Ray Boltz: ‘tired of living a lie’
I was recently shown an article by the Washington Blade Online, and was somewhat disappointed by the content. I am saddened for a few reasons:
First, there is never any joy (or shouldn’t be) in hearing the stories of Christians who falter from the faith (i.e. Scripture), for whatever reason. All of Christianity is made of men and women, along with boys and girls, who claim to profess Christ as their Lord and Savior, yet are not perfect. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and working of God, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are to strive to do that which is right according to Scripture even in the face of opposition, emotion, and/or personal preference that may be contrary to such.
Second, when a person sins in private, the repentance usually remains in private. When a person sins in public, it may require public confession and repentance. When the sin of a Christian of prominence comes to the light, it often (if not always) draws even the attention of those that find no fault with such.
Christianity is usually dealt blows from without, though it is not the fault of Christianity, but of the one whom chooses to act outside of the wisdom of Scripture. Christianity holds to a certain set of convictions (though some men have confounded and twisted the Truth), and when one chooses to step out of the narrow way, it is not Christianity which fails, but the one whom chooses to drift from it. One is forgiven when we come back to Christianity (God and His Word), not by dwelling in sin, refusing to depart such, demanding God accept us while we live rejecting all that He says and is.
Third, it simply amazes me at the ease that many Christians are seemingly able to accuse and blame God for their sins, even when their choices go contrary to the very Word of God. Adam did the same thing in the Garden of Eden. When confronted with his sin of eating of the forbidden tree, Adam contended, ‘The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’ True, God had given Adam the woman. True, Eve had given Adam the fruit. Though both of these were true, Adam’s guilt lay completely within his choice to disobey God and eat that which was forbidden.
Why do we as Christians desire justification of our sin, by trying to find ways around Scripture, by blaming others, or receiving so-called ‘pardon’ by those also opposing such Scripture (whatever the sin), rather than repentance of our sin where the fellowship with God may not be hindered but increased, and our faith in walking with the Lord strengthened? Why are we worried about our acceptance by man more so than by God? Do we not know that our approval by man does not justify us before God, especially if we are found to be embracing sin over His Word?
It is true that one can live a lie; one can be a hypocrite, claiming to profess Christ as Lord and Savior, while neither loving nor serving Him with their heart, soul, mind, and strength. But, one can also live a lie by claiming God will accept them in their sin; for a Holy God will not, but has called us to repentance that we may be forgiven.
First, there is never any joy (or shouldn’t be) in hearing the stories of Christians who falter from the faith (i.e. Scripture), for whatever reason. All of Christianity is made of men and women, along with boys and girls, who claim to profess Christ as their Lord and Savior, yet are not perfect. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and working of God, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are to strive to do that which is right according to Scripture even in the face of opposition, emotion, and/or personal preference that may be contrary to such.
Second, when a person sins in private, the repentance usually remains in private. When a person sins in public, it may require public confession and repentance. When the sin of a Christian of prominence comes to the light, it often (if not always) draws even the attention of those that find no fault with such.
Christianity is usually dealt blows from without, though it is not the fault of Christianity, but of the one whom chooses to act outside of the wisdom of Scripture. Christianity holds to a certain set of convictions (though some men have confounded and twisted the Truth), and when one chooses to step out of the narrow way, it is not Christianity which fails, but the one whom chooses to drift from it. One is forgiven when we come back to Christianity (God and His Word), not by dwelling in sin, refusing to depart such, demanding God accept us while we live rejecting all that He says and is.
Third, it simply amazes me at the ease that many Christians are seemingly able to accuse and blame God for their sins, even when their choices go contrary to the very Word of God. Adam did the same thing in the Garden of Eden. When confronted with his sin of eating of the forbidden tree, Adam contended, ‘The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’ True, God had given Adam the woman. True, Eve had given Adam the fruit. Though both of these were true, Adam’s guilt lay completely within his choice to disobey God and eat that which was forbidden.
Why do we as Christians desire justification of our sin, by trying to find ways around Scripture, by blaming others, or receiving so-called ‘pardon’ by those also opposing such Scripture (whatever the sin), rather than repentance of our sin where the fellowship with God may not be hindered but increased, and our faith in walking with the Lord strengthened? Why are we worried about our acceptance by man more so than by God? Do we not know that our approval by man does not justify us before God, especially if we are found to be embracing sin over His Word?
It is true that one can live a lie; one can be a hypocrite, claiming to profess Christ as Lord and Savior, while neither loving nor serving Him with their heart, soul, mind, and strength. But, one can also live a lie by claiming God will accept them in their sin; for a Holy God will not, but has called us to repentance that we may be forgiven.
12 comments:
Just goes to show the hypocrisy of the "homosexuality is a sin" nonsense.
Typical Christian hypocrisy, if you ask me, is to be blamed. Christians want to ban abortion, but the Christians themselves have the highest rates of abortion than any other creed they vilify (Including gays, whom curiously never have to go for abortions).
Christians do not want secular sex education taught in schools, despite increases of teenage pregnancy amongst Christian groups (Think Sarah Palin's daughter. Even Sarah Palin herself was pregnant before marriage. Talk about double speak).
Its time for Christians to talk the talk and walk the walk. If you morons want to set high "moral" standards for the rest of us heathens, try living the same high standards for yourself.
And for you, Tim, this would mean abandoning your computer, your laptop, your house and just about everything you own that owns a debt to science and live in the mountains, since you are so anti science yourself.
Beast
Beast: 'Christians themselves have the highest rates of abortion than any other creed they vilify'
Could you please show me the evidence of this statement.
Beast: 'Christians do not want secular sex education taught in schools, despite increases of teenage pregnancy amongst Christian groups'
Point? Evidence? Most would like their daughters to refrain (or wish they had) from sex, not have 'secular' sex. To claim one must change their conviction because of the actions of their children is silly. We should learn from our mistakes and desire that others not make them also.
Beast: 'If you morons want to set high "moral" standards for the rest of us heathens, try living the same high standards for yourself.'
I could also ask if atheists are not hypocrites and are just as or more moral as Christians, then I say show me.
Your last paragraph is pointless.
Tim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/feb/26/health.religion
"A study published in the Lancet shows that between 1995 and 2003, the global rate of induced abortions fell from 35 per 1,000 women each year to 29. This period coincides with the rise of the "globalised secular culture" the Pope laments. When the figures are broken down, it becomes clear that, apart from the former Soviet Union, abortion is highest in conservative and religious societies. In largely secular western Europe, the average rate is 12 abortions per 1,000 women. In the more religious southern European countries, the average rate is 18. In the US, where church attendance is still higher, there are 23 abortions for every 1,000 women, the highest level in the rich world. In central and South America, where the Catholic church holds greatest sway, the rates are 25 and 33 respectively. In the very conservative societies of east Africa, it's 39."
-Guardian
Atheists? Hypocrites? Lolz!
We aren't the ones telling people to have or not to have sex. We are not the ones who say homosexuality is wrong. We are not the ones screaming "bloody murder" everytime someone or a rape victim wants access to abortions.
Sure, as secular humanists, most atheists are against wars, like the Iraq war, and that's because fundies like you elect morons who fight wars based on "god wants me to fight a holy crusade" somewhere in the middle of the dessert.
Hypocrites? Tim. You are the biggest hypocrite yourself. Now pack your bags and move to the mountains.
Beast
Pointless? Your whole blog is pointless.
& so is that stupid "Christian Out" campaign. Even your Christian brethren fight it incompatible to their cause.
Shows how far out of sync you are with even your own Christian folk.
Beast
Claiming to be religious and church attendance does not equal Christianity, especially 'Born again' believers. Many people are religious, yet have not repented of sin and put faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christianity (Christ-like) seems to be used by all types of people now days, but the fact is followers of Christ are Christians, not merely religious people.
Take a look at this poll:
http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
Who's having abortions (religion)?
Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical".
Notice the 'religious' percentage is higher than the 'born-again' percentage. I agree, the born-again Christian percentage should be 0%, but the fact is a person that claims religion but lives as though they do not serve God is no different than the atheist who claims there is no God. Also, as you know with polls, the percentages are actually based off those questioned, not really the entirety of people.
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As concerning hypocricy, if you wish to contend that atheists cannot be hypocrites, that is pretty silly. Atheists are still human, and all humans have the ability to be hypocrites. I noticed you refrain from speaking on the morals part, for surely we both know that there are things some atheists believe are wrong yet find themselves doing them also.
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As for as my Christian Out blog, my thoughts are clearly laid out there, it isn't my fault if someone is unable to understand my concept, and it is completely in their right to disagree.
The statistics show a very predictable trend: The higher the religiosity, the higher the abortion.
Reason is simple: Religious people don't like to use protection. Result? They get more unwanted pregnancies, a predictable result (Just ask Sarah Palin, the staunch anti abortion whose daughter is now pregnant at...ahem.....17).
With regards to hypocrisy, I have not said atheists cannot be hypocrites. But even the worst of our kind cannot be compared to yours. Ted Haggard, the anti gay evangelist caught with using meth and a gay prostitute?
As for your "Out" campaign, its so stupid that it defies belief. My guess is that Christianity does bring down one's intelligence a notch or two.
You love to claim that evolutionists think we descend from monkeys, even though biologist today would ever make such a silly statement. But I dare venture that you did evolve from something more stupid than mere apes.
Beast
& I am still waiting for you to pack your bags and move to the mountains.
Beast
http://atheisthaven.blogspot.com/2008/09/of-christians-contraception-and.html
Beast: 'You love to claim that evolutionists think we descend from monkeys, even though biologist today would ever make such a silly statement. But I dare venture that you did evolve from something more stupid than mere apes.'
Interestingly, they can't all seem to agree. I just read more articles that claim we descended from 'gorilla-like' ancestors and yet other articles which claim 'primate' ancestors.
Apparently, they haven't a clue, because evolution has too many holes that just can't be taped together with strings of hope.
Oh, and these were sites not run by Christian, creationist, right-wing persons.
Tim
Give me the links. I will interpret them for you.
Beast
Note: Disagreements in Science is part and parcel of finding the truth. It does not equate to discounting Evolution altogether.
Even Christianity has so many denominations and sects. Are you going to discount Christianity based on a diversity of doctrines? I bet not.
Like I told you many times, there is a lot about evolution science has yet unraveled. That is because we are talking about evolution in multiple-billion-yr time frames. And the truth is we don't even have all the data of all existing flora and fauna that exists today, much less life forms over billions of years. But it does not mean evolution is "false".
Beast
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