ok...here it comes....
Its been a long time coming, and I've really tried to take my time to think about it...but if you know me at all, you've probably been waiting to hear my thoughts on it since the moment you heard.
Right now in my left ear is the audio of a video playing on another tab. That video is of Jennifer Knapp on Larry King. I'm enraptured by this conversation. And I realize that I am a weak weak person. As easily as each of these people on this show speak, I agree...even in their disagreement, i agree...i agree when Larry speaks, When Jenn Speaks, when Bob speaks, when Ted Speaks...I agree...I nod, I agree...
could i possibly vocalize a thought on it? Could I possibly add to the conversation?!?!
On this program, there are three believers...All profess to accept Christ's sacrifice on their behalf...and yet there is war and turmoil...
And I think its because of the process. You can call it sanctification, or holiness...I struggle with those words, because I can't imagine ever a day when i would possibly drop the crazy desire for sinful things. Grace is overwhelming, and heavy when you lift your eyes from the plate of sin. But the process is such a bitter one for some of us. We so very much long for sin and corruption sometimes. And when people attempt on their own strength to walk in conviction and holiness, a bitterness develops. A bitterness towards those who haven't been convicted. And with it is seems there is this compulsion to convict each other. But isn't it the kindness of a mighty God that leads us to repentance?! Shouldn't God be the one that convicts us? Shouldn't we leave our bitterness and struggle behind long enough to sit in the presence of our fellow believers and hear the struggle? Shouldn't we exercise patience with our brothers and sisters to reach a level or a place in their journey that leads them to repent of another sin? What message do we send to unbelievers to say that you have to drop it and stop it all immediately? What hypocrisy do we foster to say that a saved life is a holy changed life. I know that the bible calls me a new creation..and I'll believe that...but understanding how that manifests itself in my daily life is a different subject altogether. because as I live, Its as though not only do i still do the things I did before I became a christian, but I come up with new an improved ways to sin as well!!
So I think the struggle is in the process. The fact that we're all sharing this road to holiness and driving different speeds and in different cars. I'm sorry that I have a 1984 yugo and you have that nice SUV...but don't squeeze me off the highway altogether because you don't like that I get in your way.
And that brings me to what I think of Jennifer herself. I think she's amazing. I think her music speaks loudly into parts of my life that no other music can. I trust that she is in fellowship with God and having a dynamic conversation with him...and I trust that if God's truth is that she shouldn't be who she believes she is, that she will be led to that truth and be faced with a decision. That will be part of her journey, as it is with many others. As it is with me. What does God really think on things...sometimes its hard. But He loves me right now...as I am and as I will be..and someday all of this stuff wont matter at all...Until then, He's assured me that Christ's sacrifice will cover all my past, present and future sins..and He is enough...and that I can lay down the burden of not measuring up, of never measuring up...of my brothers and sisters condemning who I am and what I do...of feeling like i'm constantly on a treadmill to be perfect...God says, Hey Jigs, I know youre not perfect...I've got it covered.
And I think he says that to Jennifer Knapp too...
And so will I.
Still looking very forward to May 11th.
Right now in my left ear is the audio of a video playing on another tab. That video is of Jennifer Knapp on Larry King. I'm enraptured by this conversation. And I realize that I am a weak weak person. As easily as each of these people on this show speak, I agree...even in their disagreement, i agree...i agree when Larry speaks, When Jenn Speaks, when Bob speaks, when Ted Speaks...I agree...I nod, I agree...
could i possibly vocalize a thought on it? Could I possibly add to the conversation?!?!
On this program, there are three believers...All profess to accept Christ's sacrifice on their behalf...and yet there is war and turmoil...
And I think its because of the process. You can call it sanctification, or holiness...I struggle with those words, because I can't imagine ever a day when i would possibly drop the crazy desire for sinful things. Grace is overwhelming, and heavy when you lift your eyes from the plate of sin. But the process is such a bitter one for some of us. We so very much long for sin and corruption sometimes. And when people attempt on their own strength to walk in conviction and holiness, a bitterness develops. A bitterness towards those who haven't been convicted. And with it is seems there is this compulsion to convict each other. But isn't it the kindness of a mighty God that leads us to repentance?! Shouldn't God be the one that convicts us? Shouldn't we leave our bitterness and struggle behind long enough to sit in the presence of our fellow believers and hear the struggle? Shouldn't we exercise patience with our brothers and sisters to reach a level or a place in their journey that leads them to repent of another sin? What message do we send to unbelievers to say that you have to drop it and stop it all immediately? What hypocrisy do we foster to say that a saved life is a holy changed life. I know that the bible calls me a new creation..and I'll believe that...but understanding how that manifests itself in my daily life is a different subject altogether. because as I live, Its as though not only do i still do the things I did before I became a christian, but I come up with new an improved ways to sin as well!!
So I think the struggle is in the process. The fact that we're all sharing this road to holiness and driving different speeds and in different cars. I'm sorry that I have a 1984 yugo and you have that nice SUV...but don't squeeze me off the highway altogether because you don't like that I get in your way.
And that brings me to what I think of Jennifer herself. I think she's amazing. I think her music speaks loudly into parts of my life that no other music can. I trust that she is in fellowship with God and having a dynamic conversation with him...and I trust that if God's truth is that she shouldn't be who she believes she is, that she will be led to that truth and be faced with a decision. That will be part of her journey, as it is with many others. As it is with me. What does God really think on things...sometimes its hard. But He loves me right now...as I am and as I will be..and someday all of this stuff wont matter at all...Until then, He's assured me that Christ's sacrifice will cover all my past, present and future sins..and He is enough...and that I can lay down the burden of not measuring up, of never measuring up...of my brothers and sisters condemning who I am and what I do...of feeling like i'm constantly on a treadmill to be perfect...God says, Hey Jigs, I know youre not perfect...I've got it covered.
And I think he says that to Jennifer Knapp too...
And so will I.
Still looking very forward to May 11th.
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