Ephesians 4:17-32, "17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
 20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Christianity is alot of things to alot of people, and nothing if not confusing at first glance. It requires a change and it requires that no Christian purposefully sin. I remember from the history books that there was once a sect of Christianity that believed in being sinners every day of the week, but saints on the Lord's day. The theory was, "more sin leads to more grace." It was just that belief that led confused Christians away from the truth and into gnostic heresies.

We must change our lives. Not might, kind of, or sort of. Why is a change neccessary? We lived according to our nature beforehand, darkened in our understanding, as the verses above puts it. The Jesus showed us the truth and saved us from our just punishment. Now we're the new man. The new man must not live like the old man, or else it would have all been for nothing.

We must no longer live like the Gentiles do...
We must put off falsehood...
We must steal no longer...
We must work...

So where ever you see the word must in the New Testament, you're not looking at a suggestion or optional ingredient, but a neccessary and essential commandment in your walk with Christ.

For all you Americans, Americans-at-heart, Kin of Americans, and everybody else, today is Thanksgiving Day and I wish you well. May your feast be unparalleled and your company in good humor. On this day of togetherness, let us honor the absence of those serving in a land far, far away. This is a day to look toward the past to gain a glimpse forward. Past presidents have often issued Thanksgiving Day proclamations. George Washington's is as follows (There was a tendendy to type 's' as 'f' in the old days, but one thing is certain, they don't do things like they used to.):

General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houfes of Congress have, by their joint committee, requefted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to eftablifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly offering our prayers and fupplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to pardon our national and other tranfgreffions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private ftations, to perform our feveral and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by conftantly being a Government of wife, juft, and conftitutional laws, difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all fovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindnefs unto us); and to blefs them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increafe of fcience among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind fuch a degree of temporal profperity as he alone knows to be beft.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11, "4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

I can only tolerate so much theatrics from a church. In this case, a prayer for a specific individual that turned into an annointing and excorcisim-like affair was too much for me. It didn't take me long to tune out during the sermon, but I often find it hard to connect various theatrics with Bible passages. It didn't take me long to find 1 Peter 4:7 and realize that it wouldn't hurt anybody to put it into practice. One could argue that America's lack of self-control in recent years has contributed to our debt, obesity, and sheer amount of stuff.

It's a fine line, really. The Bible tells us that the sorts of congregations that go all out in the Holy Spirit, get quite disorderly, and in every way appear to be outside their minds put an emphasis on the gift of tongues. Rarely would today's charismatic churches pay attention to the verse that says something to the effect of: "As long as there is an interpreter to share the words being spoken in tongues there isn't a problem. But if there is no interpreter and the words can't be used to build up the church then don't speak! For it is better to build up the church than it is oneself." However, self-control is demanded of every posititon of authority mentioned in the Bible be they overseers, deacons, etc. It is what we should expect of ourselves.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be excited to be in church, but what good are you doing if you're running laps around the room and preventing the service to proceed? What if an outsider arrives and decides that you are indeed outside your mind? Is it the outsider's fault for not knowing the procedures? Is it your fault for offending him? What is the limit of theatrics you can deal with? Is your church too lax or too controlled?