Have you ever questioned why it seems that each new generation feels the need to “re-invent” Christianity? Why does one generation view any literary, artistic, or musical work by a Contemporary Christian artist with distain, and on the other side of the pendulum, why are there those who practically believe that no hymn, book, or work created before 1960 could hold any relevance to the “new issues” of their life? Why do we see so many church divisions over eternally insignificant matters? It’s as if the many denominations and church movements are trying to tell the world and God what God (in their opinion)  should be like. These are important questions, but they are not new ones, and I am sure for specific situations there are specific and varying answers, but in this paper I would like to list a few that I believe are crucial to the Christian community and American Society today. Let’s go back in time to another place where a man from another culture seemed to be trying to tell the world and God what he thought God should be like, and what the result was when he did.
    Jesus has just performed the well known miracle of feeding the five thousand, and has sailed away with his disciples. As they reach the Coasts of Caeserea Philippi he asks the disciples who people say that he is. They tell him that some say he is John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Then he gets at what he is wanting to ask them. In Matt. 16:15 he says “But whom say ye that I am?” the text goes on to say “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.” Now it was after this that Jesus began to tell his disciples how he would suffer and be killed and raised again. Let’s pick up the rest of the story in Verse 22:
“Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying: be it far from you, Lord: this will not be unto you.” the text goes on to say “and Jesus answered him and said surely Peter, if thou wantsest me not to die then I won’t.”
oops, wrong translation! That is NOT what Jesus said at all! He said “Get behind me, Satan, you are an offence unto me, for you savor not the things that are of God, but those that are of men.” Whoa! That’s kind of heavy, don’t you think? I did when I first read that passage, but let’s look closer at why Jesus was so disturbed at Peter’s remarks, and maybe we’ll see how this ties in to what we were originally talking about.
    Peter was not just saying “No Jesus, don’t die, we need you too much here,” or “but Jesus we love you, don’t die.” Guys you can’t love God too much, and Jesus was not upset at Peter because of Peter’s love, he was upset because Peter was not interested in God or the things of God. He didn’t want to get in on what God was doing, he much preferred that God get in on what he was doing. Peter would rather that God not be so radical, so different, and when God starts talking about all this “crucifixion stuff” it really threw him off! Jesus was upset because Peter’s entire mindset was wrong because his view of the God-to-man relationship placed man’s priorities above God’s character. Just think about that for a second.
    Now before we hang Peter let’s ask ourselves the question, are we really that much different than he? God is very radical, very different, and though he never contradicts himself or his own character, he does not fit inside the realm of our comprehension. If you try to keep God in a box and try to tame him, you won’t be able to follow him any further than the walls of your little box, you won’t be able to step out into the realm of the miraculous where He is! Let’s look at the rest of the passage, which really stresses this point:
Verse 24 says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
    I believe a practical application from this passage for us is this: If anyone wants to know God, they must completely humble themselves and follow God where he goes. If you try to hold on to your opinions and desires in order to hang on to your life, you’ll lose it, but if you surrender it, and come to God, you will find life. You see that’s a fundamental principle of a Christian’s service to God, just getting involved in what God is wanting to do, knowing that you will probably have to drop a lot of your presuppositions about Him in order to walk closely with him. That’s what being transformed by the renewing of your mind is, (Rom 12), it means YOU DON’T STAY THE SAME!! That’s why so many churches are split over insignificant issues, that’s why I believe Christians feel the need to reinvent Christianity every generation. It’s my prayer for my church, my friends, my family, and myself that we will live in constant submission to God, so that when he does reveal his character to us in new ways, we don’t fight him, but instead draw closer to him. It’s a long road, and I hate to disappoint anyone but I’ve learned it’s not something you can just get over and done all at once, but God Is faithful, and he will not quit working on you till you are glorified with him and can see Jesus face to face.

Hi everyone, I'm studying for an english comp. CLEP and this is a practice essay i wrote. you don't have to read it but i figured i'd post it anyway, ya know? Criticism and advice are definitely allowed seeing as I want to hone in my "sweet skillz."
God bless
  Ham

    There have always been, and very likely always will be those elevated into a position of public office with ample heart to serve their country but insufficient knowledge, wisdom, or experience to do so in the right way. Those who, according to their ignorance, step out against a legitimate injustice or evil, but never address the core issue, and likewise never accomplish their goal. Our nation and our times are not an exception. In an essay for the New York Times Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan addressed the very real problem of violence and crime committed with firearms, and offered a solution. He claimed that due to the fact that there were more firearms in circulation that U.S. Citizens, it was too late to stem what he referred to as the “gun problem,” and stated that it has become necessary to heavily tax ammunition or require that one have a federal license to purchase ammunition. In this essay I would like to convince you that though this is a noble cause, it is an insufficient solution and an incorrect analysis of the crisis plaguing our beautiful United States.
    The belief that the cause of crimes committed with firearms in the United States is due to the existence and access of firearms in the United States is incorrect, for it does not reach past the surface. Allow me to explain. For quite some time the theory of evolution has been commonly and blindly accepted among the academic community and in the public education system without thought or regard to the consequences thereof.  Take for example a basic and fundamental principle from the teachings of Darwinism: the evolution of human life, without influence or intervention of a Creator. This is a principle which is being strongly advocated by our educators, but has inevitable and distasteful consequences. If all that life consists of is one species evolving above another, then all that humans are is an advanced form of animal. This greatly lowers the value of human life, and makes it justifiable within the worldview being promoted by the educators for an individual to do whatever is necessary for their survival, pleasure, or happiness because there is none greater to answer to than self. It is inconsistent to advocate this worldview in the classroom and at the same time be shocked at the state in which we have found our society, where violence is committed daily in the workplace, school, home, and other social outlets.
    Now that I have addressed what the core issue is in the degradation of our society, I would like to address another aspect of Sen. Moynihan’s position. To place a high tax on ammunition or to make it necessary to apply for a federal license to purchase it would only inconvenience the law abiding citizens who are not attaining it through other means. Let’s talk about the Federal License idea. Did you know that to purchase a rifle or shotgun in the U. S. one must be 18 years of age or older and go through a background check, which must include no felonies? Furthermore did you know that in order to purchase a handgun one must be 21 years of age or older and go through the same background check? Also, did you know that there are a many criminals who attain firearms through alternate means in order to bypass the background check? I’m sure you knew these facts, and I know purchasing firearms is not the issue here, but follow the train of thought. Let’s say that in order to apply for this license one must:
    A. Be of a set age
    B. Have a clear criminal record including no felonies
Do you see it? The only person in any way inconvenienced is the respectable, law abiding citizen who is not attaining firearms or ammunition through illegal venues. My friend, the same applies for a high federal tax on ammunition. The only results will be the increase of illegal activity and the decrease of legal activity, punishing the innocent.
    In the previous paragraphs I have done my best to show you that, however noble Sen. Moynihan’s attempts at justice may be, they are not grounded in reality and will not bring a lasting measure of peace. It is my belief that if the Senator is genuinely concerned for the violence in the United States he should take his battle to the classrooms, where the future violators are being taught in all practicality that they have none higher than themselves to answer to, and that because of that nothing which brings them pleasure is wrong. This is the mindset which is eating the future of America like virus through the body. These are the training grounds for future Virginia Techs and Columbines. This is the heart of what Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan refers to as the “gun problem.” They are the Darwinistic and Nihilistic worldviews promoted by public education. We are only experiencing the result of them. Let’s attack the root of the problem, instead of continually mowing over the weed of result.