Judgement without Mercy

Judgement without Mercy
James the half brother of Jesus states,
Remember the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 

 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

 Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

                                            James 2:12,13.

We as believers in Christ must remember the above words of James. Particularly “Mercy triumphs over Judgement.”
That being said if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus we should heed the words of Jesus who said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
I believe there is only two reason a Christian has for judging anyone.
One is for their own safety. We need to know when to get away from a potential dangerous situation.
The Second is to judge whether or not those claiming to be Christians are teaching correct doctrine. As Paul states, “God will judge those outside the church.” And we as believers in Christ Jesus are to “expel the wicked” from among us.
We especially have no right to judge a person as to where they will spend eternity. If we feel a person is not saved. We have a duty to present the salvation message of Christ to them. Not judge them.
After all we, as believers in Christ Jesus. Knowing what we know about salvation would want someone to tell us about the salvation Christ Jesus has to offer. And Jesus tells Christians,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                                       Matthew 7:12.

Which to my way of thinking is the most important verse in the Bible for a believer in Christ Jesus.
Read that verse again,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                                       Matthew 7:12.

Thus the question become if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, just two word,

Are you?

Are you showing Mercy rather than Judgement?

Are you doing to others as you would have others do to you?

Please think about it.

Be Merciful

Be Merciful
Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

                                                    Luke 6:36.

Someone once told me Mercy “is showing unconditional love.” the apostle Paul wrote about love this way,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, 

it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil

 but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....” 

                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Jesus showed this kind of Love when he died for us. The apostle Paul stating,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, 

Christ died for us.” 

                                   Romans 5:8.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:8-13.
If you are claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, a Christian do you show Love and Mercy to those around you?
Remember Jesus said,

“Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy.” 

                                    Matthew 5:7

Remember the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged

by the law that gives freedom, 

 because judgment without mercy 

will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

 Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

                                            James 2:12,13.

Please think about it. 

You should sit with tax collectors and sinners

You should sit with tax collectors and sinners
The book of Matthew states,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
I knew a man who wanted to be a pastor. He had the idea of going and setting up a new church congregation in a small rural Ontario town that had no evangelical church. Which he said they needed one.
In order to do this he went to Bible school and got his degrees. Trouble was he forgot a key thing that pastors and evangelist need to remember and for that matter every Christian. I realized this when I told him I’d gone to a gay wedding.
He said I shouldn’t have done for by doing so. I in attending, as a Christian, and at that time being a Christian teacher, lent credence to the marriage. Saying homosexuality was sinful.
He was shocked when I said I didn’t care. That even if it was sinful it was more important for me to go to it.
I reminded him that the apostle Paul said,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” 

                                                                                 Romans 3:23.

I noted that, that all meant heterosexuals and homosexuals alike. That everyone on earth is a sinner according to the apostle Paul.
I noted an incident between Jesus and that Pharisees recorded in Matthew that states,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
I noted that the only way anyone will hear about the saving grace of Christ Jesus, is by Christians interacting with people no matter who they are.
Thus my question to you the reader.
If you claim to be a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus do you interact with everyone irrespective of their sexual orientation, their faith, or their lifestyle?
If not, why not?
Please think about it.

Who's going to Hell?

Who’s going to Hell?
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus also said,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
Christians have no right to judge where anyone will spend eternity. That is God’s decision and we must as believers in Christ Jesus must always remember that.
The Eleven O Clock Parable
It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another? 
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Question one, What is the right answer?
We as Christians, especially here in the west live in a secular democracy. A multicultural state similar in many ways to that of the Roman empire that the first century church lived in. With a government that does it’s best to accommodate all people regardless of their faith, lifestyle or sexual orientation.
We are called to reach out to everyone with the love of God irrespective of who they are. We are told not to judge anyone.
I firmly believe two things when it came to the early church.
1/ God used the multicultural nature of Rome and the relative freedoms it gave its people to spread the gospel message and to show us how to spread that message.
2/ I believe the apostles and those within the early church kept their hearts and minds focussed on spreading the Gospel message and thus were not sidetracked by politics or trying to decide where anyone will spend eternity, or anything else.
It is a lesson we in the twenty-first century church need to heed.
As long as we keep our hearts and minds focussed on presenting the message of Christ to the world around us we will win souls for Christ.
If however we are distracted in anyway we run the risk of failing in our mission something that has eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

The Bible is not the Light of The World?

The Bible is not the light of the world?
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”Matthew 5:14.
The great evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.””Charles H. Spurgeon.
Someone said to me the church is under attack. Which is true. It has been ever since its inception. On and off throughout the centuries the Christians who are The Church, have been persecuted simply for being believers in Christ Jesus.
That being said we, especially here in the west must make sure if we are being persecuted it is for the right thing. That being, showing the world the Love of Christ. Not because we took sides in politics, or heaped judgement on people or did a any of a hundred other things Christ would not have wanted us to do.
The apostle Peter makes it clear,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
As a holy priesthood we must represent Christ in the purest way humanly possible. We must. We as individual believers in Christ, must as the apostle Peter said, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits.”
We must remember that we are the light of the world. That people will see Christ through our words and deeds.
Thus my question becomes to anyone reading this who claims to be a follower of Christ Jesus; Do you live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.?
Please think about it.  

You and God

You and God
The Psalmist writes,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
What the psalmist is saying here is simple. God knows all about you. He knows why you are the way you are.
Thus the call of God to all people everywhere is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The apostle Peter states,
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Acts 2:21.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
All of that being said where do you stand? There are two ways of looking at the above. You can acknowledge what I have quoted intellectually or you can acknowledge the truth of what is said and accept Jesus into your heart today. The choice is yours.
Please think about it. 

Reckless Words

Reckless words.
The writer of proverbs states,

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                                 Proverbs 12:18.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are accountable for our actions. We must always remember that it is through our words and deeds that people will see Christ. We must remember that our words and deeds potentially have eternal consequences.
We must always think before we speak. As the writer of Proverbs states “Reckless words pierce like a sword.”
The wrong words at the wrong time can scar a person for life. The wounds from words can hurt a person far more than a physical injury.
Likewise right words at the right time can bring healing. That is why we must think before we speak asking God for wisdom.
Our prayer should be the words of the Psalmist who writes,
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14.
Thus the question becomes. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are your words and the meditations of your heart pleasing to God.
Please think about it.

Outcome of a Disagreement

Outcome of a Disagreement
The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12
A short while ago I had a disagreement with a man claiming to be Christian over something he said, This man went to church every week and during the week. He was a kind and gentle man. By all standards a good man. Who did good works. Yet judging by what he said some around him questioned if he really was a Christian.
He had an offbeat sense of humour which is not a bad thing. That being said he would say things that quite frankly shocked people. It was obvious he hadn’t thought of the consequences of his words. Sadly he is not alone. There are many within the church that are like him. Many who despite claiming to be Christian have a very secular attitude. Looking more like the world around them than Christ.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”Billy Graham
Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                           Francis of Assisi.

We need to remember that the world is watching anyone who claims to be Christian. We need to remember that the only way we will win souls for Christ is if we live as far as humanly possible Christlike lives.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
If we are exhibiting these traits in our daily lives then we will win souls for Christ.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
We need to remember what Peter said, we are aliens and strangers in this world. We need to abstain from sinful desires. Living as good a life as we can. For that is what sets us apart from the world around us and that is what will attract people to Christ.

Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer that I think all who consider themselves Christians need to read and take to heart. He wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                  Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Do you believe this?

Do you believe this?

“All men are like grass, 

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

because the breath of the LORD blows on them. 

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

but the word of our God stands forever.”

                                                    Isaiah 40:6-8

There is one statistic that every person living today will one day be a part of. The ultimate statistic. The ultimate statistic states that everyone that is born will one day die.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo made an interesting statement about death, he said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”Tony Campolo
Which begs the question dear reader do you know God?
Do you know where you will spend eternity?
For me as a Christian this is how I believe you get to heaven enter heaven.
Jesus said,
1/ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16,17.
2/ “....I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Jesus is the way to heaven.
 3/ The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
4/ The apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1 John 1:9,10.
5/ The apostle Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
6/ Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God,
 because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as by the writer of Hebrews as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

                                                Hebrews 11:1.

Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

Does God Exist?

Does God exist?
The Psalmist writes,

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

                                                               Psalm 14:1

The apostle Paul writes,

“For the message of the cross 

is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved

 it is the power of God.”

                                1 Corinthians 1:18.

An atheist will tell you there is no God. But an atheist does not know everything. After all if you know everything you are God or at least a demigod. Thus God would exist.
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It was written to believers in God and believers need no proof of God’s existence.
There is however I believe proof of the existence of God all around us. The Psalmist stating,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                         Psalm 19:1-3

Albert Einstein said,

“Look deep into nature, 

and then you will understand everything better.” 

                                                            Albert Einstein.

I have no idea if Einstein believed in God or not. What I do know is he was right. If we look deep into nature we will understand everything better. Just because we cannot physically see God does not mean he does not exist.
Ben Zion Boker said,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation. Ben Zion Bokser
Think of this From the smallest subatomic particle to greatest galaxies and everything in-between is in perfect order so that life as we know it exist on this planet. I personally cannot believe this all came about by chance.
That being said the decision as to whether you believe in God or not is a personal thing. You must decide whether or not to believe in Him or not.
Thus the question becomes, Do you believe in God?
Please think about it.

The Most Important Decision

The most important decision
The book of Genesis states,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                               Genesis 1:1.

It does not debate God’s existence. The book of Genesis and the Bible were written to believers in God and therefor debate about His existence was unnecessary.
The American evangelist Billy Graham stated,
“I can't prove it scientifically, that there's a God, but I believe.” Billy Graham.
Ben-Zion Bokser (July 4, 1907 – 1984) one of the major Conservative rabbis of the United States said this,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.
As for me personally I believe God exists because I see the perfection of the universe. From the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy everything is in perfect balance to provide life on this earth as we know it.
I cannot believe this happened purely by chance.
Ultimately however it is up to you the reader to decide for yourself whether God exists or not. That decision I believe is the most important decision you will make in your life. For that decision will ultimately determine your eternal resting place.
Please think about it.

Christian Principle #8 Do to others

Jesus Said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Think of it this way

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 
This is the first and greatest commandment. 
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Earlier in the gospel of Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45.

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defines love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 

it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.” 

                                      1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

The apostle Paul telling us,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

                              Romans 12:18

If we as Christians remember this it’s hard for us to go wrong. And may as a result win many souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #7 Trust in The Lord

Christian Principles #7 Trust in the Lord

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work.
Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.
The apostle Paul said,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.
And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.
So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #6 Flee Evil

Christian Principles #6 Flee evil
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.
The Psalmist tells us,
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.
Do you flee evil?
As believers in Christ Jesus we should. That’s not to say we cannot talk to someone who just might be a sinner. That would be wrong. After all Jesus sat with people the religious men of his day deemed sinners.
Marks gospel records,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
It is the job of a believer in Christ Jesus to point sinners to God. After all the apostle Paul said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23,24.
As Paul noted we are all sinners. The only difference between a believer in Christ Jesus and a sinner is we have had our sins forgiven by the grace of God “through the redemption that  came by Christ Jesus.”
Non-Christians however should be able to look at our life and see that we do our best not to take part in anything sinful. We shouldn’t have to tell them. Our actions should be enough.
So the question becomes, If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to flee evil, to live a life free of sin?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #5 At Peace with God

Christian Principles #5 At Peace with God
The apostle Peter writing to Christians reminds believers that Jesus will one day return and this earth will pass away. That He will come quickly when we are least expecting it. Therefor we need to be at peace with God. Peter writes,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.    That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  2 Peter 3:10-14.
As believers we many times fall short of what God wants for our lives. It is however incumbent upon us as soon as we realize we have made a mistake to ask God’s forgiveness.
As believers we truly need to look at our lives from time to time and ask ourselves am I truly living a life that is glorifying God?
Am I truly at peace with God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #4 Living at Peace

Christian Principles #4 living at Peace
Live at Peace with those around you.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
The Apostle Peter tells believers in Christ Jesus,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Believers in Christ Jesus are called to live a good and peaceful life. A life of holiness.
As believers in Christ we need to take a look at the actions of Jesus and the apostles. They never spoke out against anyone outside their faith. They never protested for any reason. They did as far as was possible live at peace with those around them. They lived a life of love.
In doing so they opened up doors to talk with other groups throughout the known world. As a result in just over a century, Christianity had spread throughout the known world.
These men and women by living a peaceful loving life stood in the Areopagus in Athens and spoke to the learned men and women there. They spoke with politicians, soldiers, tax collectors, and people of every strata of society from slaves to rulers.
This is what we in the twenty-first century church need to do. Are you?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #3 Christian attributes

Christian Principles #3 Christian attributes
The Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
Here is a simple test for anyone calling themselves a believer in Christ Jesus. Now keep in mind believers in Christ are far from perfect. We are all human with human frailties and failings.
That being said however as believers in Christ we should be striving to be Christ like. We should be trying to make the fruits of the spirit part of our daily life.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

If our lives are exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, the sermon people will see in us is the Love of Jesus.
Question: When people see your life do they truly see the fruit of the Spirit of God?
Please think about it.

Christian Principle #2 Deeds

Christian Principles #2 Deeds
James the half brother of Jesus states,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
There are many Christians who will tell you, you are saved by faith. That is true. However James here make it clear our faith needs to be accompanied by works. Good deeds.
    If we indeed have true faith in Jesus it well spur us on to good deeds. Simply believing in God should never be enough for the believer in Christ Jesus. We need to put our faith into action.
Jesus made this clear when he said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you putting your faith into action?
Please think about it.

Christian Principles #1 Love

Christian Principles  #1 Love
There are some very important precepts within Christianity that all true believers in Christ Jesus I believe must be following. The first is Love.
Jesus said when asked the question,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Earlier in Matthews gospel we hear Jesus taking this concept of love one step further. He said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
When it comes to Love the Apostle Paul made clear what Christian Love should be. He wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast,

 it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                    1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

What these Scriptures from the New Testament say needs no interpretation. They make clear that believers in Christ Jesus should love unconditionally, God, their neighbour, and even their enemy. And The should be praying for those who persecute them.
If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you show this kind of Love to those around you?
Please think about it. 

With gentleness and respect

With gentleness and Respect.
The apostle Peter states,
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15,16.
Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, are called to be respectful of everyone. Especially when we interact with those outside our faith. We are to treat them with gentleness and respect. Whether others treat we Christians with respect or not we are to respect them.
Our obligation as Christians is to present the gospel of Christ in a respectful manner to others. We are not to force our faith on anyone. We are to simple present what we believe giving the person the opportunity to accept what we say or reject it.
Please think about it.

For all in Authority

For all in Authority
The apostle Paul writes,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2:1-4.
Look very carefully at this portion of scripture. Paul urges all Christians. All believers in Christ Jesus to pray “for kings and all those in authority” 
The reason he gives for this is, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
The easiest way for Christians to win souls for Christ is in a time of peace. Those in the persecuted church have a much harder time winning souls for Christ than those living in freedom and peace.
That is why I believe Paul tells us to pray for those in authority.
Please think about it.

Do you do your best?

Do you do your best?
The apostle Paul writes,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.
If you claim to be a Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus you are the lense through which people see Christ. Thus the need to present the word of God in the purest way humanly possible.
We cannot afford to misinterpret scripture. To twist it to say what we want it to say. To listen only to what we agree with. St. Augustine said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
Additionally we must live the gospel every day. Our deeds must reflect the unconditional love of Jesus.
If we are not doing this then we are falling far short of what God wants for us.
Please think about it.

True Worshippers

True Worshippers
Jesus said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24.
Are you a true worshipper? Do you truly worship God in spirit and in truth? These are questions only you can answer.
God in the book of Exodus states,
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3.
In the book of Joshua we read,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.   Joshua 24:14.
If we consider ourselves true followers of Christ Jesus, we must examine our lives and ask ourselves in no uncertain terms if we are truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
We must ask ourselves the question am I putting anything or anyone ahead of God? We must ask, Am I mixing my faith with anything else, politics, philosophy, anything?
So my questions to you the reader are,
Do you put anything ahead of God?
Are you mixing your belief in God with anything?
Are you truly worshipping God in spirit and in truth?
Please think about it.

Are you condemning them

Are you condemning them
Jesus said,
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17.
As Christians we live in a world that contains many things that we disagree with. This is no different than in the time of Jesus.
Jesus and his disciples lived in a multi cultural society that was the Roman empire. There were horrifically immoral things happening at the time. Yet interestingly enough the Jesus and his disciples never passed judgement on them.
I think that perhaps this is one of the reason God sent Jesus at this time. God in his wisdom knew what kind of society we would be living in thus He gave us an example of how to live with those around us. Even those with whom we vehemently disagree with.
The apostle Paul stood in Athens speaking to those gathered in Areopagus, and never condemned their idol worship or their lifestyles. He simply presented the gospel of Salvation.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
We need to heed these words of Jesus carefully. The way I see it is the world will judge us according to how we judge them.
If they see us as bigots or insensitive or judgmental toward them. They will treat us the same way.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist makes a good point when he states,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
One of the first passages of scripture I ever memorized was the words of Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
The sole reason for Jesus coming into this world was to save the world not to condemn it. We as Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus will not win souls for Christ if we judge them.
Thus my question,

Are you treating others in the same way you want to be treated? 

OR 

Is your actions pushing people away from Christ?

Are you potentially condemning people to a Christless eternity?
Please think about it.

Leave them for the poor and alien

Leave them for the poor and alien
The book of Leviticus states,
“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:10.
The Bible has 2000 verses dealing with the poor. Here in the book of Leviticus God tells the farmer not to go over his field a second time. Rather leave that which is unpicked for the poor and alien.
The Jews at the time of the writing of Leviticus were living in an agricultural society. Thus leaving the leftovers from the harvest was practical.
In our society today such a thing for the most part is impractical. Not everyone has a farm. There is however something we can do. It was something I picked up when my wife and I started attending our new Church.
The small church worked with the homeless. Doing what they can to help the poor within our city. One of the thing was very practical.
We have a number of homeless that stand at traffic lights and other locations around town and ask for money. What people do is when they have loose change from going through a drive through or whatever they keep it hand and give it to the person asking for money. Some give gift cards. Others even give them a meal.
It’s not much a few dollars hear and there but I’ve found it is welcome.
In Jewish culture there is a concept called
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance to tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence may give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles... 
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 

As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief.
Please Think about it.

You Foolish Man

You Foolish Man?

You foolish man, 

do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 

                                                        James 2:14-20

I was talking to a man the other day that claimed to be a Christian. Yet he went on and on about refugees trying to enter Canada illegally. Telling me that they should be sent back to where they came from.
This man reflects what is happening in the United States also. Many calling themselves Christians are speaking against the refugees that are coming to the border.
As I look on this I am saddened. Christians should be the first at the border to minister to these people. And while there are some Christian groups extending the hand of mercy to the refugees, the shouts of those against the refugees is drowning them out.
Teresa of Ávila said
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which to look at Christ’s compassion to the world, yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.” Mother Teresa of Avila
The American evangelist Tony Campolo put it this way,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
Christians are obligated to help those less fortunate. To quote James the half brother of Jesus,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
Thus my question to you is. If you claim to be a Christian are you exhibiting good works? Are you doing what you can to help the needy in your community be they at the border or the homeless on the street? Or for that matter the less fortunate that are in your church congregation?
When you stand before God what will he say about what you did on this earth?
Please think about it.
Post Script
Do you know there are 2000 verses in the Bible that deal with responding to the needs of the poor?

A Thought

A thought.
Jesus said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16 
On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3,7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin.
Looking at it we see just how small earth is in the universe. Within the vastness of the universe it seems insignificant. Yet it is everything to those of us who live on it.
Some have said there may be more planets out there in the vastness of the universe that has life. While that may be true it is our planet and our planet alone that is important to us. We have no other place in the universe to live.
This pail blue dot we live on is also important to God. For He entered the world in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’ John 3:16,17.
When we look at the Bible we must remember that it is not a science book. But rather a book of relationships. Man’s relationship with God as well as man’s relationship with his fellow man.
Galileo Galilei wisely said,

“The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, 

not the way the heavens go.”

                                 Galileo Galilei.

The way I see it is God did not see those who live on that pail blue dot as insignificant. Quite the contrary He created them to have fellowship for all eternity with them.
That being said He chose to give each person a free will to do as they wished. To believe in Him and that He created the universe and everything in it. To believe that He entered the world in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ or not to believe.
Thus the choice is yours. Do you believe there is a God? Do you believe in Christ Jesus?
The writer of Hebrews said,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                  Hebrews 11:6 

The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

We Must Love

We must Love
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43,44.
Do you love your enemy? Are you willing to sit down with those whom you do not like? Are you willing to sit down with those of different faiths and lifestyles?
Here is an interesting quote from the Talmud,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?” The Talmud.
Sadly many who claim to be Christians are not willing to sit down with those of other faiths or lifestyles. They, in some cases will not do business with them. How tragic. For in doing so they are pushing people away from God.
God in sending Jesus to this earth showed us unconditional love. This is the kind of love we are called to show to others.
As I said in my previous blog post it is not the Christians place to judge anyone. It is our job to love.
The apostle Paul defines love this way,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

This is the kind of love we as Christians as believers in Christ Jesus must show to the world.
We must never ever judge anyone.
We must remember the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
We must remember we are Christ’s representatives on this earth and that the only way we will win souls for Christ is to love everyone unconditionally.
Please think about it.