The American Christian Podcast

Do We Interpret the Bible Literally?

Biblical literalism is the method of interpreting scripture that says that, except in places where the text is obviously allegorical, poetic, or figurative, it should be taken literally. The confusion that would result from interpreting the scriputre figuratively would essentially render the Bible null and void.  This is what many have done.  The Bible is God's word to us and He meant it to be believed, literally and completely.

Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?

If God never gave us more than we can handle, why would we need Him?

Does Jesus Accept Everybody?

It is common among Non-Christians and far too many Christians to believe that Jesus somehow just accepted everyone without question, that he never had a harsh word to say about anyone, their beliefs, or their behaviors, and that his only message was for folks to just be happy and be nice. Jesus told us in scripture that many would say unto Him Lord, Lord, and proclaim how many wonderful works they did in His name and He would tell them depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.

Episode 37 - Wile E. Coyote and Church Attendance

My favorite cartoon of all time is Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner.  I can remember getting up early on Saturday morning as a kid to watch cartoons.  I could not wait for the Roadrunner.   I asked my 22 year old daughter who Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner were and she had no clue.  It seems like I have failed in part of my parenting.  I was about to say that most of you would know what I was talking about, but I guess I need to say that you have to be in your 30s or older to remember this cartoon. In each episode, the cunning, devious and constantly hungry coyote repeatedly attempts to catch and subsequently eat the Road Runner, but is unsuccessful in catching the Road Runner except on only extremely rare occasions. Instead of his animal instincts, the coyote uses absurdly complex contraptions to try to catch his prey, which comically backfire, with the coyote often getting injured in slapstick fashion. Many of the items he uses are mail-ordered from a variety of companies implied to be part of the Acme Corporation. One running gag involves the coyote trying, in vain, to shield himself with a little parasol against a great falling boulder that is about to crush him. Another involves him falling from high cliffs, after momentarily being suspended in midair—as if the fall is delayed until he realizes that there is nothing below him. The rest of the scene, shot from a bird's-eye view, shows him falling into a canyon so deep that his figure is eventually lost to sight, with only a small puff of dust indicating his impact. In one of the episodes, Wile E. tries to lift a boulder out from the ground using a crowbar as a type of lever. When the crowbar gets wedged under the boulder, Wile E. tries jumping on the upper fulcrum position of the crowbar. However, when he does, the boulder gets launched up in the air and then lands Wile E, crushing him.  When he pushes the boulder off, his body is like the bellow section of an accordion and he makes the same type of sound when he walks.   Yes, I will admit it is a slap-stick type of humor, which most people would not find amusing, but it always brings a smile to my face. Of course this episode of the podcast is not all about Wile E. Coyote and the roadrunner.  When I thought about the episode I just described, I began to think about the fulcrum that the coyote used to wedge the crowbar against.   You remember what a fulcrum is right?  It is the pivot point or prop about which a lever turns. It's like a hinge or support. On a see-saw, it is the hinge in the middle that the see-saw balances on. In a figurative sense of the word, it has a meaning of something that is essential. Simply put, in a figurative sense, the fulcrum would be the main thing or that thing which everything balances on.   Sometimes I sit in church with the realization that for a lot of folks, and when I say a lot of folks, I mean the vast majority, think the center point of the Christian walk with Jesus is building attendance. We have been raised to make church that "can't miss" thing of the Christian walk.   I am trying to teach myself the correct biblical language on this subject because biblically speaking, we do not GO to church.  the Bible clearly states that people who have placed their faith in Christ ARE the church.  We cannot go to something that we are! I need to clarify something before I go any further, because many people are good at hearing what I don't say.  Don't hear what is not being said in this podcast.  Listen to what is being said.  The only text that most preachers and even church people will use is Hebrews 10:25 where the author says that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  I agree that this is a command to meet with other believers, but this is NOT the main thing we are to do, yet so many Christians use this as that one thing to determine if a person is walking with the Lord.  Can I tell you something today?  There are many people who attend the building who do not have a close relationship with the Lord.  There are even people who attend the building who are lost and on their way to hell.   In evangelicalism, the practical disciplines of the spiritual life are: Go to church, read your bible, and pray daily.  If you want bonus points: Go to Sunday School and serve in a ministry of the church.  Do not get me wrong, these are wonderful expressions of the Christian life, but they are peripherals, not the fulcrum!! The church building is not the centerpiece of your walk with Jesus and if it is, you need to repent of idolatry. You can’t sit in church and say… “YES! This is it.” Attending church as a passive action, which most church goers do, is not active participation, anymore than watching football on TV is the same as playing in the game. Jesus didn’t come so you could go to church. He didn’t tear the veil between the Holy of Holies and the people so you could attend a service. That’s a foundational misunderstanding in the person and action of Christ. It really irritates me how people will act like others are not “good Christians” because they don't make it to church much.  I see posts on Facebook and other social media platforms all the time where people posting about church attendance in the most condescending manner, basically telling others they aren't good Christians because they don't' attend the building.  News flash, the thief on the cross never attended a worship service a day in his life. Again, don't hear what I am not saying.  I'm not saying we shouldn't meet together, but did you know I can do that on a Tuesday with three of my Christian friends where we talk about the Lord and read scripture together? We have this westernized view of worship service.  Did you know there are church gatherings all over this planet that still meet in houses? Where do we get this idea that a person is less of a Christian or not right with GAWD because they don't come to the same building we go to at the same time we go? We are not accepted by God by our building attendance.  Me attending the building or gathering no more makes me acceptable to God than dressing up a monkey in a three-piece suit, handing him a Bible and a tambourine, and then setting him on the front row, makes him acceptable to God. Our hearts have to be right, no matter where we are at. This is what’s most important to God, our hearts. Does Jesus dwell there? Is it brand new?  Every Sunday morning millions of people get ready for church. They put on their best clothes and head off to a geographical location to learn about God and worship Him. But really, it doesn’t matter where the actual church-going Christian is physically. God is much more interested in us understanding what kind of church we are—you and I. Luke even penned what Paul said about this, in Acts 17:24: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands” Friend, we house His Spirit at all times (see 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)–but do we show the world who Jesus really is through us? Or are we thinking that God is giving us a gold star for driving our rears to the nearest church building and sitting there for an hour? Can we get really honest? I've said this in many messages throughout the years.  Some of the meanest people on the planet go to church! Some of the meanest acting, most unloving people I know attend the building. They say things like.....“Well…if they don’t go to church then they just ain’t Christian.” “BACKSLIDERS! You better get back into church if you don’t want to go to hell!” You know what I want to say to some of these people in response to the things they say?  “So what! You don’t show it! Show me Jesus! If going to church makes me like you, then you can keep it! I don’t want to be like you at all!” We place so much importance on church attendance, but what about controlling your tongue? What about putting away pride and walking in humility? How loving are you towards those who you don't "go to church with?" Are you filled with the Spirit?  Do you show love? Joy? Peace? Gentleness? Meekness? Kindness? Self-control?  Can I tell you something, if not, then it doesn't matter if you go to the church building every day!! Friends, we gotta have change. We gotta change the way the world looks at church-going Christians! Church attendance means nothing if we don’t allow Christ to live through us. If we refuse to do this, then why are we going? We may as well sleep in or go fishing–or whatever. Be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to live through you! Be being the Church! LET HIM OUT OF YOU!! Listen to me carefully, I'm all for meeting together to worship.  Go. Please go.   Find one and get plugged in. You are a vital part of the body of Christ! But never find your identity in that building–or in what you do for the building. Find your identity in who lives in you! Why? Because YOU really are, His Church.

Episode 36-What About Tithing?

Many Christians struggle with the issue of tithing. In some churches giving is over-emphasized. I promise you I have been in churches before where all the preacher talks about is church attendance and tithing.  I want to let you know that I do not subscribe to the lie that God is going to get His money!! As if God needs your money to accomplish His purposes.  Can I get a witness!  While I say this emphatically, this is also not a way to establish a lifestyle where a person never gives off their monies to the work of the Lord.   Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes—one for the Levites, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land—which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system. After the death of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, the New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says gifts should be “in keeping with income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). “On the first day of the week let every one of you lay in store, as God has prospered him…….Some in the Christian church have taken the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving.  Saints we are no longer under a mandated 10% tithe.  One of the things that has always bothered me is the mandate.  Listen to what 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says…. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let every man give according to the purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having enough of everything, may abound to every good work.”  2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ How can we be under a mandated 10% and then Paul say under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we are to give as we purpose in our heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity? Saints if I have to give, if it is a command, then how can it be cheerful? How can it be out of a heart of love? No, he says give as you purpose in your heart, don’t do it grudgingly, and remember that you will reap what you sow.  He gives a reminder that if you give sparingly, then you will get sparingly. The opposite of that is true as well.   Although no tithe is demanded of the Christian, the New Testament talks about the importance and benefits of giving. We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means giving more than 10 percent; sometimes that may mean giving less. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the body of Christ. Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter (James 1:5). Above all, offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. (2 Corinthians 9:7).