Does not defend itself

Does not Defend Itself
“The Bible does not defend itself or debate the existence of God. For the simple reason it was written to people who believe in God and accepted its message.”   Author unknown 
I could write volumes is defence of the Bible’s authenticity. At the same time I could speak for hours giving proof of that God exists and Jesus is God incarnate but it would not convince some people.
Some people just want to believe what they want to believe. They believe there is no God it is that simple.
They will not accept the accuracy of the Bible and dismiss its truths as being bias.
As far as I’m concerned that is all well and good.
God when he created mankind gave him a freewill. That freewill gives each and every person the right to believe in God or not. God will not force anyone to believe in Him. It’s that simple.
God want’s our belief in Him to be an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews this way,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and

 certain of what we do not see.”  

                                         Hebrews 11:1.

I firmly believe God wants us to have faith in Him because people of faith are the strongest of followers no matter what or who they believe in.
The strongest atheist I know truly believe with all their heart that God doesn’t exist. Likewise the strongest believers in God are those who believe with their whole heart that God does exist.
As for what the Bible says about God. It’s simple. You either believe in God or you do not. There is no middle ground.
That being said from my point of view as a believer in God. A believer in Christ Jesus. What you believe about God has eternal consequences.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Thus the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

A Christian must

A Christian must

The Apostle Paul when writing to Timothy said,
"All Scripture is God-breathed  and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17
I believe we must therefore study scripture thoroughly and in its correct context. To take scripture out of context is wrong and can have eternal consequences.
I believe that the only infallible source of teaching is the Bible. And that when there seems to be an error in teaching it is the person teaching not the Bible who is in error.
I believe that it is every Christians duty to serve God in what ever capacity they can both inside the church and outside.
I believe also that Christianity is a way of life. That we must live that life to the best of our ability, to honour God, in word, and in deed.
I believe we should live our life humbly as a servant of God. That it is only with a servants heart that we can truly win souls for Christ.
I believe people should not have to be told we are a Christian. That the actions of our life should tell those around us that we are true servants of God, without us having to utter a word.
Like Francis of Assisi wrote we need to,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.” 

                                          Francis of Assisi

I believe what Matthew recorded in his Gospel,
“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
I believe that  we must do this first of all because it is a command from our Lord himself and secondly that our failure to do so has eternal consequences.
I believe that we have no right to judge a person that is God’s place not ours. That we must be very careful what we say. Matthew 7:1,2 states clearly,
“Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use,  it will be measured back to you.”Matthew 7:1,2
I believe the words of Jesus recorded by Luke,
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. 
Forgive and you will be forgiven.”Luke 6:36,37
      We cannot afford to go into a sinful world, a world that does not recognize God or the law of God, with a judgmental attitude.
They will only turn us off and look for thing with which to judge us. Such actions also have eternal consequences.
I believe that the only way we can reach the world for Christ is to love the world. We must remember Jesus came into the world to save the world. Not to condemn it.
John’s gospel recording,
“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:16,17
I believe we like God, must show unconditional love to the world around us, neighbours, friends and even our enemies.
True Christian love expressed in the words of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians who said,

“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

I believe this is what it is to be a true Christian.
A great light is shining on the Christian. We cannot do things lightly. Our words, our deeds, all have the potential for eternal consequences.
As Christians we are called to be the light of the world to illuminate the way to heaven.
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 
Therefore we must do our best to live good lives.
The apostle Peter telling us,
“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 2:11,12.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian,
please think about it.

A note from Peter

A note from Peter.
The apostle Peter writes,
“His (Christ’s) 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
Here is something all Christians need remember. The apostle Peter lists the things that make a Christian.
1/ Jesus has given us “everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.”
2. Jesus has given us “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.”
 As a result we Christians must,
“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”.
If we do these things Peter tells us,
“...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 then issues a warning,
“But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”
However Peter is quick to tell us
“... 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.
While it is true we are saved by faith. Our faith should show in our actions and interaction with those around us. People should see the positive qualities of Jesus in us. As the apostle Paul notes,
“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.”  
                                                                      Galatians 5:22,23
The call of the Christian is to love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We cannot afford to do less. The writer of Hebrews reminding 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.
Francis of Assisi made a very important point when he said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                              Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon telling those around you?
Please think about it dear Christian as your actions may have eternal consequences. 

A Christian

A Christian

Jesus prayed,
“My prayer is not for them alone(His disciples).
 I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
                    John 17:20,21.
When the people around you look at your life and actions do they see Jesus?
The prayer of Jesus here is for not only his disciples but for those who believe in Him because of what they said. That includes all who claim to be Christians.
So the question is when people look at you, do they truly see Jesus. OR are you by your life and actions turning people away from Christ?
Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” 
                                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
So what is your sermon telling those around you?
I live in North America and I see a lot of things done in the name of Jesus that He would never have done.
Do you realize Jesus never voted. Nor did he belong to a political party or express  His political beliefs. He never demonstrated against anything whether they were right in God’s sight or not. Nor did His disciples.
Billy Graham said of Christ’s disciples,
“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”
                                                                                                                                       Billy Graham.
Think about it, without raising a sword, without belonging to a political party without protesting against anything or for anything those disciples and those who truly followed Christ turned the world upside down. As a result of their work founded in love for their God, their neighbour and even their enemy they have reached every corner of the world.
The early disciples did it while under the reign of Nero one of the worst persecutors of Christians.
Sadly today those claiming to be Christians particularly in the United States mix their faith with politics. They are known for what they are against not what they are for. This should not be so.
Matthew records,
“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 cannot follow that command if we mix politics and our faith. We cannot do it if we are seen as being against anything.
Living in the secular democracy in which we here in North America offers us a great opportunity to reach millions of people.
Sadly it also gives us the opportunity to pollute our message with seemingly good things like our political views and demanding of “our rights”.
Think about it Jesus never demanded His rights when before Pilate. His disciples had some rights under Roman law but we don’t see anywhere in the scriptures them demanding “their rights”.
If we look at the early Church we see them preaching the unadulterated message of the Gospel of Christ.
The apostle Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 
                                                                                                      2Timothy 4:3,4.
The way I see it the job of the Christian is not to worry about “their rights” or who is the best politician to be in power.
History has proved that despite having no rights and people opposed to Christianity in power Christianity has flourished and resides today even in places where it is most persecuted.
The job of the Christian is clear. We are to win souls for Christ. We are to teach them all we as Christians have been taught about God, Jesus and The Way to heaven.
A great light is upon the Christian. The eternal resting place of those we meet may depend on what we say and do.
Please think about it.

To or from God?

To or from God?
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
                                                                                                               The Talmud
The Talmud while Jewish book and not Christian make an interesting point here Christians need to consider. Do we draw people to Christ or push them away?
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.
This is the job of every Christian. If we are doing less than this we are not doing our job. If we are judging and not “making a person feel welcome” in our churches then we are pushing them away.
I like to use the so called “gay experience” with churches for lack of a better term. Many gay men and women and indeed many in the LGBT community would not darken the doors of most churches. If they do they remain incognito and never speak about their sexuality. Not that it’s any concern to those in the Church. That is between the person and God.
God knows why you are like you are. The Psalmist writing,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 
                                                                                Psalm 139:13-16.
The job of the Christian as I have stated is to reach the world for Christ and not judge it. We are to be accepting of all people. We are called to love God, our neighbours and even our enemies.
Martin Luther King jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                                          Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesus 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.”
                                               John 3:16.
This is the message Christians are to take to the world and we cannot do this without showing love to those around us. We need to be accepting of those that we may disagree with.
For it is only then that we can spread the gospel message.
Please think about it. 

Submit yourself

Submit yourselves

“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.  
“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” 
1 Peter 2:13-17
Here’s something to think about. It’s a very simple admonition that the apostle Peter is saying here.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,  or to governors,...
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
We are to submit to government authorities and show proper respect to everyone.
Paul writing to Titus and the Romans backs up what Peter is saying. Paul states,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,” 
             Titus 3:1
“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.
They don’t say that the authorities will always pass laws that Christians like. In fact in the case of Peter and Paul they lived under the emperor Nero who executed Christians.  Yet they could still say submit to the governing authorities.
Sadly those claiming to be Christians today do speak out against laws the secular governments pass.
Here in North America governments have passed same sex marriage laws, have allowed abortions and other things Christians dislike. And what do Christians do? They demonstrate. And what do non-Christians see? They see Christians trying to restrict their rights. People who are intolerant.
Thus they turn away from anything Christian.
This can have eternal consequences for non-believers, caused by those claiming to be Christians.
We as Christians need to be submitted to the governing authorities. “Show proper respect to everyone...”
If the secular government that both Peter and Paul say is permitted to govern by God allows things Christians dislike then we should not be protesting them.
God will one day judge the world with righteousness we do not need to do so.
Christians have two clear jobs in this world. To point people to Jesus Christ.
The first and most important one is to point people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
The second to teach and build up believers in Christ.
We cannot do that if we are speaking out against the government or perceived as intolerant lacking in respect and love.
Please think about it.   

Wonderfully made

Wonderfully made
Speaking about God the Psalmist wrote,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 
                                                                                     Psalm 139:13-16.
I believe in God. I believe as the psalmist states God created us. That he knows all about us. And God is the only one who truly knows all about us.
God knows what makes us, us. He knows why we are the way we are. That is why I believe Jesus states,
“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.
We do not know what is in the hearts of other people.
Sometime ago I was driving a person through the down town of our city. We were stopped at a traffic light. A man who was dressed poorly walked passed our car he was mumbling to himself and he seemed to be a little wobbly on his feet.
The person with me commented “Drunk already and its not even noon.”  The person couldn’t have been more wrong.
The man had a mental illness coupled with a physical disability that made him the way he was. The person I was with didn’t know that and had judged him unfairly. This man was actually a nice guy once you got to know him.
The incident illustrated to me why we should not judge.
It’s easy to look at someone and see what is on the outside and make a judgement call that is not right.
Christians do this all the time and it should not be so.
Many Christians judge those who’s lifestyle is not in keeping with the way they think a person should live.
A few days ago I was sitting down with some people who’d been “Evangelical Christians” for a lot longer than I have.
They remembered times when Christian ministers smashed rock and roll records. When men wearing long hair in church were looked down on. Women had to wear skirts or dresses to church. Pants were forbidden.
Going to church in blue jeans was not permitted in some congregations.
Going to see a movie was taboo or even live theater was frowned upon.
The list of do not’s went on and on forever it seemed. Was it any wonder that many young people and for that matter people in general didn’t want to go to church?
Those calling themselves Christians were turning people off church. Something that potentially has eternal consequences.
It’s happening today. When was the last time members of, as some Christians put it “the homosexual” community felt welcome in some evangelical churches.
Why would a woman who’d had to walk through a wall of placards waving people to get into an abortion clinic want to attend any church. And I’m certain the doctors and nurses in those clinics and hospitals would not feel welcome in many churches.
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
That’s what we all should do. Our churches should be open to all. We should not be judging anyone or showing favoritism.
James writes,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” 
                           James 2:12,13.
Interestingly enough there is a time when the Bible states we can judge. The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
We are to judge the actions and words of those who are within “The Church”. Those who claim to be Christians. And if we find them doing wrong we are to expel them.
Other than that we are to be welcoming and showing unconditional love to those around us.
Please think about it.

Of Christians and Others

Of Christians and others
“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.
The other day I heard a person claiming to be a Christian criticising what he called the “homosexual community”. He was saying those in the LGBT community were all going to Hell.
If there is one thing that gets me up set, it is when someone claiming to be a Christian attacks people in the LGBT community.
Christians have no right to criticise or attack anyone. The scripture I quoted above makes it clear we as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church and a true Christian will not.
I have found over the years that those who “claim to be Christians” and attack those outside their faith may in fact not be Christians. If they are they are by the slimmest of margins and are not interpreting the Bible correctly.
We as Christians are to follow the example and the teachings of Christ.
Jesus never once attacked anyone outside his faith. He a Jew criticized those Jewish leaders who were misinterpreting scripture. But as a Jew he had that right.
If we look at the life of Jesus he never criticized the Roman government. Nor did any of his disciples.
The Apostle Paul when visiting Athens with all the temples to various god’s never criticized them. Nor did Paul or any of the disciples criticize the life and lifestyle of those who were not of their faith.
It is wrong for a Christian to speak ill of those outside their faith.
Christians have one job to do. That is to reach people with the love of 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.
Christians are not to attack or judge anyone. The message we are to take into the world is simple. It was expressed by Jesus and recorded by the apostle John.
Jesus 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.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                           John 3:16-18.
This is a message we as Christians are to present to the world. It is up to those who hear that message to believe it or not.
To attack those of a different lifestyle, faith, or ethnicity is wrong and not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus and may have eternal consequences.
Please think about it.