I changed the site a bit…

Hey there, I changed the blog just a tad a few days ago, because of some feed back I got.  I got an unsolicited email from someone that had looked at the blog.  It was saying stuff like, “why aren’t you doing this?” and “you seemed in turmoil”.  

 

 

Hey Ben…

Sorry for being a while getting back to you…. off with flu and well…. busy life.

Anyway… by all means post our dialogue.

I did not detect that it was a guest posting on your site regarding Judgement.  I was indeed agreeing that judging is wrong.  I believe we can judge behaviours and circumstances but not people.  The more I live, the more I recognize the power of what Jesus taught and lived.  And all of this learning is happening outside of church.  Not that it can’t happen in church. Just my path is outside for the time being.

I am intrigued by celebrate recovery.  There is a regular meeting in my home town that I have just learned about.  I am anticipating attending soon.

My issue with churchy people and the 12 steps is that I have been on the receivng end of a lot of ignorant judgement lately…. and in the past as well.  Including by a leader of a Teen Challenge centre who mocked and belittled the 12 steps yet his centre was a farce as far as helping people get clean and sober.

I am sure lots of people take stray tangents with the 12 steps but that does not stop those of us who apply them as a practical expression of the Bible to do so in our walk as believers.  Anything can be corrupted.  Christianity is frequently corrupted but extreme sects and cults.  Anyway….

Will dialogue more …. will make some time this week.

Ciao

Chaz

 

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM, Benjamin Smith <benjamindsmith@mac.com> wrote:

Chaz,

Brother,

I think I mistook your email.  I just visited your site and spent a few minutes browsing.  I can safely say you’re definitely better written than I expected.  

Again, thanks for the time, and your comments.  I’ll see if I can clean up my blog, so it’ll make more sense.  It’s a first for me.  

Thanks,

Ben

 

Then I read his blog and sent the following…

 

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:28 PM, Benjamin Smith <benjamindsmith@mac.com> wrote:

Hey Chaz,

Thanks for the mail, I appreciate the time it took.

And, well, I read your email and I am now thoroughly confused as well.  What if you write me back, with examples of what your talking about, so that I can speak to each one specifically.

Gigantic first of all, I’m dreaming people will comment.  The only exception, is the “step 5″ post.  That’s not a blog, but a page on my blog, meant as a testament.  I went first, with my step 5, and as the page explains, if others would like to participate, that’s awesome.  I don’t want the page to turn into a “we’re so glad you’re doing good”, and have it end up being about me, instead of Jesus working in me.  So, the “step 5″ page is just for people that want to confess their sins.  In order to moderate that most efficiently, because i’ve got multiple authors on the site, I will be go-between to post stuff on that page.

Secondly, the post titled “Do Not Judge…” was written by one of my contributors, a 15 year old girl.  I was totally excited by the fact that she was able to get the fact that she’s been judging and that it’s wrong, while she was studying through James.  Totally excited.  I’m not sure if you’re agreeing with her, and me, by saying that judging is wrong, or that you misunderstood Ray and thought she was condoning it.

Thirdly, I would love to talk to you further about some of the things you mentioned.  Swearing, profanity, blasphemy, people thinking that if they get rid of the “verbal” sins then they’re good.  HAHAHA…  

I’m not sure what experience you have with Celebrate Recover, a 12 step program, but it’s the most Christ centered “things” I’ve ever been able to attend.  If I miss-represented it, I apologize.  Dude, seriously, CR is awesome.  Not sure why it would sadden you that I have been successful in my recovery, while leaning solely upon the strength Jesus gives me, and receiving fellowship from people that love me despite it all.

So, this has been awesome Chaz.  You’re the first to contact me so far.  And again, I appreciate the time it took to put your email together.  If I have cleared anything up for you that’s cool.  If you’re still not understandinging, reply and we’ll go through it further.

I can be reached in AIM too, using benjamindsmith@mac.com, if you’d like to IM.  A little quicker on the response time.  I’ve been painting the house with my wife tonight, so it’s kinda late already.

Also, If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love to post our conversation as well.

Thanks,

Ben

 

On Mar 26, 2009, at 9:19 PM, Chaz wrote:

Hey Ben…. I go by Chaz,

I read through you blog somewhat.  I dont get what you are trying to do or say.  But you kinda seem in a bit of turmoil.

If you want your blog to be a ministry, why wouldnt you want comment dialogue?  That is one way blogs get read when others see that others have read and commented.  Anyway… it is entirely up to you but it just kinda stood out to me.

I read your post on Judgement.  To me, I find it a paradox that judgement is so frequent and accepted in the wester modern christian culture.  I refer to it as one of the “acceptable vices”.  Smoking and swearing are out, but judgement is open territory. 

Yet Jesus was pretty clear that judgement was one of the most un-graceful things we could do.  And very much what he came to give an alternative to.  Jesus exemplified tolerance and acceptance of others.  Even those who persecuted and harmed him.

Yet there is very little reference made to swearing and your average Christian in my experience is quick to jump on that behaviour and not judgement.

I guess the subject of Judgement is on my mind as I am bothered right now by a lot of judgement by what I feel are ignorant Christians judging people in 12 step programs.  Long story.  Another time.  But I see them on these blogs and it bothers me.  Saddens me.

Anyway…. for me, I am looking for something different in my “Church” experience than what I have experienced at established mainline churches.  I believe God will show up in some pretty amazing and seemingly unlikely places. 

Anyway…. my blog is www.yuppieaddict.wordpress.com

Will cross paths again I am sure.

Ciao.

Chaz

στενάζω = stenazō = ste-nä’-zō

I’ve been commanded not to do this in James.  

I’ve read it before but it’s one of those things I rarely obey.  

Maybe because I haven’t thought it through, maybe because I’m lazy.   I mean, it’s common sense… it makes sense to me.  I wouldn’t want my employees to do it towards me, or their peers.  It’s divisive at the core, silently sowing contempt and evil in the heart.  Instead of bringing unity and compassion, this further divides us, driving a wedge where we should be strapping stuff together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This word is also translated as: groan, sigh, with grief, grudge.

 

In James 5:9 we see him instructing the believers not to grumble against one another.  This isn’t a light hearted suggestion; this is a command.  One of about 50 that are in this book.  Check it out:

Jam 5:9

Don’t grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. For look! The great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door!

 

After studying though this, my brain now correlates this “grumbling” together with “complaining” and “judging” introspectively toward other believers.  This is a silent groan, one just for myself.  It’s not “murmuring”.   I’ve heard a couple messages on that.  Like,  when the crowd murmurred against Jesus.  Right?   A soft voice, you can hear the hmmm of the crowd.  The buzz when people don’t agree.  What happens when a teacher announces a surprise test?  Murmuring.  What happens when they announce a delayed flight at the airport?  Murmuring.  This isn’t talking about “Don’t murmur against each other believers.”  This is saying don’t “grumble” against each other.  It’s saying, don’t groan inwardly about other believers.  Up until yesterday I thought it was murmuring, just had assumed.  You know what they say about assumptions.

 

Ouch!!!

 

I’m a very opinionated person.  I really am.  You can ask almost anybody that knows me and they’ll all be honest about how rude I am.  Now, I like to think I’m much better these days about keeping that rudeness to myself, but it’s still there a lot of time.  I try hard not to let it show it’s ugly face.

 

Inward Groaning~Sighing~Grudging~Complaining…  Bellyaching!!!   that’s it, and that word sounds better than saying “inward groaning”.

 

How many times have you been sitting under a pastor’s teaching and marked down things you would have done or said differently at the same moment you were judging them?  Bellyaching to yourself about how much better you would have been…

How many times have you “inwardly groaned” when you heard a fellow believer talking about evangelism?  Bellyaching to yourself about how annoying this person sounds, or how immature, or how young in the faith…

How many times have you thought “with grief” about another believer regarding their speech, dress, beliefs, sins, shortcomings?  Bellyaching to yourself about yet another inadequate person…

How many times have you begrudged another believer for their lack of service, failure to tithe or shortage of fruit?  Bellyaching to yourself about how nobody works as hard as you do…

 

I can’t think of a day I haven’t, well, since at least since I started calling myself a Christian.

 

God is good, take this one to heart as I try to, and remember; don’t grumble against your fellow believers!

 

They are the soldiers that are guarding your back on the front lines, the ones bringing ammo and medical attention, the ones that will give your unit direction, and maybe the ones that will carry your body off the field.

 

 We’re in this fight together, and we better recognize this fact.  A house divided falls.