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@TEAforTheology Thank you so much. It's good to be posting again. Iconography, I'll have to look into that. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a wonderful comment.

@SimpleNotShallow it's no problem! Fair warning on the issue of iconography is there are a lot of nuanced views on it and it has historically been a division among the protestants and Catholics.. additionally some (very few now a days) Protestants take the view that not even images/statues of humans are acceptable, while others take the Catholic stance that the praying and paying respect to images passes to the person the image represents. And it was quite the rabbit trail to study out.

@source3nergy203 You are very welcome. I'm glad you find it encouraging. That is what I truly want to do, encourage others. Thank you for letting me know.

@TEAforTheology Yes, indeed. I am humbled and pleasantly surprised at the reception this has had. It is very exciting. Indeed, the response has been so great that I'm wondering if this should become more of a central focus for these chats rather than just being one of them. Maybe to build a community of support based around this idea of being 100% devoted to Jesus as we are being creative. Don't know exactly what that would look like, but I'm liking the thought. Thank you for these encouraging words. Well, my friend. Have a wonderful day.

@jootjeonline997 Excellent!!! I'm happy to hear that you are digging into your talent. That is awesome!!! I understand the fear of rejection; it can paralyze. Let's keep each other in prayer for the encouragement to continue honoring Jesus with all the gifts he has given us. Have a most beautiful day!!

@quansun4634 You are very welcome. I'm delighted that you benefited from this effort. Have a wonderful day.

Thank you for letting me know abut your friend. I'm sorry to hear that he gave up on his dream. I hope he takes encouragement from this to reconsider. Do me a favor and keep me posted. Thank you.

My creative efforts began in love and admiration of gifted artists and writers I enjoyed as a child but have since become convinced that art is not only entertainment but communication. I stalled out because I did not want to be merely expressing self. Truth is higher and more precious than that. Your kind words encouraged me today to take courage and honor the LORD with whatever He has given me.

@@davidm.7844 I would encourage you in that it is not inherently bad to express oneself, as that can be done as an act of love. If I share my testimony in a way I am expressing who I am and what I've done along with what God has done! I hope this also helps!

@davidm.7844 Thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful comment. I find humility and honor in your desire not to want what you do to be merely about yourself. That is the mark of maturity. Yes, truth is much higher and more precious than that. I’m delighted to hear you have been encouraged to honor Jesus with what he has given you. If we were all to do this, the world would be a much, much better place. If you don't mind, keep me posted of your progress. That would be very cool. Thank you for sharing these wonderful words. They have been an encouragement to me as well. Knowing that Jesus is using what I do to help others grow in him and that it is making a difference is both humbling and very encouraging. Thank you. And, let’s keep each other in prayer. That we may continue to be courageous enough to press on using what God has given us and to learn even more about what we do so our skill sets continue to improve. Thank you again, sir. Have a most excellent day.

@@SimpleNotShallow You too! I cannot define my progress right now. It’s kind of a restart. I was reading A Good Return by John C Lennox and have begun just trying to fill my time with productive activities- no strong focus. I spent much of my life battling laziness and procrastination and often times using free time and/or artistic gift to please myself more than the Lord. I had been studying to learn good work ethics in my job and to worship the Lord with my work, but the free time has been unused, in many cases, on idle activities. I have tried, perhaps in my own strength, attempting to do what I think is right, but my efforts just petered out. I have to continue to trust His grace and to surrender more completely to Him, in His grace and not in the arm of the flesh. Just simple obedience, I think. Once I learn to use my time and give it all away, perhaps He will begin to give me a more specific focus. But. Some people are made to be specialists, and some are more general use, the jack of all trades. Best if we learn contentment and quiet, and put to use the things we have rather than bemoaning our shortcomings. I’ve just been long in learning that.

Thank you, sir. I'm glad this was worth you suggesting of this topic. You are very welcome. Have an excellent day.

@MMLZombie Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I’m glad you liked this so much; it is very encouraging to hear this. Thank you. I have not heard of Derek Flood before; I’ll have to look him up. Thank you for letting me know about this interview. Yes, it’s a great tragedy that the Pharisees’ knowledge got in the way of their focusing on God, the one who gave them the Scriptures in the first place. And it is a great tragedy that they used their knowledge of God’s word as the basis to persecute God himself. I agree with you; too many today look to the Bible in the same way. And I fear with the same result. Rules are emphasized, and Jesus is missed. This reduces Christianity to being primarily a religion instead of a vibrant relationship with God, which leads to a religious expression of that relationship. A very, very different thing. Thank you again for this beautiful comment. And you are very welcome. Have a marvelous day.

@TEAforTheology Thank you my friend. I hope all is going well with you today. That this resonates with you, encourages me to keep going. Thank you so much. And you are indeed welcome.

@@SimpleNotShallow I am doing pretty well today! I was working on a project as a hobby that might eventually become financially beneficial and made some good progress, but it got me thinking about a neglected topic I would be really curious about your take on: Beauty and creativity and it's relationship to Christianity

Francis Schaefer wrote a book about it called art and the Bible and while I have a handful of minor criticisms of the book it's really short, sweet and mostly correct.

@@TEAforTheology Glad to hear you are doing well. The possibility of turning a hobby into a source of finances is an exciting thing! I’ll keep this in prayer for you. That would be most excellent. Have not heard of this book before, I will look it up immediately and see about getting a copy. So, beauty and creativity and Christianity. I find they go hand in hand. I mean, if you think about it, we are only here because of God’s creativity and he did indeed create many beautiful things. I find that both have been degraded and abused by both non-Christians and by Christians as well. Non-Christians often use creativity to mar beauty, mock God, and celebrate the vacuous. And Christians have often marred it in the name of making it “holy” or “Christian.” This is a large topic, and we can continue discussions on this. But if I were to sum it all up, from the Christian side of things, I find that too many want to bring Christ into their art rather than bringing their art to Christ. That is, they impose artificial and very limiting constraints to what they do, and for that matter, for the consumer, to what they think is ‘proper’ for Christians to view or listen to, so you end up with shallow and very cheesy things. I find that most, not all but most, of what is called “Christian Art,” be that songs, books, movies, paintings, or photos are not so much creative and beautiful as they are “Christian Safe.” I feel that this short changes both beauty and creativity and, ultimately, God himself; who is the source of both. Well, my time is running short, so for now, if you would like to look at some of my creative efforts, follow this link to my Vero page. vero.co/simplenotshallow You’ll have to let me know what you think. And we can keep talking about this if you’d like; I just have to run for now. Have a great day.

@@SimpleNotShallow This is incredibly similar to my view on it, I am also concerned that often times "Christian" art also ignores the 2nd commandment. But I would absolutely be fascinated if you talked about it from a perspective of being a Christian. I believe if more people talk about this and act on it, then we will increase truly high quality art, and decrease bad "Christian" art.

@alanpanameno9508 You are so very welcome. I'm glad this has been encouraging and motivating. That means the world to me. Thank you for letting me know!! Yes indeed, you are not alone. And I look forward to hearing from you after our next video to see if those suggestions are helpful as well. Have an exceptional day and a great week!!

@WaspLife Hello, my friend. Just a quick not to apologize that it will take a day or two to properly respond. Have a couple of things demanding my attention just now. But a response is coming. Thank you for your patience. Also, this too is under the Newest First tab. Don't know what determines where RUclips places the comments, but I will respond soon. Have a great day.

@WaspLife Sorry it took a little bit to resond. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes. I must admit that I’m a little puzzled by these questions. What exactly are you asking? Is your first set of questions a rebuttal to the idea that growth happens? Are you stating that to be genuine in faith, a person cannot sin? If so, how do you square that with 1 John 1:8, 9, which says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and if we confess them, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive them? And how with 1 John 2:1, where John says if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus? Are you saying there is such a thing as a stumble that is a non-deliberate choice to sin? Are you saying that you do not sin at all? That you live a sinless life? Are you saying there is no difference between a Christian struggling with a weakness that leads to stumbling, a sinful act that is the exception to how he or she lives life (even though that stumbling may involve the same weakness), and the one who never tries to correct but continues in sin as they have always done? A lack of trying to correct would indeed indicate that no real change has taken place. Indeed, the author of Hebrews links those who decide to keep sinning as they always have, to keep their pattern of life with no changes, with being enemies of God. Can an authentic follower of Jesus be an enemy of God? No. Can an authentic follower of Jesus stumble? John, in the above passages, seems to think so. The Bible is full of believers who stumble (through intentional choices to yield to temptation and thereby sin), repent, and are restored. And was not the theme of this video about growing past the stumbling? The need to leave it behind? Again, I’m not completely clear on what you are asking. If you could help me understand, I would be most grateful. Thank you. And thank you for leaving this set of questions. I look forward to untangling them as we continue to talk. Have a great and gloriuos day.

​@@SimpleNotShallow I appreciate your thoughtful response and the questions you’ve raised. Let me start by saying that my intention wasn’t to challenge the concept of growth in the Christian life-quite the opposite. Growth is indeed a fundamental part of our journey with Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. My aim was to dig deeper into how this growth happens and to consider our responsibility in it with the goal of guiding Christians to Christ in full truth. To your point, I’m not claiming to be without sin-far from it. As 1 John 1:8-9 clearly states, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This underscores the ongoing process of sanctification that we all experience. However, the sin that does remain in my life is far from deliberate. I do suffer from the occasional lust, for example. However, as we consider the full counsel of Scripture, we see a balance between grace and accountability. Yes, we stumble, and yes, Jesus is our advocate when we do. But there are also strong warnings, like those in Hebrews 10:26-27 and 2 Peter 2:20-22, about the dangers of willfully continuing in sin. These passages suggest that there’s a point where repeatedly rejecting the Holy Spirit’s guidance can lead to serious consequences. After all, rejecting the Spirit is rejecting God. So, the real question I’m exploring is this: How many times can someone ignore the Spirit’s prompting and still retain their salvation? This question is crucial because it goes to the heart of what genuine faith looks like. Are we sometimes out of sync with the Spirit’s leading, either by lagging behind or by rushing ahead? And how do we reconcile society’s message, which often downplays the urgency of change, with the biblical call to utilize the power the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome sin? As 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." This makes it clear that, with Christ, we have the power to resist acting on any temptation. Are we not expected to use that power? Now, we’re not talking about reaching a state of sinless perfection-none of us will achieve that this side of heaven. But shouldn’t there come a point where deliberate sin is no longer part of our lives? For example, sins of the flesh, like lust, are still struggles, but it’s hard to argue that someone who continues in egregious, deliberate sin-like rape-after claiming faith in Christ is truly walking in salvation. Such actions are a clear rejection of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Where one is a sin of the flesh, fully driven by chemical reactions outside of the control of the mind and heart, the other is a direct decision led by a hardening of the heart and mental rejection of the Spirit. One is actually impossible for people to control, though fully possible to refuse to act upon while the other is 100% possible to control. For example, in The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that he who experiences lust has committed adultery in his heart. It is clear that this is the point we should *stop* and repent. To continue with the lust and *actually commit adultery* is a deliberate choice, where the lust was a chemical response. Perhaps, in our desire to emphasize God’s love, we sometimes downplay just how serious it is to reject the Spirit’s guidance; to treat it as something that we can listen to in our own time and schedule. When we talk about “remaining in sin” and “not being perfect,” are we referring to all sin, or are we distinguishing between unintentional sins and those that are deliberate? These questions may not seem to be important to many, and may not seem valid to some, but remember that we all want to bring people to Christ truthfully and fully. Your perspective may provide insights that I have not yet discovered. Thank you again for engaging with me on these important questions. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Stay blessed!

@WaspLife Hello, I'm sorry again for my slow response. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for such an in-depth response. Our conversations are always stimulating and thought-provoking. That is a good thing. There is so much here that I think I’ll have to list a quote from your response before each of mine for clarity concerning what I’m referring to. This may require a couple of entries; I don’t know what the limitations are to length here on RUclips. Ok, here we go. “My aim was to dig deeper into how this growth happens” - Toward the end of the video, I did say that this is the topic of the next video. “to consider our responsibility in it with the goal of guiding Christians to Christ in full truth.” - Even Jesus acknowledged that this does not involve bombarding a person with every aspect all at once when he says that he has much more to tell his disciples but they cannot yet bear to hear it in John 16:12. “However, the sin that does remain in my life is far from deliberate. I do suffer from the occasional lust, for example.” - Yet, when you do give in, it is a choice. A deliberate choice to give in. Now if what you mean by deliberate is the willful choice to live as you want with no regard to Christ, that is something different than what the video addresses. The video does address what you describe as occasional (yet, by definition, repeated) lust. Please do me a favor and let me know where I failed to make clear what was being addressed in the presentation. Then, I can address this going forward and ensure that I only communicate what I mean. “we see a balance between grace and accountability” - Yes we do. When did I say we are not accountable? The point of the video is that we are to grow in Christ, allowing his love to change us on the inside to the point where we say no to temptation. How is that not being accountable? I never said to live however you want because God loves you and will forgive you anyway. “But there are also strong warnings, like those in Hebrews 10:26-27 and 2 Peter 2:20-22, about the dangers of willfully continuing in sin. These passages suggest that there’s a point where repeatedly rejecting the Holy Spirit’s guidance can lead to serious consequences. After all, rejecting the Spirit is rejecting God.” - First, where have I said rejecting God’s guidance does not lead to serious consequences? Next, are you aware that the word translated “deliberately” is translated in 1 Peter 5:2 as willingly? A choice to do something not made under compulsion, but willingly. So the translation is legitimately ‘If we willingly keep on sinning.’ So if we willingly make no change in our behavior, if we do not change to the point where sin is only occasional (even if the occasional sin is the same one, your example of occasional sin, for example), then the warnings apply. As this is not an exposition of this passage, I’ll stop here and agree that Hebrews is a warning about not changing, about willfully continuing in a lifestyle of disregard for Jesus, that is, sinning. It's not about the stumbles. And willfully choosing not to live for Jesus but to continue as if we never met him is not the topic of the video. Also, I find your use of 2 Peter 2:20-22 to be taken out of context. The whole of that chapter is talking about false teachers, ones Peter never describes as being authentic Christians. Everything in this chapter portrays them as false and as introducing destructive heresies. And we know that many of the false teachers both Peter and Paul deal with were those teaching that folks could not come to faith except by observing aspects of Jewish law such as circumcision. And these indeed, through external embracing of religious practice, can have well escaped the defilements of the world through religious practice found in the Christian faith. To make this say the same thing as Hebrews 10:26-27 is misleading. They are addressing two different things. If a point needs to be made, it should only be made with passages that directly say it and not pull a verse whose wording is similar but whose application is different to support what it is not saying. For the argument is weakened otherwise. And indeed, it can even be misleading. Again, all of this is not the topic of this video, and so it is not addressed. The topic concerns the repeated, occasional sin that we struggle against as we try to live the change knowing Jesus brings. And a that was the topic asked for, why should I not have limited my presentation to what was asked? Doing so is one way to guide Christians. To answer beyond what the question asked can end up having the effect of saying, this may be so, but the real answer is…. When you do this, you have negated the first part of your answer. Dealing with one topic at a time is a legitimate approach. “So, the real question I’m exploring is this: How many times can someone ignore the Spirit’s prompting and still retain their salvation?” - 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is no limit placed on how many times we can confess and ask forgiveness. Matthew 6:14 says forgive and you will be forgiven. How many times are we to forgive others? Matthew 18:22 says seventy times seven, which is not understood as 490 times but always. So, if we always forgive, we will always be forgiven. Yes, and this is vital, this always involves repentance on our part, for repentance must come first. Interestingly enough, continuing to willfully sin as mentioned in Hebrews, would indeed preclude ever repenting and seeking forgiveness, would it not? “Are we sometimes out of sync with the Spirit’s leading, either by lagging behind or by rushing ahead?” - Yes, we are sometimes out of sync with him. Hence the sin. “And how do we reconcile society’s message, which often downplays the urgency of change, with the biblical call to utilize the power the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome sin?” - Why try and reconcile it? They are two different things. Why react to the downplaying of urgency? The impression of Jesus from the Gospels is never one of urgency. He simply went about the Father’s business. Teaching as the Father gave him to teach, doing as the Father gave him to do. Urgency and haste are not the same as authentic living. They are just not. “we have the power to resist acting on any temptation. Are we not expected to use that power?” - Yes. And the more we grow in Jesus, the more his love fills us, the more we are changed, the more we are able to resist. As I said in the video, the more we grow, the more we are able to look the temptation in the eye and say, ‘Yeah… no. No thanks.” To resist the temptation. “But shouldn’t there come a point where deliberate sin is no longer part of our lives?” - Hence my statement that as we grow God’s and his love changes us on the inside to the point where we can say no thanks to temptation. “For example, sins of the flesh, like lust, are still struggles, but it’s hard to argue that someone who continues in egregious, deliberate sin-like rape-after claiming faith in Christ is truly walking in salvation.” - Where did I disagree with this thought in the video? “Such actions are a clear rejection of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Where one is a sin of the flesh, fully driven by chemical reactions outside of the control of the mind and heart, the other is a direct decision led by a hardening of the heart and mental rejection of the Spirit.” - This I find troublesome, that saying yes to our occasional sins is not an intentional giving into them. Is it really outside the control of the mind? Now, as I said in the video, temptation is not a sin. That you see someone who is beautiful and are tempted to lust is not the sin. To engage in the lust is. Or do we truly have no control over what and how we think about things? If not, why did Jesus say that thinking lustful thoughts made you as guilty as the one who actually committed adultery? Again, the temptation to think lustfully is not the sin; choosing to do so is. For one can say no and redirect his/her thoughts to stop it. Are you not making a differentiation between temptation and sin? One is actually impossible for people to control; however, can you not choose to shut down lustful thoughts? The temptation comes unbidden, but what you do in the face of it is 100% in your control. Otherwise, why would Jesus equate the thoughts as being equal in terms of being guilty of sin? It is fully possible to refuse to act upon our thoughts, yes. And it is 100% possible to control the direction of your thoughts after the temptation is presented. “For example, in The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that he who experiences lust has committed adultery in his heart. It is clear that this is the point we should stop and repent. To continue with the lust and actually commit adultery is a deliberate choice, where the lust was a chemical response.” - Matthew 5:28, But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her HAS ALREADY committed adultery with her in his heart. (emphasis added). The statement is ‘has already committed adultery in his heart.’ So, to think lustfully means to commit adultery. It is regarded as the same in terms of sin. The outcome will be different; the other person may never know the adulterous thoughts, but Jesus does. Jesus never says that the thoughts are ok. Just don’t act on them. We are to stop the sinful thoughts. End of Part 1

Part 2 @WaspLife “Perhaps, in our desire to emphasize God’s love, we sometimes downplay just how serious it is to reject the Spirit’s guidance; to treat it as something that we can listen to in our own time and schedule.” - When did I say this? Perhaps in our desire to point out the sin of others, we are overlooking the importance of love in guiding and preventing sin to begin with. Perhaps this comes from a stunted and unrealistic understanding of love. People grow as quickly as they grow; even Jesus told the disciples that there were things he wanted to tell them, but they were unable to hear them John 16:12. Yet you seem to be saying that Jesus should have told them anyway. Because they needed to be told everything, the full truth, whether they were in a place to bear it or not. And that, instead of acknowledging the nature of growth taking time, he was merely accommodating their own time schedules. “When we talk about “remaining in sin” and “not being perfect,” are we referring to all sin, or are we distinguishing between unintentional sins and those that are deliberate?” - Sin is sin, it all separates us from God and needs to be forgiven. Isn’t that the message of James 2:10? If we keep the whole law yet stumble in one point, we have become guilty of all. And, are not “remaining in sin” and an honest admission of “not being perfect,” two very different things? And as I have said, the topic of this video is. not addressing those who see no reason to change, to follow Jesus, and to resist sin. It is addressing those who, like you and I do have the occasional sin we commit. Though each may struggle with a different one, the struggle is real, and an occasional, though repeated, stumble does happen. To not address this is to short-change fellow believers who also stumble from time to time, who honestly want to change and grow but who, because of the repeated nature of their particular stumbling, come to doubt that their faith is genuine and need encouragement and explanations, not a rote “do not sin” answer. Honest and authentic discussions are always a good thing. Never dodging issues, but also never bringing up every possible nuance that goes along with the issues discussed. To do so only makes us feel better about ourselves, and has not made the effort to see where the person is or what is best suited for helping them grow. “These questions may not seem to be important to many, and may not seem valid to some, but remember that we all want to bring people to Christ truthfully and fully.” - And if we deny the uniqueness of each individual and refuse to meet individuals where they and limit our answers to the questions they ask, we are merely interposing our idea of what they should be taught and think, and so we may actually be quenching the Spirit’s working in them to draw them to him. And so, though not our intent, prevent people from knowing Christ truthfully and fully and growing in a relationship with him. Well, I hope I have addressed all you were asking about. This is the longest response I have ever made. Wow. But I do not see where I could have shared less and yet given you the answers you were looking for. Thank you for always offering such thoughtful and thought-provoking questions and responses. I hope you are having a most excellent day. And I do look forward to hearing your response as well. Let’s keep each other in prayer that we may both always be open to where the Spirit leads in our own understanding of God and his word. And that, through our continued conversations, we may continue to grow in his love and become one as Jesus is with the Father. Yes, we may never agree on everything. But, by continued conversation, we can be the iron that is used to sharpen each other. Talk with you soon.

@WaspLife You are very welcome. And thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I agree that Scripture does not contradict Scripture. And understandings that bring contradiction with them need to be jettisoned. I do not see where what I’ve said contradicts any Scripture. How does the way I use it in the video preclude love not rejoicing at wrongdoing and rejoicing in the truth? I see harmony and agreement, not contradiction. In much the same way that in Matthew 5:21, Jesus tells the people, “You have heard it said you shall not murder.” Then, in verse 22, he reveals that there is something that underlies, that is, an aspect of it that is not normally thought of. He shares how being angry with a brother is as worthy of judgment as murder. He does not contradict the statement of verse 21, but shows that something not usually connected to murder also needs to be addressed and corrected. In doing this, he did not say murder was ok; rather, he showed the vileness of bearing a grudge and being disrespectful. This is illustrative of how he is fulfilling the law and not abolishing it (Matthew 5:17). Not comparing myself to Jesus. But if he can show things to be connected that are not usually thought to be, is that not a precedent we may follow? Especially if we are making the connections through the study of His Word. Yes, 100%, it cannot contradict other Scripture. And yes, 100%, we need to weigh it all carefully, to consider it cautiously. Yet, can we not use one passage to open up the other and thereby come to a deeper understanding than either one offers alone? In the same way, turning our attention to Matthew 7:5, I did not say that my thought was the exclusive one. I’m sorry if my statement was unclear. I did say it was worth a thought. And I did, immediately after suggesting this as something to think about, say, “Could not Jesus be saying, “‘Draw near to me first, get to know me first, have authentic faith in me first, then look to the other people?’ Again, worth a thought.” What if these statements are seen as complementary to your understanding? What if addressing our own sin is acknowledging the fact that at the moment of committing the sin, we have stepped away from authentic faith in God to pursue a selfish particular desire? What if this allows us to go deeper than merely seeing the wrong done and address the cause of what was done? Now, here’s a couple of questions that just occurred to me. And yes, this is a change in thought from what we’ve just been talking about. Does the word ‘plank’ in verse 5 only mean our own sins, or does this also imply that the sin we need to address first is larger or of greater significance than the small dust speck we see in another? Also, since the word plank is singular, does it really mean sins, plural? Or is it a hulk-sized big one? These came from reading your words, “Jesus teaches us about the importance of addressing our own sins-removing the plank from our own eye-before attempting to correct others.” Okay, this is getting long, and I’m up against the wall time-wise for now. So, if I may ask for a little time, I’ll try to respond to the rest of your wonderfully thoughtful comment by tomorrow. I'm sorry that I need to stop for now. Thank you again for such a thoughtful comment. Such comments make me focus and clarify for myself what I think and then how best to share what I think. Thank you for this. Have a wonderful day.

@@SimpleNotShallow Thank you for your detailed follow-up. I will await the remainder of your response to provide a comprehensive reply. In the meantime, I will reflect on what you have presented here. I must admit that I initially misunderstood your intended message regarding the log and speck material. At first, it seemed like you were suggesting that this lesson exclusively referred to the actions of the Pharisees. However, I now see that you were explaining it as an inclusive behavior, not an exclusive one. I look forward to your further elaboration! :)

@WaspLife Thank you for understanding about the time issue yesterday. And I'm glad that the last response helped clarify things a little. Here is a response to the remainder of your initial comment. I hope this also helps answer some of your questions. Because I truly do not mean to be confusing. ok, so here we go. Yes, we have discussed many examples of Jesus and his disciples wanting us to gently offer correction. There are indeed passages that state this very clearly, passages where the stated teaching is to provide the correction and how that should be done. And we have agreed that this is what we need to do. Yet, here’s a question based on one of our conversations. When asked what passages directly spoke against being judgmental, one of the ones you cited was Matthew 7:1, 2. So, while v5 does say to remove the plank out of your eye, then you will see clearly when addressing the speck in your brother's eye. In the context of verses 1-6, could not the plank be, being judgmental? Is not being judgmental a sin? Now, I’m not saying that as an absolute. That it is to replace any other understandings. But I am asking: is that not a possible application of v.5? One that would both agree with your assessment and also widen the perspective of it to include the command Jesus gives in verse 1? I agree that it is important to remember James 2 and that works and faith are inseparable. Works that result from faith not that produce it. Even as this is so, we cannot so stress the works that we forget about the heart, Matthew 5:19 says that it is from here that evil comes. And it is from the inside that a person is defiled. So, it would seem that actions in and of themselves are not enough to address. Sin, it seems, can and does occur inside without actions ever being taken. Isn’t that the message of Matthew 5:21 - 30 in Jesus’ discussion about how bearing a grudge and, being disrespectful, and looking lustfully at someone are as evil as committing murder and adultery? These are sins committed without actions being taken. So, with this in mind, cannot being judgmental be included in consideration of what the plank is in Matthew 7? And in light of your response to my previous comment about now seeing I was being inclusive, perhaps this part of my response could have been skipped. Sorry if I am overstating what is obvious. Anyway, Yes, when we come to Christ, we are transformed. Indeed, Paul says that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone, and the new has come (1 Corinthians 5:17). The transformation is from the inside to the out. For actions that are in keeping with the faith must come from the faith, which means the faith is in place first. I agree that not everyone who claims to be a Christian displays evidence of it. I mean, Jesus says in Matthew 7:21ff that 'not everyone who calls to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of My Father in heaven.' These were the ones who thought they were doing the right things but were not. And again in Matthew 25:41ff, in the account of the sheep and the goats, there will be those who thought they were doing the right things, at least not doing the wrong things, and Jesus will say, Sorry, I never knew you. Yet, I’m unsure what this has to do with our discussion of Matthew 7:5? For now, we are not talking about correcting a brother, a fellow Christian, but sharing Jesus with those who do not believe at all. These are two different things. Or am I misunderstanding you? Are you saying that removing the speck from our brother’s eye is leading them to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? If so, I truly do not see that in the context of verses 1 - 6. Or have you shifted from this verse altogether, and I'm a little slow in the pickup? You ask, what type of behavior would I include in religious role-playing? Any and all religious activity is what I am referring to. I mean, Jesus himself says of the Pharisees, in Matthew 23:28, that on the outside, they appeared to people as righteous, but on the inside, there was nothing of God. They were doing all the right things. They were performing the religion well. And I think that is what defines role-playing as role-playing, that there is nothing of God on the inside no matter what is done. Which makes it harder to tell. But this is where “bearing fruit” goes beyond mere actions and involves character and motivations. For instance, Jesus did not say the religious leaders were wrong for praying publicly, but what was wrong was their motivation for it, which was to be seen praying by others (Matthew 6:5). The motivation was not to communicate with God no matter where they happened to be but to grandstand. A very different thing. How do we ensure the other person receives proper instruction and does not perceive us as role-playing? By being authentic. By loving them enough to dialogue with them and not judgmentally preach at them. By being consistent in living out our love for God toward them and others each and every day. By earning their respect, which goes a long way toward their being willing to listen to what we have to say. People can tell if we truly care about them or only about having them accept our point of view. And if they don’t think we care about them, even if they respectfully let you say your piece, they will not truly hear what you are saying as they will not believe you. This is not actions vs thoughts, actions vs love, actions vs respect. It is about all of these all together all the time. You ask: Does the perception and resulting internal feeling of the listener outweigh the intent and heart of the speaker in the context of demonstrating authentic faith? Not in our demonstrating our authentic faith. But, whether we like it or not, it does when it comes to how they respond. Do they listen and consider out of respect, or do they blow you off as a Bible thumper who only cares about beating them into submission? This, I think, is one of the reasons Paul chose to become all things to all men, that he might win a few (1 Corinthians 9:22). I don’t find Paul to lock into one way of sharing Jesus. He met people where they were, and being authentic in faith, he shared in ways that respected who the people were, as they needed to hear. His authenticity in his faith never changed, but how he expressed his faith did. For his faith was in Jesus and Jesus alone and so, not in a set pattern of communicaiton of that faith. I hope this has helped answer some of your questions. If not, let me know and I’d love to chat more. I am thoroughly enjoying our conversations. And I love that offer a chance to clarify things, because that helps clarify things for myself as well. I do look forward to your response. Have a wonderful day.

​@SimpleNotShallow I don't mean to get in the middle of your back and forth, but after reading your replies I just have to say, this is exactly why I so love your channel, your videos and discussions, because you always manage to bring the focus back to the heart of Jesus. We just need this so desperately in the church, and so much more in online spaces. So I just wanted to thank you for that, it is truly like fresh air, and I just want to see us all come closer to His heart and return to His heart where we may have strayed or hidden away. Anyway, thank you for these beautiful words of life!

​@@SimpleNotShallow Thank you for taking the time to voice your thoughts and share your perspectives. We agree on more than one might think, for sure. Being judgmental, in the context we have defined it, certainly is a sin. Admittedly, I am a bit apprehensive about the modern use of the word "judgmental." If we are talking about correction without proper foundation and intent, then yes, this is certainly a proper application of verse 5. I wholeheartedly agree with your inclusion of the Sermon on the Mount in this context. All categories of sin are works of evil, and all are to be sought out and rejected. We agree that many who claim to be Christian will not enter the Kingdom, and this is the core of my concern and inner turmoil on this subject. I wish to see all people enter the Kingdom. Although I understand that I cannot achieve this goal in any sense of "completeness", my heart yearns for it nonetheless, so I continue to strive to bring as many as possible. To clarify the relation of Matthew 7:5 to the topic of evangelizing to new Christians, I have a rather large distaste for the "John 3:16 is all you need" style approach modern Christians have adopted. When asked, "What does it mean to be a Christian?" or "What do I have to do to be saved?" too many simply stop the story at "profess your faith" with absolutely no direction on what to expect from there. The theology of "come as you are and stay as you are" is simply not Biblical, as I'm sure we can agree; yet it remains a common method of evangelism. Often, they are worried about scaring off the new convert or have no idea themselves what to expect from the Holy Spirit. This leaves many Christians with an incomplete vision that causes many to not heed the initial calls of the Spirit because they have no idea they should expect it. Many of these eventually fall out of the faith entirely and that breaks my heart to witness. It is important to establish that acts of religious ritualism (with some exceptions, where invented by man), such as participating in the Church and various ministries, praying, evangelizing, and displaying a general trust in and affection for God, are results of the Holy Spirit working in us and should be expected from those with saving faith. With that in mind, of course many out there will fake these things without the Spirit, and those people should be tested against the standards established in the Bible; not to be judgmental of them, but to guide them to a proper state of salvation and simultaneously a fuller relationship with God. Everyone in the church should be edifying each other to build a stronger body for Christ. You state this very well: "How do we ensure the other person receives proper instruction and does not perceive us as role-playing? By being authentic. By loving them enough to dialogue with them and not judgmentally preach at them. By being consistent in living out our love for God toward them and others each and every day. By earning their respect, which goes a long way toward their being willing to listen to what we have to say. People can tell if we truly care about them or only about having them accept our point of view. And if they don’t think we care about them, even if they respectfully let you say your piece, they will not truly hear what you are saying as they will not believe you." I personally say, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.", which I believe says the same thing. This is where the proper outward demonstration and application of our faith come in. A person properly engaging in "being a Christian" or having authentic faith will naturally approach these situations in the intended way. While Paul did adjust his tone and voice to different audiences, quite masterfully in fact, he did not waver from the need to follow the path presented by Christ; not by faking participation, but by truly accepting the Spirit and allowing it to lead. We love people. Lets remember to love them enough to ensure they have a chance to come completely to Christ and are not sucked in under false pretenses and allowed to fall astray. We owe it to them to provide our best and most authentic presentation of Christ and The Way, just as others have done for us. I am thoroughly enjoying our conversations and appreciate the opportunity to clarify and refine my thoughts. It certainly forces me to think through them from an alternative perspective. I look forward to your response. Have a blessed day!

You misunderstand what faith means, my friend. Here is an analogy that I like to use to explain it: Imagine you have a bodyguard. What do you do if you're out walking on the street and that bodyguard tells you to "GET DOWN!"? If you have faith in that bodyguard, you will immediately do as you're guided. If you lack faith, you will stand there, questioning if the instruction given aligns with your own personal experience and desires. Faith is used by many non-believers to mean "belief without evidence", but that is far from what is happening. There is plenty of evidence for Christianity if you care to look for it, but that is actually unrelated. Faith is a trust in God and God's plan; a willingness to do as God instructs out of that trust, and a joy in doing so. Faith comes from having enough evidence to put faith in Christ. I hope that helps clarify the misunderstanding. Have a blessed day!

@@WaspLife With all due respect, I do not misunderstand anything about faith, ironically, in reading your analogy, it's you who misunderstands it. If you've hired a bodyguard, you'd have approached an accredited company that deals with personal protection, possibly interviewed the individual, employed him, met up with him and worked with him to plan your movements etc - If he asks you to get down whilst out, then you TRUST his judgement based on the evidence you already possess that the man is a professional. None of this is faith based. You theists are often guilty of interchanging the term 'trust' with 'faith', they do not mean the same thing. Faith is 'belief without any objective evidence'. There is zero objective evidence to support the supernatural claims of Christianity (same can be said of all other religions too). And no, faith is not trust in a God and its supposed plans as 'trust' is based off objective evidence, something utterly lacking when it comes to any deity. As a Christian you appeal to the Bible, a collection of ancient books penned by anonymous authors (for the most part). These authors CLAIMED they were divinely inspired absent of any objective evidence such claims were true. You then assume these scribes relate the plans of a God - There is no good reason and no objective evidence to make such an assumption. We have countless examples of man being mistaken or lying throughout history and not one example of any God. "Faith comes from having enough evidence to put faith in Christ" Simply incorrect because when you have evidence, you never need to appeal to faith. I hope this clarifies your misunderstanding - enjoy your day.

​ @HughJaxident67 It is clear that we disagree on the definition of faith. I recognize how you intend to define it to support your argument. After all, if faith really is not blind following without evidence, then your argument falls apart. However, your definition of faith does not matter. The definition given by the people living in and experiencing it does. Your approach here is intellectually dishonest and you know it. Christianity does not use faith the way you are describing and neither do I. It is used the way I described. You may choose to believe what you wish, but if you ignore context and intent when clearly given, you are pigeonholing yourself into a corner of ignorance.

@@WaspLife You can disagree on the definition until the cows come home and you'll continue to be wrong. I am defining faith as we actually define faith in English, go look up any dictionary definition of the word and you'll see I'm correct. Faith actually IS blind following, as you possess ZERO objective evidence for the supernatural claims your religion makes! If you possessed evidence, you would never need to appeal to faith! My argument cannot and will not fall apart because unlike you, I am being intellectually honest with my definition (unlike you ironically). Christianity DOES employ faith precisely the way I've outlined it despite your protestations! And to underline my point, you cannot present a single shred of objective evidence for the supernatural claims your religion makes. Where is your objective evidence? You allude to people 'living and experiencing faith' What does this even mean? People's personal experiences are necessarily first person and cannot be demonstrated to anyone else. Subjective evidence gets us nowhere as it cannot be tested, verified or demonstrated. And as I explicitly said before, all religions appeal to faith and members of other religions will claim the same thing you do but with their deity or deities - Each one of you appealing to faith and each one of you reaching incompatible conclusions. Faith is not a virtue I'm afraid, it's credulity.

@@HughJaxident67 I could unwind a solid chain of evidence leading to Christ for you, but I have significant doubt that you have any interest in it. If you are serious about your search, then go watch The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. It is available on RUclips for free. Then, lets discuss what you find there as a demonstration of your willingness to learn. If you can demonstrate an ability to consider an alternative position to your own, then I will happily lay out a full track of evidence for you. It starts with you being willing to learn. Are you?

@alanpanameno9508 Thank you for this suggestion. I will start working on it. In the mean time, I'll keep you in prayer over this. I do know you are not alone in this. I know I've had doubts, I know many who have. In the mean time, talk to Jesus about this as well. Be honest with him. Tell him you want to have genuine faith in him and let him know you have doubts and what your struggles are. Ask him for other resources as well. He's a big boy, and he want's to help, trust that he will. With that, also keep me in prayer, as I put this together. Thank you.

Hello, friend. It's encouraging to see your desire to understand and develop genuine faith, especially during difficult times. Understanding and recognizing genuine faith can indeed be challenging. The Bible provides guidance on this, highlighting certain aspects that may neither prove nor disprove one's faith and those that are true proofs of genuine faith. This framework is based on the chart titled "The Character of Genuine Saving Faith" in the ESV translation of the MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition. The Bible teaches us that certain aspects may neither prove nor disprove one's faith. For instance, acting morally as described in Matthew 19:16-21 and 23:27, where Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler and the Pharisees, shows that outward moral actions or appearing righteous does not necessarily indicate true faith. Similarly, having knowledge of faith, as noted in Romans 1:21 and 2:17, emphasizes that simply knowing about God or the law isn't enough without truly honoring Him and living according to His ways. Involvement in church activities, such as in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-10, highlights that being part of the church community is not sufficient without being spiritually prepared. Matthew 7:21-24 warns that even those who perform works in Jesus' name may not enter the kingdom of heaven if they do not do the will of the Father. Conviction of sin, as seen in Acts 24:25 with Felix feeling alarmed by Paul's message, does not necessarily lead to repentance and faith. Assurance, criticized in Matthew 23 for the Pharisees' hypocritical confidence in their own righteousness. Luke 8:13-14 illustrates that receiving the word with joy but falling away during testing indicates a shallow faith. However, many if not all of these will be involved in true faith. The true proofs of genuine faith are profound and transformative. Love for God is a crucial marker, as expressed in Psalms 42:1 and Luke 10:27, where we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Romans 8:7 further explains that the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. True faith involves repentance from sin, seen in Psalm 32:5 and 1 John 1:8-10, which emphasize confessing our sins and receiving God's forgiveness. Genuine humility is another key indicator, with Psalms 51:17 describing a broken and contrite heart, and Matthew 5:1-12 highlighting the blessings of humility. James 4:6 teaches that God gives grace to the humble. Devotion to God's glory is a hallmark of genuine faith, as stated in Psalms 115:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:31, urging us to do everything for God's glory. Continual prayer, taught in Luke 18:1 and Philippians 4:6, emphasizes always praying and presenting our requests to God. Selfless love, highlighted in 1 John 2:9 and 4:7, urges us to love one another because love comes from God. Separation from the world, as warned in James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15, involves not loving worldly values. Spiritual growth, described in John 15:1-6 and Ephesians 4:12-16, emphasizes the importance of remaining in Christ to bear fruit and growing in the body of Christ. Obedient living, stressed in Matthew 7:21 and 1 John 2:3-5, teaches that keeping God's commands is a sign of knowing Him. Hunger for God's word, urged in 1 Peter 2:1-3, involves craving pure spiritual milk to grow in salvation. Lastly, a transformation of life, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, shows that anyone in Christ is a new creation, with the old gone and the new here. If you're struggling with doubt and feel caught in a cycle of repeated sin, it's important to focus on these true proofs of faith. Think about what it must mean to not only believe Jesus existed, but to truly believe Jesus. Genuine faith involves a transformation of the heart and mind, leading to sincere repentance and a growing love for God and others. We lead the way by professing faith and the Holy Spirit begins to work within us to encourage these changes. As we succeed in them, it becomes easier to listen to the Holy Spirit. We are born again into a new life of not feeling like we have to follow God's way, but truly wanting to and thriving in doing so. Remember, it's not about being perfect but about a genuine relationship with God, characterized by continual growth and transformation. Seek His strength in prayer, immerse yourself in His Word, and surround yourself with a supportive faith community. God is faithful and His grace is sufficient to help you overcome your struggles. God bless you, and I pray for your strength and growth in faith.

@MMLZombie I am happy to hear that this answer was worthy of your suggestion. You are very welcome indeed. Thank you for letting me know. I do enjoy digging into topics and drawing nearer to God through his word. I think it reflects the fact that Psalm 1:2 is not merely an expression of worship and praise to God but a stated truth. I do love it. I think you have touched on a deep truth when you say that looking to remove the speck of dust may merely be motivated by something aggravating or inconvenient to the one trying to remove it. There may, of course, be other reasons, but I do think this happens as well. I do agree that when we lack love for others, we may become more easily irritated and angered by them and then become judgmental of their faults. That is a profound realization. I do think placing our ideas about God, what we know of him, over him, that is, in his place, is a form of idolatry. And I find it to have the same result: walking away from God, as our focus is not on him but on things about him, which is a very different thing. Yes, I do think that those who have an authentic relationship with Jesus can be guilty of putting an idea, theological or otherwise, over maintaining their relationship with him. And so inhibit his ability to teach us and reveal his love through us. Yes, a Christian can stumble and sin. Yet, the mark of an authentic Christian is that this is not the endpoint. It is the beginning of a renewed humility as the sorrow of God takes hold and leads to repentance, forgiveness, and restoration (2 Corinthians 7:10). Indeed, in one of the conversations we’ve had here, both you and @WaspLife did a very good job explaining how God can and does use us, fellow believers in Jesus, to help bring the needed correction with the eye toward restoration. As long as we are on this earth, we will be tempted, and with each temptation comes a choice: to flee it or give in to it. And we are told that the way to flee, to escape, is also provided (1 Corinthians 10:13). But, being who we are, we sometimes choose to stumble; we opt for immediate satisfaction rather than what is best. All this is a topic in itself. I am honored by your statement that this has stirred many thoughts for you. That has made my day. As thoughts get stirred and worked through, growth in Jesus can happen. That is the whole purpose of what I do: to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus. A library. Nice, nice indeed. Thanks for sharing that. And as for being nerdy, I look things up in the Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament. That is a bit nerdy 😂😂😂😎

​@@SimpleNotShallow Whassup my fellow nerd?! Haha but I love that you use a Greek concordance, I think that's a great way to go deeper in the study of scripture. I don't own a concordance, but I really should invest in one. I do sometimes pull up Strong's Online concordance during my devotional times, and I am never disappointed by the depth and richness of those study times!

@@MMLZombie Storng's is a beautiful concordance. What is your opinion of the free selection of commentaries and study help on biblehub.com? I find them helpful as well. Have a glorious day, my friend.

​@SimpleNotShallow You know I actually do pull from the language resources there frequently whenever I'm trying to look into a particular word. And I know Biblehub uses a variety of concordances, and I honestly couldn't tell you which is best to reference for the most accurate or scholarly understanding of a given word. So I have no valuable opinion on this! But I'd love to know your opinion as to which concordance or online resource is best, since you have a theology degree and I would assume you'd have much more familiarity with the Biblical languages than I do. I'm wondering if your time in seminary helped inform you of which resources to make your go-to or which to avoid altogether?

@@MMLZombie Yes, Biblehub does offer a variety of sources. That is one of the reasons I enjoy using this site. As to which resources I think best. What I like to do is use several and compare and contrast what each says. When it comes to concordances and lexicons, I use scholarly accepted ones. Such as Strong’s and the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, also known as BDAG. When it comes to commentaries, I like to use several and compare and contrast what is said. Then, run these by the biblical text itself. Whether I use Biblehub.com, BibleGateway.com, Logos software, or the many commentaries (actual books) that I have picked up along the way, this is my approach to using them. I do think my time in seminary helped me become aware of resources. It certainly exposed me to authors and resources that I have embraced and shunned. It did this by helping me think things through. I was blessed by attending a seminary where they wanted you to think and not just spit back what the instructors taught. And that has proved invaluable. For even in the resources I use, I don’t always agree with everything presented. When looking for a new resource, I check into what the author believes. This involves reading some of what they have written. If it doesn’t run counter to the Bible and if it offers support for what is said, even if I don’t agree with everything said, I’m prone to use it. This is one of the reasons I list all the Bible passages I reference in my videos. I truly want everyone to know where my thoughts come from and to encourage everyone to contemplate what is said while being able to read the Bible as they decide for themselves what to think about the thoughts I’ve formed. I also use several translations of the Bible. Again, scholarly ones. I find that as I do this, I gain nuances into what a passage says that I would miss by just reading one. Biblehub.com and BibleGateway.com are both great for this as I can open several windows, each with a different translation of a passage and then read each one in short order. It’s amazing what you can glean from the Bible this way. I think that perhaps the most important thing I do in any study is to start by asking Jesus and the Father to simply reveal themselves to me through the reading and study. By focusing on learning more about Jesus and not anything else, my relationship with him grows. And as that grows, he, being the big boy that he is, makes sure I’m taught lessons and learn all he needs me to. And this leads to doing what he has taught. The definition of Christian that we use here is not a bunch of nice-sounding words. It is how I have found authentic faith and growth in Christ to happen. Well, this has gotten a little long, and it has done so before I even noticed that it had done so. This may be a lot more information than you were looking for. Sorry about that. But I do hope it answers your question. Have a most excellent day, my friend.

@WaspLife Yes, it is inspiring to see that these can still occur in this day and age. I, too, hope others will see this as a model for their own conversations. And I hope more will join in here. Thank you for the compliment about being open and honest. Please keep me in prayer that I remain so. Not that I see it changing, but in learning from others who start out well only to… finish poorly, I know it’s possible and do not want to finish poorly. Thank you. I, too, am finding our conversations refreshing, encouraging, and helpful in growing. I look forward to our conversations continuing and to strengthening my relationship with Jesus through them. Thank you again, and have a wonderful night. I look forward to our next conversation.

@MMLZombie Thank you! I’m honored that you are enjoying these chats. I agree with you that this is a skill set, and I think it is one that can be learned. And I think developing this skill is not only respectful of others and ourselves, I find it to be respectful of God and all he has done for us. Thank you again, and you are very welcome. Have a very blessed and beautiful day.

@TEAforTheology 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Thank you for this wonderful comment!!! Started my day off perfectly!!

@MMLZombie Thank you for taking the time to leave this wonderful comment. I’m glad you have enjoyed these videos. And I’m thrilled that you have found them both humbling and convicting, for that means you have been challenged to grow in your relationship with Jesus. That means so much. Thank you for letting me know. I understand the temptation to dismiss a new interpretation. I find that to be a healthy place to start the learning process, as long as that initial questioning leads to thoughtful consideration and analysis. In 1 Corinthians 14:29, Paul tells us to weigh every teaching, which would definitely include whatever is said in one of my videos (be they thoughts, interpretations of a passage, or anything else). 1 Thessalonians 5:21 then tells us what to do once we have weighed things, to hold on to what is good, and to avoid, we could say, send to the bin, what is wrong or evil. I find problems usually arise when we do not follow through on the initial questioning, and we just get dismissive. I’m glad you are weighing things out and not just dismissing that which is merely different. Let’s keep each other in prayer as we continue to grow and weigh all we are taught. That we will be on guard from taking things out of context, and that we will not become enamored with new or interesting thoughts but rather be open to the Holy Spirit’s leadership in learning and growing in our relationship with Jesus, even if that involves learning new insights and changing some thoughts ( a very different thing form being enamored with those thoughts). For if we keep Jesus first, he will teach us what we need to learn, and we will not be misled by merely interesting thoughts. I also find it very encouraging that you also find this to resonate with the Gospel itself. Thank you for letting me know. Yes, the prevailing thought of the comments is we are to judge, just not hypocritically. Yet, I find the passages to relate that being judgmental is being hypocritical. This makes your suggestion intriguing. Let me rephrase it to see if I’m understanding what you are suggesting. You would like to explore how judging, that is, being judgmental, of another Christian can cause us to be hypocrites just by being judgmental. So, to boil it down even further, being judgmental = being a hypocrite. Is that what you are asking for? If not, please let me know. I’ll wait to pursue anything until I hear back from you. I agree that the Church needs to be reminded that we are called to be united in Christ. I think if we would get a renewed passion for this, which I find explicitly connected with abiding in Christ, the world would be a very different place. Thank you again so very much for your wonderful comments. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Hi! Yes your rewording of my suggestion is exactly what I was trying to communicate, that being judgemental in our hearts is tantamount to hypocrisy. I think a defining feature of hypocrisy is pride which creates spiritual blindness to our own sin. So the fact that we might condemn another, or just take the heart posture of moral superiority over another, I think is evidence that we have such pride and spiritual blindness to our own sin. In fact, i wonder if that isn't what Christ is getting at when he calls out the plank in the eye of the person who is trying to remove another's speck of dust. I wonder if that plank isn't actually the pride that blinds and lures a heart into moral superiority. If anything, when we see a brother or sister in some sin we should be humbled and our hearts should break for them and we should be genuinely moved to pray for them. Which leads me to the next piece of this conversation. I had mentioned that a lot of the comments here defend this idea of judgement. To be fair, I think the the folks commenting are coming from a place of wanting to rightly divide and honor scripture. And I think there is absolutely room and necessity for the kind of restorative justice that I read one commenter attribute to the meaning of Matt 7:3-5. But like you, I'm not convinced that restorative justice is the concept that this passage is dealing with. By the way, when I use the term restorative justice, I'm referring to either a one-on-one or corporal effort to hold someone accountable for something they've done against an individual or the church or even the testimony of Christ, with the goal of reconciliation, which would require genuine repentance and genuine forgiveness. But again I think the passages in question in Matthew are dealing with the human tendency towards judgementalness or moral superiority. And I think we have this tendency in the church whether we're individually aware of it or not. Especially when someone wrongs or offends us personally. And I think it's important for us to spend some time with this awareness, because all too often I hear people in the church dismiss away this concept of pride and moral superiority that Jesus explicitly warns against,. And many times when we give intellectual assent to the concept, we nevertheless turn around and take a heart posture of moral superiority over a brother, and I wonder if the discrepancy lies partly in our not keeping this principle of scripture at the forefront of our minds, that we might be humbled. I also sense an urgency, in the American church at least, to defend itself and constantly seek its own rights and assert to the world its own rightness. But if I'm constantly convinced of my own rightness and everyone else's wrongness, or if I'm convinced I have a God given right to take what's mine ( which I think the opposite is true according to the Gospel, but that's not a popular concept in America) then how will I even make room for humility in my heart? I wonder if this attitude combined with a lack of understanding God's grace moves us to judge others so readily? And how can we even seek to genuinely help restore a brother if we're not even aware of the pride in our own hearts, or the plank in our own eye? I just think we can often be too quick to answer and too slow to listen and really meditate on the Lord's words, and then we miss it entirely. I know I've go e on too long with this comment! Thank you for responding and I will definitely pray for your heart on these matters as well! Thank you so very much for lifting me up likewise because I truly do desire to have a humble, grace filled heart. And I look forward to continuing this important discussion!

@MMLZombie Excellent. That is a whole lot to unpack. I'll start working on it. It won't be for this Monday. But it is the next topic we'll talk about. Yes, please keep this in prayer. You have touched on many things for this topic, I'm excited by this, but honestly recognizing it's hugh. Yes, please keep me in prayer. Thank you. Have a wonderful day.

​@SimpleNotShallow Will definitely pray about it and I'm excited to see where your prayerful studies lead you in that future video!

On its face, I totally agree with your assessment. But when you think it through a little more, wouldn't judging in any capacity ( Of course I'm not talking about discernment, but about condemning a brother) be hypocritical? Because even if you and I, for example, have none of the same temptations or struggles, and I judge you for something in your life that looks nothing like the things in my own life, aren't we still in the same sin boat anyway? And didn't Christ pay for our sins equally? And aren't we both redeemed by Christ and in desperate daily need of God's grace? So for me, the understanding of these verses as Jesus essentially telling his Disciples, hey go ahead and judge, just don't go judging ppl for doing the same things you do until after you get your life together in that area, just doesn't resonate with me anymore. Or else why would Jesus have told the Pharisees, "Let he who has no sin cast the first stone"? He didn't say, " Let he who has no sin OF ADULTERY cast the first stone". He said let he who has NO SIN cast the first stone. And if none of us can claim to have no sin, who among us can, or should dare, cast a stone?

@@MMLZombie Your concerns about judging and hypocrisy are valid, and it’s important to clarify what Jesus meant by judging. The distinction between condemning judgment and righteous judgment is crucial here. Jesus did say, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” to highlight the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who were eager to condemn others while ignoring their own sins. Furthermore, they were attempting to condemn via death, not judge righteously to guide back to God. However, this doesn't mean we should never address sin. In John 7:24, Jesus also says, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." This implies we are called to discern and address sin, but with the right heart and intention. When we speak to others about their sins, it's not about condemning them but helping them turn away from what harms their relationship with God. The goal is always restoration, not condemnation. Galatians 6:1 tells us, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." We are all in need of God’s grace daily, and we must approach others with humility and love, acknowledging our own shortcomings. Yet, helping someone recognize and overcome sin is an act of love, not judgment. It's about guiding them towards the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). So, while it’s true that we must be cautious not to judge hypocritically, this doesn’t absolve us from the responsibility of lovingly helping our brothers and sisters avoid sin. True love desires the best for others, and sometimes that means having difficult conversations about sin in a spirit of grace and truth. It is extremely unloving to abide in sin. It does two things. First, it removes an opportunity for another to repent for their sin. Second, it allows a Godless society to fester. Neither of those things is loving. If you have any further concerns or questions, let me know. I'll be happy to help.

@WaspLife Thank you for taking the time to comment. I truly appreciate it. I agree that we are to use righteous judgment. In the previous video (Judge Yes, Judge No, Judge What?), I addressed what we are told to judge. Yet we are told not to judge others. We are not told not to make judgments about what they say or do. We are told to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. So, how can we not judge others and yet still make the judgments we need to make? I find Luke’s account of this passage to be revealing. Luke 6: 36-42. Here, Luke ties mercy, not judging, not condemning, and forgiving all together. This shows me that this is about being judgmental, not about making judgments concerning what is right or wrong. And being judgmental involves forming a moral superiority over the other person and putting them down; in other words, being condemning. And Romans 2:1-4 also gives insight into this when it says that on whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. And this is despising the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience. When I compare these to Matthew 7, Jesus seems to be saying that being judgmental is being hypocritical. That he is not merely saying, don’t be a hypocrite. But don’t be judgmental, for then you are one, as you are guilty of the same things yourself (the last part of Romans 2:1). And, instead, as we realize this, we can, in humility (Romans 12:3, Paul ties sound judgment to humility) help others. Other passages the state not to be judgmental and condemning of others include Romans 14:10-13, James 4:11, 12, and James 2:13. So, I agree, it does not concern making judgments concerning others; it’s about not being judgmental (a different thing). And being judgmental does make you a hypocrite.

@@SimpleNotShallow Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I appreciate your deep dive into the scriptures, as it helps to illuminate the nuanced differences between being judgmental and making righteous judgments. You're absolutely right that Jesus warns us against being judgmental and condemning, which involves an attitude of moral superiority and hypocrisy. As Luke 6:36-42 and Romans 2:1-4 highlight, we must approach others with mercy and humility, recognizing our own need for God's grace. However, we must also remember the broader biblical context. While we are cautioned against a judgmental spirit, we are still called to discern and address sin within the community of believers. This is not about condemning others but about guiding them towards righteousness out of love. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus provides a clear process for addressing sin within the church, which underscores the importance of confronting wrongdoing in a loving and restorative manner. James 5:19-20 reinforces this, stating, "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." This act of correction is rooted in love and a desire for the spiritual well-being of the individual. Therefore, while we must avoid a hypocritical and judgmental attitude, we are still called to make righteous judgments about behavior that contradicts God's will. The key is to do so with a spirit of humility, recognizing our own failings and extending the same grace that we have received from God. In essence, the distinction lies in our approach and attitude: we are to correct and guide others not from a place of superiority, but from a place of compassion and humility, always aiming to restore and edify rather than condemn. Unfortunately, many will perceive even this as "being judgmental". Regardless of how they interpret it, it comes from a place of love and desire to guide back to God's path. It is extremely unloving to allow sin to fester without trying to guide them back and the number one commandment of Christ is to love others. Thank you for your thoughtful reply and I hope to hear from you again.

@@SimpleNotShallow @WaspLife Gonna drop a thought provoking line of thinking here. What if refusing to convict others of their sin is the result of you being judgemental and condemning? Haven't you decided that they aren't worth saving from their path of wickedness, thus condemning them via inaction?

@TEAforTheology Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying these videos. How are you doing? Not agreeing is ok. The whole purpose of being a student of Jesus is to learn. And one way we do this is by bouncing ideas off each other. It’s good if something doesn’t sit right if that leads to further prayer and study to learn why it doesn’t. I mean, as I stated in the video, I felt the same way about another explanation of verse 6. It’s ok to question and explore. How else are we to do what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:29, to weigh everything carefully? Whenever you figure out what doesn’t sit right with you, I’d love to hear about it. I hope you are doing well.

I am doing alright, my health is always up and down, but I appreciate you asking! I am actively consulting a few of my discerning friends on the passage and hearing what they have to say. One of the concerns is the verse is separated by paragraph in many translations and I'm wondering if that is the case in Greek.. one of my friends is a Greek reader. It seems as though this is a separate thought from the prior verses, but not incoherent. The theme in the passage is less about not judging and more about not judging hypocritically. Verse one does say not to judge but verse 2 clarifies and builds on verse 1 in Matthew 7. I think the reason it seems off is because it's starting with a false premise on the topic of the passage. I by no means think this is intentional for the record, I'm just sharing what it seems to be. There are times in which we are to judge and times in which we are even to judge in such a way as to refuse to give good things to people. We have passages like Matthew chapter 10 verses 14 through 15 that talks about you know in the the disciples who were sent out two by two that if people do not receive what is being said that when they depart The House of the city to shake off the dust of their feet because it will be more tolerable for the land of sodom and gomora in the day of judgment than for that City. And giving God is consistent I have to say there is some times in which we do stop sharing the gospel which we do stop presenting good things to certain people not to be clear we offer it to them first this isn't a lack of having offered it at all but once you have discovered that someone is a swine or a dog metaphorically. The questions what are these people, and how do we know when we should judge this way? It is possible that second Peter chapter 2 might give us some answers and insight into that but that's a much deeper study than I'm ready to give this right now. It does compare heretics and false teachers to dogs.. so I think it might be connected but let me know what you think of all that.

​@TEAforTheology I have always read vs 6 similarly to you, which is why I found this video's exploration of it so interesting. But if we're reading that Jesus doesn't actually tell us not to judge, but only not to judge hypocritically, and then we judge a brother for maybe an attitude or sinful propensity or decision that is nothing like what we personally struggle with, then aren't we still being hypocritical? Because even if we don't struggle in the same ways, the fact is, we still have some weakness or some area of our lives that needs grace and growth. And we should be seeking to extend the same grace to others that we need from them and especially from God. James 2:13 also tells us that judgement will be merciless to one that withholds mercy, but to the one who shows mercy, mercy triumphs over judgement

@@MMLZombie Well for one, the Bible does give us times in which we must judge. For two no hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another. Additionally judgement towards a brother in the Bible has a few stipulations: 1. You must consider yourself lest you fall into the same temptation or any temptation. 2. You must ensure you are not caught up in the same kind of sin 3. You first have gone to him calling for repentance one on one, and have gone to him with 2 or 3 witnesses and her refuses to repent. 4. It is not you alone but rather the whole church that judges. My point is we are actually called to judge, and to judge righteously. But we also need to examine ourselves and deal with our own sin first and then we should do this. I find it hard to believe God would call us to sometimes judge and say we shouldn't judge altogether. Thanks for your comment I appreciate the dialogue!

@TEAforTheology Glad to hear you are doing well at the moment. Will be keeping this in prayer for you. This is a long response, so I’ll make it into 2 replies. In the Greek. I have two Greek Bibles, and in both there is no break, no new paragraph formed between verses 1-5 and verse 6. Nor do I find any wording in verse 6 that grammatically informs this to be a separate thought. And yes, some translations do make this a new paragraph, but some do not. So, I don’t find that to be a conclusive indicator of whether or not this is a completely new and separate idea from the verses before it. Though even in English, an author will use a paragraph break while continuing a thought while introducing a different aspect of that thought or an illustration of that thought. So, again, I am not sure that, in and of itself, it would be conclusive that this is a completely new thought. However, I would love to hear what your Greek reading friend has to say on this. For I am barely fluent in English, never mind Greek. As to the theme of this passage. I find this is not about judging but rather being judgmental. A very different thing. In my last video about judging, (Judge Yes, Judge No, Judge What?) I addressed the need to judge wisely, righteously, and otherwise make sound judgments. I find that this is not what’s being spoken of here. For, when I look at the parallel passage in Luke 6:36-42, I find Luke to be tying mercy, not judging, not condemning, and forgiving all together. And when I consider other passages, such as Romans 2:1-4 which says that on whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. And this is despising the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience; I find confirmation that this is about being judgmental and not about judging in general. When I compare these to Matthew 7, Jesus seems to be saying that being judgmental is being hypocritical. That he is not merely saying, don’t be a hypocrite. But don’t be judgmental, for then you are one, as you are guilty of the same things yourself (the last part of Romans 2:1). And, instead, as we realize this, we can, in humility (Romans 12:3, Paul ties sound judgment to humility) help others. Other passages the state not to be judgmental and condemning of others include Romans 14:10-13, James 4:11, 12, and James 2:13. So, I agree, it does not concern making judgments concerning others; it’s about not being judgmental (a different thing). And being judgmental does make you a hypocrite.

@jamesharper5252 Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. I do greatly appreciate it. I agree that Jesus is praying for all who believe in him to be one. I did not say otherwise. Forgive me if I should have been clearer about this. I felt that, as I had stated the purpose of this channel was to look at everything through the lens of what it means to be a Christian; I had made that plain. Again, I am sorry for not being clearer. Now Jesus does say that our becoming one is the way others will know the Father did indeed send Jesus and know that the Father loves them. I agree there is a difference between being judgmental and addressing sin. I am confused by this part of your comment. In this video, I did not address what we are to judge, that is to make value judgments on. I addressed that in the prior video about judging. This video is specifically about God telling us not to be judgmental. If I may ask, where did I say that we should not share Jesus and the gospel message with people? Indeed, in The Interesting Thought chapter of this video, I stated that we are not able to judge who we should not share the gospel with. So, again, thank you for taking the time to comment. But I’m a little confused about what you are addressing or, in truth, what you are actually saying about this video.

@TEAforTheology Thank you for such an insightful comment. I’m glad that, overall, you liked this episode. Thank you also for taking the time to offer the critiques. Much appreciated. If I may, let me share the thoughts behind my handling of the Isaiah, Job, and 1 Thessalonians passages. Isaiah 59:17, I did mention the garments of vengeance and his wrapping himself in zeal. There are 2 reasons I did not pursue the garments of vengeance. 1) Paul did not mention them as part of the whole armor we are to put on. Also, Isaiah is not saying that believers should put it on, but that the Messiah did. This leads to my second reason. 2) Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Deuteronomy 32:35, Hebrews 10:30, and Romans 12:19.So I find that it is not for us to take or exact vengeance; that is God's role. And Romans 12:17 - 21 says to not repay anyone evil for evil, but do what is right… if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Based on these things, that is why I did not address the garments of vengeance further. Job 29:17, well, starting in verse 7, he talks of days gone by when he had a seat in the public square, and even the chief men and nobles listened to what he had to say. The public square was where judicial matters would be settled in those ancient days. He was one who was able to contribute to the decisions on such matters. So, what I see in verses 12 - 17 are examples of him acting, deciding in a righteous manner, and deciding justly on matters. Even verse 17, which speaks of breaking the fangs of the wicked to snatch their victims from their teeth, I see in the context of what this is, sitting in the public square and not executing vengeance as a private individual. The emphasis is on helping those in need. The emphasis is on justice. And yes, sometimes a type of vengeance can be involved in justice, but that does not equate it to justice. At least, that was my thinking here. 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Yes, this reads, the breastplate of faith and love. Which could be seen as defining righteousness. Yet, here’s why I have concluded that it reveals that faith and love are involved in righteousness. In 1 John 3:7, we are told that whoever does what is right is righteous. So, doing what is right is righteousness. Verse 6 says that no one abiding in Jesus, sins. Abiding in him is righteousness. Then there is Romans 1:17, which says that righteousness is by faith alone, from first to last, and that the righteous live by faith. With all that being so, I see righteousness, faith, and love as being distinct things, yet all intrinsically linked together. You cannot have one without the others. So, that is the reason I said that righteousness involves faith and love. I did not mean to seem contradictory to 1 Thessalonians in any way. Anyway, sorry for the long response. I am so appreciative of your critique, I wanted you to know how I reached my ideas. Thank you, and have a wonderful day. And thank you for the encouragement to keep going. That means a lot.

Thank you for responding, and I I appreciate the longevity of the response because it gives clarity to why you came to what conclusions you did. I would point out that if we are in Christ we are in love because God is love. Additionally I would point out that if we are in Christ we have faith. And so that righteousness is by faith alone but it's in Christ alone and so that then love and faith makeup righteousness still. Now regarding vengeance I would actually encourage you to read in first Corinthians where it talks about how they had revenge and zeal against their own sin and against the sin in their Church. I would suggest then that this isn't a kind of oh I'm taking Madison to my own hand I do think that this is supposed to be in the judicial system it's not supposed to be individuals acting when we take vengeance in that way but we take vengeance on our own sin so that we do not continue in sin. And zeal is commended as a good thing in the New testament. Now I would contend that Paul isn't saying that he's writing about the whole armor of God directly but that we should put on the whole armor of God. He doesn't say put on the whole arm of God and this is the whole armor of God. If he did then I would agree with you but I do think we are to put on vengeance as garments see garments would have gone under these kind of pieces of armor and it makes sense that this is then directed toward our own sin and not the sins of others per se. Now I still see Justice being vengeance and salvation but this is in a proper judicial system.

@TEAforThelology You are very welcome. I think we are closer in thought than you think. I agree that if we are in Christ, we are in love. 1 John 4:8, if we do not love, we do not know God. For God is love. And yes, if we are in Christ, we do have faith, and righteousness is by faith alone and in Christ alone. There is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved. And I have found something in James that tells me that at least one other thing is included in righteousness. And that is works, deeds, that is, how we live out our faith. In James 2:14 - 24, he shares how a faith that doesn’t lead to actions taken is not a saving faith in Christ. And in verse 24 he says that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. He is not saying that works are what saves. He is not saying that works make a person righteous. But he is saying that if a person has true faith in Christ, the faith that does save, then he will do things based on that faith. And so, actions taken based on our faith and on the love we have for God and our neighbors are also a part of being righteous. Perhaps we are actually in agreement, just using different wording. If your understanding of the love and faith of righteousness includes living out what we claim to believe, then we are disagreeing over phrasings and not substance. And based on how you phrase other things, I think that might be the case. As for 1 Corinthians, which passages in this book are you referring to? I would love to read them before responding to the rest of this very thoughtful post. Thank you.

@@SimpleNotShallow I think at least for the most part wording is where we disagree, and I mixed up books with the Corinthians passages, it's 2 Corinthians 7 & 10 where Paul talks about it. Additionally in Romans Paul commended the Jews for their zeal but made clear it was a problem that it wasn't according to knowledge. I hope these comments are useful and not just wasting time! Edit: yes I believe that love and faith must be lived out at some point or else how can one know if they are true?

@@TEAforTheology just seeing this now. Been away from the computer since my last post. These comments are great, useful, and appreciated. It's a little late for me to respond in more depth right now. But tomorrow, I'll read the 2 Corinthians passages and offer a response. I'm very happy to hear that you, too, think that, for the most part, it is our choice of wording that has led to disagreement. Yes, very happy indeed. Well, until tomorrow, have an excellent night.

No such thing as temporary eternal life

@talithacumi1639 Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. Will you do me a favor, share with me which parables explain this, if you could include the chapter and verse that would be so helpful. And which warnings in which parables? I do value the time and effort of everyone who comments, and I want to fully understand what is being said in order to give a response worth your time taken. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful day.

@@SimpleNotShallow The Parable Of the three servants., and also. the parable of the unmerciful servant. See unbelievers are not called servants. He was clearly talking to people that wanted to follow him..

@@TimSpangler-rd6vs There's no such thing as once saved always saved.

@talithacumi1639 Thank you for clarifying. I will get a proper resopnse in the next day or so. Just a little busy today. sorry about that. In the meantime, just to make sure I'm looking at the parables you mention: The parable of the three servants is the one about the talents found in Mattewh 25:14-30, correct? And the unmerciful servant is the one found in Matthew 18:23-35? Just want to make sure I have that correct. Thank you again for taking the time to share this. Have a beautiful day.

@lilayerkes4145. Thank you. I'm so happy you like it. Thank you for this encouraging word. Have a blessed day.

🙏🙏🙏

@cynthiacallel, Thank you, and you are so welcome.

Let me suggest something, let's keep eachother in prayer as we continue to listen for God and grow, mature in him. What do you think?

@cynthiacassel, Thank you for taking the time to share this. This is wonderful. And if more folks could be listening to him, well I think the world would be a better place. I too am still learning who God is and all that relating to him involves. And isn't it good to know that because of who he is, we can enjoy the process of growing? Have a beautiful day.

@TEAforTheology, Thank you, I'm honored that you are finding some good things here. Thank you for letting me know. Thank you for the suggestion. It is now in the lineup. I really like that you have included Old Testament references in your request. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you.

You are very welcome. Thank you for dropping this note. Very appreciated.

You are very welcome. Did I pronounce your name correctly? I hope so. Yes, I think that if more folks went to the Bible with the mind set of finding out what it says rather than having an idea and trying to make the Bible support that idea, by taking passages out of context... I think there would be less factions and division. And perhaps we would be closer to becoming what Jesus prayed for us, to become one even as he and the Father are one. Not necessarily of opinion, but of heart, purpose, mind, and yes, love. I'm glad this answered your question. Let's each do the other a favor and keep each other in prayer that we may continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus. Have a great day.

@@SimpleNotShallow thank you

Thomas, Thank you for taking the time and effort to leave this comment. Though, I am a little unsure about what you are saying. Aren't the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit the same person of the trinity? What does evolving have to do with him? And it seems as if you are using "cross" as both a noun and a verb. Sorry if you are not, but it seems that way. And because of all this, I am confused about what you are actually saying. Thank you again for leaving a comment, I look forward to understanding what you were saying.

@@SimpleNotShallow Holy ghost is many deaths until love reached is the holy spirit Its Jesus Christ Lord as Laws faith love all three wise names goes to god but not until the holy ghost crosses from Jesus Christ to Lord then it is the holy spirit and resurrects to god

Eino, I'm glad to have addressed something you were interested in. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I have started work on the next chat, and your suggestion of how to be saved is the topic. Please keep me in prayer as I put this together. Thank you.

@@SimpleNotShallow sorry I just wanted to specify on what I wanted to learn about salvation, are we saved by faith or works? 🤔🤔

@@Einoshikongo-w8f Ok, well, the episode is complete, and I think you'll find that topic addressed. But if you find your question hasn’t been answered, let me know. I’ll do another episode addressing that specifically. Thank you again for the suggestions. I look forward to hearing your feedback. Have a great day.

@MMLZombie Thank you for this wonderful comment. I’m very honored that you enjoyed this video so much. Thank you. Yes, we are new creations, with the old having passed away and the new having come. And yes, I do think that churches can focus so much on one thing, one aspect of Christianity, that they lose focus on Jesus and God himself. A very sad and tragic thing. We must walk in balance and keep everything in perspective while focusing on him; this is the challenge. For instance, as you say so well, we need to never glorify, magnify, or focus on our weaknesses, and this needs to be kept in balance with knowing that they are still present. That, yes, we are free from the power of sin, a new creation. Yet, we are still prone to it. I mean, we don’t want to become just as short-sighted but at the other extreme. That also leads to a lack of focus on God, and to missing out on Jesus. Yes, keeping the proper focus is so crucial. Thank you for bringing this up. You make some wonderful observations about our projecting our experiences onto how God wants us to love. That was very well put. I can see how that can play a major role in how we respond to God and his love. Thank you for sharing this rather profound insight. And I am very glad to have God’s love as the cause, motivation, and inspiration for my participation in his love. Yes, humility is key to all this. Without humility, there can be no love. You have phrased this so well. Thank you for such a thought-filled and profound comment. This was very exciting to read. I look forward to seeing more of them. Thank you.

​@SimpleNotShallow Thanks for bringing up the great point about seeking balance in our walk! I guess we couldn't walk very smoothly physically without proper balance, so why would we think we could do otherwise spiritually? Great point! You're very right, we do need to remember that we still have this flesh nature so that lwe're not surprised when it comes calling, because God isn't surprised by it. But He did make every provision so that we would no longer be slaves to it. I love what you wrote about our need of recognizing our weaknesses. It actually reminds me of the scripture in which Paul writes that because God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, that Paul glories in his weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on him. What a humbling thought that we should glory in our weaknesses! And what faith it takes to believe that God will meet us there and teach us to stand firm in him, and will actually be our strength! And that scripture seems to me like it's addressing the matter you mentioned, of a balanced perspective. It really all seems to come down to our humility and recognition of our need to align ourselves with God and seek his presence and grace daily. I also think of the scripture that says, may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, theough which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. This scripture is a reminder to me that it's all God's work, all God's grace and victory and forgiveness. And that through these I am a new creation capable of living for God instead of for myself

@@MMLZombie You are very welcome. Yes… what’s that old saying? “Balance, must have balance, Grasshopper.” And, in addition to helping us walk more smoothly, spiritually speaking, it also keeps us authentic. And that includes, as you say, having the faith to believe God will meet us there and teach us to stand firm in him and become our strength. And it is the recognition that until we go home to be with him, this will be the fact of our life. Yes, we will grow, we will get stronger, and yes, we will always need God's help to stand firm. I agree that it does come down to humility, which is simply an honest assessment of who we are: individuals who need to align with God and who need to seek his presence and grace daily. Thank you for a very thoughtful and insightful comment. I thoroughly enjoy reading things that are so well thought out. A great way to start my day. Thank you, and have a wonderful day.

I"'m sorry, I'm not sure what you are referencing here. I did respond to your comments yesterday, is that what you are referring to when you say we talked last night? If so, which response are you referring to? If that is not what you are referring to, then I am truly confussed by your comment. Sorry, not trying to be obtuse. I do hope you are having a beautiful day.

Thank you, Kathleen. If more of us would think this way, I think we would find more of an answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17:11, 22. That would be a most excellent thing. Have a blessed day.

I'm happy to hear you are not separated from him now. I truly find that life is better when I stay connected with and grow in him. May I ask which company you mean when saying it's a little different from orthodox Christianity? And by Orthodox, do you mean Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Conservative Christianity, or something else? The reason I ask is that I truly want to fully understand and honestly communicate with anyone who has honored me with their time in leaving a comment. Thank you. And you are very welcome for all the encouragement. And please feel free to substitute the word tea anytime you hear me say coffee. I do prefer coffee, but I've enjoyed some wonderful tea as well. 😎 Have a blessed day.

Thank you for sharing this. I, too, spend more than this. I try to spend an hour or so. I have no hard or fast rule except that every day, I spend time just getting to know God. Do you have a favorite devotional that you use?

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I'm glad you enjoyed this topic. Do you have a suggestion for another topic? I'd love to hear your ideas. Have a blessed day.

Thomas, Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. I'm afraid I am not quite sure what is being said. I have just gotten out of the hospital and may just be a little confused. But would you mind clarifying what you mean? Thank you.

@MMLZombie Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m glad you found it insightful and that you enjoy the coffee chat approach. That encourages me to keep going. Thank you. And thank you for the length of your comment. I love the depth of it. In such comments, conversations can develop, which will deepen our faith and even develop friendships. Thank you for going into depth; I enjoyed reading it very much. Ephesians 3:16 - 19, yes what an incredibly rich passage. And yes, the more God’s love fills us, the more we can love him with our entire being and our neighbor as ourselves. Which as you point out, fulfills the law. And your use of the phrase, “less and less we’re allowing room for self and sin.” is very profound. Very profound indeed. Did I mention this was a joy to read? Your pointing out of the relationship between love, faith, fellowship, the presence of Christ, and seeking God through the Holy Spirit is well done. I don’t think anything could be added to that. And that the goal is oneness with Christ is well said. That is what Jesus prayed for in John 17:11 - 23. Seeing this comment was a perfect way to start my day. Thank you again. I look forward to hearing what you think about other episodes in the series. Have a wonderous day. Charles.

Well I truly feel blessed to have found your podcast! A voice like yours is very needed in this online space. I truly appreciate your gentle, humbled approach, and it seems clear to me that you have a heart for true discipleship. So thank you so very much for continuing to serve God and his people in this space! Keep doing what you're doing!! I look forward to future episodes

@@MMLZombie Thank you so much for the encouragement. Thank you. I should have more episodes starting Monday the 17. Something came up this past week that prevented one on Monday of this week. I look forward to hearing more of your insights and responses as we continue this path together. Have a blessed day.

@MMLZombie, Thank you so much. Jesus not taking us too seriously.... I agree, but the way you phrased it... well, I laughed so loud I think I woke the neighbors. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about the other episodes. Have a beautiful day!!

Kevin, thank you for taking the time to share this. Yes they are intrinsically linked. And if more folks honestly spoke the truth in love, the world would be a radically different place. I find it a sad truth, however, that not all Christian folk hold this to be true. And often use truth to beat people over the head, saying it's in love to provide cover for the beatdown. I pray for the day when all who claim to follow Jesus not only know that love and truth are so linked, but that they also live like it. Then we sill see truth spoken in ways that are more concerned with helping others rather than forcing others to comply to something. Anyway, sorry for the soapbox, getting down off it now. There is nothing in your comment that sparked it, it just came forth. Again, thank you for your wonderful comment. Have a beautiful day.

@@SimpleNotShallow When we truly love others ,we warn them. Unbelievers are living on borrowed time and their time could run out any second. If a family had faulty breaks in their car and you knew about it and they were about to go out for a drive wouldn't you "in love" warn them ? How much more should we warn people about the consequences of dying in their sins and being damned in hell for eternity ? / For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16/ The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23/ It is appointed for men once to die and after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

Kevin, Thank you for this wonderful comment. You know, I find it sad that folks tend to forget this; that we warn those we love. There are many ways to warn folks. Let’s keep each other in prayer that we not only warn our neighbors but that we do this in a way they truly see as loving. For if we are to do this from love, it needs to be done in a manner they see as loving. Otherwise, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, without love, we’d be like a clanging gong. Thank you again for taking the time to leave this insightful comment. I look forward to more.

Thank you. I wish you the same.

Hello Cynthia. Thank you for commenting. I truly appreciate it. Yet, if I may ask, in what way do you find it interesting? I'm afraid I am unclear as to what you mean.