Christian actions

Christian actions.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."
Mahatma Gandhi.
I am convinced Gandhi seen many people who said they were Christians but were not. He met Christians that will one day hear the words of Jesus who said,
“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.
When I look at the world around me here in North America I see tragically, all to often Christians being known for what they are against. Not what they are for.
Christians particularly so called “born again Christians” or “Evangelical Christians”, here in the United States and Canada are seen quite often as closed minded, Judgmental, bigoted, even as people who spew hatred against those they disagree with.
When I hear these things I feel ashamed at being a Christian. True Christians are not those things. True Christians follow the teachings of Jesus to Love God, Love their neighbour, Love their enemy and pray for those who persecute them.
True Christians follow the teachings 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.
Who obey the words of the apostle Paul who 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.
Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus or the apostles tell Christians to demonstrate against the government. Nowhere in the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles do they tell Christians to speak out against anything they disagree with.
Quite the contrary the apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....” Romans 12:18-20b.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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.
Those who claim to be Christians and are speaking out against and protesting against things they disagree with should rethink what they are doing. Only God can judge righteously. For only God knows what is truly in the hearts of the individual.
The job of the Christian on this earth is clear. 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.
We will not win one soul for Christ if we continually judge and protest against those we disagree with.
You cannot win a soul for Christ if you are know for what you are against.
If you consider yourself a Christian reading this take stock of your actions. Francis of Assisi made an interesting point when he said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
 Francis of Assisi.
What are your deeds telling those around you?
Please think about it. 

Are you like Jesus?

Like Jesus?

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
      Galatians 3:26-28.
Paul makes it clear that if we have accepted Jesus into our lives by faith we are sons of God. That there is no difference who we are, what our status in this life was, whether we are male or female. All according to Paul are one in Christ Jesus.
The question I would ask is are you acting like Christ would have you act?
Mahatma Gandhi looked around his world at those who said they were Christians and said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                           Mahatma Gandhi.
When I grew up in England we all called ourselves Christians even if we hadn’t made a commitment to Christ by faith. Even if we didn’t go to church regularly. The way we looked at it we were growing up in a “Christian country” so we were Christians.
Especially as kids and teens we didn’t understand what it was to give our lives to Christ and there was no one there to tell us the difference.
A lot of people I knew then adults and Children called themselves Christian but were not. They went to church but were not Christian in the true sense of the Bible.
To be a Christian one must in faith accept Jesus as the Son of God. Admit that we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We must confess our sins to God and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
We must then let Christ into our hearts and minds and begin to live as he would have us live.
A true Christian is far from perfect but he or she is doing there best to live a life that reflects the values of Christ.
Gandhi apparently from his comment didn’t see many people claiming to be Christians living according to Christian values. I can understand that.
Today in North America we have many people who go to church and claim to be Christians but have not given their lives to Christ.
I see also both in the media and out pastors and evangelist who claim to be Christian. Who may even be Christian but are not following the right teachings of Christ.
They are heaping judgment on those outside the Church. By doing so they are alienating the very people they should be reaching.
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 must be very careful how we live our lives. We must be very careful what we say and do towards others.
Gandhi was obviously turned off Christianity because of those who claimed to be Christians were doing. How sad.
How sad also that many here in North America are turned from Christ because of the actions and words of those who claim to Christians.
I am an admirer of Francis of Assisi who said,

“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
We as Christians are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ and the eternal life that he offers to all people. In order to do this we must live the life that Jesus would.
We cannot afford to judge people. We are called to offer hope.
It has been said Christians have a great responsibility. The greatest responsibility God has ever given to man. That is to offer love, hope and eternal life to all mankind.
Our actions have eternal consequences.
By our actions or lack thereof we may be sentencing people to a Christless eternity.
Think about it.