tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post8846304698333708134..comments2023-09-13T10:52:42.450-05:00Comments on Dawg on the Lawn: 7 Ways to be a Better Christian in 2010Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667201139980869656noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-55900662354597240842010-01-08T13:46:44.925-05:002010-01-08T13:46:44.925-05:00I just know that God says we are to be a doer of t...I just know that God says we are to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, and because we're not perfect we can perfectly do what the Word says. But hopefully as the years go by, and we get closer to God, and walk more in His power, we choose more and more to be a doer.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-41418770864039901242010-01-08T10:53:43.721-05:002010-01-08T10:53:43.721-05:00Dorci,
Not really.
I really am interested in ...Dorci,<br /><br /> Not really. <br /><br />I really am interested in your point of view (even though I may disagree at times).<br /><br />You have made some good points and I think I have a better handle on what you are driving at.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-91149922925955927862010-01-08T00:56:18.294-05:002010-01-08T00:56:18.294-05:00I know you're just placating. That's okay...I know you're just placating. That's okay. I was trying to explain where I was coming from.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-22425295401498795462010-01-07T21:48:23.833-05:002010-01-07T21:48:23.833-05:00OK, Dorci!
Thanks for clearing that up!OK, Dorci!<br /><br />Thanks for clearing that up!Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-24135475969638302572010-01-06T18:14:37.263-05:002010-01-06T18:14:37.263-05:00Just so you understand, Steve, my motive is not to...Just so you understand, Steve, my motive is not to climb to God, or to get Him to love me or accept me more. <br /><br />On the contrary. It is because of my growing love for Him that I want to do His will more and more. <br /><br />And God does want something from us: our hearts. Hence the verse - love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. Love grows as we know someone more and more, and that applies to our relationship with God as well as with people. <br /><br />Again, it's not about a relationship-less religion where we do things to appease God, it's about an active, growing, loving relationship between God and the believer, and that growing love causing the son or daughter of God to desire to do His will more. The more we die to ourselves, the more we will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us to take up our cross and die to Him. That is something we are told to do. We have the choice each day to do that or not.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-59615732429820784272010-01-06T17:23:01.528-05:002010-01-06T17:23:01.528-05:00I beg everyone to heed #5. I'm not saying tha...I beg everyone to heed #5. I'm not saying that it should be the most important to you, but it's the most important to me.<br /><br />When talking about non-believers, please think of #5:<br /><br />"<i>Do not ascribe to people motives they may not have.</i>"Nohmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04810408271483617763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-33493263107154164022010-01-06T15:05:15.239-05:002010-01-06T15:05:15.239-05:00He doesn't want anything or need anything that...He doesn't want anything or need anything that you have to give Him other than your sin.<br /><br />We ought strive to give to the neighbor. They need what we have.<br /><br />Ladder theology is Roman Catholic.<br /><br />I know many, many Christians who are climbing the ladder to God. It is totally unnecessary since He descended to the bottom of a grave for us.<br /><br />Thanks, Dorci.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-61761034871687320232010-01-06T13:02:52.972-05:002010-01-06T13:02:52.972-05:00I am not anything near Roman Catholic.
And the ...I am not anything near Roman Catholic. <br /><br />And the question is, how much more of me will I give Christ?Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-61800641122829834282010-01-06T11:53:53.577-05:002010-01-06T11:53:53.577-05:00Dorci, that is 'ladder theology' and it is...Dorci, that is 'ladder theology' and it is Roman Catholic at the core.<br /><br />"All of you who have been baptized have put on Christ."<br /><br /> - St. Paul<br /><br />How much more of Christ does one need?Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-86882052841273018802010-01-05T23:20:02.609-05:002010-01-05T23:20:02.609-05:00Yes, Steve, we can. That's why Jesus lays out...Yes, Steve, we can. That's why Jesus lays out for believers all kinds of behaviors that we are to do and not do. When we choose to love our neighbor as ourself, it is better, and God is more glorified, than if we don't. <br /><br />If I use my gifts wisely, I am a good and faithful servant, according to Jesus in Matthew 25. If I don't use my gifts, I am a wicked and slothful servant. <br /><br />There are many, many other examples that can be used. This has nothing to do with salvation. I'm not earning my salvation by "being good." I already have my salvation. Now it is up to me to cooperate with the Lord in all He is teaching me and convicting me of to be of the best use in His hands that I can.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-44752246043049158592010-01-05T21:12:48.258-05:002010-01-05T21:12:48.258-05:00Yes, Dorci, you can be a better wife...or whatever...Yes, Dorci, you can be a better wife...or whatever...but not a better Christian. Since it is Christ's forgiveness of us and His gift of faith that make us a Christian in the first place...what we do has nothing at all to do with it.<br /><br />If it were true that we could become better Christians by what we do...then we'd all better get with it, because all I see is a bunch of sinful, disobedient, self-focused people (most of the time) who claim the title of Christian.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-78331429317177314862010-01-05T09:59:41.515-05:002010-01-05T09:59:41.515-05:00tomato..tomahto..
but, yes, maybe another word, l...tomato..tomahto..<br /><br />but, yes, maybe another word, like effective, would be less misunderstood.<br /><br />I think what it comes down to is being less of ourselves and allowing the Holy Spirit to have more control of our lives.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-73201747233032304352010-01-05T09:56:43.732-05:002010-01-05T09:56:43.732-05:00Thelema,
Go away.
Everyone else,
Perhaps it co...Thelema,<br /><br />Go away.<br /><br /><br />Everyone else,<br /><br />Perhaps it could better be worded; '...a more <i>effective</i> Christian?ExPatMatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08666078524214384329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-58443343398469648372010-01-05T09:26:21.659-05:002010-01-05T09:26:21.659-05:00We are not better than another, but our own commit...We are not better than another, but our own commitment can be better than we were yesterday, last week, last year..Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-44178847459138247272010-01-05T09:16:45.165-05:002010-01-05T09:16:45.165-05:00Won't some Christians have more crowns to set ...Won't some Christians have more crowns to set at the feet of Christ than others? We can refrain from calling those better if you like.Joe A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01829844489009564295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-1384131085484829492010-01-05T09:05:04.295-05:002010-01-05T09:05:04.295-05:00Au contraire, Mr. Martin. I am a wife, but I can ...Au contraire, Mr. Martin. I am a wife, but I can be a better wife. I can be more attentive, more respectful, a better helper, etc. <br /><br />I am a Christian, but I can be a better, ie, more mature, less self-gratifying, giving God more of the glory, being more obedient to Him and less obedient to my flesh, sanctified wholly unto Him Christian.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-195856356348794952010-01-05T01:36:16.800-05:002010-01-05T01:36:16.800-05:00One cannot BE a BETTER CHRISTIAN.
One is either a...One cannot BE a BETTER CHRISTIAN.<br /><br />One is either a Christian and is a fully adopted member of the family...or one is not.<br /><br />There is no progressive ladder that Christians climb to better themselves. That is Roman Catholicism. That is 'religion'.<br /><br />But it's not reflective of the life of faith. <br /><br />Repentance and forgiveness is reflective of the life of faith...and that's all.<br /><br />Sorry to rain on anyone's God project.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-69588030658561570702010-01-05T00:16:56.987-05:002010-01-05T00:16:56.987-05:00haha! Sorry, just had to laugh at that last comme...haha! Sorry, just had to laugh at that last comment. <br /><br />I liked #5 also. And I agree with your clarification on #4. When I read that one in the article I thought, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the same God, they would do the same thing. <br /><br />Anyway, I've been thinking about you and glad to hear you're doing well after the surgery.Dorcihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814426436131129760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20374252.post-80516177653878978882010-01-04T10:16:30.642-05:002010-01-04T10:16:30.642-05:00I actually quite like these - #5 in particular is ...I actually quite like these - #5 in particular is something that we should all aspire to.<br /><br />Happy New Year!ExPatMatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08666078524214384329noreply@blogger.com