The First 3 of 10

For the past 3 weeks now, we have been studying the 10 Commandments on Sunday.  I knew it would be good..but there is way more substance than what you think!  I am going to do my best to summarize these studies, because I know you will find them interesting, too. 

 

So, why the 10 commandments?  Well, the Bible states that all of God's word is good, and every part applicable to our lives.  Our pastor explains it like this:  God gave us the commandments out of regard (or love) for us, to help us restrain against evil, and to help reveal our sins to us, to ultimately lead us to Christ.

 

You can find the commandments in Exodus chapter 20.  
Pastor Ron has broken each commandment into it's own study. 
In each study we cover 3 main topics:

• Denotation - what it means
• Motivation - why God gave us this commandment
• Application - how we can apply these in our daily lives

Without further adieu, lets start at the top:

 

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me."
(this commandment deals with who we are to worship)

• Denotation - God is the only god.  For centuries, man has tried to create gods for his own purposes.  The Egyptians had gods for everything from the Sun, to fertility.  God is simply stating that there are no other gods, just Him.
• Motivation - God knows that we tend to put things in front of him, such as work, or family.  The things that cloud our minds become our gods, and what we aspire to reach or please.
• Application - the best way to implement this commandment is to ask yourself some questions:
• What is my master passion?
• What do I think about most?
• Who do I want to please?
• What am I living for?

If, in answering these questions, you realize that God is not what consumes you, then, in fact, you have broken it.  This was very astonishing to me, while we were studying this first commandment.  I thought surely that I had this one in the bag..but then, I remembered how often I am consumed with one of my hobbies, and focusing my attention solely on that, and pushing God to the back.  I pray that I can center my focus on Him throughout my daily activities, and let Him lead me through my pursuits.

2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image."
(this commandment deals with how we should worship)  

• Denotation - Don't try to figure out, or re-create what you think God looks like.
• Motivation - God knows our weakness when it comes to "seeing is believing".  He knows that our nature is to have something that we can hold onto or look upon to resemble Him, and make Him more manageable.  Unfortunately for most of the world, and even in Christianity, there are idols all around.  The cross for instance is a delicate topic, but can be taken two ways.  When people are bowing down to the cross (a statue), they are bowing down to worship the idol, not God.  If you wear a cross around your neck, symbolizing that you believe in Jesus, you are showing others your religion.  In 'The Screwtape Letters' by C.S. Lewis, he gives a great example of what this message is about.  The book is a collection of letters from one demon to another.  Each demon is assigned to an individual, to try to sway the person away from God, and/or keep them from knowing God in the first place.  In one part, the main demon tells the demon in training to make his man focus on the ceiling fan while praying.  By doing this, the man is praying to the ceiling fan, and unconsciously, not putting any meaning into his words.  You see the point I am making..
• Application - Jesus says, in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth".  This can be very difficult, but if you can create in your mind a blank slate, and try not to imagine what God could look like, then you can get your prayers and messages to Him through the spirit.  Pastor Ron tells us to be warry of saying 'my god'...as He is not just yours, but for everyone, and no one has seen him, therefore we cannot place judgement on what he should be represented by.

3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
(this commandment deals with who God is)

•  Denotation - Do not mis-use His name.  Do not take it lightly, or in anger.  Don't take away the importance of His name.
• Motivation - God doesn't want others to misunderstand His importance, by us representing Him poorly.  By using God's name in a bad way, say cussing, you are unconciously telling others that His name is of no consequence.  For example..what is in a name?  What do you think of when you hear the name Elvis?  How about Tiger Woods?  You automatically bring images into your head when hearing these names, be they good or bad.  Think of this commandment as God's reputation.  How do you want Him to be represented?
• Application - There are some obvious ways to obey this commandment; don't curse using God's name, and don't swear by God, unless you intend to follow-through.  But there is something else...your actions speak loudly towards how others percieve you.  How you live, and act should be indicators of your beliefs.  A great example is if you took the logo off of a Porche, and put it on a Toyota.  The logo would still look the same, but the meaning would be lost.  It is how you are representing God that should be your focus when trying to obey this commandment.  You are holding God's reputation in your hands every time you talk to someone, or how you act in a situation.  My favorite part of the sermon was when Pastor Ron said, "I have recently started doing this thing where if I hear someone say Jesus Christ...but taking it in vein, I run over to them and say, where?!!  That's may savior, and if you see him again, I would like to meet Him.  Please don't talk about Him like that."

So..as you can see..there is lots more to learn than you think about these 10 commandments..and I am excited to know what is next...I hope you will stay tuned!

***

It was the Spirit

No, I am not going to turn into one of those people you don't want to talk to because all they talk about is church...I just can't get over it..so I am going to write it down, so I will always remember how it happend.  I hope, if you are reading this, you are ready for some mush, a side of silly, and a large heap of humility followed by a warm and fuzzy.  If not, close your browser now.

March 13th, Saturday 2010:

I had been feeling depressed.  I decided to tell Seth that I just wasn't happy, and I needed his help.  Seth is always very understanding, and the best way for him to help me (in his mind) is by quoting scripture.  Usually, my brain would have turned off while my head nodded in understanding to what he was saying, but that night, I was listening...and very intently...something I have been having trouble with lately. 

He began telling me an old testament parabol about a wealthy man who was throwing a birthday party for himself, and sent out invitations to all the other wealthy people.  In that time they sent out invitations months in advance so the invitees would have time to respond.  When the big day finally came, not one of the people invited showed up.  The wealthy man told his servant, "Go to the outer limits of the city and invite anyone you see, I refuse to be alone in my hour of celebration".
The servant returned with no one, telling the man that no one wanted to join him.  So the man said, "Go to the pastures and far reaches of this providence, and invite the beggars, lepars, and anyone you come accross.  I refuse to be alone in my hour of celebration".
Again the servant returned, but this time he had one or two guests with him.  (of course I am paraphrasing while I am writing this..Seth is much better at story telling)  So the group feasted, and was merry..you know..the usuall. 

I think you are getting where this is going.  So after he told me this..I said, "You know..usually I would have let you just ramble on and act like I was paying attention, but tonight I actually was listening."  Of course, Seth was glad to know that..he likes attention.  Then he was telling me that over the past couple weeks he had had the urge to listen to Christian radio, and one day on the way home he started crying...he just felt it.

Then I started crying.  Not sobbing uncontrollably, just teary, and my throat was all knotted up..like when you watch a love story and you are so happy that you can't help but cry.  Seth looked at me and said, "that's the spirit".  I admitted that all this time I had been fooling myself.  I thought that I had accepted Jesus into my heart, but really, I was just doing what everyone told me to, and going thru the motions.  I asked Seth, "How do you know when you have really accepted him?  I have said it over and over, and I just don't know."

We stayed up way past our bed times, and continued our discussion..it felt good to talk.  We decided that we would go to church on the upcoming Sunday.  I prayed that God would help me to understand what I was feeling.

The next day at work the girls (there are only 5 of us that work there, me, 2 prego girls, a guy, and the Boss Man) were discussing wether or not to get their infants baptized.  One of them said to the other, "I was baptized twice as a child, so I am doubly going to heaven!"  I was pretty shocked to hear that.  Right at that moment, I knew.

Now, for a little background on why me going to church is so intriging:

When I was in 4th grade, my parents got divorced..yes I was destrought, but I have been thru therapy now, and I am OK!  My father got re-married and they decided that my sis and I needed some God in our lives.  Unfortunatly for us, we had never even heard the term God.  So, we just went along with it.  My dad blamed my mom for us not going and visa-versa..I don't blame either one..life happens the way it is supposed to, so you can ultimatly reach the best possible outcome (as we all have).  Anyway, we were made to go to church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday nights.  We were also told we had to have bible study every night while at my dad's house every summer.  Of course, coming into my teenage years, I was rebelous, and quite frankly didn't give a damn.  But, to appease those around me, so as not to get in trouble, I did what they said...I went to communion, got baptized, and sang in the choir.  I never really felt "saved", but I did "pray" to God and ask for forgiveness out loud.

Ok, that's enough of that..if you are really interested in all that then I will expound in a seperate post.

March 21st, Sunday 2010:

The big day had arrived.  We told Ethan we were going, as we have been praying with him before bed the past few months..and I asked him if he wanted to go to kids church.  He said, "Will we learn about that Jesus man?"  So I told him yes, and we were on our way.

We dropped Ethan off with the other kids, and went and sat in the sanctuary.  They sang exactly 2 songs, and then had a special guest.  His name was Rodrigo Rodrigues, and he was from South America, and played the guitar with a spanish flair..it was really awesome.  But that wasn't what made me remember him..when he was done he said, "17 years ago I decided to go to the Calvary church in my town.  That day God spoke to me and gave me this gift."  By the way, he was REALLY good.

Anyway, then the pastor, Ron Hindt, came out and totally got me hooked.  He read from Revelations and really broke down what the words were saying.  He didn't say it in his own words..he refered back to other scripture where things were explained (you are just supposed to remember those things till you get there).  I really enjoyed how he wasn't trying to make us all laugh or just have a good time..he was trying to help us understand what the text really says.  The Bible in lamens terms..go figure.

It was exactly what I was looking for.  The reason I haven't gone to church of my own accord EVER is because I didn't want to feel "forced" to be a Christian.  Pastor Ron said, "We don't belive in religion, and if you do, this is not the right church for you..you should leave.  We believe in a relationship with God.  If that is what you are looking for, you can stay."  So blunt..so me.  When the sermon was over, I had been listening so intently to what he said, that when they played that last song, I started crying again.  This time was the same..my throat was in a knot, and I was happy.  I suddenly realized why all those people hold their hands up during the songs..I wanted to, too!  But I held back..maybe next time.  Like Seth said, it was the Spirit.

I have finally found a place that feels like I fit..and I don't have to sing if I don't want to!