Beauty is only skin deep but…..

Back in the beginning when men and women first started to connect, what was it that attracted the men to the women?  Was it their brains?  Their ability to manage affairs?  Mothering skills?

Nope.

Genesis 6:1-2(NKJV)

Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 

that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

It was their beauty.  Society today can try and train men to look for and value all sorts of other traits but men will always resort back to their true nature, and there is nothing wrong with that!  :)

Interesting how subtle things can make a difference.

I'm reading the book of Hebrews right now.  It seems to me that I had been taught that Hebrews was written by Paul.  As I was reading it though, something just didn't seem right.  It had a lot of long, run on sentences like Paul's writings, but it just didn't "feel" like Paul's writings.

Does that make sense?

So I decided to look it up.  Turns out that while originally attributed to Paul, since the 3rd century, the consensus seems to be that the author is unknown.  I would have to agree.  While the style is similar to Paul, I just find the subtle differences enough to believe that it was written by someone other than Paul. 

Good and Profitable

Titus 3:8(NKJV)

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

There are many in our society who think profit is an evil word.  In fact they believe that to be a Christian you need to be a Socialist.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here we can plainly see that Scripture tells us that maintaining good works is good and profitable to men. 

So who you going to believe?  Socialist Christians…or…Scripture?

In the beginning…….

Sometimes it is good to just go back and start at the beginning. 

Genesis 1:1-2(NKJV)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:28(NKJV)

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

So one of the first lessons I am reminded of when I read Genesis is that God told us to go forth and subdue the earth.  Not to worship it like many people do today.  The earth was put here for our benefit. 

Is this more than a difference in ministry style?

This passage comes from Paul's second letter to Timothy. 

2 Timothy 4:2(NKJV)

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

The part that I have highlighted is the part I wonder about.  It seems to be saying do whatever you have to do to convince people to believe in Jesus.  Jesus style on the other hand was to lay it out there and if they believed, great, if they didn't, oh well, in either case Jesus was moving on.  He didn't spend time trying to talk people in to believing in Him.

Now is this simply a matter of differences of style or is there more to it than that.  I'm not sure.  My opinion is that you probably get a more solid conversion with the way Jesus does it.  On the other hand maybe there is something to be said for getting people started with even a "talked into it" conversion. 

I guess in the end, use what works for you. 

What is the purpose of Scripture?

I love when Scripture makes things simple. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17(NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

There is a meme on FB that says something like "if you are using your religion to hurt people, you are using it wrong" or something like that. 

That is one of those clever phrases that sounds religious until you examine it in light of the Scripture above.  It is clever in that it tries to deflect guilt and criticism.  Pointing out that someone is acting in an immoral way is equated with "hurting them" and therefore according to their trite little saying, you shouldn't criticize immoral behavior. 

Now compare that to the Scripture above.  One of the purposes of Scripture is for correction.  Will correcting someone hurt their feelings?  Quite probably so.  Do you see any clause there that says "for correction unless it hurts them"?  Nope. 

Scripture says the truth will set you free.  The purpose of the meme is to hide the truth and keep people enslaved by their behavior. 

Does that make sense?   

Does that mean not everyone should get a trophy?

Look what I found. 

2 Timothy 2:4-6(NKJV)

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 

Apparently not everyone should get a trophy.  :)