Monday, November 5, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
There is No Condemnation
But I do know this:
There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).
From Psalm 103:
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isiah 38:
17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sin behind your back.
Micah 7
18 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Do not be burdened by the past. You are free of the penalties of sin. Know joy. Look to your blessed future not your stained past. Go forth and sin no more. God does not just love us, he loves you specifically.
I hope this message helps you.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).
From Psalm 103:
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isiah 38:
17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sin behind your back.
Micah 7
18 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Do not be burdened by the past. You are free of the penalties of sin. Know joy. Look to your blessed future not your stained past. Go forth and sin no more. God does not just love us, he loves you specifically.
I hope this message helps you.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
What Does God Want?
Simply, God wants mercy not sacrifice:
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” - Matt 9: 9-13.
What does this mean? Lets use the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8: 1-11 as an example. In this story a woman is caught in the act of adultery and presented by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees to Jesus. Adultery was a crime punishable by death. Jesus performed a miracle of logic by affirmed the law in such a way that the death penalty could not be performed.
We can clearly see who has the mercy here: Jesus. The teachers of the law cared nothing for the woman and were happy enough to use her unto her death to make a point. But God is love, and God is mercy and God saved her life.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought they were righteous, but because their hearts were not right, not merciful, they were exposed as frauds and evil doers. One can clearly see the evil in their hearts because not only did they not have mercy, but they did not truly love God's law like they thought they did, otherwise they would have brought both of the guilty parties. Clearly they were not motivated by love for God, but rather the opposite: hate for Jesus.
The point is that if we look for rules and regulations, but our heart is not right, if our heart is not loving, if our heart is not merciful then we will miss what the truth is just as surely as the Pharisees missed the truth of what God wants us to know.
Our lives as Christians change not because we are self-righetous, but because we have been granted mercy, and thus we learn to be merciful to others. This is what God wants: mercy, not sacrifice.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” - Matt 9: 9-13.
What does this mean? Lets use the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8: 1-11 as an example. In this story a woman is caught in the act of adultery and presented by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees to Jesus. Adultery was a crime punishable by death. Jesus performed a miracle of logic by affirmed the law in such a way that the death penalty could not be performed.
We can clearly see who has the mercy here: Jesus. The teachers of the law cared nothing for the woman and were happy enough to use her unto her death to make a point. But God is love, and God is mercy and God saved her life.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought they were righteous, but because their hearts were not right, not merciful, they were exposed as frauds and evil doers. One can clearly see the evil in their hearts because not only did they not have mercy, but they did not truly love God's law like they thought they did, otherwise they would have brought both of the guilty parties. Clearly they were not motivated by love for God, but rather the opposite: hate for Jesus.
The point is that if we look for rules and regulations, but our heart is not right, if our heart is not loving, if our heart is not merciful then we will miss what the truth is just as surely as the Pharisees missed the truth of what God wants us to know.
Our lives as Christians change not because we are self-righetous, but because we have been granted mercy, and thus we learn to be merciful to others. This is what God wants: mercy, not sacrifice.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Love Bombing
"By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another," (John 13:35)
Love bombing "is the deliberate show of affection or friendship by an individual or a group of people toward another individual." It is often used by cults to attract new members. The reason why it works I believe is because it fulfills a real need in humans: to be surrounded by love.
The down side is that once a cult has this influence then it is used to manipulate and control the new convert. It is not true unconditional love, but rather conditional non-love.
I wonder what would happen if love bombing were used with true unconditional love? What if love bombing was not a manipulation, but rather sincere affection? What if love bombing was a way of life?
Love bombing "is the deliberate show of affection or friendship by an individual or a group of people toward another individual." It is often used by cults to attract new members. The reason why it works I believe is because it fulfills a real need in humans: to be surrounded by love.
The down side is that once a cult has this influence then it is used to manipulate and control the new convert. It is not true unconditional love, but rather conditional non-love.
I wonder what would happen if love bombing were used with true unconditional love? What if love bombing was not a manipulation, but rather sincere affection? What if love bombing was a way of life?
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Example of Living Sacrifice - John 12:3
3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Mary quite literally offered her body as a living sacrifice. When you read this passage does it touch your heart, or is your heart closer to those around her who looked upon her with scorn?
Mary quite literally offered her body as a living sacrifice. When you read this passage does it touch your heart, or is your heart closer to those around her who looked upon her with scorn?
Our Spiritual Act of Worship - Romans 12:1
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
Remember that love is sacrifice? We believe that the way God wants to be worshiped is by living the life of love, the life of sacrifice, service and affection to others.
Remember that love is sacrifice? We believe that the way God wants to be worshiped is by living the life of love, the life of sacrifice, service and affection to others.
Kind of Worshiper - John 4:23,24
23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The Society of Love does not believe in "worship services". We believe that God is seeking a "kind of worshiper", a type of person who seeks to emulate God's spirit of love and truth.
The Society of Love does not believe in "worship services". We believe that God is seeking a "kind of worshiper", a type of person who seeks to emulate God's spirit of love and truth.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
It is Important to Feel Love - 1 Peter 5:14
14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
It is possible to know about love without feeling loved, and yet we as human were created to love and to feel loved, by God, and by each other. We in the Society of Love show love to each other physically and greet each other with a warm kiss (hypothetically since I am currently the only member).
In addition to the above verse there are four other verses in the Bible which command us to greet each other with a kiss (Romans 16:16, 1 Cor 16:20, 2 Cor 13:13, 1 Th 5:26). There is no ambiguity on this.
It is possible to know about love without feeling loved, and yet we as human were created to love and to feel loved, by God, and by each other. We in the Society of Love show love to each other physically and greet each other with a warm kiss (hypothetically since I am currently the only member).
In addition to the above verse there are four other verses in the Bible which command us to greet each other with a kiss (Romans 16:16, 1 Cor 16:20, 2 Cor 13:13, 1 Th 5:26). There is no ambiguity on this.
Love - The Specifics - 1 Cor 13: 4-7
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
There are the attributes that we aspire to. Are these the attributes of God? What do you think?
There are the attributes that we aspire to. Are these the attributes of God? What do you think?
Actions Without Love are Useless - 1 Cor 13 1-3
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is what makes our lives and our actions meaningful.
Love is what makes our lives and our actions meaningful.
We Ought to Love Each Other - 1 John 4 11, 12
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Jesus is an example of God's love for us, but this love is made complete by us loving each other. By not loving someone else, you are a barrier to them receiving God's love. By loving someone else you act as a conduit for God's love. You enable God's love to reach them.
Jesus is an example of God's love for us, but this love is made complete by us loving each other. By not loving someone else, you are a barrier to them receiving God's love. By loving someone else you act as a conduit for God's love. You enable God's love to reach them.
Love is Sacrifice - 1 John 4: 9-10
9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins.
Love as demonstrated by God, is putting others and their needs above our own. Love is self-sacrifice at all costs.
Love as demonstrated by God, is putting others and their needs above our own. Love is self-sacrifice at all costs.
God is Love - 1 John 4:8
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 is the key verse for the Society of Love. "God is Love". What could be more simple and yet more profound? This is who God is, and also the inspiration for who we want to be.
1 John 4:8 is the key verse for the Society of Love. "God is Love". What could be more simple and yet more profound? This is who God is, and also the inspiration for who we want to be.
Conventional, Mainstream
In some ways we are conventional and mainstream. For example we believe in The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.
Welcome to the Society of Love!
Hello. Welcome to the Society of Love Blog! The Society of Love is a new cult forming in Austin, Texas. As I write this it currently consists of one member. Me. Lets call me "Brother Chris".
Before I tell you more about about the society, let me tell you about what it is not:
1. I am not The Messiah.
2. I have no special knowledge.
3. I have no idea if these are the end times or not.
4. I are not interested in taking on the Feds, or the UN, or anyone else.
5. I am not trying to control you.
6. I do not want your money or your possessions.
7. I encourage contact with family and friends.
8. I encourage meaningful questions and discussions.
9. You do not have to earn your way to Heaven. It is a free gift from God.
We are a nice friendly cult.
Before I tell you more about about the society, let me tell you about what it is not:
1. I am not The Messiah.
2. I have no special knowledge.
3. I have no idea if these are the end times or not.
4. I are not interested in taking on the Feds, or the UN, or anyone else.
5. I am not trying to control you.
6. I do not want your money or your possessions.
7. I encourage contact with family and friends.
8. I encourage meaningful questions and discussions.
9. You do not have to earn your way to Heaven. It is a free gift from God.
We are a nice friendly cult.
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