Indifferent or lukewarm...
I watched Mamma Mia again tonight. It is a fun, enjoyable movie. The music is bouncy and great for singing along. It is bright and colorful. It has a great cast. Pierce Brosnan is not a singer but that is okay. He is easy on the eyes.
I sat there thinking so many things. I have become so used to the way the world is. Babies are born without fathers and no one blinks an eye. I recently read unmarried mothers account for 40% of births these days. Alternate lifestyles are no big deal and are celebrated. The moral bonds that used to restrain things have loosened up considerably.
I read something in a book that has made me think a lot. A man was feeding his goldfish and commented that to the fish, he is the god who gives food twice a day. I feed my daughter's fish twice a day. I clean the tank when it is dirty and scoop out the floaters when necessary. Whenever I come near, they rush up waiting for food. It may not be meal time but that is the conditioned response.
I have been conditioned and dulled by years of television, movies, music, reading and society in general. Things that would have shocked my grandparents are now normal. There was a cover of GQ with Jennifer Aniston semi nude wearing a tie that was strategically covering her boobs. I didn't give it a second thought. I do remember thinking she sure looks good and has maintained her figure. There was certainly no moral outrage. What does that say about me?
A thirteen year old girl won this years national spelling bee. "Laodicean" was the winning word. I saw the headline and it caught my eye immediately because the word Laodicean has a particular meaning to me. The definition is "Indifferent or lukewarm especially in matters of religion." In the book of Revelation, Jesus wrote seven letters to seven churches. It is said that each church represented the different church ages. The letter to the church of Laodicea was the final one and this is what Jesus said about it:
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(Revelation 3:14-17)
I think it a very good description of the christian church these days.
I have read a lot of things happening in the churches these days. I listen to a lot of different preachers and their sermons. I get podcasts of them and am really surprised at what I hear or don't hear. There is not a lot of substance that is taught.
I grew up going to church a lot-three days a week, twice on Sunday and at least once on Wednesday. I resented it because I felt like I didn't have any other life. It all had to be church, church, church. When I got old enough, I chose to not go anymore. I have gone to church periodically but no longer belong to a regular church. I tried to go with my kids but I gave up when I had to struggle so much with a wheelchair. It was so hard to get around. Rooms were small, too many stairs, accessibility was just about non existent.
Have you ever wondered where are the disabled on a Sunday morning? Do you see the physically challenged in church? Do you see the mentally challenged? Do you see wheelchairs? If you go to a school there are a lot of kids in special ed classes, but what happens to them on Sundays? Where is the church for them? No where that I have been able to find.
I have loved my Lord with all my heart and worshipped Him in my home. I read my Bible, I listen to sermons and radio programs, and I have a constant dialogue of prayer with Him. I have grown a lot of the years and can say that I have a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I still live in a society that rubs off on me and has a strong influence. It is truly a daily struggle to keep moving forward and become like my Lord. I sure do not do it on my own because I would be a constant failure. He does it through me somehow.
I am not perfect. I am a work in progress. I get upset with myself for being imperfect. This week I did have a revelation though...God knows my heart and He knows that I love him. I am forgiven and He sees me through His Son. He sees me as His daughter, He does not see me with my eyes. Thank goodness or I would be done for.
I admit that I swear and I tell or laugh at jokes I shouldn't but sometimes they are funny. I don't drink because I hate the taste of alcohol. I don't take drugs because I hate feeling out of control. I don't smoke because it is just a plain old vile habit. I overeat. I get mad and impatient. I struggle with unforgiveness and being judgmental. I grumble and complain. Yet for all of this, I am still forgiven and I am still a child of the Almighty. He knows my name and it is written in the Book of Life.
I know that at the end of the day, He is there and He loves me. He has never, ever let me down. He has always been there and always will be. One day soon I hope to see Him here, there or in the air.
I sat there thinking so many things. I have become so used to the way the world is. Babies are born without fathers and no one blinks an eye. I recently read unmarried mothers account for 40% of births these days. Alternate lifestyles are no big deal and are celebrated. The moral bonds that used to restrain things have loosened up considerably.
I read something in a book that has made me think a lot. A man was feeding his goldfish and commented that to the fish, he is the god who gives food twice a day. I feed my daughter's fish twice a day. I clean the tank when it is dirty and scoop out the floaters when necessary. Whenever I come near, they rush up waiting for food. It may not be meal time but that is the conditioned response.
I have been conditioned and dulled by years of television, movies, music, reading and society in general. Things that would have shocked my grandparents are now normal. There was a cover of GQ with Jennifer Aniston semi nude wearing a tie that was strategically covering her boobs. I didn't give it a second thought. I do remember thinking she sure looks good and has maintained her figure. There was certainly no moral outrage. What does that say about me?
A thirteen year old girl won this years national spelling bee. "Laodicean" was the winning word. I saw the headline and it caught my eye immediately because the word Laodicean has a particular meaning to me. The definition is "Indifferent or lukewarm especially in matters of religion." In the book of Revelation, Jesus wrote seven letters to seven churches. It is said that each church represented the different church ages. The letter to the church of Laodicea was the final one and this is what Jesus said about it:
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(Revelation 3:14-17)
I think it a very good description of the christian church these days.
I have read a lot of things happening in the churches these days. I listen to a lot of different preachers and their sermons. I get podcasts of them and am really surprised at what I hear or don't hear. There is not a lot of substance that is taught.
I grew up going to church a lot-three days a week, twice on Sunday and at least once on Wednesday. I resented it because I felt like I didn't have any other life. It all had to be church, church, church. When I got old enough, I chose to not go anymore. I have gone to church periodically but no longer belong to a regular church. I tried to go with my kids but I gave up when I had to struggle so much with a wheelchair. It was so hard to get around. Rooms were small, too many stairs, accessibility was just about non existent.
Have you ever wondered where are the disabled on a Sunday morning? Do you see the physically challenged in church? Do you see the mentally challenged? Do you see wheelchairs? If you go to a school there are a lot of kids in special ed classes, but what happens to them on Sundays? Where is the church for them? No where that I have been able to find.
I have loved my Lord with all my heart and worshipped Him in my home. I read my Bible, I listen to sermons and radio programs, and I have a constant dialogue of prayer with Him. I have grown a lot of the years and can say that I have a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I still live in a society that rubs off on me and has a strong influence. It is truly a daily struggle to keep moving forward and become like my Lord. I sure do not do it on my own because I would be a constant failure. He does it through me somehow.
I am not perfect. I am a work in progress. I get upset with myself for being imperfect. This week I did have a revelation though...God knows my heart and He knows that I love him. I am forgiven and He sees me through His Son. He sees me as His daughter, He does not see me with my eyes. Thank goodness or I would be done for.
I admit that I swear and I tell or laugh at jokes I shouldn't but sometimes they are funny. I don't drink because I hate the taste of alcohol. I don't take drugs because I hate feeling out of control. I don't smoke because it is just a plain old vile habit. I overeat. I get mad and impatient. I struggle with unforgiveness and being judgmental. I grumble and complain. Yet for all of this, I am still forgiven and I am still a child of the Almighty. He knows my name and it is written in the Book of Life.
I know that at the end of the day, He is there and He loves me. He has never, ever let me down. He has always been there and always will be. One day soon I hope to see Him here, there or in the air.
Comments