Going from one extreme to another

[humble soul]

We don't find out what happened to the Prodigal Son after the welcome party from His father.
He had squandered his inheritance, lived a debauched life. Gone off the rails.
How will he go out home now? He still has to deal with his resentful brother. Hopefully things will work out.
But there is a possibility he will become very religious. Very proper. A teetotaller. He might become judgemental of anyone who behaves like he did before.
What am I trying to say? Many of us have turned away from an overtly sinful life by quitting addictions like alcohol. Gambling and smoking for me too.
But are we now becoming too serious? Too obsessive about sin? Too judgemental.
Buddhists say the middle path is the best. Avoid extremes. Is there a Christian equivalent?
Some Muslims get carried away with following the letter of the law in the Quran.
Getting too serious.
I sense we need to be disciplined but not get tunnel vision. Keep an open mind perhaps?

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

I like this entire post as it challenges everyone for self-introspection rather than telling us how we should be, or how we should live according to the author's standards.

For myself, I have found my own personal joy in living a very average life of faith and gratitude, and daily happiness in the God who called me to an amazing way of life of truth and freedom, from the life I was enslaved to, because of sin in my own life that controlled me, as I knew no better.
I won't ever have a perfect life that we are called to try to achieve, but with the freedom God has blessed us with, we can be ambassadors for Christ, living a simple daily life by sharing Christ with our happy nature, helping others, listening when people want to talk, and show interest in others lives, show patience, and show acceptance, and not be critical, but be LOVING.

When the weather is good I love to tend my yard by watering flowers, mowing grass, trimming my roses, and people out for walks like to stop and visit, or I'm out for a walk, and stop and talk. Life doesn't have to be intense. We can be easy going and very approachable and friendly, and create an atmosphere of trust with people

Several people in my neighborhood are struggling with health and family issues, and just remembering what they have shared and ask how life is, can bring you closer to them - you care.

I have found that when you get to know people and they have reasons to trust your intentions, you can say to them I will pray for you, or say I have been praying for you, and I have never gotten a bad response.
In fact, I was surprised at how grateful they were, and even thanked me.

Life can be simple and average, but if Christ is your center, God can use your way of life to touch lives for Him.

God help us as we reach out for other's sake.
My name is OLIGOS

 

[humble soul]

I like this entire post as it challenges everyone for self-introspection rather than telling us how we should be, or how we should live according to the author's standards.

For myself, I have found my own personal joy in living a very average life of faith and gratitude, and daily happiness in the God who called me to an amazing way of life of truth and freedom, from the life I was enslaved to, because of sin in my own life that controlled me, as I knew no better.
I won't ever have a perfect life that we are called to try to achieve, but with the freedom God has blessed us with, we can be ambassadors for Christ, living a simple daily life by sharing Christ with our happy nature, helping others, listening when people want to talk, and show interest in others lives, show patience, and show acceptance, and not be critical, but be LOVING.

When the weather is good I love to tend my yard by watering flowers, mowing grass, trimming my roses, and people out for walks like to stop and visit, or I'm out for a walk, and stop and talk. Life doesn't have to be intense. We can be easy going and very approachable and friendly, and create an atmosphere of trust with people

Several people in my neighborhood are struggling with health and family issues, and just remembering what they have shared and ask how life is, can bring you closer to them - you care.

I have found that when you get to know people and they have reasons to trust your intentions, you can say to them I will pray for you, or say I have been praying for you, and I have never gotten a bad response.
In fact, I was surprised at how grateful they were, and even thanked me.

Life can be simple and average, but if Christ is your center, God can use your way of life to touch lives for Him.

God help us as we reach out for other's sake.
My name is OLIGOS

Nice post oligos. You sound quite happy.

 

[Hopeful]

We don't find out what happened to the Prodigal Son after the welcome party from His father.
He had squandered his inheritance, lived a debauched life. Gone off the rails.
How will he go out home now? He still has to deal with his resentful brother. Hopefully things will work out.
But there is a possibility he will become very religious. Very proper. A teetotaller. He might become judgemental of anyone who behaves like he did before.
What am I trying to say? Many of us have turned away from an overtly sinful life by quitting addictions like alcohol. Gambling and smoking for me too.
But are we now becoming too serious? Too obsessive about sin? Too judgemental.
Buddhists say the middle path is the best. Avoid extremes. Is there a Christian equivalent?
Some Muslims get carried away with following the letter of the law in the Quran.
Getting too serious.
I sense we need to be disciplined but not get tunnel vision. Keep an open mind perhaps?

I don't agree.
I was reading today in Ezra how the Jews who had just been allowed to return from Persia were again marrying the locals: interbreeding with the filthy people who had been cast out of Canaan by God.
They had allowed themselves to dilute their posterity in spite of God's commandments.
That is what happens when men blur the lines of separation that God has made for our own protection.
It is black and white out there, with no shades of gray.
Stay in the "tunnel".

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

Nice post oligos. You sound quite happy.

There is a joy in my life that has come with aging, when you come to the realization that all you are, and all you have, that is good, is by God's MERCY and His great LOVE, and His PROTECTION.

I stand amazed that He counted me worth anything.

 

[humble soul]

From a personality or psychological point of view, we can see how some people don't do things by half measures. You could say that's a good thing.
The serious alcoholic must drink until he drops. Until he passes out. That same person , who quits alcohol and becomes a born again Christian must be a serious Christian. Now that can of course can be a very good thing. He gives himself to Jesus in total surrender.
My concern would be that he can become too obsessive or serious. Anyone who dares to question his beliefs becomes arch enemy.
Deep down they may fear they could return to alcohol. That making one false slip, will lead to ruin. So their behaviour can be somewhat inflexible and dogmatic.

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

So their behaviour can be somewhat inflexible and dogmatic.

humble soul
I agree with you totally.
Also, I've seen certain personalities that just seem to gravitate to these kinds of personality traits.
A lot of LEGALISM and RULE KEEPING without any love.
Very tough being around these kind of people. I've had my share and avoid them diligently.

 

[humble soul]

humble soul
I agree with you totally.
Also, I've seen certain personalities that just seem to gravitate to these kinds of personality traits.
A lot of LEGALISM and RULE KEEPING without any love.
Very tough being around these kind of people. I've had my share and avoid them diligently.

And then the trap for us to fall in, is condemning them.
I can be accused of being too liberal. Too doubting. Too moderate. More interested in subjective truth than objective truth. Not reading the Bible enough, not respecting others enough, and so on .....
I don't deserve any high pedestal for noticing faults in others.
All I am doing on this thread, is to try and understand what's going on. Understand why human beings behave a certain way. I have interest in psychology. I'm often innacurate in my assessments but sometimes I'm right. I will keep writing. Occasionally I will say something valuable. Helpful even.

 

[humble soul]

My brother is an interesting case study.
He lived a debauched life and felt his life was going nowhere.
Then he became a Pentecostal and got saved. He started a business and really turned his life around.
His life has become a financial success. He never got married but has a very rich social life. I would say the only thing he missed out on, was marriage and children. It seems to me he has to live a very restless life. Helping out at the Church keeps him busy too. He is happy I guess.
But I find any discussions I have with him about Christianity, he takes a very rigid stance. He might say my stance is too loose so fair enough.
He has a very literal belief in the Bible . That is confronting for me.

 

[Tessa]

Probably the best way to read the bible is to see two beings as you read. The Lord and ourselves. Then search our hearts.
We are unable to judge anyone else. There is nobody better than The Holy Spirit to guide us to truth. But He will also guide us when we read or hear man's teachings. We can't judge them but can avoid them. They can't judge is either. If er are seeking God and truth we are at the place God wants us to be, even though we may believe different. God had a reason for everything.

 

[WIP]

We don't find out what happened to the Prodigal Son after the welcome party from His father.
He had squandered his inheritance, lived a debauched life. Gone off the rails.
How will he go out home now? He still has to deal with his resentful brother. Hopefully things will work out.
But there is a possibility he will become very religious. Very proper. A teetotaller. He might become judgemental of anyone who behaves like he did before.
What am I trying to say? Many of us have turned away from an overtly sinful life by quitting addictions like alcohol. Gambling and smoking for me too.
But are we now becoming too serious? Too obsessive about sin? Too judgemental.
Buddhists say the middle path is the best. Avoid extremes. Is there a Christian equivalent?
Some Muslims get carried away with following the letter of the law in the Quran.
Getting too serious.
I sense we need to be disciplined but not get tunnel vision. Keep an open mind perhaps?

I think Jesus gave us the blueprint of how we are to think and act knowing of our salvation. One example can be found in the gospel according to St. John.

So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:31-35 NKJV

 

[GodsGrace]

We don't find out what happened to the Prodigal Son after the welcome party from His father.
He had squandered his inheritance, lived a debauched life. Gone off the rails.
How will he go out home now? He still has to deal with his resentful brother. Hopefully things will work out.
But there is a possibility he will become very religious. Very proper. A teetotaller. He might become judgemental of anyone who behaves like he did before.
What am I trying to say? Many of us have turned away from an overtly sinful life by quitting addictions like alcohol. Gambling and smoking for me too.
But are we now becoming too serious? Too obsessive about sin? Too judgemental.
Buddhists say the middle path is the best. Avoid extremes. Is there a Christian equivalent?
Some Muslims get carried away with following the letter of the law in the Quran.
Getting too serious.
I sense we need to be disciplined but not get tunnel vision. Keep an open mind perhaps?

There is no extreme with God.
The only extreme I can think of is killing and then stating that it was done for God.

We are called to be extreme.
We are called to love God more than anything.
We are called to follow the commandments of God,,,which goes BEYOND following the 10 commandments.

We cannot row two boats...one will sink.
Jesus said we cannot love mammon and love Him.
Love, in this case, means to serve.....do we SERVE money or this world...
or do we serve HIM?

Jesus said that if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us.

Some persons love their liquor, some their cars, some football....
A person can enjoy all of the above...but they should not LOVE it.

And if a person is going to be obsessed with something...
it should be God ....



Luke 9:25-26
25“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
26“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

 

[Seasoned by Grace]

And then the trap for us to fall in, is condemning them.
I can be accused of being too liberal. Too doubting. Too moderate. More interested in subjective truth than objective truth. Not reading the Bible enough, not respecting others enough, and so on .....
I don't deserve any high pedestal for noticing faults in others.
All I am doing on this thread, is to try and understand what's going on. Understand why human beings behave a certain way. I have interest in psychology. I'm often innacurate in my assessments but sometimes I'm right. I will keep writing. Occasionally I will say something valuable. Helpful even.

What I love is that we're all in a constant state of growth, and we have a very Patient God who loves us and understands we are trying our very best (Most of the time - once in a while I mess up), to move forward in our faith.

 

[for_his_glory]

We don't find out what happened to the Prodigal Son after the welcome party from His father.

Yes we do when you read the whole parable as he was lost, but now found by that of God's amazing grace that saved him as he humbled himself before his father (God) knowing that he had sinned against God and his father no longer feeling he was worthy of his fathers (Gods) love.

Luke 15:11-32

The parable of the prodigal son was that even though we stray so far away God is always there waiting for us to return and when we do it's like a joyful party in heaven that one of His own has returned. We could never stray so far from the grace of God that we could not humble ourselves before Him like this son did. He knew he sinned and in humility only wanted to be on the same level as the hired hands expecting nothing more. His father like our Father in heaven gave his son the best because he loved him and his son returned back to him. The other son already had his fathers best, but never realizing that he became jealous of what his father gave his brother until his father explained it to him.

The moral of this parable is that we were all lost at one time, but now by the grace of God we can be found in Him even though none of us deserve His grace.

When things are going good in our lives we have a tendency to not seek God until our world comes crashing in on us and then we seek Him. So true for me and how I came back to Him.

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I don't agree.
I was reading today in Ezra how the Jews who had just been allowed to return from Persia were again marrying the locals: interbreeding with the filthy people who had been cast out of Canaan by God.
They had allowed themselves to dilute their posterity in spite of God's commandments.
That is what happens when men blur the lines of separation that God has made for our own protection.
It is black and white out there, with no shades of gray.
Stay in the "tunnel".

Could it be that if we go too far into the tunnel, we'll become sinless as you are?

 

[Hopeful]

Could it be that if we go too far into the tunnel, we'll become sinless as you are?

I'ld say "far enough" rather than "too far".
But yes, men can focus on one thing, like loving God above all else and our neighbors as ourselves, to be like God originally created us to be.
Like God said..."Be ye holy for I am holy."

 

[for_his_glory]

From a personality or psychological point of view, we can see how some people don't do things by half measures. You could say that's a good thing.
The serious alcoholic must drink until he drops. Until he passes out. That same person , who quits alcohol and becomes a born again Christian must be a serious Christian. Now that can of course can be a very good thing. He gives himself to Jesus in total surrender.
My concern would be that he can become too obsessive or serious. Anyone who dares to question his beliefs becomes arch enemy.
Deep down they may fear they could return to alcohol. That making one false slip, will lead to ruin. So their behaviour can be somewhat inflexible and dogmatic.

There is a saying that some get to heavenly minded to be any earthly good. Meaning they get haughty and high minded as they look down on others in judgement without any compassion.

 

[for_his_glory]

Could it be that if we go too far into the tunnel, we'll become sinless as you are?

be nice

 

[humble soul]

And if a person is going to be obsessed with something...
it should be God ....

Guess it depends what you mean by that.
It can have a positive meaning.
But for some people it means being obsessed by every word of the Bible. People then get caught up in the grammar of the Bible instead of the broader message which Seasoned by Grace seems to emphasise.

 

[GodsGrace]

Guess it depends what you mean by that.
It can have a positive meaning.
But for some people it means being obsessed by every word of the Bible. People then get caught up in the grammar of the Bible instead of the broader message which Seasoned by Grace seems to emphasise.

Gosh HS,,,,
I don't think we read the bible for the grammar!!

I know a born again woman (and I do believe she's born again) that is obsessed with make-up.
She talks about that more than she speaks about God.
I just think this is immature for a person that has known God for that length of time (in her case).

Some persons can't live without what they "love".
I just think we should have the proper perspective....

This is why Jesus said that we are to hate everything and love Him/God.
Because if we put God first,,,all else will fall into place.
If we put other things first...we become unbalanced.

As Jesus said....Put first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given unto you.
Matthew 6:33
27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.


Unbelievers will say silly things re the above verses.
Does this mean a person shouldn't get a job?
It means that the job he does get should be in line with his belief system...
if a person lives according to God's laws....he tends to have less problems
and life seems to be better. Think of the life an alcoholic has, or a drug-dependant
person, etc. This is what it means....to seek God and to live according to His laws.