Sheila's Posts

For decades, I was an Arminian. Afterward, I became a Calvinist. Also for decades, I was a church goer. Afterward, “going to church” passed away from my life. Another decades-long belief I held was that no consideration should be made as to when the end of time will be. Afterward, I independently began to see an opposing view.

I prefer being wiser by finally putting the lesser matters into perspective. To not do so, hinders the more important things in life from getting accomplished.

As of today, I began to realize how much I’ve been impugning the beliefs of others. After this awareness started, I found the sermon Should Christians Proselytize? and read all of it. Now Luke 18:13 weighs heavily on my mind.

Adherence to the golden rule and the two greatest commandments wouldn’t nurture strife, but rather encourage gentleness and meekness.

It’s not my place (or anyone else’s either) to insist on how certain bible verses should be perceived, but it is my duty to share God’s message of salvation while His mercy and grace for mankind still exist. I trust that He will speak to each individual through His written word (that can be visibly read or audibly heard). I do not have a gift for teaching God’s word, nor do I have one for preaching sermons expounding on verses from scripture. What I do have is the habit of doing those two things, because of being responsible for the spiritual well-being of my children.

There are many proclaiming to follow Jesus who not only hate others that differ from them in lesser theological matters (yet these ‘enemies’ have led countless people to Christ), but also these same people harbor hatred towards those who dare to publically refuse to share that same malicious spirit. The bottom line is, “Does the believer abide in the doctrine of Christ?”

[The next paragraph deals with cult members. Christians should have unbelieving friends, but stay away from ungodly practices and worldviews.]

To not abide in the doctrine of Christ means bringing in some error concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus. Opposers of the Lord Christ’s name and His dignity undermine God’s glory and His kingdom. Any who do not profess and preach the doctrine of Christ, respecting him as the Son of God, and salvation by him from guilt and sin, are not to be noticed and countenanced.¹ Yet in obeying 2 John 1:9-10, we must show kindness and a good spirit to those who differ from us in lesser matters, but hold firmly the all-important doctrines of Christ’s person, atonement, and holy salvation.

Jesus said, “For he that is not against us is on our part.” It is vital to hold fast to the basics of what Christian faith is, so that we don’t give the devil a foothold to divide the family of God.

For decades, I was an Arminian. Afterward, I became a Calvinist. In my post Devotion to Caution, I said Calvinism and Arminianism are basically opposite. There isn’t much wrong with saying a statement like that, at least from what I can tell. However, I’m beginning to think that my going beyond it may have been an example of what God warns His people against doing. Christians are to edify and strengthen the body of Christ. A healthy body is wholesome.

When it comes to the body of Christ, I like how Charles Spurgeon (a believer of election) wisely replied to the question of how he reconciled predestination and man’s free responsibility. He said, “I do not try to reconcile friends.” Quoting Warren W. Wiersbe’s words from his book What to Wear to the War: Studies from Ephesians 6, “In order to be balanced and able to walk as Christians, we need a thorough understanding of all the Bible’s doctrines, teachings and commands.”

For something to be whole, it has to be complete. No component elements or parts can be missing. God will see to it that all of His children will finally be together again someday. It’s just sad that more of us can’t be together while we’re still here in this world.

Also for decades, I was a church goer. I attended a spectrum of denominations — starting with the charismatic speaking-in-tongues flavor, grazing on the reformed range, and retiring my organized fellowship era inside an easy-going (non-speaking-in-tongues) evangelical pasture. Afterward, “going to church” passed away from my life. I’m now reborn into a world undefined by man’s walls. I sort of feel like how you’d imagine a ghost that’s been left behind, waiting to be reunited with its immortal body. I meet other ‘ghosts’ of this same faith on rare occasions, but I don’t get to ‘hang out’ with them in person (What ghost can without having a ‘validated’ body? Is that why ‘I’ have become ‘invisible’ to others inside any ‘visible’ church?). That’s okay, because all spirit-filled believers abide in the Holy Ghost and can fellowship wherever God’s Spirit is.²

Another decades-long belief I held was that no consideration should be made as to when the end of time will be. Afterward, I independently began to see an opposing view. I won’t say more than that any longer. Hopefully no one will make any assumptions about what position I now hold on that issue.

It takes concentration to change the direction of the way you perceive the silhouette of the spinning dancer turning. It also takes concentration to ‘see’ the opposite side of what you believe, especially if you get mesmerized by the one you’re holding for a long time.

One dancer can’t spin in two opposite directions simultaneously. No one can believe two opposite beliefs at the same time either. However, two opposite beliefs can complement one another if you try to understand the other perspective. Perhaps this is why God has designed the bible to be able to function like an illusion, while simultaneously being the source of all truth and reality. How else would Christian faith be put to the test? It isn’t up to Christians to sort out the wheat from the tares or to get bent out of shape whenever someone else isn’t agreeing with us.

If I never wondered how there could be so many different Christian denominations all worshipping the same bible,³ I never would have become as enlightened in understanding how so many people can be as different as they are, while still being basically alike as human beings.

¹This also applies to Christians who have trespassed against you and refuse to confess the wrong they have done. Either the wrongdoer will confess or deny sinning against you. Denial is usually evident by the lack of pleading for forgiveness. Words like “I’m sorry” might be said, but if they are, most likely there won’t be any reference to what the person is sorry about specifically. Words without actions, in this case, are no different from coming to Christ for salvation without evidence of repentance.

Here’s how Oswald Chambers puts it in his book, He Shall Glorify Me,

“I cannot forgive my enemies and remain just unless they cease to be my enemies and give proof of their sorrow, which must be expressed in repentance. I have to remain steadfastly true to God’s justice. There are times when it would be easier to say ‘Oh well, it does not matter, I forgive you,’ but Jesus insists that the uttermost farthing must be paid. The love of God is based on justice and holiness, and I must forgive on the same basis.”

²The bible says much about how spirit-filled believers are to abide in the Holy Ghost, especially during end times. Regardless of what century or millennium it is, being faithful to God requires being obedient to His will.

³Non-denominational churches are a myth. Every church has its own set of common denominators unique to their congregation, but not all have well-defined labels.

The problem I have with reading Oswald Chambers is that he is too weak on doctrine to avoid being occasionally confusing. He was strong on exhortation upon specific areas of the bible, but because he insufficiently makes comparisons of scripture with scripture, he can at times distort the big picture.

As God says in 1 Corinthians 2:13, the Holy Ghost teaches us when we compare spiritual things with spiritual. The less we do as those noble Bereans, in that “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11), the more likely we can become “conditioned” into accepting false doctrine.

Oswald Chambers’ writings are rarely critiqued with spiritual discernment. His ministering style is almost hypnotic in effect. I didn’t notice some ever so subtle inconsistencies of his preaching until reading The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers. The more that I read that’s in that book, the more apparent the need becomes to sort out what’s true versus what’s a distortion.

Truth demands consistency. That’s why it is always safe to study the bible, provided that the King James Version is used as the ruling guide over our modern English translations.

There is nothing wrong with having help to understand God’s word, but no matter who the person is that’s ministering His word, it is always crucial to remember that no human being is capable of flawless preaching. With spiritual maturity comes an increased awareness whenever something isn’t quite fitting appropriately with all of what’s said in the bible.

Chambers came to Christianity in his teen years under the ministry of Charles Spurgeon. Chambers is best known for his devotional My Utmost for His Highest. What’s less known about Chambers (and is probably the reason he is as popular as he is) is that his theology is based on John Wesley (an Arminian). Charles Spurgeon’s preaching, however, was Calvinistic. That would explain why Spurgeon’s devotional God’s Treasury: The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith is less confusing and more consistent.

Calvinism and Arminianism are basically opposite. Only one of the two is true doctrine. Either God is glorified or self is. Either we are saved by sovereign grace or we are saved by something we do. Either we wait for God or God waits for us. Either God gave every human being that ever lived, lives, and is yet to be born, to Christ or He gave only a remnant to Christ. Either our salvation is secure or we can lose it.

I won’t get into mentioning the bible verses that apply to the two opposing doctrines. They can be found in the bible, on the internet and in many books. It’s not my intent to create division or to argue. I only want to bring awareness to the importance of always exercising caution when reading devotionals and theology books.

After having accumulated and read many books by great theologians, I can’t say they’re not beneficial. But, at the same time, there is a risk involved.

Here are a few others who advise caution when reading Oswald Chambers:

• Von Ein Kunde
• Tom Riggle
• Miles J. Stanford
• The Far Left and the Far Right

Extracted from The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers, in his book The Moral Foundations of Life, under the chapter The Soul’s Awakening, were these words that spoke loud and clear to me about my being bothered over not being understood by neurotypical people:

By heeding the reality of God’s grace within us we are never bothered again by the fact that we do not understand ourselves, or that other people do not understand us. If anyone understood me, he would be my god. The only Being Who understands me is the Being Who made me and Who redeems me, and He will never expound me to myself; He will only bring me to the place of reality, viz., into contact with Himself, and the heart is at leisure from itself for ever afterwards.

After having thought about that, I realized how true it is. It explains the craving to be understood and to know oneself. Both things are a trap, especially because of how impossible it is to satisfy either yearning.

When I reflect upon how much torment my heart would endure because of being an Aspie in a NT world, I find Chambers’ advice awesome! I can only imagine how something like this rubs against the grain of today’s Asperger awareness movement.

I’m not saying anything against neurodiversity advocates or those opposing them. What I am saying is that I’m beginning to believe I will quietly exit out of the arena of the Asperger movement. I have no regrets being an Aspie, but the more time I spend of my life focused on Aspergers, the more I feel I’m not living up to my full potential.

I can’t think of anything better to retire from than the work of trying to get others to understand me.

The last time I went to an Asperger group meeting for adults was on December 12th of last year. If I were to continue, it would be almost three years of going. There isn’t anything much left for me to give to the group information wise about Aspergers that I haven’t already said and there isn’t anything much left for me to gain by going.

Group meetings are not like gathering together for leisure activities; such as hanging out at a pub for pizza, going on a picnic or hike, etc. A lot of time in my life was occupied in settings similar to classrooms, bible study groups, support groups, and other special interest groups (e.g., computer clubs, sportsman clubs etc.). Rarely have I been able to simply enjoy time with another person outside of some programmed or planned project that’s restricted to a scheduled time and run by a leader.

I grew up in the era of when people dropped by unexpectedly for a cup of coffee, answered their phones, and made time to do fun things together. I can’t bring them back, but I also don’t have to do things that are not satisfying to me.

Long ago, church was satisfying and I attended many different ones. Today I realized I have a pastor again and he’s bar none the best I’ve ever experienced! Just because Oswald Chambers isn’t alive anymore does not mean he can’t shepherd my soul through his words left behind in print. God did it by leaving us His word in the Bible and He can just as well keep a pastor (or chaplain, which is what Chambers was) blessing congregations after that individual has been taken home to be with the Lord.

It seems fitting that Chambers was a chaplain rather than a pastor. The basic difference between a pastor and a chaplain is that a pastor stays put in one place while a chaplain is “God on the go.” Chaplains serve people where there is no organized church.

Chambers wasn’t famous in his lifetime (1874-1917). Now he’s somewhat famous. I say somewhat because he should be more well-known than what he is by now. I can imagine why his popularity level is relatively low. One can’t read much of Chambers without it having a strong effect on his or her life. Modern Christianity wants God diluted. Chambers gives God’s message in concentrate and concentration is what it demands.

How often do you see nothing but the highest rating given by all reviewers?

Postscript added on 3.22.10 — Now that enough time has passed for me to form an opinion on some of the works by Chambers, I’ve written my own review in a post called Devotion to Caution.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’d know by now that the titles for my posts can be misleading. In this case, the kind of garden I’m going to till this spring (pun intended) is for the roots of my soul. Gardening is getting back to the basics and I’m composting my soil with these nutritious books:

The Simple Life: Devotional Thoughts from Amish Country is by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Her book offers sixty intriguing and encouraging lessons. Each reading features a brief story of the Amish, providing a “behind the scenes” insight into their culture; a spiritual lesson, accompanied by scripture, drawn from the story; and a “bonus” of an Amish witticism or recipe. I’m looking forward to enjoying the peace and quiet of Amish country that’s reflected within the pages of this book.

The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers is packaged with a companion searchable CD-ROM using the Logos software. A program like that is very helpful for readers reading a 1,492 page book that’s a must for Chambers aficionados. Transcribed by his wife Biddy, and drawn from his numerous sermons, lectures, and speeches, this monumental book includes more than forty titles from the popular, thought-provoking chaplain, including never- before published notes on Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.

If that’s not enough to cultivate my spirit, I can tap into the Amish America blog for more refreshments! It contains plain insights and observations from Pennsylvania to Oregon and is loaded with wonderful photographs!

The bedrock of my garden is always God’s word. The creator of our universe is the light for the core of my being. When spring beckons me to be outdoors more, I want to hike along with some good food packed for thought as I enjoy the nature God so perfectly made.

I just realized it’s Groundhog Day! My thoughts must be deep within the ground or something today?!?!

Postscript added on 3.22.10 — Now that enough time has passed for me to form an opinion on some of the works by Chambers, I’ve written my own review in a post called Devotion to Caution.

In my post I wrote last January 18th I said, “I’m also going back to 1 Corinthians 2:2 and being thankful for God’s never ending perfect love.” I never really stopped being thankful for God’s love. What would have been accurate for me to say was that I’m more appreciative of His love, especially after realizing how easy it is to take things for granted.

What I meant by going back to 1 Corinthians 2:2 was going back to meditating upon what it means. I don’t know why that verse impulsively came to my attention as I was finishing that post. I can only guess that I was unconsciously connecting it to the devotional for April 2nd from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. It’s entitled THE GLORY THAT EXCELS. At that time, my eye was in a lot of pain from a recent accident and I didn’t know if a permanent visual impairment would be the result. To see the connection between my physical/emotional state of being and the devotional including 1 Corinthians 2:2, all you need to do is read it:

“The Lord . . . hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight.” Acts 9:17

When Paul received his sight, he received spiritually an insight into the Person of Jesus Christ, and the whole of his subsequent life and preaching was nothing but Jesus Christ – “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul save the face of Jesus Christ.

We have to learn to maintain an unimpaired state of character up to the last notch revealed in the vision of Jesus Christ.

The abiding characteristic of a spiritual man is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God’s own heart.

Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ. It is the test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you.

“Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside,
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Gazing on the Crucified.”

The last time when I read that day’s devotion, I didn’t have the same understanding of it as I do now. I also didn’t have the same understanding of the one for July 30th as I do now. The deeper insight behind what Paul meant by saying he determined not to know anything among the others he was with except for Jesus Christ and Him crucified came to me sometime between the 19th and the 23rd of this year’s January. It’s now the 27th and my deeper understanding was just now confirmed when I did a search for which days Chambers based his devotionals on 1 Corinthians 2:2. If you take a look at the one for July 30th (entitled THE DISCIPLINE OF DISILLUSIONMENT), you will not see that bible verse referenced to, but yet the message is applicable to the verse:

“Jesus did not commit Himself unto them for He knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

Disillusionment means that there are no more false judgments in life. To be undeceived by disillusionment may leave us cynical and unkindly severe in our judgment of others, but the disillusionment which comes from God brings us to the place where we see men and women as they really are, and yet there is no cynicism, we have no stinging, bitter things to say. Many of the cruel things in life spring from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts; we are true only to our ideas of one another. Everything is either delightful and fine, or mean and dastardly, according to our idea.

The refusal to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering in human life. It works in this way – if we love a human being and do not love God, we demand of him every perfection and every rectitude, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; we are demanding of a human being that which he or she cannot give. There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why Our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man, was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone.

Jesus says in Luke 13:32, “…Go ye, and tell that fox,…” and in chapter 23 of Matthew he uses the words, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!; Ye fools and blind guides; Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers…” John the Baptist also used similar language; plus, he added, “who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Fools would describe that kind of talk as being suspicious and bitter. There are more verses besides those that are said by others in the bible which some might misinterpret as being ungodly behavior.

There are several bible verses where God advises against trusting anyone other than Him. Because of Christ’s righteousness imputed into God’s elect, not only are Christians free from guilt,¹ the ability to not know anything about others that only God needs to know is something attainable with determination. That means Christians don’t need to try to figure people out completely.² Whatever way others are, that’s between them and God.  Those who depend on self rather than God seek security in their confidence to size people up beyond what they’re capable of.

[A portion was removed from this section of my post on 1.28.10 for editing purposes.]

I’m still skeptical about the idea that being cynical is completely bad. Something within me is saying that it may be wise to blow off the dust from my by book Mark Ellingsen called Blessed Are the Cynical: How Original Sin Can Make America A Better Place and take some time to re-read what’s inside.

Being cynical is like a fire. It can burn people or it can provide necessary protection from the cold and predatory wildlife; plus, it can bring light to expel darkness. A fire is only useful and safe when it’s contained to where it belongs (e.g., a fireplace). If it burns out of control, it can be deadly.

To never be skeptical of the motives of others would be like being willing to leave a fox in charge of the hen house.

I think Matthew 10:16 illuminates any disillusionments by saying, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” In other words, if we want to protect ourselves from criminals, we need to know the way their minds work. What we can’t know is what God has planned for their hearts, nor do we need to know. It would be criminal to relish in the death of a murder rather than pray for his salvation. Capital punishment may kill a human being, but it’s not the same thing as murder. Murder always resides in a malicious heart, but not necessarily all acts of killing.

Maybe it’s because we can’t see the internal sins of ourselves and others as easily as the external ones that we’re tempted to stray beyond the boundaries of seeking to know more than what’s necessary about others? If we can’t gather enough information to satisfy our carnal cravings (caused by not trusting God), imagination kicks in to fill the void.

¹“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.” — Hebrews 10:2

²This includes Aspie Christians!