Satisfaction

 Stay tuned, I might do a post on how satisfaction (also called contentment) is a wonderful thing, especially for me.  I have much to say about it.  Let's explore it together.

Just Want To Make Some Things Clear.

I was with my family shopping, when we encountered someone from an old church.  The conversation at one point turned to Dad's profession as a pastor (bivocationally).  

The lady asked, "Do you go [to his church]?"

I along with my brother was silent.  We hardly ever go to church, but for different reasons.  Besides, we work practically every day as custodians.

"You still believe, don't you?"

We all agreed.  I said, "Yeah, we believe." (I meant, we all believe in God and the basic facts of Christianity).

I then added, "...believe in the Bible."  (I meant, I believe what the Bible says, even the literal controversial teachings.)

I later clarified myself, saying with a quicker and slightly lower tone, "I believe in the Bible.", speaking for just myself.  I never explicitly said that my family didn't believe in the Bible.  I do have my doubts of this because I believe in the Bible more plainly and literally (similar to Fundamentalists but not precisely like them), and the rest of my family doesn't.  I'm not saying I'm better than my family.  I'm just saying that my SPECIFIC faith is in the "Bible", the Word of God.  I don't believe in any denomination.  I simply wish to take God at His Word, no matter how crazy it is.  

I don't know the extent of my family's belief in Christ, I've simply stopped automatically considering anyone, including myself, a believer simply because they say that are, for there are loads of false teachings in this world with the label of Christ. 

Why am I saying all of this?  I have taken a more plain and literal take on the Bible, and question everyone else who does not, because of my exposure to Darwin Fish and A True Church, who, not explicitly, drew me to search the Scriptures for myself.  I have yet to reconcile the notion of "God is a man" and the "two virgin births" teachings.  All that matters is that I can set aside everyone else's notion of what the Bible says and just read it for myself.  If we agree, great!  If not, I am not responsible on the Day of Judgment.

In conclusion, by simply getting my religion from the Bible and nowhere else, no one can say I relied on mere men, Darwin Fish included.  That, and I'd rather just speak for myself about my faith, because of that I am more sure.

James 5:16

 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16, KJV)

UPDATE:  No, I am not observing Lent.  I just realized that I am posting this on "Ash Wednesday".  And No, "Mardi Gras" was not on my mind.

Lately, I've been thinking about this concept, about confessing your sins to a fellow believer (and yes, I may have had some Matthew 5:28-ish issues last night, maybe more accurately, not following I Corinthians 6:18).  Some say we are to only confess to God.  They say that we are not to seek "absolution" for our sins.  They say that the following Scripture is enough:

“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, KJV)

I wonder:  What do I do?  I'm not Catholic, Catholicism is full of heresy.  

At the very least, I can confess to God.  Nowhere in the following passages is an additional party needed to receive forgiveness:

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psalms 32:5, KJV)

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, KJV)

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14, KJV)

So where does James 5:16 fit in?  What if there is no believer for you to confess your sins to?

Honestly, I don't know.

In the name of potential obedience to James 5:16, I address this post to any who are true believers, those are among the "one to another".

Oh, and I've also implemented Matthew 5:29 concerning last night's issues.  For years, I've been wrestling with doctrine concerning masturbation, from Darwin Fish of A True Church (he says that masturbation in and of itself is not sinful, I agree).  If I have sinned in this matter, it is not Mr. Fish's fault, I may have simply misread his stuff.  So what is the implementation?  Cutting off masturbation entirely.  This will solve so many problems, especially the following:

“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23, KJV)