Often times you may find yourself wondering if your way of worship is the only TRUE and living way to worship the Most High God. I have found for myself by seeking the face of my creator that there are yet many different ways of TRUE worship. It is yet determined by our culture, history, and mindset of openness to the one whom has created us. For the longest I thought that anything other than Christianity was blasphemy unto GOD for that was what I was taught as an American child growing up in the 1980's. Of course I have learned differently now only because I allowed Most High to show me TRUTH! I had an epiphany about my ancestors-the slaves. When they were brought to this land they knew nothing about Christianity but they had a very intimate and strong relationship with the Creator-GOD! So how then, can I only profess the ways of worship of Christianity to be the only TRUE way? I can't!!
Recently I came upon a parable in the bible about Peter in "Peter explains his actions" it reads as such: Acts 11:1-18
1The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
4Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'
8"I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
9"The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
15"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
I learned from this passage that even Peter, a follower of Christ looked upon others as unclean and had a closed mind to the worship of others according to their culture. For a Jew to go to the home of a Gentile was considered to be taboo during this time but Peter did so in Acts 10:28 because the Lord told him to do so.
Acts 10:28
28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
In God revealing this important word unto Peter he realizes that he had false apprehensions about the Gentiles and he had to repent. Often times I have found myself making accusations about a nation of people according to their way of worship. For example The nation of Islam- Muslims, Hebrew Israelites, Persons who practice Hinduism, and Scientology. I know now that I am no one to judge them in their worship nor denounce them from their right relationship with the Most High GOD. Just like Peter I now repent...Father for give me. For in due time someone will look at my God given insight as some sort of empathetic excuse to ordain a ONESS in God amongst all Nations. Be knowingest to them this would be inaccurate but Only God can reveal such things to that being only if they are in a place to receive it.
How opened are you to TRUE worship? What is TRUE worship to you?
These Gentiles worshipped God in spirit and in truth with all their heart. Just as others practice their cultural religions and worship God with all their heart and in truth. Who am I to judge them are call them out of the lifestyle that has been given unto them? Granted I will still follow in the way of My Creator and yet at the same time remaining open to all that Yahweh is willing to show me. You see, I have learned that my God is a God of many names and these names derived from many different languages and cultures yet these people all worship the Most High! Hopefully something I have written has pricked you in such a way that you yourself would be torn and yet have to seek the Face of your creator to gain clarity. All while searching the word (scriptures) for answers and maybe even gaining insight from a spiritual leader such as a Pastor, Rabbi, Elder, or lay person.
Most importantly gaining a relationship with the Most High. By having this encounter with your creator you shall find clarity about the assumptions you have contemplated about the world. God has a plan for this world and we cannot continue to tie Yahweh down to our systems of understanding. It goes so far beyond what even we could imagine. Once you truly encounter your creator in the greatest depths your ways of thinking will be totally transformed. Your worship will be affected, you'll be called to do things you would've never thought to do and you will gain relationships with those you would've never thought to build with. Once you gain spiritual obedience it will stretch you in unpredictable directions.......
Yes this is lengthy and yet full of thought and compassion. I leave with you these inspired word of the scriptures: Romans 12:2
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Shalom-Peace and Blessings- As-Salāmu `Alaykum
2 comments:
I don't think Peter was in the same position as Christians today. Peter was very bound by Religious thinking that we, the body of Christ have been guilty of from time to time. I think however, in order for him to come out of religiousity into true worship God had to open his mind. The gospel of Jesus was and is not just for the saved but really is for the lost. Jesus died for sinners, not people who don't need him. We saw this continuously in Jesus' encounters with Saducees and Pharisees. I think it's very important to remember our focus.....our focus is a relationship with God through his son Jesus.
There are other religions that don't acknowledge Jesus as the only son of God who died and rose from the dead. In that case, the people are not condemned unless they continue to disregard Jesus who said "I am the way... No man can come to the father but by me"
Let's all remember that Jesus' is the reason that we even have this fruitful relationship with our father in heaven. We must remember that we are not above sin and should preach this gospel to the ends of the earth.
Jesus said the had sheep that are not of this fold to his disciples....But notice he said he "had" . These people belong to him and believe in his divine purpose they just don't look or act like us. In this case we embrace all who embrace the gospel of Jesus and even those who don't we must never give up our witnessing. Because as the word states...one plants, one waters but GOD provides the increase!
be blessed
I meant to post in the beginning that "I don't think Peter was in a different position as we are today".......
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