Theocentric Musings

Something I've been thinking about for a little while... I feel sorry for a lot of pastors. Among all the other issues that many have written about to bring awareness of, one other thing that quite a lot of pastors have to suffer from is a fear of growth. What I mean is that if they grow in their theology and it goes against something their congregation or denomination they are a part of believes, they will at  best be called names, at worst be out of a job and livelihood. So in many cases their learning has to be more of an affirming, quite a lot of pastors can't stretch themselves because it can cost them a roof over their heads. It's really sad, and it's clearly not what God had in mind when establishing the church. We know that none of us have arrived, we are all seeing things through a glass darkly, but sometimes we behave as if pastors have all the answers or have arrived and keep them stuck in one rut or we turn on them. What a burden. So I personally am ...

The problem I see in the church is that some have adopted beliefs that cause them to be incapable of truly seeing good in others. They've been so inundated with dying daily, killing the flesh, dying to self, carrying their cross, all concepts that make great buzz words but are concepts that have been taken out of context and misinterpreted throughout the years.  They don't trust themselves, they  are constantly second guessing their actions, and so they second guess others as well. They've listened to 10 step programs from their pastors and have made their own list from here, and there, and there, and here, of what it takes to really be a "disciple." They get told God's thoughts are not like their thoughts, God's ways are not their ways. Yet they miss the message being proclaimed by Isaiah. They focus on a verse and don't recognize that preceding it is a proclamation of forgiveness, which is not typically man's thoughts or ways when he is wr...

I hear more and more about Christians committing suicide, lately it's been a few pastors and it's very upsetting.  This is very sad, and it's not a time you want to be disrespectful or use something as awful as this as a platform but I believe that many Christians that suffer from depression, many are suffering because of their theological beliefs or the doctrines they believe.  I have heard a f ew of the core beliefs of those who have committed suicide and it saddens me. It saddens me for them, their families, their friends, but also for those that are under them. They typically are preaching mixture or against Grace. I have been reading a few books on toxic thoughts and beliefs and I have learned in my own life and times of depression and attacks of suicidal thoughts that the core thoughts and beliefs really were the key. When you believe God is the source of your troubles, to chasten you, to build you up, to humble you, to take you to a new level, whatever other nons...

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...