“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”
― C.S. Lewis
Being in a family of pastors and one myself, I've seen so many "types" of Christians. From the form of worship to the what people actually believe, there seems to be countless versions of this thing called "the Christian life".
I've seen that whatever the "style" is, a lot of Christians are wound up in finding out what they're doing wrong instead of what they are believing wrong, visa versa. We get caught up in changing our outward behaviour whilst not having an inward transformation.
Right believing = right living. - Joseph Prince
Our minds and what we pay attention to is so important that we can either destroy or thrive in life just on what we believe in. Romans 12:2 talks about transformation happens in our life when we have a renewed mind.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:2*
This verse's goal so that we can prove (understand, experience) what the will of God is which is good, acceptable and perfect. We know from scipture and from the Holy Spirit assuring and speaking to our hearts daily that He is good and has our best interest in mind but when we can't understand or comprehend what's going on in our lives, we apply worldly methods or religious practices to assure us instead of drinking deeper from Holy Ghost. Why are we so conformed to the habits of our old nature that's been crucified with Christ?
We need our minds renewed!
I'll focus on 2 words and expound it in Greek, the language that this verse was written in, so that we can understand the depth of this verse a little better.
- Transform - Greek: Metamorphoo : to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. Where we get our English word metamorphosis from. A process that transform the very nature of the catepillar into another creature, a butterfly.
This is the same word that was used when Christ was transfigured on a mountain. Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration.
In other words, this experience is nothing short of a supernatural one. It isn't just a change of beliefs or ideology or principles or moral conduct. It is a supernatural divine experience that our nature is completely transformed. In Christ ressurection we have been made such (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now, we gotta drink deep from that new nature, our oneness with God!
- Renewing of your mind - Greek: Anakainosis
: a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better which stresses the participation on the part of the believer.
So for the transformation to happen you need to come place yourself in a position to be changed. You don't earn your transformation by participating. You're simply posturing yourself for renewal. It's the essence of what worship is all about. Putting His presence, His ways as your priority and whatever I need to change, God have your way.
I want to really stress that this is not asking us to change merely in our action. You can't be transormed by going to church or going to church...... more. So many Christians attend church but don't step into the presence of God. We treat church, church camps, Christian conferences like a gamble. We go to it hoping we'll hit the jackpot called "God touched me".
Transformation happens by "going up to a mountain" and spending time with Him. There's no other way.
Short related story
I remember a phrase my mom mentioned while she was preaching at church once that goes, "Think about what you're thinking." God doesn't want us, His children, to perform some sort of behavioral modification to please Him. He's not interested in superficial acts of men to show how good they are. That's religion which in it's essence is a form of seperation from God that Christ came to break.
If you watch what you think, you won't need to watch what you do. - Bill Johnson.
The 'IT' in "It is finished!"
When Christ said, "It is FINISHED" on the cross, that "IT" referred to our new life in Christ TOTAL and COMPLETE defeat to sin and it's lies. Here's the revelation!
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. - Colossians 1:20-22 NIV
What a powerful verse in the Bible. Adam (mankind) was never separated from God. He was separated from God in his own mind. What Adam chose at the garden of Eden wasn't about a fruit that God didn't like let's get that straight.
And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. - Genesis 2:9
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good for seeing but not good for partaking. Moral values, determining right from wrong, are good principles but principles aren't suppose to be our source of Life. If we get our purpose, identity, and definitions from form of belief, we automatically place ourselves to a process of decay and death.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. - Genesis 2:17
Christ death and ressurection has broken the curse of a life dependant on this belief. He didn't only destroy sin and it's curse but made righteousness a permanent state for mankind. Righteousness isn't tied to our choices anymore but to the act of Christ, to His choice. I know this sounds scandalous but our salvation is way more mystical and supernatural than we believe. The salvation He gave us has so much more for us to grow deeper in and enjoy.
It is FINISHED! - Jesus Christ
Religion the anti-Christ
In Christ we have forgiveness of sin. We have a renewed mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17).
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) - Romans 5:17
Religion wants to take away the word gift from 'the gift of righteousness'. It wants you to pay the price for your sins and however you try it's never good enough. Have you ever met people that never gets satisfied by any form of sorry? The offense seem to be really important part to their ecosystem of self-righteousness. That's religion. Comes in many forms but cons the same. Christians, you are not spared from being a religious prick. Don't be one.
Don't be a retard
I understand that there is place for repentance but after your crying and saying sorry there must be something else than feeling remorse or sadness over your shortcomings right?
Imagine a son did something that displeased his father and then he felt sorry and said sorry the father forgivess him. But every day from then on the son keeps reminding the father of what he did and continues to say sorry for that which the father already forgave him for. I don't know the specific psychological term for this dude but you'd call this kid a little retarded eh? It's not normal!
And that's precisely the crap we pull off with God sometimes! Yeah you may have a relationship with God but an unhealthy one!
The story of the prodigal son ends with a party! (Luke 15:11-32)
Replace what isn't normal with what is. Drink Christ. It's party time!
There is the other side of the cross to explore!
Encouragement and Final Thoughts
Let's understand although we may have a problem with sin or grasping the great weight of glory that is our salvation, He doesn't. We may feel unworthy but He has chosen us as worthy. We may have battles in our mind. We got what we didn't deserve of His choice. Our salvation didn't start when we "accepted Him into our lives", that's just an acknowlegement of what already happen and you're only realizing that which has already been poured out so freely, His love for you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved. - Ephesians 1:3-6
Let us move away from any mindset that is not of Him and let us live in the newness of life He has purchased for us!
Encounter and walk on the other side of the cross, your new life in Christ. It is your inheritance. It is yours for the taking! Drink and keep on drinking Jesus!
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TOPIC FINDER: I always enjoy talking with people on topics they like to converse about so if you have a "How-To" or a question related to life, leave a comment and I'll write my thoughts on it in an upcoming post. Bless you!
Previous Frameworks: Frameworks Issue #20: Counterfeit Love Part 3: The War Against Humanity
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://danielwong.vornix.blog/2018/09/11/frameworks-issue-21-what-does-it-mean/