Category: evangelism 101
Paper Dolls & Cookie-Cutter Christians
I was thinking about God not staying in his box this morning, and trying to think how to describe my Christian Life! Instantly I thought about Paper Dolls. If you remember them you are probably a little bit “Over the hill” (Like I am!).
I had some paper dolls as a kid. The clothes were cut out and put onto the paper doll, which was usually made of cardboard. They were cool, but if you would have ever had a paper doll smaller or larger than the clothing, none of it would have fit.
Thankfully, God doesn’t design clothes like the ones made for paper dolls, and expect us to fit even though we do not fit! Sometimes we feel like we need to be trimmed to fit the clothing man has designed for us, because it doesn’t quite fit, and we look funny! What fits YOU may not fit ME! But that doesn’t mean I’m defective.
I”m sure when someone (like me) stands and quotes a scripture like the one below, it seems to cause rebellious rabble rousers to say YEAH! And bible teachers to cringe. Do we get what God is saying here? 
“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (Matthew 15:9 NKJV)
There are actually several scriptures where Jesus warned about doctrines of men, or even our lips honoring him, and our hearts being far from him. Was he getting on our cases? Does he not love us anymore? Sure he does! He is not MAD at you. He’s trying to help.
When we thought “Dad” was mad at us as kids, we tended to want to hide, or run in terror. When we are scared (of God) we cannot even hear what he wants to say. Such is the case with many who read this scripture.
No God’s not on our cases. He just wants us to see that if we have a one-size-fits-all teaching and Sunday sermon, and ways of doing things, and bible studies that are formatted in a way that does not FIT everyone and we try to say; “Make it fit!” We are acually harming the very people we hope to love. God will adjust the teachings and methods (To fit the doll) not cut down the doll to fit the clothing. See? Because his word is written in such a way that his clothes will fit everyone (who desires him)
God has Grace on upon us. Peter did not do what James did. Paul did not do what John did. They didn’t go to meetings and get in one accord by saying amen to the pastor and that was all there was to it! They all grew in Grace (And into their spiritual clothes- which God designed for them!). WE don’t have to feel like wretched weirdo’s because we are not the right size For the one-size-fits-all teachings of men.
God wants to speak to YOU Today. Not JUST through your pastor.
Teachers? Be willing to adjust the teaching (if need be) as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Don’t be so rigid. This is not “Military School” it’s the living growing entity called…
“The Body Of Christ”
thanks for pondering with me;
With Love, Laura Grace
“It’s not all about you!” What to say to some who never seem to get enough (attention) or whatever else ……..
Ever had one of those days? Someone you are trying to help (or encourage) just never seems to get enough? Reminds you of kids (at times). I compared it to geese (so long ago) as I was feeding some geese, and as I ran out of bread, (which I now understand you should not feed them bread) but in any case they surrounded me, got closer and closer, and one even tried to bite my face!
The bible compares a fool and his folly, to being met by a bear robbed of her cubs.
Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.”
MAYBE THE BEST THING is to say nothing at all.
Honestly, a person who will not listen to reason, who does not care what God (or anybody else) thinks, Who has decided they are wise or right in their own opinion, My bible says also “there is more hope for a fool, than for him.”
This is not a person you should be taking advice from, or following. It’s not a person who should be in charge of you, or one you should even submit to. Even Abigail (in the bible) though she did it in a reverent way, went to meet King David and obey God, even though her husband was foolish, and was going to bring trouble upon the whole family. King David was so impressed, he married the woman.
Proverbs 26:12 “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope for a fool than for him.”
It’s a snare to be caught in the snare of a fool’s words or a fool’s folly. Consider these words from Jesus who WAS before Proverbs was even written: They are words penned by the Holy Spirit to God’s servant upon this earth:
“Proverbs 6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. “
You can be snared by words, or promises you should not have made.
Another passage of the bible says to free ourselves from vows, that should never have been made. See, we need to look at the whole (entire) bible not just the parts we want to read Or hear right now. The whole Bible. All of it.
Jesus IS His word!
The more we know of his word, the better we will know him. The Better we know him, the better he knows us and has fellowship with us.
So love? Yes! Being snared by those who don’t love God? NO!
Did you see anyone allowed to take Jesus Down from who he was to please them or their folly? NO WAY No how!
We should not do it either. Father God please keep us in your wisdom! And Grace!
Amen
