NEVER TOO LATE!

Dear Pious Bob, My mother tried to get me to go to church during all my childhood to no avail. I just didn't feel comfortable when I attended on occasion and especially when I tried youth group one time. It seemed like I needed to meet some expectation of others and the cookie cutter mentality of the youth group made me feel like a robot in a relationship with God. I'm now in my 40's and want to have more of a relationship with God, but I'm afraid to get into a church and be subject to the cookie cutter again. I've been absent from church life for so long, I feel inferior to other Christians, even though I have faith in God. Can you give me some advice?
Thanks,
Richard the Late

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Dear Richard the Late,

Don't ever think it's too late!  Churches are made for one kind of people.  So you think that excludes you, do you?  That one kind of people represents all of us.  That is, all of us who are on a spiritual journey trying to know and understand God more and more in our lives.  We are all in different places on our journey, but that doesn't make one person better than another.  It's the "seeking" that counts and none of us will find perfect understanding until we pass from this life into God's Kingdom. "²⁴And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25. 

That's the Godly "cookie cutter", that we all be shaped to seek Him and surrender to Him in our lives.  Christian Community is the best place to do this.  God works through us and our brothers and sisters in sending His Love and Grace to others and to us.  You must give Christian Community a chance and not feel inferior in your involvement.  Jesus reminds us in saying, ^"26It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,²⁷and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;²⁸just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20: 26-28. God will use you to impact the lives of those in community with you.  You are a Christian leader just waiting to fulfill your potential.  Don't pass up the chance.  God is counting on you!

Some Pressures On Christianity

Dear Mr. Pious Bob, I've enjoyed your blog so far. Looks like you need more commenters. I've been thinking about writing something, so I'll give it a try. I have a girl friend who looks at the Bible as literal and will not budge an inch, even on the parts that put down women. It's like the Bible is her anchor and she is unable to look at the history of religion in the world and see all our commonalities. She thinks that if you're not a saved Christian, you're going to hell. That means a majority of humans in the world have not and will not enter the gates of heaven. I can't bring myself to think that our God would be so unkind to most of His created children. What do you think about this situation with my friend? I need help in relating to and understanding her. Thanks in advance and God Bless You, Tracey D. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Tracey D., A clergy person once told me that he "doesn't take the Bible literally, but he takes it seriously."  While we can certainly understand that the Bible was written by man and is the inspired Word of God, it is hard to say that every single word in it is the exact truth as if God Himself had penned it.  In most cases, all Christians should be in agreement on the messages that God has given man to write.  It's not worth arguing about the things that don't seem to fit our present day understanding of living in absolute freedom.  To understand how all of mankind; Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, and so on, is treated by the creator God we believe in, is something beyond our capacity to know.  As Christains we cannot know what happens to all people when they reach that "nearer presence to God" as they leave this worldly life.  Even when Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6), we must be careful how we interpret His words.  In John 1:1 he tells us, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."  So if Jesus was and is God's Word, then all of man must go through God's Word and Spirit to come to Him.  How this might happen to all of mankind, we can't understand.  In theory then, all people who believe in one loving Creator God, no matter what religion, can experience God and His Word (Jesus) even as they pass out of this mortal coil.  We have no right to judge the many from a narrow understanding of God and His creation.  His love that He has communicated to us certainly speaks against our prejudice toward others. In the Love of God, Pious Bob

Response from previous commenter

Dear PB,
Thanks so much for your answer.  You have made clear that which has been muddling around in the brain for a time. I believe so strongly in Grace - that precious gift.  Even with my strong sense of Grace - and the fact that I truly believe that the love of our Lord separates us from our sin as far as the East is from the West, I have the hardest time living with my own things done and left  undone. I find it much easier to forgive someone else's shortcomings than mine. Today I am seeking peace with myself and rest in His love.  Tomorrow will bring it's own needs and desires. Thanks for this blog - as always, a gift right when I needed it.
Confused in Pensacola

Dear Pious Bob,
I am always saddened to see and hear things that refer to God as fierce and mean - a Being to fear, not worship.   I was recently in a middle school gym that had a "Fear the Lord" banner, 10'-high strung across the wall.   Similarly, I have a friend who thinks he has to "suffer" to love God.   Can you help me find New Testament scripture to maybe change his mind. Do you think we should live in fear of God and His retribution?   This doesn't fit at all with my belief in a kind, loving, gentle and forgiving father (mother?). 
Thanks,
Confused In Pensacola

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Dear Confused In Pensacola,

The Bible, Old and New Testament, informs us of God's attempts over time to connect with His children.  He has used Prophets, Covenants and various other ways to speak to those He  hath created.  To think that we are His creation to whom He has given "free will", and He will make us suffer in order to know and love Him, is not the God that sent Jesus  as His "WORD" (John 1:1-5) to share His nature with us. Also in John 3:16 it is said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

In 1st Peter 5:6-8a it says,  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert..."  In Ephesians 2:4-5, Paul tells us, "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ^*—by grace you have been saved—"

I don't think the word "fear", as in "fear the Lord", is intended to mean be afraid of the Lord.  Many words and phrases in Holy Scripture can be and are misinterpreted.  Seek the Lord, follow and serve Him might be a better way to say it.  If we do not seek the Lord, then it is very hard to experience Him in our lives.  Once we begin seeking Him in our lives and surrender to Him, we then convict ourselves when we stray from Him.

God does not convict us, but the knowledge of our loving, forgiving Creator Father who wants us to love and follow Him, brings a fearful self-disappointment upon us that we have separated ourselves from Him who loves us.  Now that is suffering, and it is self-imposed due to our free will choice to ignore God.  We are called to seek a continuous concentration on God.  Our nature can make us suffer in this, because of our unwillingness to fully surrender and abandon to Him.
In His Love,
Pious Bob  

SITE FOLLOWER'S RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS COMMENT POSTING

Dear Pious Bob,
A thoughtful and loving comment by Susan to your anonymous friend. She makes good points in the searching part. It seems like believers are much more tolerant and caring of non-believers than the other way around. Believers strive to mirror God's Agape Love. It is a worthy task in that it seeks to be unconditional. Can we fully achieve it? No, but it sure helps make the world a better place when we strive for it. I don't pretend to know if non-believers are able to seek unconditional love-giving in their lives. Since believers aren't perfect in practicing unconditional love, I guess we can be criticized, but how able are the Godless to practice it at all. That brings us back to Susan's truth-searching thought and it's importance. Those searching for God in their lives have a better chance at the truth than those who don't. God Bless and thanks for this blog.
Jimmie S.

COMMENT TO ANONYMOUS BY A SITE FOLLOWER:

Dear Anonymous,
There is nothing wrong in educating yourself, & I encourage you. When I was young like many others I went on my search, too. During that time, an Episcopal priest (Chattanooga, TN) said to me, "You know Susan, I'm not worried about you. You are searching for the truth, & because you are searching, I know you will find it" He believed in me. I believe in you, too. 
~ Susan Littleton ♥

It's me again Mr. Pious. Like I could care if Charlotte prays for me. By the way, I don't see many comments from your christian buddies. You may as well shut this thing down. Nice job on the site creation, but wrong subject. Just like a bunch of jesus freeks. They don't want to talk about their religion cause it's a waste of time. I'm moving on to different venues. Won't bother you anymore. I'm starting to feel sorry for you. Find something new to do. You're probably a nice guy underneath all this. See you in the cemetery where we'll all end up.Anonymous

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Dear My Old Anonymous Friend,

You know you won't be able to stay away from this site.  What will draw you is that you know that I trust in God in All Things.  I didn't put Him on a timetable regarding this site.  I felt led to create it and I leave the rest to him.  As St. Paul said, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philiippians 4:13  St. Paul had no idea how God was going to use him in this world.  He died before he ever had a thought that his writings and missons would be used to spread Christianity throughout the world.  He trusted in God that his ministry would bear fruit without  his ever knowing the magnitude of the outcome.  St. Paul has taught us how to go about living the Gospel message.  We are led to love and to forgive one another.  I love you and like Charlotte, I pray for you.  I forgive you in your attitude toward believers, for I trust that God through Christ and the Spirit will move in your life and like St. Paul, you will one day be blinded by the light of His Countenance.  You will come to know the love and grace of your Father God.

Thanks and God's Best to you,

Pious Bob