About your attitude

  About Your Attitude

In the book of Philippians we read,

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8.

Why do you do what you do?

Many people do what they do out of selfish ambition. They do things for the glory it gives them. They like waving and saying “look at me! Look how important I am!” All they are looking out for is themselves.

A true leader knows how to lift up those who are under him or her.  A good leader is in affect the servant of those under them.

This is especially so in the Church. Leaders need to look to the interests of those they are interacting with. As the apostle Paul states,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8.

Do you humble yourself, considering others better than yourself?

Please think about it.

The Christian and Tzedakah

 The Christian and Tzedakah

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour… Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land." Deuteronomy 15:7, 11.

Here is a simple command given by God. Believers are to help the poor and needy. It is one of the obligations we as believers have toward God and our fellow man. It’s if you will a human rights issue.

We should not look down on the poor because we don’t know why or how they got into the position they are in. Instead we should be looking to help them up and out of poverty.

In Judaism there is a term called “Tzedakah”. This is in brief is what I found out about Tzedakah from a Jewish website. It is something anyone calling themselves a Christian should consider.

"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....

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...

According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor...."

Here in North America there are many ways to help those in need. Simply giving money to a charitable organization or food bank. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, or a food bank. 

Writing to your local politician asking them to build more affordable housing, or shelters for the homeless, raising the minimum wage. 

Even providing more opportunities for those in need to be trained in necessary skills that will help them up out of poverty. The list goes on and on. 

Why not take a few minutes now to consider how you can help the less fortunate in your neighbourhood.

Please think about it.

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The Apostle Peter tells us,
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11
Peter tells us,
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Our faith in Christ gives us everything we need for life and godliness.
Peter goes on to say
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Our belief in Christ allows us to participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption of this world.
John’s gospel tells us,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
Because we participate in the divine nature of God Peter tells us,
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to

your faith goodness;

 and to goodness, 

knowledge;  

and to knowledge, 

self-control; 

and to self-control, 

perseverance;

 and to perseverance, 

godliness;  

and to godliness,

 brotherly kindness; 

and to brotherly kindness, 

love.”  

Our reward for doing this Peter states is,
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  
Peter also notes what happens if we do not do these things, stating,
“But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”
His call to all believers is,
“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11.
Please think about it.

Why do Christians Attack?

Why do Christians Attack?
“Sin is sin and if you are sinning you are going to Hell.”
                                       Words of a well meaning Christian preacher.
According to Christian belief the preacher is right. It however did nothing to endear him to the non-Christians who heard him say it. As a result, sadly his comments may have had eternal consequences.
One of the people hearing that preacher said to me.
“What right does he have to judge me! What right has he to say I am sinning? I’m at least as good as those in his congregation. Better than some.”
You see that person did not recognize the bible. The person seen it as an attack on her. From her vantage point she was right. She pointed out that the Bible tells people not to judge. And she is right.
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
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
As Christians we have to watch what we say. Our words and actions can have eternal consequences.
If we by our words and deeds turn people away from God they I believe we will have to answer to God.
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.
That is the job of a Christian. To make disciples and teach those disciples all Jesus taught. We are not to be in the judgment business.
We should when reaching out to non-Christians be careful what we say and how we say it. Remember they do not recognize the authority of the Bible in any way.
Many outside the church see the church as preaching a lot of “do not's” spoiling all the fun.
Sadly it has been men and women over the years with a holier than thou attitude that has painted that picture.
People outside the church all too often see Christians as bigoted, always asking for money and judgmental. And sadly they paint all Christians quite often with the same brush.
One of the most interesting things that ever happened to my wife and I was when someone said to us after we’d spent sometime talking to them about God, said to us,
“You’re not like other ‘Christians’ you don’t judge us.”
We were actually caught off guard and thanked the person. My wife and I still can’t figure out just what we did different from others.
All we did was present the gospel of Christ. We presented our beliefs. The same beliefs all Christians have.
Still the person listened to us and over the years since we’ve had a lot of positive discussion with that person.
I don’t believe in a confrontational gospel. I believe in simply presenting in love the facts about Jesus and the salvation He gives.
I don’t believe in brining up the word sin unless necessary. I believe people know if they are sinning. I believe it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sins not me.
My job is to point people to Christ and I’ve found the best way to do that is with love.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“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
Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                                          Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was out of love for mankind that God sent Jesus to this earth. Jesus stated His purpose in coming to the earth when He 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.
It is only by reaching out in love and showing it in a tangible way that we can bring people to know God.
Do you?