Oh no... words are coming out.

That's what Brian Regan says about those of us who don't think before we speak. We think words, we say words. Seems simple. But so dangerous. I say what's on my mind. And I have so much to say at times that I don't know where to start.

First, I think we're all a bunch of self-righteous pricks. Me. You. Us. We're all so concerned with ourselves that we think little (if ever) about anyone else. So concerned about staying in our own little circles. So concerned about personal purity. So concerned about being doctrinally correct. Dispensationalism has taken over America. I wish I could simply blame Darby, Scofield, LaHaye and Jenkins, but its not just their fault. We see a world getting worse and we just give it the finger and try to take care of ourselves. We use the excuse we're concerned with eternity, but really we're just trying to make ourselves feel better about ignoring that whole "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We say we're focusing on not being of the world, but really we're just trying to make ourselves feel better about ignoring that whole "in the world." ORTHOPRAXY, my friends. ORTHOPRAXY. Sure, orthodoxy is important. But that's a whole other bag of worms. Orthopraxy is the DOING part of the equation. Ephesians 2 says we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Its not an if. Its not even a command. Its a fact. Its who we are. Its our purpose. Its our reason for being alive in Christ: to do something about it.

Second, going back to what I said a couple of weeks ago: we all wanna be right. And when it comes to Scripture, doctrine, theology, etc... people get heated real quick. Why? Because we're all convinced we're "right." I heard a pastor a couple weeks ago talk about having the "pure" gospel. It made me sick to my stomach. Without naming them directly, he began to call out other denominations that didn't have it right. They are wrong. The way they view God's word is defiling it. But he... he has it right. The SBC has the pure gospel.... what a pile of manure. We're all humans. 1st Corinthians 13 says that in this life, we'll only know in part. Sure, I think the way I look at Scripture is right, but I admit that I could be wrong. I try to stay teachable and willing to listen and learn. Cause I could be wrong about some things. For us to say we have it 100% right and others don't--that's wrong. Anyways---back to my point about being right and Scripture: people get heated quick. The Bible is personal and we strive to be correct in our understanding. I'm trying to take that into consideration when I say what I'm going to say next...

Postmodernism is coming on fast. Times are changing. Minds and hearts are changing. This world is not the same world of thirty... even twenty... years ago. For us to hold to our "absolutes" like they are our only hope is a lost cause. We need to acknowledge our view of Scripture could be wrong in effort to break down the walls of denominations. We need to focus on unity and love. We need to see that refining of our faith is not found in more scholarship or study or in degrees... but in getting our hands dirty, in holding a dying person, in taking the time to care about a homeless person, in contributing to social organizations that make a difference in our communities, in teaching a child about art and how to express themselves, in making others feel important. This is where kingdom work is done. Not every so often when our church plans an event. But everyday. EVERYDAY. I need to change. We need to change...

Jesus said to "repent, for the kindgom of heaven is at hand."

So: Christians, Christ followers, followers of Jesus... repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

God have mercy on me, a sinner.