So I was reading in my "Jesus Journal" (as I like to call it) and I came across some stuff that interested me. Here's some background before we get in to the actual Bible part of this post: You may have seen me refrence a church by the name of ICOC on here. Well while I was going there they wrote some notes in my journal. Some of these notes I took and some they took.That is what I am bringing in to question today. It's going to cover a lot of random topic so bear with me.
Anything in this font I have taken directly from my notebook.
1) "Emotions can stand in the way of listening well"
What do you think of this statement?
i think it is True. For example, someone has done you wrong, and that person comes up and starts talking to you, your thinking is on what that person has done to you, your emotions may be one of anger, resentment, vindictiveness, vengeance, or the such, all the while not hearing that person is trying to apologize to you in some way.
2)"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Can someone please explain this verse to me? I came across it and the notes alluded to the fact that you can stand under ANY temptation. But that makes no sense because we are sinners and if we could stand up under sin where is the need for Jesus then? Yes we don't have to be subject to sin but sometimes as humans we choose to because of our hearts and because we live in a fallen world...even Christians. Those are my thoughts on the subject. What are yours?
Scriptures teach, that every temptation that comes upon a person it is not so strong that you can't handle it, and with every temptation that comes upon you, Jesus Christ allows a path out of that temptation. The problem is people do not look to Jesus to help them overcome that temptation, because they believe some false doctrine that teaches they don't have to overcome their sins, they are going to commit sins all the time because their flesh is weak or live in a fallen world. You say " if we could stand up under sin where is the need for Jesus then?" No person can stand up to sin, without the help of Jesus Christ. i could not live as i do (i do not knowingly and willingly commit any sins against Jesus) without the help of Jesus Christ, i could not do it without Him. When i am tempted to commit a sin, i look to Jesus, i pray, i go read the Bible, i look to Jesus to give me His Strength and Power to overcome that temptation, i look for the path out of that temptation which the Word of God says is there and given to me by Jesus. EVERY temptation that comes upon a person, is not so powerful they can't overcome it, and with EVERY temptation Jesus allows a path out of it. Therefore look to Jesus to help you find that path and you will find it, and indeed overcome that temptation. But the problem is with this generation which would rather just sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent, AND never look to Jesus for help in overcoming that particular sin, therefore continue to live in their sins, without ever ceasing from them.
3) "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37
ex) Jess's friend has bipolar and anorexia --> beat it with Jesus and the Bible.
This is something that drives me up a wall. People are like "Oh you're on medication? You're going to therapy? Well then you're not completely trusting in Jesus to save you." I feel like it's the same as a physical injury. If you were to one day start coughing up blood you wouldn't sit there and think "God will save me." No you go to the hospital. How is mental health any different? I am honestly curious about this.
There is nothing wrong with medication despite what false teachers teach today. Jesus showed us that medication is OK, when he took mud from the Earth and His spit and made an ointment to put on the blind mans eyes and the man could see again. Why did Jesus do that, when He could have merely said "SEE" and the man would have seen? He did that to show us that taking things of the Earth combined with Faith is acceptable with God. Most medicines come from things of the Earth, so medication mixed with Faith is acceptable with God.
You say " I feel like it's the same as a physical injury. If you were to one day start coughing up blood you wouldn't sit there and think "God will save me." reminds me of this parable.
There is a Flood coming, and a cop comes up to this old mans house and says "I am here to take you to safety, a flood is coming." The old man refuses saying "God is going to save me". The old man is now standing on his porch and the water is up to his neck, a boat comes along and says "Get in, i am here to save you" the old man replies "God is going to save me" and does not get in the boat. Now the old man is standing on the peek of his roof of his house water to his waste. A helicopter comes over him, saying "climb up the ladder, i am here to save you" the old man replies. "God is going to save me miraculously" and does not climb the rope. The old man drowns. Standing before God he says "God why did you let me die, i thought you were going to save me" and God replies "I sent you a cop, a boat, and a helicopter, and you refused them all, so you died."
God has ALWAYS worked through people to serve His Purpose. God can and does work through Doctors, Therapists, and the such, Anyone who says or teaches otherwise, does not know the TRUTH.
4) Don't excuse sin because of stress.
In my notes it explains how Saul was put in a stressful situation and ended up sinning. I guess I don't really understand this because a) stress isn't always a bad thing and b) stress doesn't always lead to sin. So stress can lead to people acting irrational or saying things they don't mean. Is that considered sin and can it be controlled by everyone, even the mentally ill? I don't think it always can but I feel like everyone is different so it depends on their mental health.
There is only ONE excuse for sin, and that is not realizing or understanding that you are committing that sin. Sins done in ignorance. These are called "Sins not unto Death" The mentally challenge, most of the time do not realize they are committing a sin when they are committing it. Children are another who commit sins not realizing they are doing so, and the elderly who are suffering from some form of mental illness are in the same boat. But all others sins, there is NO EXCUSE FOR.
5) Don't use the excuse "you don't understand" Look for Gods way out. People can help without understanding.
This one makes me really angry. "You don't understand" is not an excuse. It is a fact of life. either you do or you don't understand. If you do then you have a little mental tool box in your head of how to help. If not you're lacking that toolbox. Thoughts?
Please excuse my ignorance on number 5, i do not understand what it is your asking here, lol i just realized i used the excuse of not understanding, don't know if that is good or bad, because i do not understand the question.
That's all I have so far. All in all a lot of the notes seem to over-simplify Christianity and life in general. Life is not simple, neither is Christianity. There is a lot of complexities to it because we have a complex God. God is complex yet simple. That's how complex He is!!! So how can we say "Just do this and you'll be ok" when clearly that's not how it is at all?
i understand what you are saying here and somewhat agree. However i do know that there is one thing you can DO and everything will be OK, although doing that ONE THING is not simple, and is very difficult to do, and that one thing is to: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Love covers a multitude of sins. God is LOVE. So all one needs to do is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER, even your enemies and those that hate you. Truly all Christians that LOVE ONE ANOTHER will be accepted into Heaven. Now doing that is what is difficult to do. especially in the world today. Your driving the speed limit, and someone is riding your bumper, honking, flashing his lights. Then passes you flipping you the bird cussing at you, only to see him in the gas station a few minutes later getting a coffee in no hurry at all, and i am suppose to LOVE him? Yes i am, and do. Yes it is not easy, but here is good news, the more you do it, the easier it is to do. So one day if God deems me worthy to die for Him, and a man holds a gun to my head asking me if i believe in Jesus, i will say "i forgive you friend, and yes i do believe Jesus is the Son of God". Being killed for Jesus Christ, i can't think of a better way to go, than that.
^i^ Responding to OP