Standards or Convictions?

I have really noticed the world invading our churches and lives recently. It seems to me that people are lowering their standards. I think a big reason for that is that they are lowering "standards". Huh? Duh! Did I just say that? : ) Yes, but the problem is, a lot of the "standards" shouldn't be just standards they should be Convictions! What's the difference? Well, without doing word studies, I think that the difference is that a standard is more a way of life and something "YOU" think is right. Something, you try, in and of yourself to do. Whereas a conviction is a belief. Doesn't really matter if you want to do it, you KNOW it's right and therefore have to do it because GOD says you do.

It's so sad to see so many people back-sliding. And there are sooo many of them, which got me thinking about this. People I really thought had these convictions...ie...not going to the theatre, not wearing pants, not listening to bad music, not using birth control, etc... Are doing those exact things like it's no big deal. Which made me question the why of the way they acted before. If it had been a conviction/belief, they wouldn't be able to do it without feeling guilty. However if it had only been a standard...

It's so sad when you begin to feel like you'd rather go to a church where they dress worldly, use contemporary music and so on, than to go to such hypocritical churches, where so many people are just doing things for show. Having their "standards" just to make people notice them. When in the end it really isn't the outward that pleases God, but the inward. The attitudes, the thought processes, as well as the works that come naturally because of the inward rightness. "John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

So, where is your heart? Are you doing things to please the Lord or are you doing them to please men? Are you living "right" so others notice you or so that others notice the Lord IN you?

Bible Versions

It has really been bugging me the way people today don't seem to be bothered by the fact that they aren't using the Bible they're using a perversion of it! Just because you think it's easier to understand doesn't make it right. I actually understand my Bible just fine. I don't understand all of it and I don't think I ever will. That's kinda the point though, you're not supposed to. God reveals things to you as you need them, not just cause.

First off...Revelation 22:18-20 says For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

The Bible is literally Jesus. If you change the words you change him. Therefore you have created an anti-christ. If you add to or take away you will get what Rev. 22:18-20 says. Why risk it? Besides the fact that in changing him you are leading people to a God that doesn't exactly exist. His name is also being used in vain...sounds familiar...feel like you're breaking a commandment?

Second, versions like the NIV take out verses or parts of verses. Why? Because "they" don't feel like it was interpreted right or doesn't really belong. Well, if God put it there, LEAVE it there. Did you know that if a Jehovah's Witness came to your door and you tried to dispute their belief in the deity of Christ, you couldn't with an NIV? The NIV removed all the same verses the JW's did. So how could you? http://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/articles/nivquiz.asp Check out this quiz and see if you pass with your NIV. There's other good info about different version too.

Third, Do you know that the only version of the Bible that isn't copyrighted is the King James Version? Yep, that's right...it's illegal to copy your perversion of the bible. How sad is that? And doesn't it appear obvious that Satan will use that against us? You may find copyrights in your KJV but if you check it's only for the synopsis, commentary or study helps, Not for the Spirit inspired, infallible words of GOD!

Fourth, It seems to me that all these new perversions are simply made to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. We don't need a fancy cover, modern words, or great commentaries to receive from the Lord. We simply need the desire. Ask and you shall receive. Ones like the Message bible are so perverse it's sickening really. It's not the Word of God, just what some many thinks God is saying. Really insane! Especially since God's word speaks to different people different ways. A verse can mean one thing for one person in a circumstance and something completely different for someone else in another circumstance. All verses have to be taken into context of the verses surrounding them, but they still speak to each person differently! So how is it beneficial to not read what God says, just what some man thinks He's saying? God doesn't need paraphrasing...He's the same yesterday, today and forever! If people could understand it hundreds of years ago, surely with all our enlightening we can understand it now!

Fifth, Doesn't it seem a bit odd that these perversions are so readily available? and were so easily put into existence? Whereas the KJV took so much time to come into existence because of persecution. How many people died to get that Book to us? I have come to realize that if things are going easy and it doesn't seem like we're meeting with any resistance then maybe we aren't living right. Not that a christian has to be in the midst of trials constantly, but when Satans fighting you it's obvious you're doing things right. He'll do anything to stop you. So if he doesn't care...

Well, I guess I'll get off my soap box now : )