09/21/24 GETTING GOD'S POINT OF VIEW

09/21/24 GETTING GOD'S POINT OF VIEW

God's plan and order for responsible living and sound interpersonal relationships includes family and church. Obviously, the more Biblical that families and churches are, the more aligned they will be with God's will and the more effective they will be in developing and maintaining right thinking, behavior and relationships.

Pulling away from legitimate authority breaks down the work of God in people's lives and separation from Christ and His salvation becomes inter-generational. Bad thinking produces bad behavior, and bad behavior is easier to propagate than good behavior. This is why bad thinking, behavior, and bad habits are passed on from one generation to another.

God is able to change our thinking, our desires, our behavior, our habits, but it often involves "breaking the chain" of family and cultural "norms." This is why it is important to win people to Christ as soon as possible. We need to reach them before they are totally hardened against truth. We need to reach them before their lives are completely overpowered by the prince of darkness. 

We all need Jesus, but the longer we live without Jesus, the less likely we are to receive salvation. Also, those who do receive Christ at a later stage of their lives have spent years in wickedness and they are less receptive to the deeper truths, which transforms their thinking and their daily behavior, even as they become older adults. Growth in grace is essential. God's plan is to conform us to the image of His Son. 

Biblical (Christian) families are the first line of protection, and the local church, including pastor, and seasoned (mature) mentors, is the early support and ongoing influence for godliness. Faithful teaching, modeling, leadership, authority, along with active responsibility and accountability for a lifetime of discipleship is built into a Biblical church.

The Christian life and experience is an ongoing, growing reality. This is why it is important to have a Christian heritage and foundation in your beliefs, thinking, actions, relationships. Mature leading and teaching is something that should be communicated from one generation to another.