Archive for salvation

On fire

{ July 3, 2008 @ 11:32 pm } · { Christianity, Faith, God, Marriage, Movies, Religion, salvation }
{ Tags: } · { Leave a Comment }

I want to recommend a movie that you might be interested in seeing if you are either a Christian or are interested in Christianity (whether you think you may want to be a Christian or are more academically curious). The film gives a solid explanation of what Christianity is at its core—but it is also not sugar-coated.

Many Hollywood films and shows I’ve seen that feature Christian characters make them look like bumbling buffoons or religious fanatics. Many Christian-made films never become popular because they don’t offer real-life scenarios or have poor production quality.

This movie is a nice package: A good representation of Christianity, wrapped in a script with firefighter action and relational drama. Plus, it contains an excellent message about the importance of love and faithfulness in marriage.

Fireproof  hits theatres in late September. In the meantime, check out this trailer:

A journey to faith and freedom: Part 2

{ March 23, 2008 @ 11:20 pm } · { Bible, Christianity, Cult, Faith, Jehovah's Witness, Jesus, Legalism, Religion, salvation }
{ Comments (7) }

Here is the rest of Mary’s interesting story:

What led you to reconsider your beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness?

Long story short: I was “witnessing” to a coworker/friend of mine and she was “witnessing” (the truth about Christianity!) to me.  We often had discussions about the Bible, and basically were having a Bible Study about basic true Christian teachings; neither of us could convince the other our beliefs. So one day we decided to pray together to God, through Jesus, and have Him reveal the truth to us. I honestly thought that her eyes would be open and she would be converted to a JW. But no. It was my eyes and heart that were opened to the truth and I began seeing the contradictions of their teachings right in my own JW Bible and JW materials.

Explain the thing (or things) that made you completely change your mind. 

Well, obviously the above was the first step.  Two other coworkers/friends of mine started inviting me to revival services at their church. I was so hesitant at first because I was scared to step foot into a church! But because I was seeing all the contradictions in the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings and the way they twisted things to fit their own doctrine, I finally gave in and went. I saw things that scared the you-know-what out of me! It was a Holy-Spirit filled revival service so there were people slain in the Spirit and speaking in tongues. I remember just standing there that first time, thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” But, I also remember standing there feeling so at peace and so loved. Almost everyone at that service was so loving and nice, and they accepted me just as I was. I didn’t have to “perform,” or dress a certain way for them to love me; they just loved me.  And as John 13:35 says, “all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

What did you do when you realized you no longer believed what the Watch Tower does?

One Sunday morning, my oldest daughter and I went to the Kingdom Hall.  She was having a hard time understanding how I could “reject the truth” and start going to church.  But God was working on her heart, too, and began opening her eyes. Right in the middle of the meeting, we both looked at each other and knew we had to leave.  We couldn’t believe the twisting of the truth we were hearing, and our spirits wouldn’t let us stay.  We knew the truth now and could see it.  We walked out and never returned. 

I wrote a letter to the congregation, announcing my “disassociation.”  Because my daughter never was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness, she didn’t have to “disassociate” herself. You aren’t recognized as a true JW until you are baptized as one. 

Did this decision result in any positive or negative changes in your life?

Oh yes!

Positive: I am part of a huge family of true Christian believers who have loved me and accepted me as I am. I have grown so much in the last 11 years in my relationship with Jesus and in my personal life. I have gained so much self-esteem and confidence, through the love of Christ. He has been my Strength, my Provider, my Counselor, my All-in-All, my Everything!  And most of all I know He loves me, not because of what I do or don’t do, but because He created me!

Negative: The only negative change is that the people I thought were my friends don’t speak to me or even look at me when I see them in the grocery store or around town. I feel bad for them. I want their eyes to be open to the truth so bad, but they won’t even give me a chance.

How have your experiences as a born-again Christian differed from the faith experience you had as a Jehovah’s Witness?

It’s amazing the love I feel from God! I have a relationship with Him! It’s so different than being taught as a Jehovah’s Witness. As a Jehovah’s Witness you are expected to spend so many hours going door to door, and [the leaders] keep track of them. You are expected to attend all of the meetings and Bible studies…which are basically for training you to go door to door. They use all of their materials to teach you their doctrine, instead of using the Bible. 

As a Christian, I choose to read my Bible, I choose to witness to others because I love God and Jesus, and it’s in my heart, and it comes out of my mouth because God loves me and you!

My faith grows everyday because I ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me, and He does! I don’t need books or magazines to help me know and love God. His love is there for you to grasp and take hold of.  He is waiting with open arms to receive you, just as you are, all your mess, all your imperfections, all of your sin. Jesus died on the cross for you; God sent him because He loves you. Plain and simple, the truth has set me free!  I’m no longer in bondage, no longer deceived by wrong teachings!  I am free to love God and to love others, and to show them the true love of Jesus Christ.

I pray right now in Jesus name, that if you are a Jehovah’s Witness or any other religion, or atheist or agnostic, or whatever, and are reading this, that you will take a moment and pray to God and ask him to reveal the truth about Himself to you! He loves you so much, and He wants you to be set free by His truth! All you have to do is ask.  Don’t let the lies and deceit of Satan control you any longer.

Purim: The joy of deliverance

{ March 21, 2008 @ 10:20 pm } · { Bible, Christianity, Faith, Jesus, Judaism, Purim, Religion, salvation }
{ Leave a Comment }

According to my calendar, the Jewish holiday of Purim is today (actually, I believe it began last evening). This holiday honors an important time in history for the Jewish people, when God delivered them from annihilation at the hand of Haman, a ruler with evil intent. Because Queen Esther—who was secretly Jewish and had arrived in her position basically as the result of a beauty pageant—bravely spoke up for her people, the king discovered Haman’s plot and spared the Jews. Haman received no mercy; he was impaled for his cruel plan.

The biblical book of Esther describes the Jews’ reaction when they discovered they had been delivered: “For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating” (Esther 8:16–17).  You can read more about the fascinating story of Esther in the Bible.

According to the “Columbia Encyclopedia” and Judaism.about.com, Purim, preceded by a day of fasting, is a day of abundant joy with plenty of food and festivities. The book of Esther is read in the synagogue. Children wear costumes and use noisemakers, and adults exchange food basket gifts and donate to charity. A Purim carnival is held in Israel. I don’t have any personal experience celebrating Purim, so I’d love to hear from you if you celebrate this holiday.

This time of great joy reminds me of another deliverance that I should celebrate every day. I’ve been set free from a much greater foe than Haman. I’ve been delivered from sin, its burdens, and its punishment. I am a sinner by nature, which separates me from God and makes me deserving of punishment by a holy and just God. But Jesus took my full punishment instead through His death (which atoned for my sin), and then he rose from the dead (which demonstrated His power over sin). All I had to do was open my hands and receive his offer of forgiveness and abundant life. I am free and headed for eternity with God—and that is cause to celebrate!