Following Christ begins with the heart

Recently I was reflecting upon a time when I volunteered at a Salvation Army. It was just a week before Thanksgiving a few years ago and worked in the kitchen. I would not normally mention "doing alms." However, because it was a social service college assignment that was required, it wasn't exactly the same thing..

While I was there, I do remember that certain workers seemed really dedicated to thier work of feeding and sheltering those in need. However, a few of the "paid" workers didn't seem to really be as passionate about the job as others.

Prior to this, I also had the opportunity to get to know a little old lady, an ordained minister of the Church of God, who ran a mission in Detroit. It was so obvious to anyone who knew her that she genuinely cared about each person.

I was thinking about the differences I saw at the two missions tonight, and then I remembered certain words of the Apostle Paul.

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:3

I think we make a serious area if as Christians we only pay attention to what we are doing in service for God, and not what is in our heart, that is to say, what our motivations are.

"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man:" - Jesus

Jesus did not do away with the law, but he brought it to a higher level. Now its not just don't kill, but if you hate you have committed murder. It's not just don't commit adultery, but if you lust with your eyes you have already committed adultery.

Our relationship and love of God starts inwardly. If we love him we keep his commandments in our hearts. If the commandments are not in our hearts we can't say we really have a relationship with Him. The two go hand in hand.

So let us examine ourselves under the microscope of the Word of God that we may seek to serve God and our fellow man in sincerity and indeed, and not in hypocrisy, nor just in word.

On my mind

Tonight I got a little work done on my book. Most of my work up until this point has been studying. My book is more or less about afterlife theology and Christian apologetics. This has and continues to involve a great amount of study. I have been studying a lot about the brain, because basically the mind/body/soul argument is at the core of the debate between naturalism and super-naturalism.

I am an old earth creationist, but the main area I want to specialize in is not creationism. I will leave that to Hugh Ross, or Ken Ham if your a young earther. By the way, I am keeping an open mind to young earth interpretations of scripture. I can only say that from both my biblical studies and my knowledge of the world, I am presently of mind that the Earth/Universe is older. I know that this is a major disagreement in the body of Christ. I don't see any reason for me to try to convert young earth creationists to my view. It is not a critical matter for salvation. Many great Christian thinkers like CS Lewis and Allister McGrath have believed God used macroevolution to bring about mankind. I strongly disagree with that position, but again, it is only the rejection of the cross and Christ that are most critical. I honestly think that Christians fight about too many things already, though I am always up for a rational conversation about disagreements.

God said something to Job that I think should keep us all humble as we discuss our different understandings of Genesis.

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone," - Job 38:4-6

As far as my studies and apologetics are concerned, I think the bigger area for me is demonstrating evidence, or reasons to believe in the existence of the supernatural, in addition to theological questions about the afterlife and spiritual things. Of course I will deal with other areas of apologetics, but nobody should try to pretend or set themselves up to be an expert at everything.

In other news, I am waiting for a couple doors to open in my personal life. I am trusting God, and putting work together with my faith. I am really exited about a couple opportunities that are before me. God's will be done. In the future I would like to begin holding apologetics/theology meetings here in the Detroit area. I will keep you posted on that. 

BTW I have lost a little over twenty pounds. I still have more to go before summer, but I am excited about getting into the best shape of my life. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!