Profound and Sometimes Preposterous Ponderings of Pete

Helpless! Helpless!  Helpless! Why oh Lord have you rendered me so? You have taken my youth. You have taken my strength. You have left me a fool. You have told me that the pot has no claim on the potter. You have have told me that wisdom is for those who ask. Then why dear God am I adrift at sea? Why Holy Father do I feel so alone? Why do I feel like my faith is lost? Why is my honor questioned at every turn? Why is your voice silent to me? Why do I feel like I have no protection? I know of and ashamed of all of my sin. I know that you forgive me when I repent. I know you are strong when I am weak. I know that what I call good, to you is small. You and you alone are God. For me there are no others. You died so that I would live. You showed me your glory. You have adopted me as a son. Forgive me Dad, my friend, my teacher, for I see so dimly and my faith is little. You my God are the only one Holy! Your glory is evident in all that I see! I will praise...

There are many, many, many, many (have I said many enough?) different definitions of church. Place of worship House of prayer Religious gathering place These are just a few very general definitions that can be applied to almost any religion. So let's be a little more specific to Christianity. cathedral temple sanctuary tabernacle Lord's house mission + aforementioned Again just a few of the very many.  Now let's see how God defines church. Where do we do that?  (I know it's a leading obvious question) In His Word. The first mention of church in the New Testament is in the book of Matthew chapter 16.  Where Jesus asks: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, ...

God sees everything black and white! He has no shades of gray! God cannot abide with sin! Etc.  Etc. Too many times I have heard these exclamations.  To my detriment, I have even said some of them myself.  I was mistaken in my application and so is anyone who has made the same proclamations. Let's take the easiest one first.  God cannot abide with sin! This statement makes no sense.  I will show you why or rather His Word will. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reas...