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Bondman · 04-27-2008, 06:44 AM

Message #56

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIVING

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetSurrender

Purely as in "not watching certain movies and not gossiping or putting people down, etc.? Not doing things you are convicted of? Are these good examples in your mind, Fluffy?

Bondman said: "to get as much right-living/righteousness - similar to holiness - into our lives as we possibly can!"
So, is right-living/righteousness different from holiness? Can you give me an example of right-living, Bondman? I'm just trying to figure out if I am living righteously.

Does this include dressing yourself decently too? It could include a whole lot of things couldn't it? I noticed in my new church that the women dress a lot more modestly than they did at my old church, and it is noticable. But they don't seem to look down on anyone not dressed like them, so I don't feel bad or anything. Do you think this is part of holy living?

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIMILAR WORDS

Like Faithwoman commented, you already gave perfect examples that you asked Fluffy about! And while I'm sure we could find differences between all of these wonderful words:

.. righteousness
.. holiness
.. godliness
.. right-living

essentially all are referring to the same or very similar thing:

• Godliness => being like God! *wow*
• Right-living = righteousness
• Holiness => being holy like God is holy. Think words like: purity, being chaste, being consecrated to the Lord, being sanctified (set apart for God's use - a Message coming on words like this soon as I can manage to fit it in! - you guys sure keep this Aussie bloke busy!! *and loving it!* lol)
• Righteousness => living right, living good, doing good, BEING good!! *get it; got it; good!* Think things like: virtuous, upright, and just; being conformed to the will of God.

See how there's a strong similarity to these words - almost like: do one, and you're doing the other!

NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE

One important thing for us all to note carefully here - we can consider all of the above in the 'negative', i.e., don't do this, don't do that - relating to things NOT do do. Which is perfectly fine.

Better, though, is to ALSO consider them in the 'positive', i.e., those things for us to DO, such as: positive deeds of good and goodness; forgiving those who have hurt/harmed us; loving all people around us, including, and especially, the unloveable; caring for others; supporting them; giving our last dollar to someone who has no food or money for their evening meal; learning to care DEEPLY for those in poor nations who have never ever had a chance to hear the Gospel which we enjoy, who have yet to hear the name: JESUS! As Fluffy would say, "You get the idea!"

WHAT YOU DO - AND WHO YOU ARE

What's excellent is to focus on "who we are" if we want to get places in our Christian walk. Because who we are is what DRIVES "what we do". While it's also true that what we do helps make us who we are, I personally feel that the better way to go is to aim at being/becoming the person the Lord wants us to be - by reading His Word, and meditating on WHO HE IS, like Fluffy said! Start getting that right and the rest will begin to fall into place.

However, please don't hassle about the above. Either and both ways will lead you towards being more righteous in Christ. Remembering always that WE ARE NOTHING, and can ACHIEVE NONE OF THESE THINGS USING OUR OWN ABILITIES!!! Trying to do so puts us on the totally wrong path - AND will ultimately FAIL!!

Thus seeking for HIM and HIS LIFE IN US is THE WAY TO RIGHTEOUS AND RIGHT-LIVING - which ultimately will be pleasing to Him!

God bless and guide us all towards this wonderful goal!

- BM, always supported by his Lady