I am expecting some serious arguments resulting from this.

So a few weeks ago, I had a discussion over email with one of my readers/siblings in Christ and I thought that it'd be really cool to share it. Now, before you say anything, I have asked them for their permission to share this and they said yes, so I'm not totally invading their privacy here. The only reason I am putting this up is because it shares none of their personal information. It shows mine, but then again, if I cared about that, I wouldn't have started this blog in the first place. But I am really proud of some of the points I made, and I think it may give you a bit more insight into my thought processes. However, I am totally open if you want to debate this with me for hours. I honestly am totally expecting it.

Here we go.

I have to say that I really admire your blog. I honestly think God has you ordained for great things in Chad. Your blog inspires me to read my Bible and to want to grow in my relationship with God and in my faith in Him. But, there's a couple of things I have to say that really bothers me about one of your posts, that is 'Not Anything Typical'. I want the following things to not be seen as being said out of anger or frustration. Rather, I say it out of love for a fellow Christ follower, and all of it just my beliefs and suggestions. 

The first thing is that you say you feel no regret if you happen to curse. (I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you what to do here, because that's not what I intend to do. I just think it's good for Christ followers to discuss their beliefs). You say that only man made those words bad and gave them those bad connotations. Therefore, if we rationalize it enough with the influence from our own thinking, because we all think and believe differently, that it's ok to say those words. However, I don't believe that that's the case. You say that humans gave those words those connotations, but that's just it. It's not the word. It's the word's meaning. I can say that I love God. The word 'love', in the simplest of terms, means to have a great affection or caring for. When I say that I love God, then I mean that I love God. Every once in a while, when I get really angry, hurt myself, or maybe even sometimes with friends I have that cuss, then I will cuss. And I always feel guilty after having done so. Those words have meaning, too. Psalms 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight." and Ephesians 4:29 says, " Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth." This last verse, I must say, speaks to me as the most powerful verse regarding one's words. It is Proverbs 18:21 and it reads, " Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit". I'm really sorry if you feel like I'm trying to make you do or believe something, but that's not what I'm doing. I just hope you'll keep an open mind of what I'm saying.

The second thing is you talking about not going to church. I understand that this is probably a more sensitive subject for a Christ follower, so I'll do my best not to get too opinionated here, but I just think God is leading me to say this. I see what you said about the people at your old church being somewhat, well, 'blind', to what God wants and intends for them to be and who they are. I can understand not wanting to be with people who really don't take God as seriously as you do. And if I were you, I probably would have done the same thing, in leaving the church. But in regards to attending church, I personally think that should be one of a Christ follower's top priorities. You say that God will call you to the right church, but the way I see it, I think it's our jobs as Christ followers to seek out a place where we can find fellowship with other believers. Once we get to the right church, then God will tell us that we're in the right place. We can always have our friends invite us to church, we can see adds for a church or somehow find out about a church and have people tell us how good it is there. Chances are just about every church does or has people doing this. But, I don't think that every church saying those things can be right, because not all churches work the same way and teach the same doctrine. I'm not saying that it's bad to do that, because actually it's great for people and churches to be doing that, but I'm just saying that I believe it's our job to go looking for that right church. We can also wait for God to just show us the way to the right church, but I personally think that can be a sign of irresponsibility, but only in some cases.( Such as if, say, someone really isn't willing to go looking for a church and doesn't care enough, but thinks that God should just do everything for them.) If we seek out a church, then that is an act of faith, and I think God wants us to be proactive in our faith, because after all, that's what faith is: trusting and doing things for God.

A good reason for going to church is because God wants us to be in fellowship with other Christ-followers. Proverbs 15:31 says, "He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise." I interpret this to mean that if you listen to the Word that people such as pastors who are ordained by God for what they do, then you will become wise such as they are in the Word by listening and being with those kind of people. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads, " ...and let us not consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

 

I hope you actually read this email, because it is pretty long, and I hope that you atleast take into consideration some of the things said here. The way I see it, these are just some of that things that God wants us to live by. I really don't want to sound like I'm telling you what to do, because that's just not right. I want you to see this as just advice from Christ follower to Christ follower. ( You've probably noticed I haven't used the word 'christian' in the sense that one would expect. I prefer the term Christ follower.) Thanks for listening.

First of all, I would like to say that I admire this person A LOT. It takes some serious guts to discuss this stuff with people. 

Here was my response:

Yes, I read the entire email :) And I really appreciate you taking the initiative to bring these things to my attention. However, naturally since I'm a (insert school name here) kid and love discussions like this, I have a few things that I would like to add to this so that I can expound on my previous words.

First, you stated, "You say that humans gave those words those connotations, but that's just it. It's not the word. It's the word's meaning." The meanings of cuss words are not actually bad as most would think. I shall refrain from saying the actual words since it would be ironic given the subject, but the f-word only means sex outside of marriage. The definition is not, in fact, bad. The "bad" meanings of cuss words do really come from us. The f-word is often taken out of context, and that's what makes it bad. In context, when the real meaning actually applies, the word itself is not negative. This is the same with the s-word, as it only means defecation. The word itself is not bad, but it is how it's used in context. Therefore, since the word in context is not inappropriate, then why should it be negative out of context as well? The true meaning of the words do not have the connotations we give them. In that light, I do not perceive the words as "bad words". I do agree that unwholesome words should not be said, but those words are truly unwholesome based on definition, not on connotation. I really hope that makes sense. Definition and connotation are two different things. 

As far as the fellowship thing, I agree. I have been going to a different church every week, trying to find the right fit, but I have not found it yet. Attending church for fellowship is one of my top priorities, but I am not going to fit myself into a church that God does not say is right. So I actually have been taking the initiative (which I failed to mention in my blog), I just haven't found the church for me yet. But everything you said about church and fellowship is absolutely correct, and I could not agree more.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to contact me about this. I know how speaking about subjects like these can be very difficult, so I admire that. It warms my heart to see people speaking out about stuff like this.

And also, thank you for reading my blog :)

Sincerely,

Janie

I'm not going to put the other emails after that in there, because it's really just us talking to each other. Not that these two emails aren't, but the ones after the first two don't really have anything much to add on the subject.

Anyhoo, if you would like to add anything to this discussion, don't hesitate to. You can comment on the post or email me at janie_sanford0902@yahoo.com. I don't care which one. But I promise that anything said to me will be completely confidential, unless you wish me to share it. Even then, I would not include your name.

But I really think that my fellow Christ follower and I made some good points, so hopefully you can actually get something out of this? Haha if not, oh well. I tried :)

I would just like to say that I feel so blessed to have such wonderful readers/brothers and sisters. I would also like to say that I love you guys and I feel incredibly lucky to have the chance to share with all of you.

So...yeah. I guess that's it :)

Love and all of that other jazz to you.