Like Paul, we live in an era of multiple religious belongings. Some are overt, others … not so much. Amidst all that, we must know what we do know and what we believe. Being a diehard, souled out, all or nothing personality, we know what Paul would say. What about us, what do we believe? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
2 Timothy 2:8-9 NIV
[8] Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
[9] for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
Souled Out Believer
Siblings, there truly is a plethora of religious choices available to us in these times. I remember hearing someone speak of the supermarket or church hopping culture adopted by many in our time. The proliferation of social media means that the choices are, perhaps, more accessible. And, if the choice we made doesn’t suit us, we can scroll to the next, flip a channel, or attend somewhere else. It really is that simple.
Self-Check
Are we satisfied with our current places of worship? How so? Do we have specific criteria that govern our decision?
Application
I believe that our Nougat offers an entry point for this reflection. Paul is unequivocal, as we ought also to be. He stated categorically, that Son of David, Who rose from and also conquered death – He’s MY Gospel. If the Gospel (euaggelion) means Good News, then we, like Paul, must know what our good news is. Though we generally agree about what and in Whom we believe, we each must understand what we actually believe. For Paul, as well as myself, our Gospel is the resurrected Christ. No qualifiers.
Any place of worship I attend must proclaim that as the basis of its faith. Not every place that bears the word church in its title is genuinely souled out on that Gospel. I’m not prepared to compromise. Especially when the going gets tough.
I urge you, siblings, to be discerning in your choices. Not every miracle is of God’s Spirit, not everywhere that says ‘Lord, Lord’ is preaching about the resurrected Christ (see Matthew 7:21). We have to stop and discern.
Being souled out also means we’re firm in our conviction to the extent that we will die for it. Like Paul, we must be willing to go that extra mile for our faith in the resurrected Christ. When we know our Gospel, it is easier to do so.
Point to Ponder
If it came to it, are we prepared to be imprisoned or to die for our Faith?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
