Jeff Bridges On Holiness

Throughout the course of any given weekend across America a religious ritual is taking place. People find themselves returning to church and sitting in the same seat because they consider themselves devoted Christians. The congregation sings songs of joy and pray as if judgment day was upon them. The majority of Christians illustrates an imitation Christ-like character but secretly conceal their true sinful ways deep within their hearts. Flannery O’Conner in her short stories “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “Revelation,” and “Everything That Rises Must Converge” uses her theme of religious self-righteous hypocrisy to persuade readers to examine their spiritual life, repent of their sine, and begin living authentic Christian lives.

“As surely as each of them brought a toothbrush with him, he also brought with him his loves and hates, his fears of death and his fears of life, his anxieties, his longings, his pride his doubts…and so did the one who traveled to New Haven to hear them lecture.” This statement from page three of Telling the Truth left me naked and vulnerable as I continued to read the following words of this brilliant work by Fredrick Buechner. As a young college student, pursing ministry, I can’t help but be challenged as I read recognize my self in these words. Every time I get up to preach, I bring with me the world that lives inside of me, and so does everyone who is listening. I am speaking to broken hearts, different personalities and family situations, people who are experiencing extreme financial and marriage trials.

Sometimes it is easy to take the gift of salvation for granite, which is why we should review how and why it was given to us. The sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was so effective because it showed people who they really are. The sermon opened people’s eyes to where they were spiritually, how powerful God truly is, and the things He can do but chooses not to. The sermon described how we are all born sinners and deserve to go to hell.

How does one live a life as a Christian that honors and glorifies God? The answer is by reflecting Christ’s image by acting as He would in every situation. Because of what Jesus has done for sinners on the cross, they desire to live by His example in order to give Him glory. However, living a Christ-like life can only happen through the work of the Holy Spirit, who comes in to sinner’s hearts when they first put their trust in Jesus and the cross, growing them and making them more like Jesus. Many characters in books, stories, and movies have Christ-like qualities and characteristics, an example of this being Harper Lee’s masterpiece.

In the Christians’ perspectives, everyone in this world has been sinful since the creation of humanity. However, they also advise people at least try to do good things in life because virtue is always welcomed to the Kingdom of Heaven while bad actions will only lead to the hand of Satan. The Holy Bible is a precious book teaching God’s children about how to stand against earthly depravity and follow God’s rules of morality. Remarkably, Romans 12 and the Sermon on the Mount teach people the most basic conducts to follow in the context of morality—that is speaking nicely, not judging other people, and having mercy to the enemy.

Writing about controversial subjects can often be difficult; however Hughes executed his story, Salvation, in an intriguing manner that is suitable to all audiences and religions. In this story, the writer retells an experience from his childhood describing his journey to Jesus Christ. Discussing the complications, the main character, Hughes, faced while trying to come to Jesus is what makes the story interesting to read. On many occasions, you will read a story or watch a movie that shows the main character coming to Jesus and having an immediate and obvious realization of their Savior. For this reason, I found this story to be unique and relatable in the way that it shows a journey that countless Christians face, but you are not often granted the opportunity to read about this type of experience.

Without hesitation I could say that "There be no make of blame upon my life, I am a covenanted christian. "(Act 2,pg 64). The ten commandments running through my vein like the very blood that runs through my body. My hands connected to those of gods’, his palms touching mine.

Charism plays an important role in both the communal and individual life of a believer. Here Menzies is in agreement that “the rich variety of gifts granted to every believer for the common good appear to be a natural extension of Paul’s larger pnuematological perspective”(Fee, 192). The significant thing to note though is that for Paul the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is connected to our participation in the body of Christ. As we walk in the Spirit, He produces fruit in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is not just individualistic and for personal benefit but for corporate benefit of the body of

In her book “ A perfect Mess”, she shines light on how the bible connects to modern life. She goes about telling her experiences that exemplify how in “not so great” moments, God sees his child in need of his perfect love. In the article “ How Should I Live Life as a Christian Teen?” written by Catiana Nak Kheiyn, she discusses how even though we face hardships, God is on our side guiding us through it all. The article and the book both mention how we can get caught up in the false perceptions of Christianity. As a Christian, a man made list of do’s and dont’s does not exist.

McMinn (2007) quote about the nature of sin of the following: “Biblically, the sin problem involves more than simply our bad actions, whether personal or social in their implications and complication. In Scripture and theology, sin is a condition that goes to the root of our being, for it must do with our relationship to our origin and to God,” (p. 162), will help the couple to see the truth about the effects of sin within each other and their marriage. By helping them learn their attribute style regrading sin and along with helping them use prayer and Scripture as tool of insight into their personal relationship with sin and God, which will bring them to enter deeply into their spiritual life, which will require for both abandon sin management and seek inner transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit (McMinn, 2007, p 165). This form of spiritual discipline can help them heal their marriage along with healing induvial. I also think that it could beneficial for the counselor to us a some of the confronting approaches to deal with the couple’s sin, such

Christians today are perceived much differently now than they were in past generations. In his book UnChristian, David Kinnaman reveals what the current standings of young outsiders, or those that do not identify with Christianity, are about Christians in comparison to past generations (referred to in the book as “Mosaics” or “Busters” depending on the year of their birth). Though unfortunate, this faith is seen more as club or a social circle of the elite rather than a group of people faithful to their beliefs.

In multiple instances in the book they are put to the test to try and reclaim holiness they may have lost due to their poor actions. Constantly facing obstacles in their journey that test their conscience and cause them to choose between what is good and what is

The washing of sins with one’s blood in trade of embracing the love of God further adds to the ethical appeals and desire to seek forgiveness. Eliminating his previous condescending approach on sinners and their actions, Edwards encourages the escape from fear and guilt into the “rejoicing and singing for joy...” (129). Edwards’s shift in tone intricately leads the audience to desire completion of his

He writes, “I don't need to rely on a love which understands for me, a pastor who has conscience for

It’s about humbling yourself and saying, “What I want to do is not as important as what God wants me to do.” Even if the work you do begins to seem monotonous and pointless, you have to trust that there is a purpose. Another thing I learned was the way NJHS members are