No shady Christians
There is no such thing as a shady Christian
“God is light and He doesn’t cast shade” (James 1:17, my paraphrase).
There is nothing shady or shifty about God.
We are His children.
We shine His light.
Too many Christians excuse their poor behavior, saying, “It’s just the way I am,” or “My whole family is that way.”
We are born from above.
God’s light doesn’t cast shadows.
If we were wondering what the writer was referring to, he gives us an example:
Anger.
Quick anger never shines God’s light.
It blocks others from seeing Him.
Live transparently so others see Jesus clearly.
In fact, “get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives” (James 1:21, NLT).
How do you do that?
You’ll do it when you “humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls” (James 1:21, NLT).
God’s light is bright enough to control your tongue.
If your mouth is casting shade, your religion is worthless (James 1:26).
Want to shine brightly? Help some orphans and widows (James 1:27).
-
More thoughts:
- Between forward and reverse
- To move forward
- Is that what it means?
- You have something animals don’t…
- What is the soul?
- A life-giving game
- Me, a cannibal?
- Give life back to others
- Murder at church
- How to get through offense
- Say, “Goodbye, Father Abraham,” and “Hello, Simon Peter”
- One of our twins died
- Pentecost, the cure for Racism…
- Feeling down? Here’s a quick fix…
- Your Day is a Jar
- Holy Distancing
- You can’t do this today
- No shady Christians
- How social distancing brings us closer together
- Overcoming the negative
- God: “Listen to the voice of your wife!”
- Static electricity in the soul
- How demons get into religious institutions
- A class called “Get behind me, Satan”
- Prayer shapes us
- Recovering from emotional terrorism
- Confessions of an emotional abuser
- What is driving you?
- Escaping an abuser
- Detecting a manipulator
- Emotional wranglers
- Woke to manipulators
- What complaining says about you
- “Am I in the Place of God?”
- How to love much
- How to get people to listen
- The Secret to Impactful Preaching
- How to “talk” to God
- How to hear from God
- When the answer is “yes,” but the situation is still “no.”
- What we missed about prayer
- Religion Made Me Do It
- You don’t wash your hands
- Why you don’t play
- Major League Church? Not for me, thanks.
- Where your questions lead
- Understanding Prescription and Process
- There is a Reason You Go Through Tough Stuff
- Learning How to Control My Emotions
- Understanding eMotion
- Put It on My Dad’s Tab
- How to train disciples not dependants
- Worthy of the Gospel of the Kingdom
- I Don’t Want to Be Here
- [Video] The purpose of a sermon
- Got God in a box?
- Should Christians celebrate Passover?
- Why did Jesus send the disciples out 2 by 2?
- It is not about the Prodigal
- Whom are you attached to?
- Are “church services” biblical?
- 3 steps for building the Kingdom
- A journey in the dark
- The DNA of the church
- Wait, Jesus, should you talk like that?
- When other believers are different
- What is the goal of your church?
- How to find potential disciples!
- How quickly can you make disciples?
- Core to being a disciple
- That deer in the headlights look…
- What causes ministers to burn out?
- Called to what ministry?
- Healing Shame
- Reject presents much?
- Get back in line, Mister!
- The art of balance.
- Get Out of the Basement!
- How to Make Disciples
- “Lord save me”? Or “Lord, command me to come”?
- Fragments
- How making disciples is like slicing a worm
- Daughter
- You Have to Go Through the Storm
- Sheep: Leave Them Alone?
- Hell-bound people at church?
- How to Not Be Gullible (It’s more common than you think!)
- Can a woman pastor reach men?
- A Secret to Perfecting Your Life
- THE SHACK movie, Christian review
- Approach the bench
- Taking Care of Business
- Hit the bull’s eye
- Get off the web
- Environment
- Relevance
- Substance
- Afflict Your Soul
- Inappropriate content in the Bible
- Masterpiece Relationships
- The Ugly in Me
- A Great Gift for the Dads on Your List
- I Do Not Need Rules
- Greed robs itself
- Reckless Christians and Careless Fools
- Whoa, there boy!
- Enjoy the Story
- Know the path
- I cannot divorce
- You, heir apparent
- Dethroned?
- Take a walk in the dark
- A worn-out old woman
- Is He passing by?
- Must you bring it up again?
- There’s no place like…
- Five Steps of Education
- Brewing a Storm
- Downgrading the value of upgrades
- Living For No Good Reason?
- Bee Bread
- Are You Making Honey?
- Reserve Energy
- Partners in the Flow
- Functioning as One
- Healing report
- Pentecost in the Temple “House”
- You are being tested
- Thanks, Mom!
- Bruised or Tenderized?
- Jesus: Hateful and Loving
- The God the Angels Saw
- You Belong
- Why communion?
- Why Worship?
- You Can’t Go to Church
- He is killing her
- Temple Run 2 Religion
- Live in Anticipation
- Is Jesus God or Man?
- Fasting, the New You
- Serve the Bread of Life
- Healing a Broken Culture
- Conflict
- You Can’t Understand…
- Don’t Fill in the Blank
- Help Broken People
- Kill ‘Em with Kindness
- Your Full Weight on Him
- Joining the Body of Christ
- You Cannot Sin
- Eating to Not Get Fat
- Motives Determine Sin
- Heaven or Hell Issues
- Thanks, Dad!
- Don’t Use People
- Never Enough
- Busting 2 Money Myths
- America Got It Wrong
- If the Fruit Drops, so Does Your Heart
- The Right Motivation
- When You Feel Worthless
- Listen. Be Heard.
- Developing a Prayer Life
- How a Church has Revival
- Do No Harm
- Your Pray List
- Please Bomb America
- Family: You Can!
- Are You a Professional?
- The Need for Desire
- Facebook Fatherhood
- God Character
- Gut Check
- Win Believers
- Perfect Woman
- Setting Right Priorities
- Comet? Yes. Rudolph? No
- Too Religious for God
- Where is God in Chaos
- Don’t Get Burned Out
- Monoxide Pride
- Celebrate Life
- Leave Yourself Alone
- How to Handle Conflict
- Why Speaking in Tongues?
- Dealing with Difficult People
- Find Favor with Others
- No Babysitter Needed
- How to Prevent an Affair
- It’s not “Sex,” Stupid!
- How to Get Your Innocence Back
- Stop Charming the Snake
- Worship is a Negative Thing
- Rule 4: Sabbath Keeping
- Rule 3: God’s Name
- Rule 2: Should You Take Pictures?
- Rule 1: No Other Gods
- Rules vs. Relationship
- Cold-Water Power