• “God helps those who help themselves.” This proverb appears in various forms in ancient Greek literature, but is most famously attributed to Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. The Bible teaches the opposite idea—that God helps those who cannot help themselves. But the Bible does say in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ~ “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
• “Money is the root of all evil.” The actual biblical quote is from 1 Timothy 6:10, which states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
• “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” This phrase became popular in the 18th century, but it is not found anywhere in the Bible. The Old Testament contains numerous laws from the Mosaic Law regarding physical and spiritual purity, hygiene, and sanitation. In the New Testament, the concept of purity is linked to a “clean heart” and spiritual cleansing from sin. For example, in 2 Corinthians 7:1 ~ “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
• “This too shall pass.” Though it sounds biblical, this expression is a Persian proverb from the medieval period and was popularized in a 19th-century hymn by William Cowper.
• “God will not give you more than you can handle.” This phrase is a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says that God will provide a way out of temptation, not that he will limit the trials in your life. In fact, many biblical figures, including the Apostle Paul, were burdened beyond their own strength.

False Culture Beliefs About Halloween: 

• “Jesus was born on December 25th.” The Bible does not state Jesus' birth date, and most scholars believe he was likely born in spring or autumn based on biblical details about shepherds and the census. The date of December 25th was chosen by early Christians, in part to align with existing Roman pagan winter solstice celebrations like Saturnalia and the festival for Sol Invictus, the sun god.
• “The Magi visited the infant Jesus at the nativity.” The popular nativity scene featuring three wise men alongside the shepherds at Jesus' birth is inaccurate. The biblical account suggests the Magi, or wise men, visited a young child in a house some time after the birth, not an infant in a stable. The number of Magi is also unknown, with the assumption of three coming from the three gifts they presented.
• “There was an innkeeper who turned Mary and Joseph away.” The character of the innkeeper is a later addition to the nativity story and does not appear in the Bible. The New Testament says the couple found “no room in the inn,” which scholars suggest more accurately refers to a guestroom in a relative's house that was full.
• “Santa was invented by Coca-Cola.” Although Coca-Cola's mid-20th-century advertising helped solidify the modern image of a chubby, red-suited Santa, the visual depiction of a jolly, fur-trimmed figure existed long before the company used it.
• “Christmas trees are explicitly condemned in the Bible.” Some cite Jeremiah 10 to argue against Christmas trees, but the biblical passage refers to crafting and worshipping wooden idols, not decorating evergreens. The practice of bringing evergreens inside predates Christianity, with pagans using them as symbols of life and rebirth during winter solstice festivals. The practice became associated with Christmas much later in European, especially German, history.
• “‘Xmas’ removes ‘Christ’ from Christmas. The use of “Xmas” is not a modern secular invention. The “X” comes from the Greek letter “chi,” the first letter of Christos, the Greek word for Christ. This abbreviation has been used for centuries.

 

Christian Symbolism of Easter Eggs:  

  

• Within Christian tradition, eggs symbolize rebirth and the empty tomb of Jesus. The practice of decorating eggs, and coloring them red in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, is a centuries-old custom representing the blood of Christ. The custom of eating eggs on Easter Sunday also marked the end of the Lenten fast, during which eggs were forbidden.

We could a great deal more time on many other items along these same lines, but the bottom line is simple … don’t get bogged down in the things of this world, let’s get transformed!

What does it mean to work out your own salvation? The word work out (katergazesthe) means to work on to the finish, to completion, to perfection. It always means to complete the effort and the work begun; to accomplish it perfectly; to bring it to completion. The point is: do not go half-way in salvation. Do not take bits and pieces when there is a whole parcel. Do not be satisfied with a little when you can have much. Go on, grow until salvation is completed in you. It is your own salvation. No friend, no pastor can work it out for you. You alone must do it.   

The point is clearly stated: once God has saved a person, that person is to get busy obeying God. He is to take hold of the new life and salvation God has given him, and he is to work on it until it is completed and finished, that is, until God takes him home and perfects it.

---

Pastor Andy Lambert
pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101


Click HERE to download the CV Connect Mobile App TODAY!!!