Theocentric Musings

Reading scripture should always lead you to feel good, feel hope, feel Christ pop off the pages. If anyone is teaching you that reading scripture is supposed to leave you feeling want, feeling oppressed, feeling guilt, they are preaching a false gospel.

I enjoyed this, by way of RefineUs Ministries, http://refineus.org/the-worst-thing-with-your-past/ : Author Brennan Manning says this in his book, Abba’s Child: In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others. What if your past could be leveraged to heal? What if your greatest failures could help others avoid failure? What if the wounds you’ve accumulated could be healing balm to others who are wounded? What if the abuse you’ve experienced could set others free from the pain of their abuse? What if your addiction could be a catalyst to liberate others? What if freedom, true freedom is found not in trying to hide our past; pretending like nothing happened, but in running head first into the darkest parts of our past. It is there that Jesus’ light shines brightest. Fear will tell you to hide. Shame will demand you keep quie

Some preach very heavily about repentance, and that is something I wholeheartedly support. But, too many are preaching the wrong type of repentance and I wonder if they honestly know they are doing it. Repentance in the New Testament, is METANOIA in Greek. It means a change of mind. Particularly it is pertaining to changing our mind from belief in a righteousness that is "here today, gone tomorrow" that can be achieved by our self efforts, to a sustaining, "forever" righteous ness that is available completely by a belief in who Jesus Christ is. However, the "'prick our heart", "tearful regret" repentance is METAMELOMAI. This was what Judas did in Matthew 27:3. In the KJV it says Judas repented himself, other versions say Judas was remorseful, or filled with regret. Now which is being taught? The type that brings life, or the type that brings death? The type that carries a believer into joy in all circumstance and a longing to be in

I wonder how many Christians would be surprised to find out that this "Holy Spirit conviction" that is making them feel like they don't measure up, that they are failing God, that they are not righteous, and that they can't do anything right by God, is actually the voice of the enemy?

Why is it so easy for Christians to make entire doctrines about a single scripture, mostly taken out of context with the other verses surrounding it, the preceding chapters, or to whom it was directed to in the first place and then follow this doctrine with fiery zeal, heralding it as a command from the Lord, but yet find it so hard to follow His very simple, clearly stated, and non debatable command to love God and love people?

With all this following of Levitical laws I see by some Christians I'm wondering why more of them aren't following Leviticus 14:33-57. I know some have mildew in their homes.