Christmas Traditions Through a Biblical Lens

Transcript

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Coming up on Renewed Mindsets.

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As the Christmas season approaches, many of us find joy in decorating trees, hanging mistletoe and celebrating the arrival of Santa Claus.

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These traditions have become deeply ingrained in our holiday celebrations.

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They're often as viewed as harmless fun, but today we're going to take a closer look at these beloved customs and ask the crucial question what does God think about them?

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Let's go, boys.

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Hey, welcome to Renewed Mindsets, where we study the basics of the faith through the lens of our middle-aged experiences.

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Basics of the faith through the lens of our middle-aged experiences.

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I'm Rick.

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Welcome to the show where I help you, gen Xers and Millennials, navigate spiritually through a world that looks nothing like we expected back when cars were square and mullets were totally awesome.

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I am so glad you're here.

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Welcome everybody.

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Welcome back to another episode of Renewed Mindsets.

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I'm Rick and today, as always, I'm joined by Lauren.

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Hi everyone.

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We are so thrilled you're here because we have a really special episode for you.

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Today.

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We're diving deep into something a lot of people don't even think twice about, and that's Christmas traditions.

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That's right Now.

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Some of these traditions might seem innocent, but when we look closely we'll see that they might not align with God's word.

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And a fair warning.

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We might stir the pot a little bit today.

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Some of the things we're going to talk about might be a little uncomfortable, but it's all in the spirit of growing closer to Christ.

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So grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, settle in and let's get started.

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Section one questioning the familiar.

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So let's start with one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas the decorated tree.

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It's in every shopping mall, in every living room, in every Hallmark movie.

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But have we ever stopped to ask why?

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Exactly, and most people think of the Christmas tree as harmless or a festive decoration, but its origins might surprise you a little bit.

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In fact, there's a passage in the Bible that seems to describe something very, very similar, and not in a good way.

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Oh, you're probably thinking of Jeremiah 10.

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Now that passage warns against cutting down a tree decorating with silver and gold and propping it up.

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It's a practice barred from pagan cultures, and God was very clear.

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His people were not to follow those customs.

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And even though some argue that this passage is about idol worship specifically, it raises one very important question If we're borrowing traditions with pagan roots, even unintentionally, are we really honoring God?

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Are we.

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I hear it.

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I hear bubbles getting burst everywhere, and that's true, because one of God's most important commands is be holy, because I am holy.

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We find that in Leviticus 1144.

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We find it in 1 Peter, 116.

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Holiness means being set apart 116.

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Holiness means being set apart, living by God's standards and not blending worldly practices with our faith.

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Now, lauren's going to talk more about this later in depth.

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It's definitely worth reflecting on that.

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How often do we spend more effort on picking the perfect ornaments or lighting the tree than we do reflecting on the miracle of Christ's birth?

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Oh, you just stomping all over it.

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So as we think about these traditions, let's ask ourselves are they helping us to live out God's call to holiness or are they pulling us further from it?

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Section two Santa Claus and materialism.

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All right.

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So another big topic is going to be Santa Claus.

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This one is especially tough because, let's be honest, we all grew up loving the idea of Santa and I know you did, rick but where does he fit into a Christ-centered?

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Christmas.

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Who ever heard?

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of a skinny Santa.

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I'm so sorry.

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Santa claus has become almost synonymous with christmas, but when we dig a little deeper, we realize that this tradition carries some concerning spiritual implications yes, that's exactly right, and santa is often portrayed as omniscient.

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He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake.

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Does that sound familiar?

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Sounds a little creepy.

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Yeah, I agree, and that mirrors attributes that belong to God alone.

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Yes, exactly.

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God is the only one who is truly omniscient, and when we attribute those qualities to Santa, even in a playful way, we dilute the holiness of God and it can confuse children about who is truly sovereign.

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Plus Santa promotes a works-based system, rewarding kids based on behavior.

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That's the opposite of God's grace, which is freely given.

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Yeah, and another thing that I just thought of.

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You know, we all know that Santa's not real, right, but we teach our kids this and then they that Santa's not real, right, but we teach our kids this and then they get to a certain age and we tell them we were lying.

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Yep, but we've also been telling them about Jesus, hopefully, and at the same time, what's to make those kids not just believe that the, that Jesus isn't real?

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I mean exactly, you know the parents are the ones that lied to them.

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So I mean I know people are, parents are the ones that lied to them.

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So I mean I know people are out there rolling their eyes right now saying, well, they're just extremists.

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But we can't forget that Santa's origins are mixed in with mythology and even elements of folklore, that they conflict with biblical teaching.

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God warns us in Deuteronomy 18, 10 through 12 to avoid anything that's connected to sorcery or divination.

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Exactly and honestly Santa his origins, the person that he comes from.

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St Nicholas isn't exactly good.

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Well, he's evil.

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Right?

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Well, we don't worry about the saints anyway, right?

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And, if we're honest, santa often steals the spotlight.

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Families invest literally so much time preparing for Santa, but how much time do they spend honoring Christ?

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That's a good one.

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It's worth stepping back and asking is Santa helping us focus on Jesus?

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Is Santa helping us and our children focus on Jesus or is?

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he a distraction.

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That's good, and when we remove Santa, we make more room for Christ, and that's the real magic of Christmas, something real and eternal, something that's going to last forever.

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Yeah.

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Section three other questionable traditions Okay, now let's talk about some other traditions, like mistletoe.

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Mistletoe.

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Mistletoe has pagan origins.

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It was used in fertility rituals.

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So what do we use it for?

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We hang it in our house and if two people are caught beneath it they kiss.

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I mean, that's pretty much a fertility ritual.

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Bringing that into our homes can mix worldly practices with our faith.

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Yeah, I never really understood the whole mistletoe concept myself.

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anyway, Because nobody wanted to kiss you.

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I guess.

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So sorry, we can't put that in there, yeah.

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I can.

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No.

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It's Christmas.

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It's a time for joyous laughter.

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I know that's so sad.

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I'm going to get roasted yeah, but you're at home with your brother and your parents.

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Who the heck you're gonna kiss?

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I'm gonna get roasted bad nobody listens go and let's not forget excessive feasting, oh yeah, feasting, oh yeah, feasting.

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Gratitude can easily turn into gluttony if we're not careful.

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Thanks, lauren, you're welcome.

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Thank you, lauren, for calling me fat.

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I figured you needed to hear that Celebrations should honor God.

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Let's ask them or let's ask ourselves is this helping me grow in holiness?

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Section four redeeming Christmas.

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So if we're stepping away from some traditions, how can we keep Christ at the center?

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Be intentional.

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A manger scene is a beautiful way to keep the focus on Jesus and, honestly, that's what me and my family do.

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We put up this gorgeous manger light straping.

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We'll put hay inside the manger.

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It's just as beautiful.

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Yeah, and you don't have a tree to take down.

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Exactly no, mess.

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Well, we need to start traditions that include giving Now that will reflect God's generosity and bless others, especially those in need.

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And worshiping is definitely key.

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Sing carols that celebrate Christ and read Luke 2 together as a family, or, in fact, just go ahead and read the entirety of Luke while you're at it.

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Our churches.

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Start small, invest in traditions that honor God.

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Christmas doesn't have to look like the world's version of Christmas to be meaningful.

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Right, and let's make this season about worship, gratitude and renewal.

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That's a Christmas worth celebrating, for sure.

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It is, and as we get closer to Christmas I think we're a week away now, if you're listening to this on the day that it drops.

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Oh yeah, it's coming up.

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I thank you so much for listening and I hope that this conversation today inspires you to reflect on your Christmas traditions and ask do these honor God?

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And I also want you all to remember that it's not about perfection, it's about putting Christ first.

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Yes, thank you for joining us.

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We love you.

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See ya, bye.

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And now a joyous Christmas tale.

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A woman takes her 16-year-old daughter to the doctor.

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The doctor says okay, mrs Jones, what's the problem?

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The mother says it's my daughter, darla.

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She keeps getting these cravings, she's putting on weight and is sick most every morning.

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The doctor gives Darla a good examination and then turns to the mother and says well, I don't know how to tell you this, but your Darla is pregnant About four months, would be my guess.

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The mother says well, I don't know how to tell you this, but your Darla is pregnant About four months, would be my guess.

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The mother says pregnant, she can't be.

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She's never even been left alone with a man, have you Darla?

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And Darla says no, mother, I've never even kissed a man.

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The doctor walked over to the window and just stares out of it.

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About five minutes pass and the mother finally says is there something wrong out there, doctor?

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The doctor replies no, not really.

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It's just that the last time anything like this happened, a star appeared in the east and three wise men came over a hill.

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And I'll be John Brown if I'm going to miss it this time.

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All right.

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So let's talk about understanding holiness in our lives.

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So many of you have chosen to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, but what comes next Like what comes after that?

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Is that the end of the journey or is there more to it?

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Can we just continue living as we did before now, safe from hell?

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Let's explore what the Bible says 1 Peter 1, 13 through 16.

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Prepare your minds for action.

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Be self-controlled.

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Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

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As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

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But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.

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For it is written be holy because I am holy.

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What is holiness?

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When we think of holiness, some might imagine like a monk in a monastery or an elderly person constantly reading the Bible.

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But holiness is simply about being changed and set apart for God.

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2 Corinthians 5.17.

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.

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The old has gone, the new is here.

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Being in Christ makes us new, which means our lives should change after salvation.

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There must be a noticeable difference between our lives and the world's ways.

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Living a holy life.

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A holy life is one fully committed to God.

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God's holiness calls us to be holy too.

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There is no in between.

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There is no half doing something.

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You're all in or you're all out.

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In John 5, 5, jesus healed a crippled man and later told him sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

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In John 8.11, jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery and told her neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.

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Both were restored to God and instructed to live differently after Applying holiness in our lives.

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Holiness isn't about being perfect, but it's about being serious in our commitment to God.

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It's following his commands and living a life pleasing to him.

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We should gather for worship and support each other, but that's just the start.

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We need to take Christ with us everywhere, into our work, family, friendships, decisions and even small problems.

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A life given over to God might seem radical, but it leads to peace, joy and assurance.

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It aligns us with God's plan for us as well.

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We must reflect God's love to the world, showing differences in our behavior, goals and desires.

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Our lives should visibly demonstrate our faith without needing lengthy explanations.

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Matthew 5.16,.

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Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

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How to live a holy life?

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To live a holy life, we need to obey God completely and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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Living in sin grieves the Holy Spirit Accepting Christ as a choice, and so is living a holy life.

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This choice must be made daily.

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Remember we belong to Christ.

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Living a holy life is about constantly striving to align ourselves with God's will and reflecting His love to the world.

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Communicating with God.

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Second, we need to communicate with our Lord in prayer, and not just once or twice a week, every single day, every moment you get, talk to him.

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He wants to be talked to like he's a friend.

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We should praise him, thank him, ask for his help and, most importantly, listen to him.

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Even Jesus found it necessary to pray, sometimes all night long, if he needed it.

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How much more do we Immersing in God's word?

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Third, we need to be immersed in God's word because it holds the answers.

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It is literally food for the spirit.

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It gives us direction, wisdom and understanding.

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It's the most direct way God speaks to us, showing us the eternal principles of how to live a holy life in Christ Jesus, understanding holiness.

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Holiness isn't just a list of do's and don'ts.

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It's about conforming to the character of God and being obedient to his will.

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It's the natural result of salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Holiness reflects the character and behavior of a new creature in him.

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It's the power of the Holy Spirit working in a life submitted to Almighty God.

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Holiness is what makes His church the city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

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Are we that church?

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Well, that's all for this week's show.

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You know the name of this show speaks my hope for you.

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It's taken from the words of Romans, chapter 12, verse 2.

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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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If you enjoyed what you heard, do me a favor, please, and tell someone you know about it.

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Send them a link and a text you know.

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You may even need to download it to their phone and show them what a podcast is.

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If it was valuable to you, it will be to them.

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Visit renewedmindsetscom to hear past episodes.

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To hear past episodes, read the blog and check out the new merch.

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Tell me what you think about this show.

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I just might play it on a future episode.

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Until next week, I'm Rick.

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I love you.

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See ya.

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The intro and outro music for the Renewed Mindsets podcast is Are you Ready?

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By Floodgate From the album Are you Ready?

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By Floodgate From the album Are you Ready?

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Copyright 2002, offbeat Ministries Incorporated Floodgate can be found on Apple Music and iTunes Music used with permission.

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Copyright 2002, offbeat Ministries Incorporated Floodgate can be found on Apple Music and iTunes Music used with permission.

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But you went over the side of the cliff.

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Didn't I ever tell you about bumbles, bumbles, bounce.

Christmas Traditions Through a Biblical Lens

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