This is a question sent in by wondering on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

do you believe in the rapture? what denomination is your church?

My Answer:

I have to say that when it comes to eschatology or end time events… I am a wimp!  I think it is okay to talk about it and debate it but not a real issue to preach as doctrine. The study and the fascination with the end times I think can be a diversion from living for Jesus now.  

Matthew 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake ”for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning” 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. 

Here is my approach to end times; Stay awake!  Jesus has given all of his servants a work and a position and He has called us not to sit around a figure out when He will come or how (I know He will return) but that we need to not fall asleep and get lazy.  I think people who spend all there time trying to figure out end time events can easily get lazy in the work Jesus has left for them and the position he has called them to.  

Here is some great thoughts from Mark Driscoll:

The rapture, like the age of the earth, is an issue that Christians should discuss and debate, but not divide over.  Curiously, the rapture is a doctrine that has existed for less than two hundred years in the church’s history. The word itself started at a peculiar and possibly cultic charismatic prayer meeting where a women prophesied that the church would be raptured. From that simple beginning, the doctrine has now become the leading eschatological position in American evangelicalism. For more on this issue, the book The Incredible Cover Up: Exploring the Origins of Rapture Theories by Dave MacPherson is a fascinating historical read. Since the doctrine was not even heard of by men such as Athanasius, Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, and Wesley, we should not make this doctrine the litmus test of biblical faithfulness, otherwise we are saying there was no faithful eschatology for the first 1,800 years of the church.

This is a quote from His book, vintage Jesus:

One of the most astonishing things about Jesus is that as God He actually chose to come into our fallen, sick, twisted, unjust, evil, cruel, painful world and be with us to suffer like us and for us. Meanwhile, we spend most of our time trying to figure out how to avoid the pain and evil of this world while reading dumb books about the rapture just hoping to get out. 

what denomination is your church?

We are not affiliated with a denomination

Selah Laurie is here!  She is perfect!  She was 7.8 lbs. 20.6 inchs.  Everyone is doing great; I will write more when I have time.  Check out this link for more pics (http://web.me.com/pastoraarond).

Sorry guys,

Some of your great comments got deleted on accident.  SORRY!!  Make them again… LOL.  I am so sorry!  Hey I have some other questions I am working on so stay tuned.  I am having a baby this weekend and I will post some pics when she comes.  Bless you all!!

Comments deleted form following posts;

Why accountability partners?

Death by Love

Is it ok to smoke marijuana in moderation?

If you have the time please put your thoughts again. 

Aaron

This is a question sent in by anonymous on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

My Answer:

I love your question!!  Ok, let me take a crack at answering.  Why accountability partners or whatever anyone calls them.  I think the one thing that I would say is that relationships are valuable in the Kingdom and government of God.  He puts so much value on Godly relationship in the Word of God I could give you verse after verse.  The biggest problem I see with people is based out of Pr 18:19 - “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.”  When you, like you said, have been offended by other “church people” you begin to build up walls and swear that you will never be hurt like that again.  The problem is you think you are protecting yourself but you are actually putting prison bars around yourself.  You never should put your trust in man because they will always hurt you.  Trust and relationship is something you give to people and something that is very difficult and hard to work through but can never get around how scripture tells us to have them.  I would say first off that when you are accountable to someone this is not just friend relationship this is a leadership relationship and someone you respect and someone who you will listen to.  

You can not have these kinds of relationships and not be protected from being hurt.  You will be hurt, you will be failed. (But you will also do those things to them).  Only those who rely on the love of Christ and are empowered by His spirit can build biblical relationships because you have to be walking in humility, forgiveness, and repentance.  I know that you just started in the church, I get that you have been hurt in the past, and I know that you are just wanting to feel things out.  Take time and feel things out but at Life Connection we try and focus on relationship and being the church as defined in scripture.  So you will be challenged and have people try to get to know you and be open with.  So I pray that your heart is to build relationship and that it is not as rare as you think if it is done in the spirit level and not at a flesh level.  This may not answer your question because I do not have a 12 step to build relationship but I do know that God values relationship.  

This will also help those who do not understand why we focus on what we call discipleship.  It is purely relationship!!! Our whole goal is people not going to church but being the church in loving Christ centered community.

Thanks for the question!!

I can not wait for this new book by Mark Driscoll to come out.  I love how Mark can take vintage doctrine and make it come to life without compromise.  Check it out!

This is a question sent in by anonymous on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

Why is it ok to drink, and not ok to smoke marijuana. Lets hypothetically say its legal, would it be ok to smoke marijuana in moderation?

My answer:

I hate answering these kinds of questions because I can already tell it is going to cause a posting frenzy.

To begin with, Christians are under a biblical mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 17:2; Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 2 Peter 2:9-11).  Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law.  I know you said “hypothetically it was legal” so I will try and approach it from another angle, but in our country this is a good enough reason.  

Scripture does not mention marijuana or any illicit drug, so to say “thou shall not” will not work unless you are looking at the spirit of scripture.  Illicit drug use is an extremely effective way to destroy your health, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.  There is nothing in alcohol that has health risk on your body if done in moderation.  With any drug or even smoking there are health risks.  Most doctors or experts  would say that smoking any sort of drug or cigarette is a health risk for your body or your mind.  So I would think you would be violating scripture if no matter how much you smoke you are effecting your mind and your body. 

Here is my problem with putting illicit drugs on the same level as alcohol.  I have never met anyone who does not use marijuana as an escape… I do not know someone who smokes marijuana or any illicit drug and does not get high and their mind is not altered.  So in your attempt to justify something just make sure that you understand the level of addiction both mentally and physically.  I do understand that alcohol and food can be an addiction for people and they can be unhealthy if not consumed in moderation but what is moderation for marijuana?  I would say there is no moderation because even the slightest amount effects your health and sobriety.

You can all have  fun with this!  The battle for balance is a constant war, make sure you stay focused on the cross.

This is a question sent in by anonymous on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

Hey Pastor! I was wondering in group prayers why is it better to stand? im not really well versed on this subject…

My Answer:

It is not better to stand.  I stand personally most of the time because I focus better.  If I am sitting and relaxing my mind begins to get lazy and my body gets sleepy.  So for me, personally, I stand most of the time I pray.  But when I am in my prayer closet I write or speak my prayers, most of the time, so that I can keep my mind focused. Good question, but I mostly try and stay obedient and just posture myself the way He says, through the Spirit.  Sometime He tells me chill out and kneel. So in your prayer life do not just speak, listen.  In corporate prayer, I believe in unity and agreement.  I believe that people who stand together, kneel together, sing together, or whatever are practicing unity and order.  So this is the best I can do for this answer.  It is not better it is personal for me.  I hope that corporate prayer is not our only prayer life but corporate prayer is important.

This is a question sent in by Alyssa Marie Williams on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

My Answer:

Thank you for checking every day… I am so glad you are!  I wanted to answer this just so everyone would know the routine.  I have a lot of questions, way more then I expected.  I am glad you all are sending such great questions, I have a folder full.  I have already had to sift through and pick ones that I think people will enjoy or ones that are personal to that person.  I do not want to make anyone think that I can fix their problems by a blog post.  I also take quite some time to write these and try to think through my responses.  I wish I could do them faster but I also have a family, church, ministry, and life.  So please keep on checking but extend a little grace if I do not get them answered fast enough or do not get to your question.  I am trying to put out 3 or 4 a week.  So keep sending them and keep checking everyday.  This is fun!!! Thanks guys.