tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129800563763749945.post2282712339493154006..comments2024-03-12T13:36:04.032-04:00Comments on My Thoughts: The Driver on the BusAKA Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03268933490107556551noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129800563763749945.post-7178418816102905582010-09-23T10:27:03.008-04:002010-09-23T10:27:03.008-04:00Great post Stacy and Awesome analogy. One of the ...Great post Stacy and Awesome analogy. One of the biggest misconceptions today in the church is a lack of understanding of "pistevo" - translated in most Bibles and conversations as to believe or to have faith. It is the most common command & instruction in the Bible, yet “Belief” doesn't just imply that I "know about" something - as this man in Chicago "knew about bus driving, the bus route, etc".. instead (according to Strong's Greek Dictionary) Pistevo means to entrust, to commit (to trust), to rely upon. WOW, We have many folks in our church who “believe” in Jesus, tithe & give money to Christian causes, serve in the church and yet still not know Him, don’t rely upon Him, don’t trust in Him, don’t yield to Him as Lord of their life. As defined above, "To believe" means something far different than acknowledging the existence of, which even Satan does, performing works, or espousing religious words. <br />A visiting children's pastor recently redefined the traditionally taught ABC's for our kids as Admit, "Back down from what we want and Yield, and lastly Change Course" to follow God's will. Imagine if we, as believers, thought of John 11:25b as <i>"Whoever believes in (yields to, trusts in, relies on, adheres to, changes course to follow) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live" </i> Pistevo is just one example where a word for word translation does not do justice to the true meaning of the passages in the Bible and without careful study of the rich Greek language, God's word has become simplified and our faith has suffered. <br />As you can tell, I am especially burdened by this as I have a little one whose walk has suffered by mistakenly being taught all she has to do is "believe" and thus she thinks she has been saved by her profession of "belief" in Jesus.. however, her heart has not been changed, she has not trusted in Him, she does not yield to Him and we don't see the fruit in her life as evidence of a life relying on Jesus. I pray daily for all the other children and adults who have suffered for the "simplification" of the Bible and the growth of church numbers... and I pray for my little girl to meet my Savior one day soon! And I pray that the “bus drivers” in our church will be growing and developing strong “believers” & seekers of the Word so that we can all help with the harvest. Miss you & Lynn greatly and praying for your family & eternal family down there in Edgefield.Jaki Glennnoreply@blogger.com