In Pursuit of Christ

Watching this Tiktok video reminded me of a coworker who approached asking my thoughts about social media influencers and their role in one's Christian walk. One should be mindful to cross examine any person who shares spiritual teachings without providing direct references to the Bible they advocate for. That's why it is wise to be part of an established fellowship as well as participate in a local church that can provide direct answers to life's difficult questions. As for that specific video I found 3 concerns. 1) "The Devil tricks people into performing good for evil. 2) "Every Christian is a Sinner therefore we are not expected to be active participants in His good works." 3) "People will take advantage of Christians and that could lead a believer to unbelief." https://i.ani.me/0382/5524/1000009576.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5562/1000009532.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5561/1000009530.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5560/1000009557.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5556/1000009561.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5547/1000009565.png To answer the first concern, though it's true that the Devil presents himself as a benevolent being it is understood that he cannot to anything genuinely good or righteous. In fact the New Testament is very clear that the Devil is everything God isn't which means everything that he does is pure evil and filled with vanity. Jesus makes clear that evil cannot produce good works therefore doing good isn't playing into his hands. It is considered obedience to our Lord when we are actively participating in Christ's work alongside the God of Abraham! https://i.ani.me/0382/5528/1000009570.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5525/1000009572.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5545/1000009559.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5564/1000009552.png The second concern was that only Christ has the authority to help in His work. Yet Jesus asked Peter to be the rock by which the church is established. Thomas doubted, yet Jesus trusted him to continue spreading the Gospel and helping people in His name. Every saint is a sinner, however that makes them no less necessary in providing help to their community. https://i.ani.me/0382/5606/1000009522.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5604/1000009536.png https://i.ani.me/0382/5593/1000009526.png The third concern to be addressed is the matter of becoming faithless after working tirelessly for the Lord. Again God explains that as practicing Christians we are free to separate ourselves from anyone who has been previously helped, but then returned to their old ways. God doesn't ask the Church or His believers to be doormats. A best way of going about it is to give the abuser of God's assistance a chance to be redeemed through direct engagement by not just oneself, but others of the fellowship. Then after a fair attempt has been documented by the congregation we are free to cut off that individual. As for personal faith that's something only we can control. Through rest and meditation on daily reading of Scripture can we keep our faith strong. https://i.ani.me/0382/5612/1000009554.png

I just found this tiktok helpful for me so I shared it. Me personally I will continue to consume faith based tiktoks cause I find it enjoyable you do you though. I think God can work through a imperfect message. Thanks for pointing out what's wrong though. My pastor is on tiktok. He helped me alot. I enjoy his lives. I found this helpful because I suffer from Schizophrenia aka demonic oppression and some times the voices will say read the book or bow your head down to pretend like they from God I found the video was helpful because of the constant pressure they voices put on me to be perfect. And, in my failings I get angry and rebellious the video might not resonate with you but it did with me that's why I shared it. And, if it can bring me out of bondage it ain't all bad. God can work through the imperfect. Because of this video I realized the voices only want despair for me. All roads lead to despair. I lost all curiosity, intrigue, and familiarity with them because I know they only want me to despair. And, I stopped running my scars deeper into my heart making me blind. Because they were ready to point out my every mistake. And, I let them agitate my wounds as if they have worth making me blind with pain anger and rebellion.

May your battle for spiritual healing be successful. I appreciate that you're open to having dialogue on the matter of the Holy Spirit. Yes I found how that specific preacher approached the faith left something to be desired. That said God makes crooked sticks point straight, so the video forced me to go back through the Bible to find Scriptures that could elucidate certain subjects that man brought up. As for online material that I personally use I will post below. https://bibleproject.com/ https://biblethinker.org/ Both websites contain free to watch video essays as well as resources directly comparing Scripture with its various historical contexts as well as views by multiple denominations.

I found that pride, anger, and rebellion take a big hit when you accept Jesus as the author and finisher of faith. I let JESUS write the story now. I don't say it shouldn't be this way no more. I say you write it Jesus. And, honestly I found comfort and peace in that. Along with a reduction to my pride, anger, and rebellion. See my scars had ran to deep into my heart. The scars in my heart from never being able to feel what normal people feel cause I'm a narcissist burned with anguish, rage, and longing. And, instead of lamenting how long oh Lord. I burned with anger, anguish, despair, and rebellion because the unanswered longing hurts. But, it doesn't hurt anymore. Because I accepted that God decides what's best for me and he wrote this story for a reason. So I shall not want. I'm a child of God and that is enough. Yeah it would be nice to feel like normal people. Yeah it would would be nice to not have schizophrenia aka be demonically oppressed. But it's really all good. Jesus can write it anyway he want I'm even ready to get my heart broken that's how much I trust him and how much my pride and control has taken a hit. And, I won't even go why God? Just the way I'm feeling. I know I can always lean on him if it's rough. After all he declared to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future. And, my wounds don't hurt so much because I'm not letting the voices agitate them. I learned they not worth listening to all roads lead to despair. I thought if I let them agitate my wounds I would learn something. What I learned was how blind, angry, and rebellious the pain was making me. Now they don't bother me cause I'm not going for it. I lost all curiosity, intrigue, and familiarity with them. I don't even ask why would God allow this. Yes I'm perplexed but not in despair. Despair is dangerous it's the direct opposite of hope. The more you despair the more intangible hope will feel. It ultimately makes you blind. Maybe that's why God said do not despair. I learnt my scars had blinded me more than they teached me. That's because I let the voices agitate the wounds trying to forcefully learn something but I got lost in the pain. Maybe you can learn from your wounds without agitating them. I had enough despair as character development. I'm steering clear from that from now on. Now I know when I pass through the waters, he will be with me and through the rivers, they shall not overflow me when I walk through the fire, I shall not be burned. I can take life difficulty on the chin now because it's comforting knowing Jesus is in control and his promises are true. When I say Jesus you write the story it brings me so much comfort.

Feel like putting the voices on blast aka sharing some of the tactics I notice from demonic oppression. My voices objective is to disrupt any emotional moment because they know as a narcissist they can't let my heart come back online. They know how bad I want a heart and how i want to help other narcissists. That makes me dangerous because I will not give up. So they try to disrupt any sensitivity to the heart. When I cry and I long they say it's fake to disrupt sensitivity. When I have a overflow of emotions they say you being a baby to disrupt sensitivity. When I'm with my daughter they call me ugly so i focus on myself and have no air rather than focusing on the moment. They so afraid of me coming online they waste there time on me so there must be a chance of coming back online if it was futile they wouldn't be so scared. They pissed me off by interfering with my sensitivity just had to put them on blast. If I ever feel what normal people feel I'm gonna be a big problem. They want to stop my heart from growing shame on them. Imma grow despite the challenges. Especially in my love for God. I know they goal they want it to shrink in despair of what I am. To stop reaching. But I will never stop. In fact imma reach harder.