OP-“SIN”-IONS Do Hurt…..

“A belief or judgment, that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty;” that’s an opinion.

“….to offend against a principle, standard, etc;” that’s the action tense of SIN.

” To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration….to have as an opinion or assumption;” that’s judging.

Each one of these words or descriptions within the last 2 weeks have been used towards me in responses to my bold blog on the misuse of yoga pants, especially with Christian women.  In many ways the comments were hard not to take personally or even negatively about my purpose for writing.  Yet, now looking back and even still continually getting comments, I wouldn’t change anything because I know that God desires His children to respect who they are IN HIM more than the world’s acceptance.

I guess I could say I’m tired….tired of seeing how God’s children, myself included, have been abused, manipulated, and led to a sense of hope in a hollow shell of media’s lies.  The more I sit in different churches and listen to different stories about Jesus, their church and what they feel witnessing is; the more unbearable it becomes inside for me.  THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD HAD CALLED US TO BE!!

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t sit in all churches and point out their annoyances to me; however as I have been earnestly trying to become more intimate with my Savior, the more I feel obligated (as we all should) to say something about what I’m seeing.  I have been ordained, or “chosen” so-to-speak by God to be His minister towards others.  I don’t want to waist a breath or a word on any useless things that won’t help others find eternal life through Jesus!  I’ve been disliked and ignored by many from my blog entries (personal opinions) and yes, I don’t expect to reach everyone. Yet I cannot keep living silently when Christ has made it abundantly clear the time is drawing near!  Sorry hard-headed peeps, this mouth isn’t meant to shut, just for you to listen openly and examine your heart.

And as far as yoga pants, leggings,  short shorts or mini-skirts go….

Bottom line:  I believe, as scripture is taught, that we are to carry ourselves as Jesus Christ here on earth.  If you carry Him in your heart and desire to serve Him ABOVE ALL ELSE, than an scripture says,

“And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

AS WELL AS MEN by,

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

When it is scripture based, yet emotionally driven, there is a reason to look deeper at the individual responses based on defensiveness.  It isn’t me bringing about the judgment necessarily; it might just be the Holy Spirit…..

The above picture might sound a little harsh, but let me reassure you that it is the truth. Even as I type this blog, everything that I put in it I’m responsible for. It’s driven with a purpose, it’s said out of the most love that I can give, but how you interpret it, or accept it, or even deny it, is your choice and personal understanding, not mine. This is what makes this such unique individuals, such unique children of God.

If we were to step back for a moment, and look over our words very carefully, we would see what the underlining belief system of our heart is. Lets take abortion for example; millions of people believe that it’s okay to kill another life. Then one starts to question, what constitutes a life? What stage does the life begin? As a Christian, we need to consider carefully what we know based upon Scripture.  We are to take a stance for such things. If I say that I also agree that abortion is good especially for someone who is a rape victim and a child is born out of that, then what am I really saying my belief through Jesus Christ is?

Consider this:

Psalms 139:15 NLT

“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.”

If we were told in the Ten Commandments that “You shall not kill,” and in this Psalm David is expressing to God his understanding of God’s omnipotence with the statement,  “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion….”  how would you as the reader, interpret when life begins from that verse? If you were to see the literalness that David is speaking, in conjunction with the claim that abortion is wrong due to the killing of an unborn child, then this Scripture alone would validate your belief and reasoning for it. If you can look at Scripture, see the truth within it, and still choose to hold an opinion or judgment on a topic that does not correlate with what God speaks and expects, then are you really truly following His will?  Being His example to others, even if the truth is painful?

If you noticed the title of this blog then you know that I am proposing that some opinions might be sinful based, and then in turn hurt. But what does that mean when you think of that? Am I trying to say that your opinion is sin? Absolutely not! What I’m trying to tell you is that in your opinion, I think it all depends on where that opinion is based and comes from. Certain opinions that you hold, are held highly and precise and some are just slightly and beside. All of this stems from your passion for the topic…..in my opinion. 😉

Whether you are a devoted reader of His word, part-time prayer or even a cross wearing once-a-week Christian you develop your belief in what you’ve seen, heard, or experienced.  The reason that Jesus hasn’t been as dominant in the news or as pressed forward as like gay rights is that we’ve made the word we read of His bent to our comfort level.  Bent to where the society tolerates us….translated into the non-offensive words of discipleship, not the literal, controversial, fear (in respect)driven commands in love that Jesus spoke and God demands.

Whether you openly admit it or not, you view Jesus like this…a cheesy joke (almost).  Jesus is someone who saves you by grace right?   So it doesn’t matter how your mind thinks or how you act in public or how your heart responds to a need….?

Romans 6:1-2, 7, 10, 12-14 NLT

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Sure, I again admit and know we are all not perfect. Living up to God’s real and holy and literal standards is tough. Especially in a world that is saturated with sin and lust and everything that is evil. But why put anything that you know hints to evil, above the sanctions and requirements that God expects of us as His children?  This is why I believe many opinions are SIN rooted if not handled in a LOVING and Christ-Centered way.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to finish this race strong!

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

To deny the urges that the world gives us to sugar coat, and water down the gospel. I urge you to love boldly and to give grace willingly as you yourself have been given grace by Jesus. We need to love one another, the way God intended His Son to show us love while He was here on earth. I don’t want to start any arguments. I don’t want to cause any bad feelings. I just want more than anything to let everybody know that I am just as human as you are, but desire to be Christ-like so much, that I’m willing to boldly say anything needed to make Jesus be the center of focus, and not this world.

“All to Jesus I surrender, ALL TO HIM I FREELY GIVE. ….”