuously being given this grace of salvation. What do we do with it? Do we bury it within our hearts or do we express it through acts of love to others? Let us remember that the grace of salvation is a gift, an undeserved gift. For it is not what our hands can earn towards God that saves us (it is the gift alone). However, helping others through acts of compassion is the response God desires from us. It is not our suffering pain that we bear when alienated from God that saves us or being good for the sake of being good that saves us (but God demands that we show our goodness to others as a response in Him). Our souls bear an awful load from sin until God’s grace saves.  But this gift needs to become faith working in us and expressed as acts of love towards others. God forgives us but sometime it is hard for us to forgive ourselves for all the hurt we can do through sin. Helping others eases the weight that we place upon ourselves and helps God to wash us clean in order to give us his peace.

                                                  (FAITH & GOOD WORKS)

In order to be fully human and fully alive within our faith, we must experience ALL of Christianity (not just parts). When St. Paul was talking about works he was referring to the Works of Jewish laws (like circumcision - see Gal. 5:1-6). These were acts of obligation more than acts of love. There were about 614 laws to regulate daily life and devotion. The Jewish “Works of the Law” could sometimes forget love and compassion. Also the Christian concept of “Faith Alone” can also sometimes forget our response to faith, which is “Love” (our love in action or charity). Charity is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. An early Church Father said that God’s forgiveness is given to all equally but your communion with the Holy Spirit is bestowed in proportion to the faith of each person. If you labored little, you would receive little (of the Spirit) and if your labor was great, great would be your reward (Ref. Cyril of Jerusalem 350 AD, Catechetical Lectures within “Faith of the Early Fathers”, Vol. 1, Wm. A. Jurgens, 1970, Liturgical Press p. 348). The faith alone argument is intellectually correct but is just part of the total picture of Christianity. Paul said: “By grace you have been saved through your faith” and not from yourselves (Eph. 2:8). However two verses down the other part of the picture is revealed. Paul said: “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ for the good works that has been prepared in advance” (Eph. 2:10). Faith without good works is dead (Jas. 2:26). It is not through our own human will we become Christian charity, it is through the will of God within us. Justification involves our whole being (not just our intellectual reasoning). Good works accompany us to heaven (Rev. 14:13). Faith that does nothing cannot save (MT. 25:31-46). When Jesus commanded us to “love God and to love one another” he does not want us to sit on our hands on the second part of His commandment or to just apply it to our Christian friends. Good works is God’s desired response to our faith of salvation.

                                   (THE CHRISTIAN STOOL OF KNOWLEDGE)

Let us all sit on our common Christian stool of knowledge. The seat (itself) represents Christian love and the tree legs represent faith, salvation and works which are expressions of that Christian love. The “Works” are a response to faith and the “Salvation” is a result of faith. All three legs are needed to maintain our balance. Charity (or good works) cannot be separated from God or our belief in God, for charity is God’s motivating desire within us and God (Himself) is the source.

If we do good works for salvation purposes only then our attitude is cold and our faith is weaken (through obligation). We could become legalistic or dogmatic with a rigid heart of rules (like the Jewish works of the law). On the other hand (sometime instead), we could become care free and half-hearted about faith because it has lost its meaning. We can wander about doing good things without real purpose (we just know, we should do this).

If we have faith without good works, our faith serves no purpose to God. It can become egotistical or self-centered and the spirit of Christ (that the world needs to see from within us) starts to die. We start to shape God into our image (within our minds) instead of God shaping us into His image. There are no faith challenges and no new opportunities for growth. It is a faith in God without our participation (idealistic without acknowledging the human struggles that our good works are responding to).

The three legs are attached to the seat of “Christian Love”. This is a love for God and for others - all others. Christian love becomes the supporting piece that gives our legs purpose. Without it there is little faith, salvation or expression of God’s love (works) in our personal world.

                                                      (OBEDIENT FAITH)

Obedient does not necessarily mean blind obedience (especially to something that does not agree with your conscience). Obedient faith means we wear God’s holy and beloved compassion (Col. 3:7). Let us go through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy.  There are many who go the way of the wide gate and few who go through the narrow one (MT. 7:13-15). What makes Christianity so very hard is that it goes against the culture many times. Many people interpret the wide gate verses the narrow gate to mean that true Christianity is just for a few selected holy people only. That is not true but instead God asks for obedience in a culture that emphasizes “Do your own thing”.

I have a unique Franciscan interpretation of the narrow gate. I feel we must avoid carrying our excess baggage throughout life (our obsessions, our addictions, our desires for excessive stuff, wealth and power). The narrow gate only is to fit the individual, not our belongings, our ego, our selfishness, and our greed. God wants only us and He loves only the person that we are inside (not our status or worldly influence). We (as individuals) can so easily identify ourselves with our stuff or our ego; therefore, we forget what God really loves about us - our obedience to His love and to be that love for others.

Christian values can be like traveling on an ocean (filled with the salt waters of selfish desires), but we Christians use a boat that is turned up-side-down.  In order to live we must go towards the bottom of the ship. The world tells us that we must go towards the top (but there is only death beyond those decks because we would fall to the bottom of the ocean). Human selfishness (our natural desires NOT our spiritual desires) will tell us to go to the top of the ship where there is status and all the most important people are there who live in the most luxurious ways. When we have wealth or status or power, let it NOT be our defining or true purpose in life (therefore, help those on the bottom and live as a narrow door person).

Let God bless and strengthen our humble “Servant Love”. Let God send a light to guide us during troubling times. Let God spiritually wash our feet (like he did the disciples) so we may spiritually wash the feet of others. It is a gift to receive God’s grace but it is a heavenly blessing to give to others. Let us rejoice in God’s mercy and devote ourselves to doing God’s good (through an obedient faith of love).

         

                                           (GIVING OURSELVES TO GOD)

Let us give ourselves to God; give our bodies that they may be cleansed and purified; give our souls that they may be free from sin. Let us give our hearts that they may always love God; give our thoughts, words and deeds to God so He may inspire us. Let us give our time to His honor and glory and may our work be given to His will for the world. Therefore, let us be dedicated to His service.

                                                           (THE BIBLE)

Most Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God. Its salvational truth (2 Tim. 3:14-15) is infallible or without error because its writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit. For PS. 33:4 states: “The word of the Lord is right and true”. In 2 Tim. 3:16 it is stated: “All scripture is inspired by God”. There is no contradictions (concerning our salvation) when we do not take scripture out of context of its history, general meaning or chapter message (theme). For example, MT. 18:8-9 speaks of preserving our faith by eliminating the source or true cause for our sin. We should not independently interpret these scripture lines literally by cutting off someone’s hands or foot. The source of our sin would be our greed or pride or lust that should be cut off. Christ did not come to the world to make cripples but to heal our crippled souls from sin instead. The Bible gives all believers hope and encouragement (RM. 15:4). However, biblical knowledge gone to the head (like any knowledge) can “Puff Up” a person with pride because it takes love (that can build) to make Christianity work not self-pride. Early Christians did not compile the Bible to be a book of the law to replace the 614 rules within the works of the Jewish law. It is our salvational truth not out dogmatic or legalistic truth. We are a faith of love not a faith of laws. Yes we have our standards, our commandments, and our customs but we are a faith of redemption through love not by redemption through making each line of scripture our law.  Sometime literal interpretation can take away the symbolism within scripture which develops our spirituality more.

The Bible is important because the early Church selected and compiled the books in 140 AD and again in 382 Ad when the last 4 books were added (for example there were about 50 gospels and a lot of apostolic epistles that were not accepted). A chosen book was believed to have some type of connection to the philosophy of one of the original Apostles. Those books that concerned our salvation were accepted even though some of the rejected ones reflected early Christian history or tradition they did not have a traceable connection with the Apostle’s name they may have used. The Bible was compiled from a worldwide Christian community who had basic beliefs (of common Christian principles) and it should be understood that way. It did not fall down from heaven but it was God inspired to be read by each Christian community though our common principles of faith.

                (THE SHORT TRANSLATION & LONG TRANSLATION of the Old Testaments)

The Septuagint translation of books (Old Testament) in the Bible was the common source of scripture used by the Jews in Palestine (and throughout the world) for a hundred years before Jesus and about fifty years after His ascension. This was a record of Jewish salvational history up to the coming of Christ. This was the Bible for both Jews and Christians. Because of the Christian problem (massive conversions), Jewish leaders revised their canon or Bible (to The Palestine Canon) in 90 AD. They wanted to eliminate many of the messianic prophecies; therefore, The Palestine Canon had 7 less books. All Christians continued to use the Septuagint translation for the Old Testament for another 1500 years because it was the Bible of the Apostles. The Septuagint translation was important; for example, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (Jas. 1:19) is a quote from Sirach 5:11 (“Be swift in listening, but slow in answering”) and other similarities between the epistles by Paul and the Book of Wisdom is amazing. The Reform Movement decided to use the Palestine translation for the Old Testament. They wanted to place more emphasis on the New Testament (however, the principles within the New Testament are also hidden within the Old Testament if you look for it). Some Protestant Bibles have the Apocrypha (the 7 missing books) located in a special section between the Old & New Testaments. The 7 books that make the difference between the two translations of the Old Testament is small compared to all the books in the Bible that Christians have in common.

                                                       (SACRAMENTS)

St. Augustine said that “Sacraments are visible forms of invisible grace”. Most Christians believe that sacraments are outward signs that confer the grace of God (instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church).  They function as church invitations for Christ to be a part of the major passages within our human development (like birth, the age of reasoning, young adulthood, repentance, marriage, serious illness, and entering the clergy - through church community events like baptism, 1^st communion, confirmation, confession, weddings, healing the sick and a religious vocation). An early Church father (Hippolytus of Rome in 222 AD) said that: “The word (Jesus) took on flesh - thereby putting on humanity in a new way; that He passed through every period of human life, so that He might Himself be a law for every age - becoming a model for all” (Ref. Philosophoumena or Refutation of all Heresies, within “The Faith of the Early Fathers, Vol. 1, Wm. A. Jurgens, 1970, Liturgical Press p. 174). God’s sacramental grace is sealed so the believer shares in Christ’s priesthood. The number of official church sacraments vary depending on the Christian denomination. But, there is nothing wrong with personally asking God to enhance His grace when experiencing these stages in human development (for yourself or a loved one).

The Bible tells us that Jesus was there to call the Apostles into service for him (establishing Christian leadership). He was there to heal the sick and for the dead (establishing Christian visiting the sick). He was there to forgive sins (establishing the Church’s role in forgiveness) and he was there to be communion bread. He was there to speak of the marriage bond and to witness the wedding at Cana. He was there at his own baptism to demonstrate that the Holy Spirit will be at our baptisms.

Some people feel sacraments are too ritualistic (or just a means of the church keeping control) but in reality this is not true. The church (through God’s grace) gives additional opportunities for Christ to be seen in the whole faith community. We are not individual faith islands determining our own salvation - we need help through a faith community. Sacraments are mostly faith community events supporting their member’s spiritual development. Let us maintain our state of grace by inviting God to be with us during our major passages along our earthly journey. Every day can be a personal sacrament when we invite Christ into our lives but church community sacraments are needed to produce unity and joy through faith sharing.

The sacraments are biblical, for example: Jesus told the Apostles to go out and heal the sick (MT. 10:1), to baptize (MT. 28:19), to leave everything and follow him (MT. 4:19 & LK. 5:11), to forgive sins (MT. 18:18 & JN. 20:23), to establish standards for marriage (MK. 10:6:12) and to give us himself as the bread of life (MK. 14:22 & JN. 6:36-58). Jesus knew what he was doing by establishing the responsibilities for administrating the sacrament through the church clergy (His Apostles today) and not make them just an individual personal devotion with individual interpretation of them. You see, we (in our human weakness) can rationalize or lessen the importance of life developmental events to fit into our own selfish thoughts; therefore, we need occasional help through our churches. When sin is putting us down, talk to clergy; when you need spiritual fulfillment, go to communion; and when you are seriously ill, receive spiritual healing for your soul from a church visit. We Christians are a biblical based community and we need our unity and central purpose of worshiping (through a sacramental life administrated through by the church to help us).

                                          
                                   (INFANT OR ADULT BAPTISM)

Baptism represents an acceptance into Christianity or an adoption by God - reborn with the Holy Spirit. God bestows his grace upon us then we are transformed from sin into grace.

Some Christian denomination have adult baptisms only. Baptism is their major sacrament and you need to be an adult to fully understand of God’s grace and love which washes away sins during baptism. However some of these churches will have infant dedications where the parents will commit to raising their child Christian.

Infant baptism is done by the more mainline and traditional Christian denominations. Early grave sites of Christians indicate the baptism of infants and oral tradition tells the same. The early Church fathers writings also indicate infant baptism. The Bible states that whole families were baptized at once in the early church (Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, Acts 18:8 & 1 Cor. 1:16). We can assume that little children were among some of these families or households. With infant baptism the faith of the parent (and in some cases the God-parents too) represent the faith of the child. Forgiveness of sins through the faith of others was not a foreign concept to Jesus when he saw the paralytic (MK. 2:5).  Many of the mainline or traditional Christian churches will have Confirmation (functioning as a later adult baptism in the Holy Spirit). Confirmation “confirms” or renews the baptismal promises made for you as a child. Emphasis is on receiving the Holy Spirit with confirmation instead of removing our natural state of sinfulness (our sinful urges that is sometimes called original sin) that baptism can do.  

These denominational differences should not cause us from having our common Christian unity. It is not that a child growing up in an adult baptism church would go to hell if they died before the age of baptizing - for the faith of the parents and their Christian community would be their faith too - they would be Christian. I personally feel that God see the difference between the two concepts of baptism as like saying “six” or saying “a half dozen”. The meaning or intention is the same. My church or your church might disagree with me but I place my thought process within the belief of a compassionate and loving God who does not get upset over the details of Christian Love as long as we honor Him first.

                                          (CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS)

Christian symbols point to the beautiful realities of Christianity. Without them our Christian world would sometimes be boring. Christian symbols are physical things (like art) that represent aspects of our faith beliefs. The movie “The Passion of Christ” was art that represented Christian belief. The crucifix is an art symbol that represents that same greatest act of love in the world (JN. 15:13). It does not mean anyone is worshiping a dead Jesus (all Christians believe in the resurrection of Christ). A crucifix is an image that reflects the saying: “I am washed in the blood of Jesus”. IT REMINDS US OF THE PRICE PAID FOR OUR REDEMPTION. Paul said: “Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:10).

Some Christians also have seasons of the church year that are symbols of different aspects in the life of Christ and of the Christian life itself.

Christian Symbols can be things we do (like the handshake of peace or making the sign of the cross upon yourself). The Sign of the cross is confirming our belief in the trinity and to remind ourselves of our baptism.

Christian symbols like statues or pictures (in the more traditional Christian denominations) are not idols or gods or deities and they do not have a special life (in themselves) that would be separated from what they represent (examples of good Christians).

                                      (SAINTS PRAYING for us in Heaven)

“Neither death or life can separate us from God” (through Christ) as stated in PM. 8:38-40. Death should not be able to separate us from one another as the mystical body of Christ. In scripture it is stated that: “Whether we are awake or asleep we may live together” (1 Thes. 5:10). We are given biblical examples of saints praying for us in heaven (Rev. 5:8 & Rev. 6:9-10). Jesus (himself) gives us an example at the transfiguration (LK. 9:29-30), when he is praying with Moses and Elijah. In actuality, (like living Christians) the Holy Spirit intercedes through God’s will (not any power from the saint). Therefore, intercessory prayer from saints is a source of comfort not an act of worship towards that saint. This belief began with the death of the first Christian martyrs. I understand the “Jesus is enough” attitude but for some Christians our beloved departed still being involved with our lives through prayer is a beautiful concept. If prayer is communicating with God - then my death should not stop that communication but instead increase it. This is not occult beliefs where the dead are speaking to us - it is only prayers through God (asking that our saints or loved ones be cared for as they pray for us).This concept is not a defining concept that makes you a Christian or not (however, it is a firm belief in the “Mystical Body of Christ” - united). Personally, should I need a miracle within my life, I go directly to God, then my friends (living and in heaven) for their prayers too. I can use all the help I can get through prayer.

                                        (CONFESSION & RECONCILIATION)

Jesus stated to his Apostles: “I say to you, whatever you bind on earth - shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth - will be loosen in heaven” (MT: 18:18). Many Christians believe that Jesus was asking the Apostles to share in His ability to forgive sins by (them) standing in for Him. This is an example of God’s mercy in a very personal way. We become sorry for our sins (contrition), we confess our sins, we discover an inner satisfaction or happiness and we are forgiven (absolution). However, it makes a person more responsible and more repentant when we are speaking to someone from the clergy (a Pastor). It is Jesus who forgives sins not a clergyman, but their presence makes believers more accountable in human terms. Otherwise we could rationalize it or make it unimportant. Some Christians have told me that this is not necessary but I say, if you have committed a serious sin - you better be resolving the problem in your Pastor’s office or a confessional both (for traditional Christians) for it is hard to do these things without help. Traditional Christians just have a more formal and sometimes more confidential way of doing this. Many Christians feel reconciliation is ministry (2 Cor. 5:18) with a clergyman doing this ministry. No church would have a children’s ministry with a child being the leading minister for other children; likewise, several Christian denominations believe Christ established a reconciliation ministry through the Apostles so that spiritually mature clergy could administer it. If your denomination does not do this then I recommend finding someone who is well known for their spiritual wisdom & knowledge to guide you during your sinful crisis. Usually the clergy are the most mature and informed about faith challenges and they could give wise council in areas of avoiding sin.

                                                        (REPENTANCE)

We believe that repentance has two parts; one is a forgiveness (with atonement) from God and the other is penance from us. With atonements, we do not have to make sacrifices (like in the Old Testament) because Christ did this for us on the cross, but we do want to remain sorry for our sins. Atonement helps to purify our hearts. The perfect obedience on the cross by Christ to the Father’s will atones humanity for sins. “Christ is the ‘Lamb of God’ who takes away the sins of the world” (JN.1:29). He was the perfect innocent servant that suffers in the place of the truly guilty - us (LK. 22:37). People have told me: “You Christians, you have a license to sin because you always know that God is going to forgive you - so sin is no big deal”! That is not true because repentance also has a second part, “Penance”. Penance requires a sincere change in direction with our thoughts and our actions.

Let us look at this example, we can forgive a child when a child does something wrong but there is still consequences that must be paid to express the sorrow. An apology must be said or something needs to be done to make amends for any damage. We would not want to be raising very spoiled and undisciplined children. Likewise, penance can work to create discipline within us (in most cases it is self-discipline). We must try to prevent the potential for future sins of the same type and help God as He builds up grace within us. This helps to create a very healthy detachment from sin again.

We can lie and can start lying as a habit, then as a behavior and finally our lying becomes part of us (we do it to appear important or to get noticed or to get instant value). Holes in our souls can form because wrong seems right and honesty seems wrong for us as time goes on; therefore, your conscience (that gives us our moral compass) is off. 

Penance is a way to help God show mercy and bless us (by allowing us to participate in our own purification process with God). Would God want to forgive someone who really does not want to change from their sinful ways? Franciscans were originally called the “Brothers and Sisters of Penance”.  It was important to live a good example and do good things for others.

We are forgiven (instantly and fully) when we sincerely confess our sins but penance is a helpful tool to prevent us from sinning (the same sin) again. Penance (an act of sorrow) can help God to heal our souls and build up our conscience again. We cannot sit back and allow Jesus to do all the work (should we really love and honor His wishes).

Personally, I have to meet God half way by helping Him to free me from sin by having a repentant attitude (that wants to express itself through penance).

Sins can be forgiven but our souls still need to maintain healing from being damaged. For example, Num. 31:50 & Lev. 17:11 has atonement for spiritual lives (some translations say our souls). Our souls need healing and purification - as they are being strengthen with grace (so to prevent “Back-Sliding” into sin again). An early Church father named Tertullian said (in 203 AD): “Repentance is not conducted before the conscience alone, but is to be carried out by some external act”. We can repent inwardly and outwardly through our actions of sorrow. I am not saying Christians should punish themselves (like beating themselves with chains or something like that). Penance should be a private act and something that prevents you from sinning (that same sin) again. For example: if you lose your temper with your spouse a lot, then spend a week (dedicated) to just helping your spouse. If that does not work, go to private counseling as penance. We can work for better physical health and do things for better mental health but also we should work to improve the health of our spiritual souls. 

. HISTORICAL NOTE: The ancient Church members would confess their very serious sins to the Bishop (Overseer) in private and a public period of penance followed (Jas. 5:15 & Didache 14:1). These people would (publicly) stand outside of the church for about a year in sackcloth and ashes in order to express their sorrow. These were expressions of faithfulness from within their hearts (they were not trying to earn God’s forgiveness or love because the sinner had already been forgiven). Centuries later (for penance), less severe expressions of sorrow were done, like certain acts or fasting or prayers to replace a year in sackcloth outside the church. Christianity wanted to be more compassionate.

In modern times (like in ancient times) the sins of one person affects the whole body of Christ; therefore, we can choose intercessory prayer for those who remain in sin (not as means to judge others but to help God to forgive others). We can ask God to purify them and us and to help heal us all from sin.

                                                (HALF-HEARTEDNESS)

We must allow our worship experience to become something personal (with our Christian friends among us).

Once (a long time ago) I allowed other people to do all my worshiping for me (like the Pastor, the choir and those who may help with the service. They would express all my thanksgiving to God, they said God’s praises for me and they did all the good things for me - as I watched.

Let us all take ownership of our worshiping: to say prayers of agreement (in our minds) as your Pastor prays, to know the words of the service (by heart) and to sing along with others (as one). Let us not just sit there - but instead be inspired by the Holy Spirit (that is present). We can always be participating Christians - but let us “Do better than that” - to take ownership of our Christianity by making it our unique community of loving worship. Let us minister to one another (being Christ to one another) by encouraging more involvement. If you seem to have a dullness of the soul (wake it up), do not depend on others to wake it up for you. Respect your church customs (and the people around you) but still use your mind and heart as you worship as one. Let us take responsibility for our own worship experience and not just leave it all up to others. Let us not be half-hearted about our Christianity (going to church on Sunday then not thinking about Christianity again). Let us make our Christianity a sieve in which our lives can be sifted through. Let us apply Christian virtues, acts of charity, prayers, mercy and forgiveness to all whom we meet (because of our faith) - our common faith (with common principles). Let us not be half-hearted about cooperating with Christians who are slightly different - but instead be an example of the “Peace of Christ”.

                                                

                                      (ECUMENICALISM IS OF THE HEART)

I grew up in a family with three brothers and two sisters. I could not change the things that made them each different from me (and I did not want to). I loved the differences that made each one an unique member of the family. Also, I could not deny my uniqueness that made me the family member that I became.

Ecumenicalism means we are a Christian family (siblings with Christ) and when we come together, we should not deny our uniqueness in Christ (just to please the family as a whole). Let us be reasonable when showing our differences that make us all followers in Christ. Let us do this by having common sense and being respectful to the differences (just like family should do with one another).

 Let us support the characteristics that form out greater Christianity and respect the different voices that spread the Christian message (like the Roman Catholic Pope, the Coptic Pope, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs, and evangelists such as Billy Graham or Charles Stanley.  Together, they are the voices that represent the greater Christianity. This does not mean we should love some voices and not others.

We are God’s family with differences to love (not hate). What others do, affects us all and what we do affects them (if we are truly family). Let us always communicate through love. We are one mind (the Mind of Christ), one faith (The Faith of Christ), and one love (The Love of Christ). Let us come together to support the weak in their weakness and the strong Christian in their strength (if they are in our church denomination or in another). We have our common goals in which Christians act with love as one. We can be one Christianity, one justice, one compassion and one understanding as servants of Christ. For the sake of Jesus and the peace of Christ, let us work together. Let us not shun any of our Christian siblings (or offend them or challenge their beliefs).  Their beliefs are theirs (not ours) and God loves the sincerity of the Christian heart more than religious doctrine. We are family (our Father’s children) that He loves.

                                                           (PRAYER)

I want you to know that I will always pray for all my Christian siblings. My prayers for my Christian siblings have roots that grow from God to all and I want God to know that I love ALL of them (now on earth and someday in heaven); because I cannot stop the good habit (of prayer) that I have formed within my soul for them. I constantly pray that my Christian siblings will cease dividing themselves and start loving one another as family.

                                                     (CONCLUSION)                                                                                    

Pray for me and I will pray for you - so this program will be a first step in our spiritual renewal together. Let us grow to love one another as dear Christian siblings with our Lord. God Bless you, D. Crone.