A Christian Principle

A Christian Principle
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.  
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.  
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.  
Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.  
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”1Timothy 5:1-8.
Here Paul tells Timothy and through him Christians how we are to treat those around us especially family.
We are to treat older men with respect “as if he were your father”
“Treat younger men as brothers,”
“Older women as mothers,”
“younger women as Sisters”
all “with absolute purity”
We are to look after widows who are truly in need.
Then Paul notes,
“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This is not a concept exclusive to Christians. The Jewish faith believes in this, as do others.
When I was young someone gave me a button that read, “Don’t let your parents down. They brought you up.”
This is true. We as Christians have an obligation to our families to help them if they are in need as long as we are able.
We as Christians are also called as part of our faith to help those who are truly in need. James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“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.
The Christian faith is more than a faith that simply believes in God. It is very much a faith of love in action. Of showing God’s love in all we do. Of witnessing for God in word and deed to all those around us. Our families, our neighbours and all we come in contact with.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

 Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

A Christian Principle

A Christian Principle

“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.
Here is a universal principle I believe everyone be they Christian or not can understand,  “do to others what you would have them do to you,”
I firmly believe that everyone will one day have to give an accounting to God. I firmly believe what the writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
  Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The Talmud makes an interesting point when it says,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                             The Talmud
I know the Talmud is not considered an inspired book by Christians but the principle it points out is Christian.
For the Christian there can be no limits on who the “others” are.
Too many people calling themselves Christians limit who they help. I’ve heard people claiming to be Christians yell insults at people they don’t like.
One of the big hot button debates in the United States is same sex marriage. Those calling themselves Christians protest against it. That is not doing to others as you would have others do to you. Unless you want those you protest against to protest against you.
Secular governments make the laws and are not bound by Christians principles and morals.
Jesus and the founding fathers of the church understood this very well. They lived in the Roman empire. That had practises that they would strongly object too, yet they didn’t. If Jesus and the apostles didn’t speak out against those outside their faith.
The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
Paul also says,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” 
                                                                                                                                 Romans 13:1
The apostle Peter backs that statement saying,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”  
                                                      1 Peter 2:13,14.
They said this while living under the emperor Nero who would eventually order their deaths.
As Christians we need to take a good look at how we are conducting ourselves. Are we obeying 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.
Please think about it.