17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17.
God is not in the business of changing human beings, he is in the business of habiting human beings. That is not what we have been told all our religious life. Far from it has been my experience. Everything about religion wants to fix you and make you what they feel you should be for God. Not much different from what most of our good cults have to say. Stereotypes is the big one - trying to get everybody to look alike and talk alike so there appears to be a union, a oneness, a common bond of sorts. Trying to make a kingdom work on earth as it is in heaven is a big task but men are willing to take it on.
Sure we need to change things we have done and do, don't keep doing old things the old way. But you don't need to change who you are - you need to know who you are. He created you exactly the way you are. We have a saying we use alot in meetings - "be yourself..be yourself in him..be yourself in him with knowledge."
Your very unique in creation and that created being is what you want to come forth - in him as you with knowledge. That is what a Christian is; they are created beings with the unique expression of the father in them by Christ in them - the twain are one at birth. Knowledge of the oneness is a total different story. You had best hang on to your hat because you have a lifetime of learning what happened to you the instant you did believe.
Most people don't want to even acknowledge Christ in them..if they know it at all. So do you think you will live in this world doing your own thing and either neglecting Christ in you or not even know it. No that will not happen..we may go for moments at a time but you are not going to walk around like a puffed up religious entity not knowing anything - your father is always working knowledge in you.. working understanding in you. Because it is the only reason for creation, so you cannot question why unless you really want to know. If you really want to know then you will have to give up what you think - your good notions and how you view the world - and learn Christ!
Why do we like the Old Testament so much? because it is harmless - there is not much responsibility on believers like there is in the New Testament living. In the New Testament a big responsibility comes to the believer in the form of a person in you, and you coming to the knowledge of that and having a lifestyle that fits what Christianity is. There is some pressure in that - "you mean I have to work at this relationship I have." Yes that is exactly what you will have to do if you are going to have a relationship. You are already born again and if just getting your foot in the door is all you want then so be it. But for the hungry, for the lost and down trodden it will mean everything. Learning Christ will be the greatest adventure any believer can experience on this earth. It just sounds boring but it will be far from boring, and the whole world will become you're pulpit.
God is not in the business of changing human beings, he is in the business of habiting human beings. That is not what we have been told all our religious life. Far from it has been my experience. Everything about religion wants to fix you and make you what they feel you should be for God. Not much different from what most of our good cults have to say. Stereotypes is the big one - trying to get everybody to look alike and talk alike so there appears to be a union, a oneness, a common bond of sorts. Trying to make a kingdom work on earth as it is in heaven is a big task but men are willing to take it on.
Sure we need to change things we have done and do, don't keep doing old things the old way. But you don't need to change who you are - you need to know who you are. He created you exactly the way you are. We have a saying we use alot in meetings - "be yourself..be yourself in him..be yourself in him with knowledge."
Your very unique in creation and that created being is what you want to come forth - in him as you with knowledge. That is what a Christian is; they are created beings with the unique expression of the father in them by Christ in them - the twain are one at birth. Knowledge of the oneness is a total different story. You had best hang on to your hat because you have a lifetime of learning what happened to you the instant you did believe.
Most people don't want to even acknowledge Christ in them..if they know it at all. So do you think you will live in this world doing your own thing and either neglecting Christ in you or not even know it. No that will not happen..we may go for moments at a time but you are not going to walk around like a puffed up religious entity not knowing anything - your father is always working knowledge in you.. working understanding in you. Because it is the only reason for creation, so you cannot question why unless you really want to know. If you really want to know then you will have to give up what you think - your good notions and how you view the world - and learn Christ!
Why do we like the Old Testament so much? because it is harmless - there is not much responsibility on believers like there is in the New Testament living. In the New Testament a big responsibility comes to the believer in the form of a person in you, and you coming to the knowledge of that and having a lifestyle that fits what Christianity is. There is some pressure in that - "you mean I have to work at this relationship I have." Yes that is exactly what you will have to do if you are going to have a relationship. You are already born again and if just getting your foot in the door is all you want then so be it. But for the hungry, for the lost and down trodden it will mean everything. Learning Christ will be the greatest adventure any believer can experience on this earth. It just sounds boring but it will be far from boring, and the whole world will become you're pulpit.
