Will Your Voice Be Heard?
Category Archives: Relevant Christian
Taking Politics Too Far
What I dislike most about election times is all of the un-necessary posturing from both sides.
But this…is taking things entirely too far!
The Story of Amanda Todd
Amanda Todd
Amanda had been suffering severe bullying, both personally and online, due to being taken advantage of and as a result….making a string of poor decisions…which lead to more severe bullying.
Amanda posted a video on YouTube telling her story.
Amanda included this description on her video:
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I’m struggling to stay in this world, because everything just touches me so deeply. I’m not doing this for attention. I’m doing this to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong. I did things to myself to make pain go away, because I’d rather hurt myself then someone else. Haters are haters but please don’t hate, although im sure I’ll get them. I hope I can show you guys that everyone has a story, and everyones future will be bright one day, you just gotta pull through. I’m still here aren’t I ?
-AmandaTodd
According to a few sources, Amanda posted this video when she was 13 years old. A short 2 years later, Amanda succumbed to her suicidal feelings, no doubt due to the seemingly never ending barrage of insults and bullying.
Such a tragic story. One that is becoming far too common.
Toward the end of her video, she showed this card;
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I have nobody, I need someone
If you or someone you know are being bullied, PLEASE talk to someone! Talk to us! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Watch Amanda’s YouTube video here.
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Spoken Word Poet Jeff Bethke on Christians and Tattoos!
Spoken Word Poet Jeff Bethke, posted a You Tube video on Christians and Tattoos and seems to have stirred up quite a controversy on his You Tube and Facebook accounts. A controversy that RelevantChristian.org is very familiar with.
Click here to watch the video!
Props to our friends at Christ.Culture.News for bringing this to our attention.
Is Marriage the New Divorced?
I have been having a lot of fun conversations lately with a variety of people. It all started with a radio show. I commute a fair distance, so I hear a lot of radio and the truth is that I get a little tired of music so I listen to stations that have more talking.
A few weeks ago they began talking about the current divorce rate. It actually went up with these last round of research tests. One of the radio personalities was talking about her life as a little girl. She talked about how taboo it was if someone got divorced. She actually said something along the lines of, “That happened to those people…”
Then she said the money shot.
She said, “Now, if you’re not divorced at least once….”
She let it trail off, but I thought how interesting that was. It began to confirm something that I’ve had marinating in the back of my head for a long time.
Married is the new divorced. If you get married before twenty-five people expect you to get divorced. Of course, if you get married after twenty-five, people expect you to get divorced too. If you’ve been married for more than a few years and you tell people you’re happy being married, they look at you as though you’re crazy.
Some people are actually feeling pressure to get divorced. I can’t offer this with empirical data. Certainly, though the people I’ve talked to all seem to agree that there is pressure to not be happy in your marriage.
(read entire post here)
What is the Bible?
Open a Gideon bible and you will find this statement:
This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.
This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.
Christ is its subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.
It is given to you in life, will be open in the judgement, and be remembered forever.
It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents!
The most important aspect of the bible is that it is inerrant and true in its original language. If it claims to be true, but isn’t, it cannot be the inspired word of God. If it isn’t true, it isn’t timeless and subject to contemporary opinion.
But, If it is true, knowing what it says and acting accordingly is essential. It will strengthen my faith and get me to heaven. My (and your) unbiblical opinions won’t.
I challenge you to read it and apply it to yourself, your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. When you realize you don’t meet God’s standard (as we all must), confess it to God in prayer and ask God to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He promises to do this very thing.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)
Jesus saves sinners. We like to think that it happens in a moment and is pain free. Well, it’s a walk, not just a moment. The moment we accept God’s judgment on sin, and trust his promises to forgive and cleanse us, we may be saved. Everyday brings awareness to new sins to confess. Eventually, only you (and God) can see your sinfulness, but you confess it just the same. Through this lifelong process, you look and act more like Christ, and glorify God in the process. Like a sheep belonging to the Great Shepherd, you know His voice and follow Him alone.
The world and the Evil one will rebel against God and His standard, inciting you to question It. But, those who are truly saved, like the seed that fell on good soil (in the parable of the sower), will grow in faith and obedience to God. God will come and save you where you are, deep in sin. But, He will not leave you there.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
God’s blessings to you!
John
Az4christ.wordpress.com
Looking for Contributors
Relevant Christian is looking for new contributors.
The Relevant Christian blog has been around since 2007 and have had several great contributors during that time.
If you are interested or know of someone who may be, please let us know by emailing us at relevantchristianblog@gmail.com
Peace!
I’m Broken, And That’s Ok!
The required façade of belonging to the “I’ve Got It All Together Club” was all consuming and exhausting. It became too much to keep up with. The need to hide every emotion, hurt, or fear so deep within, was draining me, killing me, the real me, ever so slowly. I couldn’t let up, I had to continue on. It is what was expected of me after all. I could never let those I am ministering to ever know that I too struggle with the very same things they do. I too have fear, anxiety, and moments of doubt. I was too afraid to share my heart, too afraid to show my insecurities. My thinking was “who wants to follow someone who can’t get their act together?”
Read Entire Post Here
Should Christians Get Tattoos? What Does The Bible Say?
From the “Cruciformity Stations on Skin” at Xnihilo Gallery in Houston, Texas
You can find arguments on both sides of the issue, and both can be very convincing.
The problem I have with the whole argument against is how they are basing their reasoning.
How can you base your arguments on ONE scripture in Leviticus 19, but completely ignore this one, or this one?
When it clearly says in Leviticus 19:37, “Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord.”
The last time I checked, we are no longer offering physical sacrifices because Jesus Christ Himself became THE sacrifice for us.
So….What does it all mean?
It comes down to this…the Bible is unclear about whether or not one should get tattoos, and any one touting the whole ‘the Bible is very clear about tattoos’ argument, are merely spouting their opinion.
I would encourage any Christian who is considering getting tattooed to do the research for yourself, earnestly pray about it, then determine whether or not it is for you.
NEVER take someones word for it, whether it leans toward your beliefs or not. Research it for yourself. Know what you believe and why.
Here are a couple of links to read on the subject.
What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos? RelevantChristian.org
To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo / RELEVANT Magazine
**UPDATE**
Another Great article on Tattoos!
Feel free to let us know what you think.
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We the Silent, Invisible!
So many of us live our Christian lives in obscurity. We are silent…hidden…opaque…virtually invisible to the world around us. We all too often hide ourselves within the safe confines of our churches…rarely venturing out in fear of being discovered.
What is the paralyzing fear that keeps us in this state? Is it fear of persecution? Is it fear of our faults or weaknesses discovered? Is it fear of the skeletons of our past being revealed? Is it fear of leaving the safety of the crowd?
Why do we not have the power in our lives as the Disciples in Acts 1? Where is the urgency to go out into the world and “compel” people to know the Christ of the scriptures?
There are some who stand out from the crowd. There are those that don’t blend in. But sadly, a majority of these appear more concerned with drawing people to themselves in order to maintain that which they have created.
Our job, or mission, is to show people all that Christ is. To live our lives in such a way that when they look at us, they see a shining example or reflection of Him. To love so deeply, with such compassion, that they find themselves drawn to know more about Him.
I heard a pastor once say that the local church is the hope of the world. While I understand what he was trying to say…the focus in that statement is all wrong.
Jesus, and He alone, is the hope of the world!
Jesus was driven by a mission. He was completely surrendered to a specific purpose in His life. Jesus did not live His life in obscurity…neither should we!
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32 NIV
