So I love just pondering, thinking about, talking about and meditating on Christ… God… and my Christian life… but it really makes my day to think…
Someone out there actually gets what I’m tryin’ to say!
And it’s when I get these rare gems of a comment, that it really makes my day.
(to be honest, I LOVE any comments, especially the nasty ones and ones where people disagree too!)
Terence recently left one such comment:
“Dear Caleb,
Thanks so much for sharing your view on what I call churchianity. I whole heartedly agree that the majority of the body of believers today have “by their traditions made the Word of God of none effect.” This is something that the present day church needs to seriously take a good hard look at. There are endless examples of “traditions” that we could discuss if I had the time but one that comes to mind is that you have to have a legal marriage license in order to have legitimate relationship in the eyes of God.
Recently my wife’s sister was asked to stop attending a church with her boyfriend until they were legally married. I am personally legally married to a wonderful woman and we have 9 children together and I am in no way against having a marriage certificate as it affords you many important legal advantages especially when you have children (which they don’t). I would definitely encourage couples that are going to have children to have one, but I was taken back that the church made it a prerequisite for their being a member since there is nothing mentioned specifically in the Bible about having a marriage certificate at all. They had been living together as a monogamous couple for as many years as my wife and I have been married.
I heard a radio talk show on the subject of people “shacking up” and decided to call in and propose that it wasn’t necessary in every circumstance to have a legal marriage certificate to have a loving, monogamous relationship. Whew! When I hung up the radio station was barraged with people calling in shouting me down as an adulterer, fornicator, and much worse.
What is wrong in the eyes of God or the eyes of Love because God is love, with a couple living together, who love each other and are responsible, caring people. What difference does a piece of paper make? Does it make them any more loving? Does it make them any more faithful or caring? I think we can see by the present divorce rate that it doesn’t. Why would God turn them away because of a little piece of paper?
Other topics that I consider traditions of churchianity are building church building, going to church on Sunday, the don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t have sex, mentality of righteousness. Jesus obviously drank wine, Paul obviously drank wine, what’s wrong with a little wine or even a couple of beers. Of course smoking causes cancer that is a “no brainer” it has a lot to do with health but very little to do with our relationship with Jesus and loving others. Jesus said all the Law and the Prophets could be summed up in this. Love the Lord thy God …. and love thy neighbor as thyself. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
I have traveled the globe with my family to tell people about Jesus for over thirty years. I lived in several countries in Latin America and even China for several years and one thing that stood out to me is that the problems in the world today are not rooted in their smoking, or drinking or even having sex. They are rooted in their lack of love for God and their fellowmen.
Caleb, I was so impressed with your desire to read the Bible with fresh eyes. outside the traditions that have completely blinded well meaning Christians from truly understanding the heart of God. I may not agree with every specific minor point but very much with the over all spirit of what you were saying. It takes a great deal of faith to step out of the traditions of the present day church and take a good clear look at what the Bible really has to say.
Jesus said in Jn 10:10— that he came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly.” He came to bring us life. Not only eternal life but real spiritual life in our lives today. I believe that spiritual life is love. For God is love… IJn 4:8.
– Terence”
Thanks Terence!
Your comment made me smile and made my day.
With Love 
Caleb
P.S. Don’t feel bad if I didn’t choose your comment, Terence’s just “stuck out” to me lately, you’ll probably see me write about yours sometime soon.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Mark Vilen 07.19.08 at 1:02 am
Caleb,
I agree with the “Churchianity” thing in most respects, but don’t agree with Terence’s take on marriage being just “a piece of paper.” It’s a covenant, a commitment to God between two people. If two people living together and having sex equals marriage, then what is “sexual immorality” (fornication)? And how long must two people be together before it is considered a marriage? I’m a gracewalker, but as Christ’s divine nature is in me, and His laws are written on my heart, I know without question that sex outside of the covenant of marriage is sin. That’s not my learning from a church tradition that tells me that it’s the Spirit of Christ speaking within my heart.
Mark
Jessica 07.19.08 at 2:15 pm
I must say that when I read these words that Terence wrote…”problems in the world today are not rooted in their smoking, or drinking or even having sex. They are rooted in their lack of love for God and their fellowmen.” I completely agreed. Now if only other could see it that way.
Also Caleb, I really enjoy reading what you write, please keep it coming!
Mark Vilen 07.23.08 at 3:42 am
I’m disappointed with your endorsement of this man’s comment, Caleb. I’m not sure why you admire it. I liked your website, but it sounds like you’re endorsing sex outside of marriage. If that’s not the case, let me know your explanation.
I don’t think what this man describes is grace—it’s what Steve McVey would call “disgrace.”
Hope to hear from you.
Mark
calebo 07.23.08 at 2:41 pm
Hey Mark,
I PROMISE I’ll address the subject of Christian Sexuality very soon!
It’s actually quite interesting what the Bible ACTUALLY SAYS about sex… and what Church tradition teaches.
Thanks for your comment though, and I promise I’ll clear up any confusion soon about where I stand… what I believe… what the Bible says… etc.
With Love
Caleb
Terence 07.28.08 at 12:40 am
Mark I don’t think that you quite understood my comment. Sorry if I didn’t make it clear. For the record I believe in marriage. I just don’t believe that you have to have a piece of paper to be married in the eyes of God. I am not trying to promote “fornicatin’ ” I think that we might have a few differences in how we define things here and yet we probably agree on the importance of marriage, family and etc…
I am also not trying to sell people on ‘smoking, sex and drinking and drugs’. But I do believe that there is way, way, way too much focus on these types of problems in the church world today. I was merely trying to point out that in my opinion that this is like trying to lop of the top of the weed instead of going to the root. I don’t really think that it is going to take care of the problem. A lack of love is the problem. Jesus summed up the solution to the problem really well. Love God, Love your neighbor. I love you Mark—Terence.
Mark Vilen 07.30.08 at 3:35 am
Terence and Caleb,
I’ll wait to hear Caleb’s explanation on sexuality.
Terence, I agree with some of what you say. The modern church focuses too much on certain sins, and even sin in general. The sin IS just the symptom of the problem, you’re right. It shows a lack of abiding in the vine . . .
On another subject, you keep referring to marriage as a “piece of paper.” Is a commitment/covenant in front of God just a “piece of paper?” The piece of paper is the legal aspect of marriage. If your assertion is that two people who are committed to one another in love, and are committed to each other sexually, they are married—well, I just can’t go along with that. A public covenant before God means something. I know in my heart of hearts, in my spirit, that any sex outside of that covenant is sin.
I’ll be interested to see Caleb’s explanation.
Mark
Kat 08.06.08 at 7:49 pm
I’m still grappling this one. I know what the laws of our country say…and legally t o be recognized as married you need “the piece of paper”. The Bible instructs us to recognize the authorities over us and obey them. I’m wondering if we are having trouble separating our “American” and our “Christianity”, or if God really, truly puts all stock in that “piece of paper”. That piece of paper does not mean you are making a covenant before God. It is obvious that piece of paper means nothing to the 60% of the population who gets divorced…and many of those divorces are within the church, too, by the way. Bottom line: If you want a marriage certificate, fine. But I’m wondering , if you choose not to and are okay with not receiving the priviliges set up by our government for married couples, and commit before God in a ceremony (with or without a pastor??) of two hearts becoming one, then can it really be that simple in God’s eyes? Or do we (as we have become Masters at doing) make it all complicated and about keeping rules. And adding things that are “confining” to make us feel “safe”. Thanks for bringing up the issue!!!
calebo 08.06.08 at 7:59 pm
I’d say…
“Or do we (as we have become Masters at doing) make it all complicated and about keeping rules. ”
This is the best explanation
With Love
Caleb