Hey, did you know that by taking heed of the gospel you are in actual fact stating that you are responsible for your own actions in life and for eternity.  This means you can no longer blame you mum or your dad for your outcome or bright or dismal past.  This also means the government, your school or teachers, are no longer a scapegoat for you.  Nor the excuse you happen to be a product of your environment.  Nor can you point the blame at your church, a minster, or hypocritical Christians for the way they treated you.  It is the enemy within, not the enemy without, you need to now focus on, come to terms with, and deal with in Jesus name.  It is time to get over it and move on!

Now that you have (hopefully) come to Jesus (or quitting "the valley of decision" - take this is as a shove) the New Testament says to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling".  This means you are not to allow others to do your thinking for you or expect them to be answerable to God on your behalf.  The onus is on you, the individual, as we will one day have to give an account of our own life.  Ruling out Joe Blogg's down the street or Saint Granny who has gone before you, stating your case.

Actually, not only are we accountable for our own actions but our own thoughts, whereby they are to be brought under obedience to Christ. Did you know lusting after someone in our thoughts means we have already committed adultery with them?  Having angry thoughts towards someone means we have already murdered them!  Desiring something in our heart means we have already coveted after it!  These statements happen to be from Jesus himself, who took things further than just the law written on stone tablets.

On the other hand, to say we are no longer under the law is also a cop-out if we are going to use it to make light of God's commands.  Jesus takes us away from the intended inferior, temporary, outward ceremonies (a byproduct of Old Testament days) to the crux of what he is all about.

Furthermore, the world keeps telling us we are a product of our environment and that "we are what we eat".  This is a lie!  The Bible says we are what we think.  Check it out for yourself ...  (Proverbs 23:7), "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he"!  Food passes through us.  Sin sticks (in our heart - the real "us"), if it is not brought to the light and washed clean by the blood of Jesus.

Basically, all these things now mean we are no longer the owner of our self.  Actually, we never owned our self before, anyway.  The Devil did.  That is why we lived for him whether in our good endeavours or in our blatant self centredness; or whether we liked it or not; or whether we were aware of it or not.  Even though the Lord now owns us (he bought us with a great price), he is not a slave trader, nor is he a hard task master, and gives us the privilege of taking care of our self, enjoying the benefit of everything he richly gives to us.  Meaning, we are now an entrusted steward of eternal things!  Moreover, it is up to us whether we abuse what God has done and given.

However, we have no choice when it comes to reaping the benefits or the anathema in accordance to what choices we have made. Therefore, not only is our mind the Lord's (as just mentioned - having been redeemed back by our Creator) but so is our body.  This means we can never sleep around, booze or push pills just for kicks, take on the loose apparel of Babylon, do things just for vanity sake, or mutilate our body with marks like tats or body piecing (whether pretty or grotesque), coz our body is now the temple of God and to be used to glorify him.

This is also a direct smack on the concept of 'the church down the road' being referred to as God's dwelling place.  We are now the sanctuary of God whereby he comes and sets up his abode in us ...  "Christ in you the you, the hope of glory"!  He is no longer in a building or an institution.  He is found in the midst of the two or three, or more, who gather in his name.  This has nothing to do with being organized, having a time frame, or being monitored by a governing body or "qualified" leader.

This also means that no one owns us.  The state does not; the government does not; nor someone who is referred to as "a man of God".  In the body of Christ (which we are now part since spiritual rebirth) there is no hierarchical or pyramid systems.  There is also no chain of command or rank; nor one-man-bands, having spiritual or social jurisdiction over us.  This frees us up to follow Jesus and obey our Dad in heaven on a constant basis.  It does not mean we can now be smug and haughty, however; and disrespectful towards those in authority or those in charge (politically or civilly).  Even to those things we may not agree with; and even deem as pointless.

The fact of the matter ...  we are Jesus' body and Jesus is the head, no one else!  Furthermore, even within the body of Christ there is those who are more mature and experienced, and can have an impact on our life for good.  This is why we learn to respect elders in the Lord (a true bishop or shepherd - not "formalized" titles after all), but we don't ever let them manipulate or control us.

Good advice:  Check if these blokes are bullying you behind their religious  credentials, qualifications, and profession.  In fact, these things should actually work as an indictment against their demands.  If they are not around, or to be found (the genuine or the false), then get on with your new life in the Lord anyway, being a witness for him, in your actions (work habits) and attitude, and not only by your words.  Remember, Paul spent fourteen years plus three in the outback of Arabia, before he went to the apostles in the doomed (soon to be demolished) city of Jerusalem.  Of these so-called pillars he said, "for they (the apostles) who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me".  Everything Paul had by now was by direct revelation (Galatians 1&2), with flesh and blood having no bearing whatsoever.

This is what the word demands of us and exhorts us to do, in regards to them who are mature in the Lord and can give good sound advise in the Lord, who we can do a 'check-up' on, anytime, for ourselves and for others we happen to love in the Lord ...  "Prove all things"!!

Furthermore, these are some of the biblical qualifications these men need to have ...  like their home and children being in order; their wife being in subjection; not being given to booze; nor being physically pushy or tyrannical; nor being money hungry, and so forth.  Check them out here in 1 Timothy 3:2  and Titus 1:7!  Always using the word as your measuring stick.  These blokes (blokes that is, and not blokesses) must mature and come through the midst of the local flock (you and your bosom buddies and family in the Lord).  They are not hired hands of a fraternity; nor employed as having a career; nor brought in from outside.  They are not a one-man-band either, with an "official" title, but fellow elders on an equal level with other elders.

Patronizing?  I'm nearly finished!  Please bear with me!

By serving the Lord with a willing heart and not through religious compulsion, we can be ourselves, be our own person, and not a  stamped-out stereotype.  Or a clone of the person doing our thinking for us, because he or she as been hired and brainwashed to do so. This is the gospel relayed onto the apostles from Jesus.  Taken hold of by Paul, and put in writing and added to the cannon of scripture; for being relayed onto you and me.  The reason Paul never looked to man for revelation (thatz just further knowledge or information), but encouraged relationship and walking in the Lord daily.

Remember, it was our father Abraham (the father of the promise) who was the first to set out on this pilgrimage, looking "for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"!  Thatz faith and not a concept!  Thatz 'going for broke' beyond familiarity and palpation!

The word says he went out alone (Sarah and family merely followed).  He dared to believe and trust in the "immortal, invisible, the only wise God"; and like Jesus, blaze a trail for others.  It says, because he "believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."  It does not say he first conferred with planners, experts and advisers; nor with a committee; nor consulted a holy man or seer.  It does say however, he "believed God" and "departed (no 'ands', 'ifs', 'buts' or 'howabouts' found here; nor third parties) as the LORD had spoken unto him".

Want to be a true pilgrim?  Want to be a Bible believer and a Friend of God?  God has been saying "depart" to many (whether itz reference to the world or the counterfeit), but many are too comfortable and at ease, and prefer to listen and be entertained by flesh and blood.  While just a few go beyond!  As the verse goes ...  "Who is on the LORD'S side?"