A good Christian should.....

A good Christian should… . There are many misconceptions, distortions and/or just plain lies that cause us to wander and never come to the knowledge of the truth. One of the biggest misconceptions is about what truth is.  Truth is simply the fact about something.   So many people are looking for the will of God for their lives and never find truth because they just simply won’t believe what was written, spoken by Jesus and testified to by others all concerning Him.  It is not enough that Micah exclaimed He has shown you oh man what is good and what is required of you.  It is not enough that Jesus said to enter into the kingdom of heaven one must simply believe in Him whom He sent.  Instead in an attempt to hold up a standard, to prove we are a good Christian, or to be a light in the mist of darkness, many have either created or embraced teachings, sayings and behaviors that are not true.  Consider:

Hidden meanings. On any Sunday there are sermons preached that don’t make sense unless you’ve been indoctrinated in the place you’re hearing the message. I turn on the television or watch a video from a local gathering and don’t have a clue as to what’s being preached. I remember a man, Kim Clement (supposedly a prophet) preaching. For the most part I never understood what he was talking about. I remember he would laugh during his sermon and to me it said, I have this great mystery. I was told I didn’t understand because his message was SO deep. (So deep I can't understand? OK!)

This method of communicating is common within the body of Christ. It teaches people to look for a hidden meaning because they can’t understand what is actually been said. Or what is being said it contrary to common sense. People are trained to keep attending so that over time they will get it. Therefore, people learn to fill in all the parts not understood with possibilities and positivity. And call it faith!

Truly the most important part of communicating is that the hearer understands, not that the speaker speaks or writer writes. That said, know this, in my writings and blogs, there is NO hidden meaning. I mean exactly what I say. So, don’t try to figure out what I’m saying. Just read it. It’s that simple. And if I get it wrong or am in error, I will correct the error when I have greater understanding in writing and inform you.

The truth is, that it is okay not to understand or agree with everything being communicated.  Sometimes things just don’t make sense, sometimes it’s just not true, it’s just not factual.

Hocus Pocus. Because so many fail to understand the Spirit of God, it is believed that which isn’t understood or hasn’t been revealed or explain is spiritual. The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. He is not moving people erratically. Simply, if something can’t be explained or you have no knowledge or understanding of a matter, does not make it spiritual.  Honestly I think Christians like what I call “hocus-pocus.” The mysteriousness of something moving or compelling a person to do something without their knowledge and will. Foolish. Just plain foolish. The behaviors I’ve seen make me think of a drunk man that says he didn’t know what he was doing. Foolish.

The truth is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth is God. Therefore there is nothing done by the Holy Spirit outside of the character of Jesus the Word of God who reveals the Father. They are one in the same. Truth is simply the fact about something.

Words. Words are just that, words. There are no hidden meanings to the words. Not even the words written in the bible. Many Christians only use a Greek or Hebrew dictionary to define words from scripture because the thought is that there is a meaning in the words that is lost in translation. (I did) All translations will reveal Christ Jesus if He is the one being sought. Truth is simply the fact about something.

The truth is the actual words written in the bible or the words spoken by Jesus hold no hidden meaning.

Testimony. A testimony is a legal term. It means the exact same thing that people give every day in a court of law. They testify to that which they have firsthand knowledge. It’s not supposition (an uncertain belief) or hearsay (information received from others that one cannot adequately substantiate). A testimony is authoritative if indeed it is a testimony. Most of what people call a testimony has no authority for two reasons, one they fail to understand what a testimony is and two they have no firsthand knowledge of the thing they are testifying to.  How can one testify that God is good if indeed they do not know God?

The truth is a person can only testify to those things of which they have direct knowledge.

Witness. A witness is also a legal term. No one is called in a court of law to testify of what someone else saw. They are called to testify as witnesses of what they know and saw. The apostles are eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus, as written in their letters. According to what was recorded in the book of Acts, no one could be an apostle unless he/she had seen Jesus and was witness of His life. At first I really didn’t understand what the relevance was. Now that I understand what a witness is without the “hidden meaning” I question all these people that call themselves apostles. You’ve seen Jesus? Oh, you mean in the spirit? Well, true apostles saw Him in the flesh and as John said, handled Him. I guess that would take us back to the portion on hidden meanings, because I thought He was sitting at the right hand of the Father. (I’m trying to present to you that truth makes sense) Truth is simply the fact about something.

The truth is the credibility of a witness is dependent upon that which the person can testify too. Hence refer to testimony.

Learned Behavior, Signs and Wonder. When I was first born again, I was so elated that with every statement I said I ended it with praise God, hallelujah, amen. lol That is true. One lady (Karen) called me that as my name, “praise God, hallelujah, amen.” I didn’t realize at the time she was making fun of me. To me it was telling everyone I was thankful to God for EVERYTHING! It was a sign. I had no idea how off putting and silly it was and unfortunately for me no one loved me enough to correct me and explain the irrelevance of my words. I learned that behavior from others more experienced than me.   Interestingly many are in awe when a child mimics a behavior such as lifting their little hands to sing, or reenacting dance moves they’ve watched for years as a sign. People actually think these behaviors are praise and worship and a sign. Inaccurately using the scripture about a child will lead them, or out of the mouths of babes come perfected praise. It is a sign, but a sign to us that they have learned behaviors that have no relevance to them. There are too many learned behaviors and traditions that we mimic from generation to generation and have no knowledge or understanding as to why, just like the children we laud. Often times something seems right (hocus-pocus) at the time and for whatever reason becomes a part of the on-going rituals.

The truth is Jesus told us that there would be no sign given except Jonah, which was  significant ( a sign) of Him and His time in the grave. Yet, again most don’t believe Him.

There are other misconceptions, distortions and just plain lies that all of us have swallowed at one time or another. But, it doesn’t have to be that way if we would take the time to consider, to question, to trust that just maybe it is just not that complicated. Oh, that we would just be honest….with ourselves, for God already knows. Then the true possibilities of the liberty He has provided is possible.