Reluctant to Apologize Christians

And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.  And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.  But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him. If thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.  When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His Voice: (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, verses 27-31.

I love reading passages like this.  God tells us how angry He is when we turn away from Him, but He also loves us and is willing to forgive us if we turn back to Him.  I think it’s appropriate that we call Him, God the Father, because He loves us as a parent would, only in a much more pure and consistent way.
When we were kids and ran through the house, knocking over a lamp and breaking it, our parents were unhappy.  We might have had a consequence for not following the rules, but our parents still loved us.  That was even more evident after we came to them to apologize for breaking the rules.
Even if we are Reluctant to Apologize Christians, God is always willing to take us back and forgive us no matter how many times we missed church, used His Name in vain or acted in unchristian ways.  If we truly turn to Him, God is always there to forgive us and accept us, but we need to be committed enough to try to be examples of how He works in our lives.

Here are some related passages:
*Go and proclaim these Words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My Voice, saith the LORD.  Jeremiah, Chapter 3, verses 12-13.
*If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent Me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.  Jeremiah, Chapter 26, verse 3.

*Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?  shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the first of my body for the sin of my soul?  He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  Micah, Chapter 6, verses 6-8.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Christians

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.  Numbers, Chapter 30, verse 2.
After reading this, it became very apparent to me that God really wants us to take our vows seriously and to actually do what we say we are going to do.  We aren’t to say things in a stressful situation like, “God, if you just get me through this IRS audit, I promise I will give money to the poor.”  When the audit is over, the person is relieved and forgets all about the vow they made.  As Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Christians, we don’t have to make promises to God when we pray, but if we do, we are to make sure that we take our vows seriously.

Here is a related passage:

*When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.  Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5, verses 4-5.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Selective Christians

Therefore shall ye observe all My Statutes, and all My judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.  Leviticus, Chapter 19, verse 37.

God didn’t say to follow the rules that sound good to us or we Selective Christians who are just following the rules that are convenient for us and leave the rest?  We are to observe them all!

Here are some related passages:
*Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations.  And repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.  Thou shalt therefore keep the Commandments, and the Statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.  Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 7, verses 9-12.
*But if ye will not obey the Voice of the LORD, but rebel against the Commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.  1 Samuel, Chapter 12, verse 15.
*The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.  Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.  Psalm, Chapter 11, verses 5-7.
*The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God.  Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.  Every one of them is gone: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Psalm, Chapter 53, verses 1-3.
*Evil pursueth sinner: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.  Proverbs, Chapter 13, verse 21.

*A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.  Proverbs, Chapter 27, verse 12.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Only If Christians

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.  Leviticus, Chapter 19, verses 17-18.

This is one of many passages where God tells us that we are to love each other.  He doesn’t put a stipulation in there that says, “You are to love each other ONLY IF: they have the right skin color, they have the same sexual preference, they come from the right side-of-the tracks or they have similar beliefs and goals.  We are to be Christians and love everyone! 

There are people that don’t believe in God.  Although, I don’t have to support their beliefs because there is only One God, I’m to love them, to be considerate of them and to not hold grudges against them because their beliefs are different than mine.  If I’m an Only If Christian, resenting them or treating them in a less than kind manner, I’m the one who isn’t being a good example of how Christ works in my life.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Cautious Christians

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.  Revelation, Chapter 13, verses 16-18.
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  Revelation, Chapter 14, verse 11.

You don’t have to truly understand things to be careful.  I don’t truly understand why I shouldn’t microwave food in plastic bowls, but credible people have said that this can be harmful, so I just don’t do it!
I can’t attest to understanding all of Revelation or Daniel, Chapter 10 through Chapter 12, but I do know enough to be careful when I see a warning.  It talks about people losing their Salvation by getting the mark of the beast in either their right hand or their forehead.  People won’t able to buy or sell things unless they get this mark.  Every now and then I get concerned when I hear about discussions within the government to take security precautions that might be similar to the mark of the beast.
It’s very commonplace for people to use credit cards to purchase things in stores or over the Internet.  The papers and magazines are riddled with columns about rampant identity theft, not to mention hackers who are hacking into computer systems to get vital information.  I’m concerned that they will institute security measures that are similar to the mark of the beast, whether it’s a number, a computer chip or something else to protect people from identity theft.
What worries me even more, is that I think people will be so excited about having this extra security that protects them, they won’t even realize that they are getting the mark of the beast and are losing their Salvation in the process.  We are warned to have wisdom.  Be Cautious Christians about what you do, and trust the instincts that God gives you.  He will guide you by these

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Forgetful Christians

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds.  2 John, Chapter 1, verses 9-11.

There are groups that say “Your higher power as you understand him,”or, “ god as you understand him.”  At first, I thought this was a polite way of acknowledging people’s different beliefs.  Then, as I read the Bible more, I realized that every time I said this, I was condoning the other people’s concept of god as being God, but that wasn’t right.  The Bible lets me know that I’m not supposed to condone any other concept of god.  There is only One True God.  Facsimiles just won’t work!  (That doesn’t mean that I’m supposed to be rude or judgmental of people who believe differently than I do.)  It does mean that I shouldn’t give credit to their version of god as being The One True God.

Here are some related passages:
*And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.  Exodus, Chapter 23, verse 13.
*Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.  Psalm, Chapter 90, verse 2.
*Unto thee it was shown that thou mightest know that the LORD He is God, there is none else beside Him.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, verse 35.
*For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  Psalm, Chapter 96, verse 5.
*I am the LORD: that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.  Isaiah, Chapter 42, verse 8.
*Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of Hosts; I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God.  Isaiah, Chapter 44, verse 6.
*Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even My witnesses.  Is there a God beside Me?  yea, there is no God; I know not any.  Isaiah, Chapter 44, verse 8.
*Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself.  Isaiah, Chapter 44, verse 24.
*I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me: that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none beside Me.  I am the LORD, and there is none else.  Isaiah, Chapter 45, verses 5-6.
*For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.  I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.  Isaiah, Chapter 45, verses 18-19.
*Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else: I am God, and there is none like Me.  Isaiah, Chapter 46, verse 9.
*Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am He; I am the First, I also am the Last.  Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call upon them, they stand up together.  Isaiah, Chapter 48, verses 12-13.
*What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?  Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.  But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.  Habakkuk, Chapter 2, verses 18-20.
*There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  Ephesians, Chapter 4, verses 4-6.

You wouldn’t think God should have to repeat it over and over throughout the Bible, but people are weak.  As Forgetful Christians, they get distracted and become vulnerable to other people and other religious groups and cultures.  Since He knows we are very forgetful, He keeps reminding us that He and He alone is the only God as you can see through all of these Bible passages.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Whole Heart Christians

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in Truth.  And hereby we know that we are of the Truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His Commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John, Chapter 3, verses 18-22.

We could go around bragging about all our Christian deeds, but God knows what’s in our hearts.  He knows if we harbor resentments or biases toward others.  He knows if we are hateful and rude to our family members and people who are different than we are.
He knows if we give to others through our actions and our finances with a willing heart.  (Although I have tried to help others, I have often been guilty of being resentful for the amount of time or money I have given.  Fortunately, God has taken the time to show me this.  I do know that He would much rather that I do these things for Him with a willing heart.)

God can see what really is in our hearts and minds, although we can disguise it from others.  We need to truly believe in God and not just in outward ways.  We are to love Him with our whole heart and He will be there to answer our prayers and to take care of our every need.  (Of course, getting the high-level position you want at work may not fall into the category of basic needs.  God, alone, knows what is best for us Whole Heart Christians.)

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Atta Boy Christians

BEHOLD, WHAT manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.  1 John, Chapter 3, verses 1-3.


Christians can’t expect this big pat on their back and an “Atta Boy” from society for all their dedication to their faith.  The majority of society is too busy living worldly lives to focus on acknowledging people who make sacrifices because of their commitment to God.  They wouldn’t understand what is involved because they don’t know God in their lives.  As Atta Boy Christians, their worldly choices cloud the Light that God provides to lead them to Salvation.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Hate Filled Christians

He that saith he is in the Light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the Light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.  1 John, Chapter 2, verses 9-11.

We can go through all the motions of being good Christians, but if we hate another human being, we aren’t walking in the Light of God.  It doesn’t matter if our hate is directed to a relative or somebody with skin, beliefs or lifestyles that are different than ours.
Hate takes up too much space in our hearts and squeezes God out.  In order to allow God to totally Light up our lives, we have to let go of our hatred and biases.  I know that isn’t always as easy as it sounds.  As Hate Filled Christians, if we turn to God with this, He will truly take care of it, if we ask Him to.

Here are some related passages:

*Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.     1 John, Chapter 4, verse 11.
*No man hath seen God at anytime.  If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.  Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  1 John, Chapter 4, verses 12-16.

*We love Him, because He first loved us.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen?  And this Commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.  1 John, Chapter 4, verses 19-21.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Tunnel Vision Christians

This then is the message which we have heard of Him and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the Truth: But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.  1 John, Chapter 1, verses 5-10.

This reminds me of being lost in a cave with lots of different tunnels.  If we know that God is the Light that we see at the end of the tunnel, we are relieved.  If we move confidently toward that Light, we will be saved.  The darkness is all types of worldly things like: greed, drugs, infidelity, gossip and a variety of other things that can lead us away from our focus on Jesus, who is our Light and Salvation.
Now, if we tell ourselves that the Light at the end of the tunnel is too far away and give up, we can lose our way by getting lost running down the wrong tunnels, trying to navigate the worldly temptations in darkness and lose our focus on God.

As Tunnel Vision Christians, Salvation is ours if we look down the tunnel and see the path that God provides for us as He illuminates the way, if we’d only let Him.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Moral Support Christians

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  2 Peter, Chapter 3, verse 8.

I think this passage is important for us to remember when we read Bible passages that refer to specific amounts of time, so that we don’t take the dates too literally.
This makes me think about how insignificant time can be.  When I was younger, I used to spend some time in the summers with my grandmother.  The weeks with her sped by so quickly that before I knew it, I was leaving to return home.  She approached everything with enthusiasm, whether it was trying to figure out answers on game shows or reading.
She had a zest for everything she did and her enthusiasm was contagious.  She is the person who developed my love for reading.  She read thick novels and when I was about 8 years old I told her that I wished I could read big books like she did.  She told me that I could and took me to the public library.  She helped me pick out a humorous adult novel that would interest me.  I took great pride in reading that novel, encouraged by her confidence in my abilities.  I’m not sure that I would have attempted something like that, otherwise.

Well, I think the same is true for Christians.  Our enthusiasm for our relationship with God can be contagious, as well.  As Moral Support Christians, we can share this with others with confidence in their ability to be open to all God has for them.  Our moral support and encouragement can make all the difference in their developing this important relationship that might not have happened otherwise.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Pinocchio Christians

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  2 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 18-19.

This passage reminds me of the story Pinocchio.  Pinocchio was encouraged to go with the others boys to the Land of Toys where they had no responsibilities.  People could do worldly things and have fun all the time.  Well, Pinocchio was led astray just as some people are led astray by false prophets.
Pinocchio and the others had extreme consequences for living the worldly life.  They started turning into donkeys.  Well, I think people who lead the same type of worldly lives today end up not only looking like donkeys to others, but lose their chance for Salvation in the process.
Fortunately, if we turn our lives around after having lived the life of Pinocchio, God will forgive us and guide us.  This isn’t something to be manipulated.  “Oh, I’ll lead a worldly life now, while I’m younger.  Then, when I’m older, I will settle down because I know God will forgive me for making these choices.”

God tells us Pinocchio Christians in this passage to not be taken in like Pinocchio was.  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter, Chapter 3, verses 17-18.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

So-So Christian

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.  2 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 4 -9.

I’m reminded that God didn’t spare the fallen angels (Satan and his followers).  He did spare Noah and his family and the rest of the people in the world perished in the flood due to their beliefs and lifestyle choices.  God saved Lot and the rest of Gomorrha perished due to their beliefs and lifestyle choices.

God is definitely not telling me that it’s okay to be a “So-so Christian” and that I’ll get to heaven anyway.  I feel He’s telling me that all these people perished for their wayward beliefs and choices.  Only those who were dedicated to God were saved.  I need to be equally dedicated to my belief in God if I want to be saved too.  God knows that I won’t be perfect, but He also knows what’s in my heart and if I’m genuinely trying be an example of how He works in my life.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Bible Reading Christians

We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  2 Peter, Chapter 1, verses 19-21.


The ability to interpret the Bible’s message doesn’t belong to any one person or group, especially if they feel that they are the only ones who know what God’s Will is.  It’s important for me to remember this because there are religious fads, cults, trends and religious leaders who may suggest beliefs that sound good but are really contrary to God’s Will, as stated in the Bible.  It’s easier to interpret the Bible than many lead you to believe.  As Bible Reading Christians, trust the instincts that God gives you and He will guide you as you read the Bible for yourself.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.
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