Sinking like a stone in the sea.

I should have saw it coming.
Opinions upon opinions, philosophies and shared faith
what does it mean to development a "personal faith" these days?

I've never liked the term "personal faith."
The term personal means, according to the American Webster dictionary,-of affecting, or belonging to a particular person rather than to anyone else.
I won't use a bible verse for this because I feel the whole bible references good community.
That we lived with a shared faith.
Person to person.
An open faith of looking at the word together and sharing what the Lord has placed on their heart.

I feel there is a move in the Christian community that is beautiful but can be harming if not done properly.
Discipleship.
A very beautiful way of sharing faith that Jesus practiced everyday!
I'm so happy to see this taking place here on MSU campus!
All throughout the bakery bibles are open, coffee is hot, and people are sharing what they are learning.
Even I have the great honor of studying the word with a great friend of mine who is farther along in the faith.
But one thing he would never want me to do I feel, is to believe what he believes just because he shared it with me.

In studying the word, even with much studying, opinions are hard to shake.
Since we are interpreting something written so long ago we have lost the context of what it really meant then.

And sometimes its okay to disagree on what it means.
The guy I meet with I feel would much rather me read it to believe it for myself than for him just telling me.

In the Christian community there are many different opinions on dating, boys and girls talking about Christ together, and etc.
And sometimes we take on someone else's thoughts and believe what they believe and become a " boy hater" or " girl avoider"
We start to feel like talking about the bible with the opposite sex is bad, in which no one, with any bible verse, can back, because to my knowledge there is no such thing.

So in that moment you then aren't becoming like Jesus(rom8:29, 1john2:6) but rather like the person you study with and where is that Biblical?

I know Paul says, take after me. but I believe he meant in his lifestyle of sharing the word.

I want to encourage you to become like Jesus.
Study the word for yourself.
See what it means to you.
Join a healthy community of believers.
Share thoughts opinions etc
and pray to see the outcome of how it shapes you.

have a great day.

also, I never re read these to fix mess ups or mis spelled words, if something don't make since, try to figure it out.

:)

Seclusion: I only read the bible alone.

Last night someone was told that reading the bible was dangerous.
I want to clear that up and maybe shine light on another topic as well...

Yes, it is very dangerous to read the bible.
Hebrews 4:12, Eph 6:17 compares the word of God to a sword cutting deep into our soul, even dividing soul.
When you read the Truth of Jesus, you will start to change and re-think how you live your life.
The bible isn't rules... I hate when that analogy is even used or a play book.
How lame.
It is a way to do life.
Not strategize it or work it into plays
it is simply, this is the way to live life.
I don't really feel the need to drag that point out.
I once heard a wonderful quote, " read what only you can obey"
Ponder that.

Also another very sad epidemic is that Christians read their bible to much alone.
Is that possible? Yup.

We were made in the imagine of a community God.
A very relational Spirit.
And a very loving Jesus.

Look at the letters to the churches.
Paul didn't just send it off and say " hey, get this letter, read it alone, and don't share."

I think about the characteristics of a letter.
First it starts with a thought in someones mind
then pen to paper
then to the readers eyes and then into their mind
Letters are meant for sharing.

2 Cor 3:3
" Since it is plain that you are Christ's letter, produced by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not on stone tabelts but on tablets of that are hearts of flesh."

We live what we learn.
or, we are suppose to anyways.

Your faith is personal yes, but never meant to neglect community.
Stop spending all your time hiding away to read your bible and not building relationships.
Share anything you read.
disagree?
Lets look at Jesus, the very man whom we shape our life like.
He escapes to be alone to pray- John6:15
He comes back to hang out- Flip through the book of Luke.

Don't neglect relationships with people to be alone all the time with your bible.
Hang out with anyone, everyone.
Not forgetting what you read alone should be shared as well.

Short posts. Rambling thoughts.
have a great day!!