People Mistakenly Misrepresent God

I was having a conversation with a Pastor and he asked me something's about my growing up and how my guardians (Grandparents) taught me about the Lord. I explained to him that my grandparents, in their ignorance, misrepresented things of God. Some things that I was told about God I later found out weren't quite true. As a young child I was in ways afraid of God but not in reverence or respect but literal fear like you'd fear a monster or ghost. The bible teaches that "God has not given us the spirit of fear but, power, love, and a sound mind." He told me that by teaching me the ways of God my grandparents did me a favor, never mind the fact that I really didn't understand Gods love by their teaching. Needless to say I was so taken a back and disgusted by what this preacher was saying because of my experience and how a lot of inner healing took place when I decided to learn from God for myself. I gained a totally different perspective of God. I was also told that some need to be scared into salvation. For an ignorant child, scaring someone into salvation is already the false view of the gospel. If I were committing crimes in the street and searing my own conscience then yes, I need to be saved with fear. If, I'm a 7 year old child with minimal understanding I should be sat down and explained the Gospel of Christ. People mistakenly misrepresent God for a few reasons one of them is that they do not understand his love or their value. God is love and when we're headed down a dangerous path He warns us but He also lets us know of His love and that he wants us to be in unity with Him. We're His children, and what loving Father doesn't want unity with his kids?



I'll add more to this in a few days but first I'd like to ask; has God ever been misrepresented to you? In what way and how did regain true revelation of His nature?

Choices

Before my job, I went 7 months with out any work or unemployment income. That time was very hard for me but since I have a job now seems so far in the distances. I was so very thankful for this job once it was offered to me and I was excited to see how the store was ran exactly. 3 months later I'm in a bit of a conflict. I already mapped out how i was going to approach this job, quiet, cordial and professional. The store didn't match my expectations at all, often I'm talked down to because I'm quiet on the job, most people that know me know that when I'm comfortable I'm definitely a talker and opinionated but that's among friends and in a more comfortable situation. The people that I work with aren't my friends, they're my co-workers so there's a level of respect that has to go with the job. I've also noticed the amount of back bitting that occurs. I remember being in high school and doing it and i still make that mistake but I recognize what I do so i don't want to add fire to the flames with it. What bothers me most though is just the way I'm treated as an employee. it's not cause for a bigger complaint I just need to decided what I'm going to do with the situation that's been given to me.

A soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger so says the biblical proverb. When you are striving to be one with the creator adversity will most definitely come your way, not because you deserve it but because the 'world' hates good, hates security. For example In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were mad by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5

Also ....

He that believeth on him is not condenmed: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:18-21

No one person is perfect and when we have accepted Christ as Lord of our lives and God as a Father and Creator, in this dark world we are going to be subject to a lot of things we may not desire to be. No matter what I face on my job my integrity is always going to be at the forefront , I believe, because I'm doing something different than what everyone else is doing and I'm in Christ. And in the condition that this world is in morally we got to strive for God and keep the faith in Him

Hanging on to unforgiveness creates in us the necessity to build and maintain a facade.

Hanging on to unforgiveness creates in us the necessity to build and maintain a facade.

Jesus wants us to be totally honest, transparent, believable and consistent. He wants the transformation of our inner being to be so complete that what we show to others is who we truly are. We must be willing to be washed clean inside and out. Otherwise, we are but a superficial reflection of God's love, filled with impurity behind our facade.

Whenever we remain unforgiving, we become like the Pharisees who demanded compliance with the letter of the law, yet held intolerance and self-righteousness within their hearts.

Luke 11:39-40 ESV And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. (40) You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?

Both in action and in attitude we must be transparent, allowing God's love and grace to permeate our entire being. Purity within and without invites others to know us without reservation. Unforgiveness lodged in our heart creates a false, fleshly protective wall that separates who we really are from the image we project to the world.

♦ We don't want people to know our innermost thoughts and motivations so we erect barriers to keep others from getting too close

♦ We don't invite others into fellowship with us for fear they'll see the truth of our family life.

♦ We avoid telling stories on ourselves because we have to maintain an image of having it all together.

♦ We are afraid to go to a counselor because we know we will be confronted and have to deal with issues that may be painful.

♦ We can't risk or be spontaneous because we have a need to keep everything under control.

♦ We can't adventure because we're insecure if asked to move outside our comfort zone and risk things we aren't sure will work.

♦ We don't trust others to love and accept us if they really knew who we are.

Building facades such as these to protect our unforgivenesses means that we are living a lie. That puts a terrific amount of stress on us--stress which will eventually take its tole in alienation from others and from God, breaking the unity of the kingdom. We must not use the security of our own salvation experience to excuse that part of us which remains unregenerate.

John 4:19-20 ESV The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."

1 John 1:6-7 ESV If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If you're blessed by what's been written here please purchase Choosing Forgiveness by John & Paula Sandford and Lee Bowman

By His Faith

Proverbs 3:5-8 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

God loves and rewards our dilligence in faith in His son Jesus the Christ. We live in a worldly society that presents various types of issues that we must deal with. God uses those issues to show His faithfulness and glory in these situations but, we must have faith that God will be the supplier to all of our needs in accordance with His riches and glory.

Philippians 4:19 KJV But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

(KJV) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:23

When accept Christ and are redeemed by His blood we are adopted into the family of God. A family that is not of this temporary earth. We become alienated from the system of this world and into walking heaven bound creatures that do not fit into the system of this world.

Colossians 3:1-5 KJV If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

This earth and it's material things will soon pass away and the only substance that will be left will be the Word of God.

"NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen"