Comments on: A Personal Rant on “Victorious Living”

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:53:16 +0000

*blush*

You guuuuys…
Thanks for the kind words. And Rong, thanks for reminding Brian - he needs it every now and then. ;) But then again, sometimes I do, too!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:01:12 +0000

Jen you rock! Brian is a lucky guy to have a wife as thoughtful as you.

Yeah, I know.

By: Rong

Rong — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:53:23 +0000

Jen you rock! Brian is a lucky guy to have a wife as thoughtful as you.
The Word Faith movement bugs me to no end, but it’s suprising how well it seems to work for some people. Of course that always makes me question and fear how truly involved the Great Deciever is in this world.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 03:29:32 +0000

Thanks for the comments, ladies! I appreciate the feedback. I’m still a little uneasy when I push that “publish” button!

Reon,
That’s a great sign to have on your desk. I might have to “borrow” that quote sometime.

Corrie,
You’re so right. How you deal with this whole thing is really closely tied to the concept of grace. It changed my life when I realized that not only did I do nothing to earn my salvation, I do nothing to keep it (or as you said, to deserve it). I would have included more about that whole idea in this post, but this was just a quick “rant,” as I said. Maybe I’ll work on it for a later… Thanks for helping to keep the thought spinning in my head!

Lynn,
The warning about being “Job’s comfortors” is a good one. You you also make some good points about the implications of this type of theology. Thank God He is bigger than we can ask or even imagine!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:43:34 +0000

“Simply saying the name Jesus (or even saying it the right way) does not mean that we win the grand prize of all Christianity - the Holy Bubble Suit complete with Teflon coating.”

This is true, contrary to much of what is taught on TBN, unfortunately.

It is these kinds of false teachings and notions that turn people into “Job’s comfortors.”

I think it is an almost automatic human reaction that when something bad happens to us, we wonder what it was we did to bring it on. The guilt that these outside ideas can bring at such times really augments that tortured soul searching. It’s sad.

By: Corrie

Corrie — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:53:17 +0000

Great post. This is a lesson God has been teaching me, especially lately. Pride really sets in when everything goes our way and we being to think it is because we are such great people and faithful Christians. We then look down upon those who don’t have it as good as us and we begin to judge them…”What are they doing wrong?” Well, life just doesn’t work that way. God has been merciful when I have least deserved it and when I “deserved”, according to my human perspective, (not that I deserve anything!) some pretty tragic things have happened. I began to see that all of this is from the hand of God and He just wants me to trust Him and rest in Him. He is using these things to teach me and to perfect me even though I don’t see it in the midst of whatever is going on.

By: Reon

Reon — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 02:11:18 +0000

I knew a guy in college who told me that because of my faith, he was sure that God would bless me with a big house and nice cars. Never mind God blessing me with his love, mercy, grace, presence in life, peace that surpasses understanding. Nope. Nice cars and big houses.

I drive a used ‘95 Honda Accord with 190K miles on it (and no hubcaps), and live in a small 2BR/1BA apartment with the majority of my worldly possessions in a friend’s basement across town. If I were to honestly believe that God’s approval of me was evidenced by my material comfort level in life, I’d say I’m not doin’ so hot (or maybe God just disapproves of my husband). ;o)

I don’t dare say I have a miserable life, but it’s certainly not free of stresses, struggles and pains, either. Praise be to God! It’s during the times when my life is out of my control that I learn to depend on my Savior the most. Let’s face it, I tend to forget I need God when things are going well.

I have a frame on my desk at work with the following quote on it by Brennan Manning:
“May all of your expectations be frustrated,
May all of your plans be thwarted,
May all of your desires be withered into nothingness,
That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child,
And can sing and dance in the love of God,
Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Thanks, Jenn, for the reminder not only to realize that we’re not free from suffering, but that we are called to “rejoice in our sufferings” (Romans 5: 1-5). And rejoice we can, because we serve a great God.