Showing posts with label "Christian Principles". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Christian Principles". Show all posts

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Christian Principles

Christian Principles
There are a lot of Christian principle. Principles we should be using when making our decisions in life. The following is what I consider the core Christian principles as quoted from Scripture.
Love
The Apostle Paul states,
“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.
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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two characters.” Matthew 22:36-40.
He also 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, 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.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.
Fruits of a Christian Character
The Apostle Paul writes,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” Galatians 5:18-26. 
Your Actions
“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.
These are the principles of a good Christian life. They are principles we should be using in our every day life. Principles we should be noted for by those around us.
They are principles we should be holding all who claim to be Christians up to. For these truly are Christian values.
The apostle Peter telling us,
“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.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian think carefully a

Monday 1 February 2016

Christian Principles

Christian principles

“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.
This is a universal truth that both Christians and non-Christians can understand. How would you like to be treated? Would you like to be treated the way you treat others?
In the United States presidential candidates are debating building a wall to keep illegal emigrants out. There seems to be an endless debate on universal health care and ending Obama Care. Sadly many Christians are supporting the idea.
Would those Christians who support the idea, want that to happen to them? If they were poor, hungry and in need of work, would they want someone to build a wall containing them to their state or neighbourhood?
If they were sick and needed and had no health care, would they vote to stop universal health care?
In the case of illegal emigrants wouldn’t a better idea be to say to Mexico and other countries, if you don’t pay living wages equal to that in the United States then goods coming from your country will be subject to high tariffs or not allowed into the country at all.
Wouldn’t it be good if all American’s like Canadians and those in western European nations simply had to show their government health card to get the health care they needed without the worry of getting a large bill or going bankrupt?
Unfortunately those proposing the wall and opposing universal health care probably have business interest in the countries that are paying wages lower than American workers and probably are lobbied by private health care providers and drug companies to keep the status quo.
After all it probably doesn’t hurt them. I would imagine all politicians have good health care coverage and can afford more than the basics in life.
Jesus 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.
Now I point to America because they are in the middle of an election and sadly show the deficiencies in their country dramatically. Such deficiencies are in other countries. No country is perfect. Far from it.  Politicians in particular in all countries let the poor and needy down all the time. Using hundreds of excuses.  
I believe not only the politicians but those who have the power to help those in need like all men and women will one day stand before God to be judged.
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.” 
    Ecclesiastes12:13,14
The Talmud a Jewish book states something I think could quite possibly happen,
“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.
What will God say about you?
Please think about it.