I had the opportunity to write an article in the Boiling Springs Today Magazine under the headline "Paper Pulpit". This opportunity is the result of our contacts from the Movies In The Park events. I don't do a whole lot of writing and never for any publication. I used this opportunity to present an idea that we will be working through in the Sunday morning messages over the next three weeks without using any scripture or ideas that will be presented on Sundays. The following is that article;
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Ryan Bishop. I was born 39 years ago in North Florida and moved to the upstate in March of 2000. I am a church planter with the N.A.M.B. My style may be a bit different than you are used to so try to hang with me through the end of the page. Forgive me if you are reading this and you don't attend church, but I am writing from the expectation that those who take the time to read this will likely be church attenders.
From time to time I catch myself checking and rechecking my appearance in the morning before I go out. This is not due to vanity. For those who know me, most are currently shocked to hear that I have a mirror. The reason I double check on certain days is because I am meeting someone new. I hate to shave, I forget to brush my hair and I would generally rather not ask my wife if my clothes match. The horror on her face as she says "Did you wear that?" is just priceless. I check and recheck to be sure I actually brushed my hair. Just call it morning amnesia; a complete loss of short term memory as I move through the fog that is morning. In God's word we find James commenting on this very problem.
James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Christians are prone to believers amnesia. This disorder has many root causes not the least of which is to see God's Word (which is the only good reason to attend church) as optional. When we hear God's Word and subsequently dismiss it as antiquated we slip into the trap that James was describing.
James gives the warning not to deceive ourselves. A fair question is, "What is this deceit that he is warning about?"
The deception comes when we claim to belong to God and do not follow His instructions found in the Bible. This is no different than the "Oprah" plan for finding God. She incorrectly suggests that you can just set off on a course in the general direction of what you believe to be God and in the end achieve a connection with God. The truth is that the God created in your head will only lead you to a relationship with a better "spiritualesque" YOU.
When you see parts of God's Word as optional or negotiable you cease to be part of Christendom. You have simply created a new religion with a Christian feel.
My encouragement to you is to move through this life making the most of every moment, trusting God at every turn and never negotiating with the truth found in the Bible.
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