Merry Christmas

One week before Christmas. I hope that Christmas this year brings new joys in each reader’s life. Christmas is the time, of course, where we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. May you follow Him according to your hearts dictates and continue to grow closer to Him through a daily walk with Him.

This is the time of year when each Christian has the chance to become better witnesses to those around them. It doesn’t matter if it’s at the gas station, the mall, office, shop, school or even church. We can show an attitude that would be pleasing to God and Jesus as we live our daily lives. The beauty of that is if we start better habits early in the season maybe they will become permanent habits of ours, a kinder heart, more patient spirit, better listener, etc.

What do you change about yourself at Christmastime that is for the better? What do you change about yourself at Christmas time that is for the worse? We may be mild mannered all year long but when it come to shopping for that special gift we become something that most people would not recognize in us, be it good or bad. The extra money, stress, family and such can put such a strain on us that we’ve lost our unique witness to those around us. Above all things Christmas ought to bring out the true joy that is ours as children of God.

May you reflect on your life this joyous season and let Christ be the true and only reason for the season in your life. Gifts are good but if they make us lose sight of Christ then we need to reflect on how and why we do them. Don’t quit giving gifts but give them with a new heart and a mind for Christs birth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2 Basics

I guess the best way to start a blog on holiness is to do two basic things. First, tell you a little about me. And second to answer the title question by starting with the basic premise of before you can seek holiness (if indeed it is necessary) you need to be saved.

Well to address the first thing. I am a layman. For those of you who will read this and not know what a layman is this is what a person is known as who is not a clergyman, preacher, priest, vicar, etc. I have a job in a factory and am a skilled tradesman. I have been a Christian for almost 40 years as of this writing. I am not the most avid student of God’s Word but I do read it daily and believe that Christians should seek to do the will of God in their everyday lives.

The second portion of this blog is not as easy as the first but since it is necessary to be saved before seeking holiness and so I will start this with a primer on Christianity and salvation. Much of what I will blog will be up for interpretation by many readers and therefore I will always try to use the Word of God as a final authority for “things in stone”. Other ideas, definitions, etc. may be gotten from studies, dictionaries and so forth.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or lives the lifestyle based on the life and teachings of Jesus; one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus."

A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. A 2007 survey in the United States identified the following five typical American categories:

• Active Christians: Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and Sharing their faith that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. They also accept leadership positions in their church.
• Professing Christians: Are also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith.
• Liturgical Christians: High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognizing the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community.
• Private Christians: Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment.
• Cultural Christians: Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings or to attend church. They favor a university theology that sees many ways to God.

Other countries may not show the same variety, especially where there is active persecution of Christians.

My next blog will deal more directly with Biblical Salvation and how to be saved.

Survey says

This is an old study done by the Barna Research Group and it makes you kind of wonder if the people in the survey are reading the same Bible. I don't just mean the KJV or the RSV or The Message but the same Bible. The Holy Word of God as accepted by the Catholic and Protestant faiths in the west and much of the world today.

Beliefs  

1. Compared to 72% of all adults, 92% of born again Christians believe "the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches." (2007)
2. Three-quarters of born again Christians (74%) believe they "personally have a responsibility to tell other people their religious beliefs" compared to 52% of all adults. (2007)
3. Nearly all born again Christians (99%) say their religious faith is very important in their life, compared to 87% of all adults. (2007)
4. Half of born again Christians (46%) agree that Satan is "not a living being but is a symbol of evil." (2007)
5. 37% of born agains believe that if a person is good enough they can earn a place in Heaven. (2007)
6. 26% of born agains agree that "while he lived on earth, Jesus committed sins, like other people," compared to 41% of all adults. (2007)
7. Born again Christians are more likely than non-born again individuals to accept moral absolutes. Specifically, 36% of born agains said they believe in moral absolutes, compared to just 16% among non-born agains. (2006)

Think about it, if you are a Born-Again Christian and are in the 92% of the first statement then how do you believe survey numbers 5 & 6? It says in Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:..." and 2Co 5:21 plainly states, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Not attempting to pull these two scriptures out of context, go to the Word of God and read these two  passages and the ones around them. 

I guess my next question would be where in line do you fall according to the survey? And do you even really know what you believe and why you believe it?

Just Starting

Holiness: Necessary or not? This question has come up in my life through those I love who are intent on hurting themselves and when approached about their inconsistant lifestyles they accuse the questioners of judging.
Because of this I had decided to write a book on the subject. Not being a writer and collecting about 200 pages of material I thought I might start a blog just to get the subject going somewhere besides my head and computer.
I need to give you, the reader, some of my background. I am a Christian and consider the Holy Bible the Word of God and therefore will use the Bible as my authority on the subject. I am not a preacher or any type of clergy. I am not perfect and therefore do not think perfection is in itself part of Holiness. Holiness, however, is something to be desired and sought after as Christians. Thus, this blog.
I will write as I get the opportunity and if someone asks a question, will do my best to answer in a proper manner. I will try to enlighten those who read this blog to what God wants from us as Christians, but that is getting into one of the future chapters.