a full grasp of half truths

"Creative Theology"... this is the term I heard earlier this week. A term that I've been told I should think about to make The Devoted Woman "more appealing" to my audience. An idea that I have grown accustom to hearing since DW's conception.

I have heard statements like, "Don't talk about witnessing so much. Don't bog the readers down with so much scripture. Don't pray for people who are lost causes. Don't challenge people with such deep topics, for they are busy with life. Don't tell us that God may not answer our prayers our preferred way. Don't tell Christians that they will be persecuted and have to endure trials... etc. etc. etc." Sometimes I wonder if these same individuals have even read DW's mission and statement of faith before joining or "liking" our little group. Furthermore, I wonder if they have taken the time to study the Bible and understand what following Christ looks like. What living for God really involves.

Ladies, there are people out there (in this world... in our churches... even on this website)... people that are not following God - - but they would like you to think they are. I have had conversations with many such folk from month to month and it is disturbing, to say the least. I am more aware today than I have ever been concerning how many women can be distracted and very much deceived by the subtle wickedness they've adopted and allowed in from this world. I am even more frightened by the ones who know better and still choose against God's ways rather than along with His promises... those who specialize in quietly inviting worldly evil into their hearts over the goodness of Jesus.

Outside of those truly seeking after God with all their heart, soul and mind, I have witnessed three scary types of people since starting DW... (1) the wolves in sheep's clothing who masquerade as spiritual leaders but later reveal selfish and sometimes malicious motives, (2) the stagnant excuse-makers who seek ease and comfort while living out their lukewarm lives and serving only when they feel like it, and (3) the weak-willed pushovers who are quick to only point blame on God for their troubles while believing every lie that Satan puts before them OR they maintain a fickle spiritualness by following whatever "moves" their emotional state from one moment to the next. Needless to say, all of the above are not following God... but, unfortunately, they claim to be.

Read some passages of scripture with me. First, check out 2 Peter 2, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.... But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed - an accursed brood!.... These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

Now read 2 Timothy 3, "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.... these men oppose the truth - men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected."

Lastly, let's read 2 Peter 3, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

The term "theology" literally means the study of God. It is derived from the Greek word "theos" (meaning "God"), and the suffix "ology" from the Greek word "logos" (meaning "theory" or "reasoning"). I am of the opinion that we must continually pray for discernment and be deliberate in our quest to follow our Savior. Creative Theology? No, there is nothing creative about theology - nor should there be. We are to study and obey God's Word so that we can know Him intimately and become more like Him personally. We are to pursue and follow after Him. Period.

I challenge each DW to consider the warnings that both Peter and Paul give in the New Testament letters concerning false teachers, the lukewarm and the weak-willed... the "blackest darkness" is reserved for them and they will be rejected by God. (Yikes - not a place where I want to be!) I further challenge you to continually examine your motives to pursue after Jesus each day. We must seek answers to these very important questions: Do you know God intimately today? Have you meditated on His words today? Have you come to trust His ways today? Are you striving to follow His commands today? Do you seek to be Holy like He is Holy today? Because if you subscribe to what we believe at DW... THIS IS THE DAY to do so!

OR perhaps you'd rather accept the full grasp of half truths that Satan wants you to receive as an adequate "life in Christ"? (A life that you "feel" is a good Christian life - rather than actually taking the time each day to measure your heart according to His inspired, eternal word?) Yep, a full grasp of half truths is what I'd call "Creative Theology"!

Ladies, let's stop settling with sinfulness that God abhors? Let's forego the comforts that turn us away from His blessings? Today, let's take our stand against the devil's schemes and live for Jesus each and every day we draw breath. Fearlessly... boldly... let's seek God daily, and He will show what a perfect life really is by showcasing Jesus! Live in His promised abundance and lose yourself to His ways. I promise, nothing else compares to true LIFE IN CHRIST! Nothing!

Keep looking UP!

Blessings!

~Victoria