A Note to those claiming to be Christian

A note to those claiming to be Christians
     Question: why do so many people claiming to be Evangelical Christians appose refugees coming to Canada and the U. S. A.?
Contrary to what some politicians would have you believe the refugees are not the problem. It is the evil men and women that force them to flee that are the problem.
The refugees are the result of the problem.
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.’ Matthew 25:34-40.
This is what believers in Christ Jesus must do. It is not an option.
Jesus went on to say,
“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 25:41-46.
Think of the ramifications of Matthew 25:41-46. If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you willing to hear those words?
Sadly the refugee crisis is with us. Someone unfortunately has to pay the price. That at this point in time is Canada, the United States and the Western Democracies.
And unfortunately they will continue to pay until the root cause of the problem is dealt with.
As believers in Christ Jesus we should not fall into the trap that refugees need to go back to their own country.  We should be welcoming them with open arms as a mission field coming to our door.
We should be praying for our political leaders to have wisdom when dealing with them. And encouraging our political leadership to do all they can to help them.
And one more note.
Jesus also told those who believe in Him,
“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 the ramifications of Matthew 7:12.
 If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus and want refugees or anyone in need turned away, you are saying that were you ever in that situation you would want to be turned away also.
Please think carefully about it.

To Christians

To Christians
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
Here is a bleak warning to Christians from the apostle Paul. Essentially he warns that the world is if you will, going to Hell in a handbarrow. It reminded me of a quote from an old book my wife found entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written today.
  It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
  Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
   Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency  courage."
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
   When I speak I can only truthfully speak of what I see first hand from my perch here in North America where I live.
  To live in North America is to be bombarded daily by a media calling to the individual to get the latest gadget, the latest designer clothing. It must be the latest, it must be brand name or you’re not "cool".
  Not only do you need "it" "but you need it now!" forget about paying "buy now pay later." is the general philosophy. Experts say North Americans are drowning in debt.
   It seems like everything has a price tag, everything is a commodity. Everything from toothpicks to basic human rights such as food, housing, and health care. Society simply states if you can afford it you can have it. If not tough.
And some at least claiming to be Christian are not any better it seems. They have becomes religious copies of secular society. Some preachers and evangelist calling out to people if you give to God he will give to you ten, twenty, a hundred fold. As if God were a supernatural banker giving super interest. They ignore the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,

“Keep your lives free from the love of money 

and be content with what you have, because God has said, 

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

 Hebrews 13:5 

Churches are beginning to empty. Church congregations for the most part are falling in numbers. The Church is running the risk of becoming irrelevant, irrespective of the denomination.
Someone even told me that those who call themselves evangelical Christians are no longer relevant they’ve become too political. There message is lost in all the protesting they do. People it seems know far more of what evangelical Christians are against, than what they are for.
They have a form or godliness but have lost the true message of Jesus. As Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, 

but you Christians 

- you are not like him.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Billy Graham 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

If you are truly a Christian then you must believe in the teachings of Jesus and put those teachings to work in your life. Jesus said,
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 
“All this I have spoken while still with you.  
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:23-27
The message Jesus gave is one of hope. The call of Jesus 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 rest Jesus is speaking of is a rest many people in our society are looking for. A rest only God can give. It is a message they will not hear if we are not true to the teachings of Jesus in word and deed. As 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 Caution to Christians

A Caution to Christians
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2Timothy 2:16.
Godless chatter, do you engage in it? Godless chatter is teaching wrong teaching. We need to be very careful about what we teach. False teaching can spread like wildfire through a congregation and have disastrous consequences. It can turn people away from God.
Paul in 2 Timothy gives an example saying,
“Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,  
who have wandered away from the truth.....”  2 Timothy 2:17,18a.
  We as Christians must hold those who teach the scriptures to a high standard. The apostle Paul states,
“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.
While we as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. We as Christians have the right to Judge those who claim to be Christians because they by calling themselves Christians are saying “I believe as you do”.
Likewise if they are not teaching correct doctrine then we have the right to expel them from the body of believers.
Christians must remember,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
As Christians we must be studying the word of God for ourselves. We must be questioning those people who are teaching the word of God if we perceive they might be in error. Asking them to explain more fully from the scriptures what they believe.
We must check to see that all scripture is used in its correct context not simply used in such a way as to deliberately or otherwise lead people astray.
The key thing is for Christians to be on guard. Pray and ask God for direction. Study the scriptures for yourself and as Paul says to Timothy,
“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.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.