Luke 14:26-27 KJV
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Hate is a strong word but in truth you must be willing to give up all and follow Jesus to be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Sounds like strong words. For a little girl understanding bad and good: loved Jesus was enough for the little girl to get saved, but if she heard she had to hate her family, I doubt if she could without explanation of the verse. It not the wording being wrong, it is the understanding of the wording. What will you have to give up for the cross of Christ. There be days in your life you know you gave it all up and others days you feel you have to much junk around and people opinions that you like to throw them all out as well.

Had a few friends that put a few charadas up yesterday on FB, not sure if they thought I missed the point last time, or decided they would help out. Let me ask this a different way then the verses I chosen for Continual Scripture verse, you really need the verses to go with this lesson, and I added a few myself. How many struggle in our day with taking five minutes to pray. What comes first your career, family, or your friends. How far will you push the battle lines of faith that you draw your sword draw a line and say I can not cross over it, nor well I bend to family or friends. Most teachers would rather use the term sold out for Christ, instead of hating a love one or friend. Hate is a strong word. The word hate is a strong word when it comes to the point of independence in Christ. One has to be willing to hate the control of our families more then our cross we bear for Christ. We must willing to follow Jesus despite the pressures of the world, our parents, or friends that might cause one to not to follow Jesus. Maybe turn us to a false religion, disobey God in something God is healing us from in our life, like addictions. A lifestyle that would go against Jesus' call on one's life. It is a cross we bear for the sake of Jesus.

Can you tell a friend no to a life style that God disagree with scripturally. What about clothing? What about matters of the heart. How lenient is Jesus to things of this matter? I think we have to examine what he requires is us to one believe in him or at least the work he did on earth. Paul is very structure in the church world, some choose only to follow Jesus and not listen to further instruction by the early church. The four Gospels is the only tool they use in ministry. Why is christian culture frowning as the religious leaders of Jesus day against rebels or liberals in the church? Some people need structure to live by and others do not. People morality, life style, are often characterizes whether a person is a christian. Yet Jesus does not condemn morality has God did in the Old Testamen exactly point blank and dogmatic. If he did the woman at the well would never gone and brought her village back to Jesus. The woman caught in adultery would of been stoned by the jewish law. And all these laws about homosexuality would of fallen on castrated men known as Eunuch as being a defilement of the flesh. Yet neither God or Jesus condemned Eunuch or one that chose to live his life to God. If one be in the palace one had to live by palace rules, never to touch the queen or any of the kings wives. Yet we know from history, paintings and things that culture of men and women in the palace was not a purity life style way of living. What is my point. People enslaved into a life style of sin could not always be free from it, but it did not stop them from having faith in Jesus. Naaman master bowed to idols, and he ask the Prophet Elijah if he could enter the temple only to assist his master, he would not be worshipping an idol in his heart. This would been part of his job requirement. Yet this theology is not brought out perhaps because of younger viewers by other ministers in general.

When a minister is teaching in church he often effects culture of christianity. The point being he is setting a standard for Christian living that does not always line up with scripture, because life style should be a reminder of faith. It is also a culture of healthy living that they are putting in place in the more fundamental groups, or conservative groups. The Catholic church is one group that sets a standard that is critized by the world. Yet every church group must set a standard. Public schools set a standard of dress codes, languages tolerance and so forth. Yet the world sneers at public school rules, and church rules, the world sneers at even worse. Most ministers I have known never cared what anyone wore, but the church people might. The standard set is sometimes define by the people in less pastoral governed churches, meaning more democratic style of church.

Is any of the doctorines that are not Biblical important. They are not. Society is going to shame whoever does meet their criteria. However Jesus is not a law breaker in the since of going against the law of man until he turns the tables that cause a stir. You have to ask was his stance important? Was turning over the money changers importatn to faith. It is about obeying God not man concerning his house. Most people would agree as a believer we should never descrate the church in regards to legalism other then the way Christ rebuke Israel. When it comes to legalism of religious law that has nothing to do with faith, for example complaining about someone picking a crop on the Sabbath, or working on the Sabbath to support family, because the day of the week to reverence God is not important it is taking time to reverence God that is important. Other days of worship can be established in the church for those that have other days off and would like too. It bad enough the world is a task master should the church be when it comes to faith in Jesus. Are we living in sin of unbelief or living in sin by life style? Some life styles is a hazardous road and unbecoming to the laws of faith, because it not about love, but greed, hate, desire and rage. Wait you said it is about hate, and you talking to follow Jesus you got hate your family and friends. No that is a different type of hate. Hate that leads to bullying, hitting and war. There is a hate that is to turn away from sin of another to not follow in the direction of another that goes against the teachings of Jesus.

Is there a line, we fail, we all are human and we all become hyprocrits in faith by just that following after the Jones and after family in the ways of the world. What can we give up for Jesus, what can we sacrifice that no longer necessary in our life. My husband I live fairly conservatively because we are poor people, but even with money I do not think we live in extravagance. I not saying we would not buy a few new things and update our home or even buy a new home. I saying we would be conservative in our spending on things that should last and can be saved for years to come, or we toss out when the next fad came to be and then pass.

Yet that not what I talking about faith is more about will we cross the line and follow Jesus no matter what the world deals us. Well I lived without a vehicle, I lived with having to walk everywhere, I have lived in a shack, I have wondered if I have a place to sleep and God provided. What am I saying, God's provision may not look like an expensive RV, or cabin in the woods, or the mansion in our area, though it all be nice, it not essential for faith. You have to learn to be without and to know when you have what it means. I live more without then with. Point being we live in a world where material things matter less, and spreading the Gospel is more important. Ask anyone do they like technology, do they like having electricity, and public water that runs when the faucet turned on? Everyone does, but do we like living in a world that is chaotic, of course not.

A quiet neighborhood is a reality of thanksgiving, and noise of neighbors never an issue. Yet some can't live without commotion and strife. That kind of anger is not God approved, it is God approval for hate of the actions though but not the person. We are told to love our enemies. Our family and friends often play devil advocate to wanting you to enjoy things not necessarily harmful but not beneficial to one's faith. No one cross the finish line without leaving all behind, though it appears that some will try and take it with them. Some of disciples were kin to each other, and yet even the disciples had not forsaken all to follow Jesus, yet they would when they became maryters of faith. Do we have to die like Jesus. I do not believe we have to die like Jesus, but our faith may take us there. It about willing to stand up in faith when the world says no, family says no and friends says no. Hate how they try to entrap, to entice, to put chains on your faith. Remember Christ has set you to liberty by following in his example of love, faith, hope, peace and more. Hate the things that tear friendship and family apart. The lies, the rumors, and gossip. Hate loveones that change their story to suit their need to protect themselves. Forgive those that can't tell the truth. Forgive those that choose the lie because someone told it to them. Love the person more then life itself and let them fall in their lies of hate. You don't think God did not turn the liar over to their sin.

In my own life sometimes you have to draw a line between love hate and protection. You can hate a person action, love the person, and draw the line because of the actions not the person. Sometimes you have to walk away for your sanity and allow another who knows how to deal with certain situation to handle it. Admitting your the wrong person to handle it, maybe hard. Perhaps people can be reunited at a later date. If not then you know you did your best in the situation. God's love does compel even in those situation to love that person, but you must think what best for the other person involved.

Our cross we bear is taking it to Jesus, before another, taking up our cross when our world is shattered. Taking up our cross when the world hates you for truth, for the word of Christ and for loving them despite their hate. Hate their actions but not the people. Hardest thing sometimes. Ask the woman at the well if she felt the shame of sleeping with a man and the Messiah knew it? Naaman felt no shame entering the idol temple as his boss knelt to pray. Beware of what you do for Jesus in situations not of God.

Hate enough to be willing to set the example of Christ without being Lord or God of heaven. Be will to walk in the perfection God has called you too. Showing the world it is possible to live for Jesus. To live in faith, in belief, not under the law of sin, but the law of liberty in Christ Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father help us to hate enough to walk in the prefection of carrying our cross that God has called us to in Christ Jesus. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Philippians 3:8-10 KJV
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Matthew 10:35-40 KJV
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Galatians 5:1 KJV
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Corinthians 13:1-14 KJV
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.