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God:
“Good! Maybe it’s time to get real and realize just who and what you are…and admit that you need a Savior, because you are just not up to it.”
Ummm … Steve … I’m pretty sure David IS saved. He’s probably talking about something else …
Me, too, David.
I know David is saved. I didn’t mean to say that I thought he wasn’t.
Fact is, we believers are “being saved” (process).
We all “pretend” we are things we are not. God’s law knocks us off our pretentions, so that we can continue in the process.
Ah, that clarifies it — thanks, Steve. And I agree; the words “fake it ’till you make it” are found nowhere in Scripture. We are all in process, and nothing is to be gained by acting as if we’ve already arrived.
I am so thankful for my Christain brothers and sisters who don’t pretend – they are the only ones that I let into my house, the rest have to stay at church.
At least they understand about my occasional margarita habit, my fits of laughter about inane subjects and my love of reality TV like American Idol, to name a few of my little quirks. Yeah, I’m human, and God loves me anyway, so what!?! Jesus died to save my sorry self, and he knew EXACTLY what I was like. So I will celebrate the richness of myself in Christ and the love He has placed in my heart for others and try to wake up every day ready to talk to Him.
Right on, Ray.
Just Jill,
Aha! A real sinner! (not that those things you mentioned are sins).
A relgular guy (girl). A non-phoney.
You are the kind of Christian that I enjoy hanging out with!
i’d like to post the same comment i already put at flickr stream:
“… assure me that i’ll get to heaven or i switch religion!”
Assurance.
That’s why He gave us the Sacraments. Baptism and Holy Communion.
So we could have assurance. In your baptism, he made you a PROMISE.
In the Supper…He makes you a PROMISE.
If the Lord’s PROMISES aren’t good enough…then nothing will give you the assurance that you’re looking for!
No need to switch…unless you want to start trusting in yourself and YOUR RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE.
No way.
steve: i guess these rituals work for you.
Rituals- no
Promises made by God in the sacraments – yes
I think that is why much of the stuff that happens in the church happens, (your cartoons) because the people want to internalize the Word and make it into a project.
Then you end up with emotionalism, self-righteousness, egotism, etc., etc.
The external Word (trusting in the promises made TO YOU from outside of yourself) helps put a stop to the shenanigans of the’the self’.
It may appear as ritualism, and to some that is all it is, but to those who trust in the Lord’s promise to love, forgive, and save, totally by what He has done, is doing, and will yet do, then the ritual is not a ritual, but a place where God acts on our behalf.
A proper understanding of the Sacraments helps to keep believer’s feet on the ground and keep them real.
For me, the external Word, is indespensible. I need it.
i’d like to add that my statement above is not my point of view.
it would have been the second line in the message, if i drawed it.
most people today are unable to “believe” because they need to have “real facts”, for example wonders.(just can’t imagine other things)
i hope i’m not confusing anyone, i am just capable of writing school-english
and steve:
what do i win after i found the little hidden smiley on your website?
chackachacka,
Congratulations! You have won a brand new car company!
You now control what used to be the largest automobile manufacturing company in the world…GM !
Or, you can have a toaster.
i’d rather take the toaster i guess…
Good move!