Verse of the Day 5

Prov 4:13

"Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life."

Keywords:
instruction- discipline, chastening, correction
guard- preserve, keep, guard from dangers
life- being, sustenance

Summary:
Grasp discipline. Take heed to what is correct and do not stray from its path because it is your vitality. You have to keep discipline close to your heart so that you will live.

Afterthought:
I can give an analogy to explain this verse fully. Your heart is vital to your life (if it stops working, you will die), so imagine that your heart is instruction. Surrounding your heart is your rib cage, which protects your organs including the heart. It would be safe to say that you would not purposefully do any damage to your ribs because it could harm your heart and kill you. So, your rib cage is like your grasp on life. It holds together strongly so that you may live. This is exactly how you should be about [biblical] instruction. God wants you to guard the wisdom He's given you with all of your strength like that of bones to keep yourself from turmoil and spiritual death (eternal separation from God). When you let go even a little, it will slowly lead to failure- just as if you broke a rib it would lead to internal health problems. Therefore, always be on your toes. Don't slack off as a Christian; put your ALL into the lifestyle to follow discipline in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and you will never die spiritually!

I Don't Hate Religion

   Hello! Recently, I've noticed that there is a trend among Christians, especially youth, claiming that they "Hate religion, but love God." I found it peculiar, but did not want to speak on it until God had given me full understanding. As time went by, I left the matter alone. Then suddenly it reappeared in video form. A youtube video titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" featuring a young Christian expressing his thoughts on 'religion vs relationship' through spoken word has been getting much buzz. If you haven't seen it, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY . However, my premise is not to speak on the video. I have been praying for personal gaining of spiritual wisdom. Today I literally woke up thinking clearly about the religion debate. Isn't God great? We ask for wisdom, earnestly seek it, and He gives it to us!

   Now, let's get to the root of this post- the title! Why am I bluntly declaring that I don't hate religion? To put it simply- because I know what religion is about. I'll begin my rhetoric by exploring what religion is. I looked up the definition of "religion" using multiple resources. Here are a few that seemed most relevant:

Dictionary.com
religion: 1) a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Merriam-webster.com
religion: 1b) the service and worship of God or the supernatural; commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
4) a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Google Search
religion: 1.The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods.
2.Details of belief as taught or discussed.

   The common ground that I see among these differing definitions is 1) service/worship of a superhuman being(s) and 2) a set of beliefs that affect one's lifestyle. I will sum religion up by saying that it is devotion to a supernatural being through life service (adhering to set principles) and praise. No where does it say in dictionaries or the Bible that religion was created by man. It is completely centered around a God or gods, so it must have come from the God or gods, right?

   Since this is a Christian blog, and I believe in the one true God, I will leave out "gods" and say that religion is focused on God and His teachings. Man-focused religions are nothing new. In the Bible, we see that the Pharisees obeyed God's law in order to receive salvation, but we know that salvation is a gift not acquired by deeds (Ephesians 2). Therefore, their religious acts were solely about rites and adherence to law, not necessarily service to God. How can it really be called "religion" when they are missing the core of religion: God? Matthew 5:20 says, "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Though they kept the Law, the Pharisees did not receive salvation because their hearts were still wicked. God wants you to obey His law AND have a relationship with Him.

   So my next question is: can modern society's ubiquitous statement "Christianity is a lifestyle, not a religion" be valid? Christians are really beginning to frown upon religion, which scares me greatly. Going back to the definitions of religion- worshiping your God and adhering to His commands that you confessed to be true, which consequently affects your lifestyle sounds pretty much like Christianity. Serving God religiously IS a lifestyle!

   As this blog post comes to an end, I want to say that Satan is constantly at work. He loves to corrupt believers. He has no reason to chase those who are already his, so of course he is looking to discredit your beliefs. Do not believe that you can live for God without living for God. Do you see how that makes no sense? That is what you are saying when you think that Christianity does not consist of religious rites and principles. Get out of the mindset of "How much can I do and still be called a Christian?" and live righteously according to what the Bible says, not mankind's twisted concepts. I pray that you will ponder this throughout life and come to biblical truth. As always, I'm open for discussion. Be blessed!

Why do we like haters?

   When the word "haters" comes to mind, what do you think about? It is a common term in modern America, often referring to people who do not agree with you or your lifestyle. There's an odd saying "Make haters your motivaters," meaning "Let people's hatred drive you to keep doing what you're doing." (Hopefully, whatever you are doing to ignite hatred towards yourself is positive.) My favorite is "Haters make me famous," which speaks for itself, but I find it to be a ridiculously inaccurate statement. Ironically, the common theme within these statements is appreciation for haters. Why do we, instead of ignoring haters, choose to acknowledge their negativity to somehow better ourselves? There are two main reasons: people like attention and people like rebellion. One who is a part of the former, will not necessarily be a part of the latter, and vice versa.
   Everyone knows at least one person who loves attention, the person whose life revolves around others paying attention to them. These people I like to call "drama royalty" [drama kings and drama queens]. They conjure up drama just for the sake of onlookers- they might as well become playwrights! For example, when I was a preteen, a peer of mine announced that she would be appearing on a televised talent show. We all congratulated her; however I had my doubts about her validity. I had known this girl to be a consistent liar and attention- craver, so I questioned how she would get out of school for weeks to fly across the country for a TV show. Though my commonly sarcastic tone was traded for sincerity at that moment, she grouchily called me "jealous." Long story short, her dream was reality solely in her mind and never came to fruition. I realized that she only stated the possibility of fame to bring perceived positive attention to herself. My peer had used my perceived "hating" as a way to boost her ego by saying that I was "jealous" of her. Now, I say all this to show that hating isn't always authentic; it is sometimes falsely interpreted by people to get the attention that they desperately crave.
    The valid hatred that people may have towards you, comes from a biblical perspective. My favorite scripture about this is John 15:18-19 where Jesus says:

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

Mind you, Jesus is referring to His children (chosen ones). He says the world should hate you, the world being those who are children of the worldly things (Satan's seeds). If you humbly contemplate what your life speaks about the gospel to unbelievers, you will find that there may be fewer haters than you thought you had. The only haters that a godly person should have are undoubtedly those who are against God. Hate should not motivate you to be famous, it should motivate you to be like Jesus who was hated by thousands, yet He sought no attention to Himself but to the heavenly father God. People who disagree with your job are not "hating" on you, and neither are you a "hater" for not liking something that someone else does. We must separate opinions from truth. Disagreements about life's decisions are inevitable, but Christ is the central focal point. A Christian who emphatically represents Christ [a cultural rebel] will certainly be hated by many, for the worldly are numerous and the godly are few. Anyone else is only hating their self by focusing unnecessary attention on people who don't actually hate them. Let your actions be a testimony to those worldly "haters," and settle disagreements with those godly people who are actually on your side. When you focus on your purpose in life, "haters" will be the last thing on your mind, for there is no room for foolishness when Christ is the center of your life.

My Top 25 Edifying Artists

Following up on the music posts, I thought I'd share a list of some of my favorite artists who are all about edifying music. I could go on for days about many more, but I'll save the time and share just my top 25. The names are in alphabetical order because I find them all uniquely, yet equally talented. Comment below any artists you like that I have not mentioned. I love to discover new music!:)

1. Andy Mineo aka "C Lite"
2. Benjah
3. Cam
4. Da' T.R.U.T.H.
5. Deitrick Haddon
6. D-Maub
7. Flame
8. Fred Hammond
9. GI (God's Image)
10. Israel Houghton
11. Izzy
12. Jac Rip
13. Jai
14. Leah Smith
15. Lecrae
16. Pastor AD3
17. Sho Baraka
18. Stephen the Levite
19. Swoope
20. Tedashii
21. Trip Lee
22. Tye Tribbett
23. V. Rose
24. Yaves Ellis aka "Street Pastor"
25. Young Joshua

Many Motives of Music: Part 2

   God created music for a higher purpose. The various sounds of instruments and voices tickle our eardrums, and we enjoy it, but we do not always realize the significant influence it has in our lives. All things must be done unto the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), which includes the tunes that we put in our heads. If you are letting it impact your mind, then it should be edifying!
   Our full-time job and purpose as humans is to worship Christ. Of course, not all humans are subject to Christ's teachings, but they are still under His authority. Many artists have no idea why they have such skills and use them for the wrong reasons, such as glorifying self and a worldly view. This activity is not pleasing to God, whether you are an artist or listener of secular music. Do you really believe that God is happy when we glamourize fornication, drugs, violence, and thievery? Of course not! Those things are against His word. As a Christian, you should know that sex outside of marriage is wrong, so why listen to songs about it? That should be cause for a conviction check. A good rhythm does not equal a good message.
   Seeking to honor God, songwriters may convey messages about God's goodness and the Christian lifestyle, while singers and musicians show the natural talent God gifted them. Give credit to whom it is due- the One who made you! Believers and unbelievers alike may witness this and praise Father God for His goodness. Music is more than a catchy tune, a beat, or just words; music is a ministry. Just as you seek a church that teaches sound doctrine, so seek music that does the same.

Psalm 66:1-4 (NASB)

"Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
'All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.' Selah."

Education Institution: Edifying or Not?

   College is one of the largest institutions available. I am 19, graduated high school with honors, received many scholarships, but I decided not to go directly to college after graduation. Why? I simply was not ready for such an environment. Over the summer (before my fall semester of college would have started), I went through a spiritual change following my mentor showing me how much I really didn't know about being a true Christian. I didn't know a prophet from a priest! Certainly, I was not prepared to be "salt of the earth" (Matt 5:13) when I had no idea what that even meant. Christians must always keep God's will at the forefront of their actions; stop and ponder Is this God's plan or my plan that I want Him to agree with? That being said, you might find that it is not important for your child to attend a university or other. Higher education is indeed helpful and has its validity; however, it isn't for everyone. No one's life path is the same.
   Teenagers in high school hear the question "What college are you going to?" so often that going to college seems like more of an assumed plan than a mere option. As the years go by, kids (especially those in public schools) are pressured to make plans for their future. I can recall as early as elementary school a teacher asking a five-year-old me what I wanted to be when I "grow up" and my answer was simply "a model." Though I have always had an affinity for fashion, there was no way I would ever become a model. I am not tall enough, not quite thin enough, and surely not willing to get nude in front of strangers. God did not call me to that job. So why does God have the final say? Well, being a Christian, I believe that God is my Lord and Savior, which means that He has complete authority over my life (yes, even the decisions I make) and He always will. It is a hard pill to swallow, but it is absolute truth, so I completely stand by that truth. I know that I am in the right place at the moment because God revealed it to me in His word and confirmed it.
   Institutions have a long history of influence on modern culture. People around the world have gone to college, are attending college, or plan to attend college; whether it is a two-year or eight-year program- everyone wants to go to school. Feeding into the hungry minds of young people, institutions continue to create more degree programs that may attract greater crowds. There is something mesmerizing and triumphant about having degrees and accolades to put on one's resume'. It seems that the motives for higher education are selfish. Everyone wants to be recognized, even though a large number of students are not even sure why they attended or how their degree correlates with their natural talents.
   Where is God in the midst of public education? There is a particular quote by Martin Luther that I love:

"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be great gates of hell,
unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures,
engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place
his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every
institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with
...the Word of God must become corrupt."

This passage should be made known to every Christian who truly wishes their children the best. It is not ambiguous that schools have a history of corruption; Martin Luther lived centuries ago, yet he observed the same situation in educational institutions that I see right now! Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 1:9 "There is nothing new under the sun..." is surely evident here. If you are a Christian, you should know that you are responsible for teaching your children the Scriptures consistently (see Deuteronomy 6: 6-9). Having attended many public schools and graduated from one, I can confirm that there is no such instruction in God's word. As a child develops into an adult and continues in a public school education, their morals are deeply rooted in what the world says. Christians should not be subject to such degeneration.
   My conclusion is "home is where the heart is." A child's heart (beliefs, emotions, and characterisics) should not be molded by society. The world is full of wolves waiting to prey on an innocent babe, and a sincere parent would not wish death on their child, but that is exactly what is being done by sending them out to be taught by strangers. Spiritual death is the end result of a child with no God-given direction. Corruption in educational institutions is exponentially rising. You may need the job training, or you may not benefit from it by risking your morality. All that being said, I pray that you will consider your role in your children's lives, if you are a parent, or where your goals of knowledge should be aimed, if you are a student.

God bless and I wish you the best!