just after a really long conversation with sarah today, and several other conversations with john and others, there are so many convictions and so many truths and so much there is to this world that we are just so unaware of, and the devil just tells us so many lies, and just always tells us 'it's okay, the world is doing it', and like honestly, you just become so desensitized in this world through the way the world is, the way society is, and the way the media is...
i've never been someone that cares about the environment, world issues, social injustices, economic injustices, social oppression, stuff like sweat shop labour, fair trade coffee... stuff like that. i've never cared about that stuff, but like i've just (and starting to...) come to this realization, that pretty much every aspect of our lives, everything we do, everything has to do with our spirituality, our walk with God, our connection with God, our obedience to Him, and how much we follow God.
seriously, everything... leads back to God, and we've been told so many lies by the devil that everything is ok, that if it doesn't hurt anyone physically, it's okay, or if no one finds out, or if no one sees, it's alright.
(i'm in no way, perfect, or saying that i've come to this realization, or that im righteous or judging anyone or anything, but i'm just trying to make known that there are these truths that we need to reveal for ourselves, and be convicted of)
things like...
- sweat shop labour (unfair wages/mistreatment of workers)
- fair trade coffee (same as above)
- environmental issues (global warming/pollution...etc)
- appearance/brand name clothing/make-up (the need to impress/look good/appear a certain way...etc)
- downloading music/movies (sharing/distributing/stealing?)
- consumerism (the need to buy that coffee/pop/bubble tea... i.e. the morning Timmy's coffee...i.e. eating out at restaurants)
stuff like that... like im wrestling with some of that stuff, actually all of that stuff.... but like you may think it has nothing to do with christianity or spirituality...but the fact of the matter is... IT DOES. it all relates and all ties back in...
if you have questions or comments, i'd love to talk about any of this stuff, i definitely dont know all the answers, but i'd still love to talk about any of it, though im still learning each day bout more of this stuff.
but what i'm trying to say about all of this, is that... so many of these things become so 'idle' or 'irrelevant' or 'insignificant' but that's exactly how we've been told lies by the devil. the fact that it's 'okay' to support some of these things... the lies that dwell in your mind that tell you (and me) that it's part of our culture and society to partake in some of these... i'm guilty of buying brand name clothing, going out to eat at restaurants more way more than necessary... downloading... not caring about our environment, but we really shouldn't be giving ourselves excuses and trying to justify it, because at the end of the day... some of these things are just separating us from living like Jesus, and living Christ-like... and it's not what God wants for us, or what He has for us in His plan....... i don't think God WANTS us to pollute, i don't think God WANTS us to be spending money on unnecessary things...etc.... i dont think God WANTS us to be downloading and watching or listening to media that we've 'taken' for free (a.k.a. stealing/theft)
so it's a struggle, but a conviction that i'm coming to (more so in the past hour), and i've tried to justify it to myself, i've avoided these situations, and been ignorant, brushing it under the carpet, but really (for me) these issues have surfaced and they can't keep being swept under the rug... as the Vintage21 Jesus-Parody-Videos portray Jesus saying, "and don't try to hide, I am Jesus, I WILL find you" LOL. that was just a parody, but there is a hint of truth in it... that you can't take these issues and run away from God, cause... I don't know how to say this... but, you JUST can't run away from God, you can't be ignorant and you just can't avoid these types of issues (and others). I have in my past, because I didn't want to be convicted of them... because following through with convictions involves being uncomfortable, it involves sacrifice... it involves changing yourself, maybe even your lifestyle... being convicted and then doing something about it is definitely not easy, but then again following God is never easy.
Broad path and the narrow path. The broad path leads to destruction, and the narrow path, very few find it. (paraphrased from Matthew 7:13-14)
The Believer's Freedom
23"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)
so i'll leave you with that.... i hope you guys could pray for me... i'm wrestling with all of this stuff, myself... and it is hard to let go of some of this stuff, or even to change it for the better, it's very difficult, but like this truth that i feel that i've unveiled is that, living in a Godly way, and striving to be like Christ has a cost and requires sacrifice and it's for God, so you can't go wrong there.
it is my hope and prayer that other christians can become aware of some of these important issues, hopefully are convicted by God, and want to have a desire to strive to live like Jesus, and not conform to the way our culture is, not conform to the consumerism and individualism in our North American world, and uncover some truth that has been buried under the media, our culture, and our society, and see God behind,and in the center of all of these aspects involving our lives and the world around us, and then help others and join in a movement to bring awareness and mobilize change to the rest of our world (both the physical planet, and the people)
so what are you waiting for? in the words of Britney Spears, "Why don't you DO something?"
peace out, and God bless.
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