It will fall into the Abyss

  It will fall into the abyss

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7.

I forget where I got this definition of wisdom but I like it, it states,

"Wisdom is the acquired skill of applying knowledge rightly".

I like what Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

Having faith in God and following His commandments, His absolute values. Leads to a free and productive society.

Failure to do this leads society down the road to destruction.

We only have to look at Nazi Germany in the 1930's and early 1940's to see what happens if we fail to follow God’s commands and moral values. Tens of millions dead at the hands of Satanic men and women in the most destructive war in human history.

While I know, no government of earth today is Christian or God centred we still need a society that follows at the very least the basic moral principles God has laid down in the Bible.

For if society fails to do so it will fall into the abyss from which there is no return.

Please think about it.

There are Moral Absolutes

  There are Moral Absolutes 

The Psalmist writes,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111:10.

Whether we like to admit it there are moral absolutes in this world. Most prominent among them is the ten commandments. Listed in Exodus 20:6-17. Put simply they say,

1/You shall have no other gods before Me.

2/You shall make no idols.

3/You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4/Keep the Sabbath day holy.

5/Honour your father and your mother.

6/You shall not murder.

7/You shall not commit adultery.

8/You shall not steal.

9/You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10/You shall not covet.

These are at the very least what God expects individuals to live up to. That being said the more we read the Bible the more we find what God requires of us.

Are you following Gods precepts?

  Please think about it.

When we forget

 When we forget

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"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.

We must believe in God.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.

If we do not have faith that God exists and follow the basic rules that He has place in each persons heart and mined, then we run into the very distinct possibility that the rule of law means nothing. We see this made clear every time a crime or murder is committed. The person doing the crime is not thinking about God.

If we fail to fear Gods judgement either in this life or in eternity then we run into the very real possibility that society will fall into anarchy or oppression.

Nazi Germany is a prime example, as are other dictatorships around the world who strip people of their basic human rights.

I firmly believe that when men forget or fail to recognize God and his laws, bad things can an do happen.

Question; Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

A Baseline

 A Baseline

The Psalmist states,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111: 10.

Anyone who has ever lived needs a reference point for their morality and behaviour. If you truly believe in God you have a solid baseline for your morality.

Abba Hillel Silver at the height of World war two wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver

As world war two showed when men turn their back on Gods morals millions suffer. 

So here is a question for anyone reading this, be they Christian or not where does your moral baseline come from?

If you claim to be a true believer in Christ Jesus are you morals based on the teachings of Jesus, on the teachings of the Bible.

Please think about it.

The way they should go

The way they should go
Proverbs states,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                                 Proverbs 22:6.

If you claim to be a Christian do you bring your children up in the way they should go? My parents did.
My parents were not what some evangelicals would call Christians. Mom was Roman Catholic. Dad was Church of England. Both rejected for lack of a better term “organized religion”. Yet throughout their lives they espoused Christian values and passed them on to their Children.
From as young as I can remember we had discussions on politics, religion and social situations around our dinner table.
As we entered our teen years, we were expected to add to the discussion. Further more our opinions were respected even if our parents disagreed.
It was because of what they taught me that led me to embrace Christianity.
I seen in Christianity moral and ethical values made sense. Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your disdain 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 commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus also 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.’ Matthew 25:34-40.
Loving all unconditionally. Feeding the hungry. Giving those who thirst a drink. Helping a stranger. Clothing those in need. Helping the sick. Visiting the prisoner. These values while expressed by Jesus are universal values that transcend the Christian faith.
My father always use to say put yourself in the other persons shoes and ask yourself how would you want to be treated. With disdain? With hate? OR With Love?
Jesus put it this way,
“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 values my wife and I taught to our Children. Values that now that they are adults I see them putting into practice not just in word but in deed. 
These are values all who claim to be Christians should be instilling in their Children.
Please think about it.

To the end of Generations

To the end of Generations

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                               Proverbs 22:6

“Whoever teaches his son teaches not alone his son 

but also his son’s son, and so on to the end of generations.”  

                                                                         The Talmud.

What are you teaching your children? Your children see not only your words but your deeds also. It is no good saying to your child “Do what I say, not what I do.” We must live out our values before our children.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

This is certainly true when it comes to our children. So what moral values are you teaching your children?
If you are a Christian you most certainly must be teaching them to love. 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 commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
As believers in Christ Jesus, our children must see the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.  The apostle Paul telling us,
“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.
We as believers must teach our children to cultivate those truth. To put them into action in their day to day lives.
For in doing so they will make the world around them a better place.
Please think about it.

A Parental Imperative

A Parents Imperative
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                                 Proverbs 22:6

As believers in Christ Jesus it is imperative that we teach our children not only about the arts, about literature, the sciences and such. We must also teach them about our faith and our values.
    As good as knowing all the world has to offer with respect to education, if there is no positive value system behind that, knowledge can and quite often will be use for evil.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” C. S. Lewis.
In Deuteronomy we read a portion of scripture that I believe Jews refer to as, Shema Israel. It reads,
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in hour house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up
     You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Jesus in the gospel of Mark is quotes this when asked,
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”  Mark 12: 28-30
Jesus goes on to say,
"The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to teach our Children this, in word, and in deed. For in doing so we will put them on not only a good moral road in this world, but on the path that leads to eternal life with God in heaven.
Please think about it.

The Christian Life

The Christian Life
The Psalmist writes,
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:1-6.
 As Christians we must delight in the law of the Lord. We must trust in Him. We must live by God’s ethical and moral standards.
The apostle Peter tells 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.
If you claim to be Christian are you doing this?
Please think about it.

Life, Liberty and Christians

Life liberty and Christians
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom, perhaps mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. That is provided that is they are not harming anyone or restricting another persons freedoms. As it has been said,
 “your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
Sadly many Christians especially here in North America don’t practice freedom that way. They operate under the delusion that the United States in particular is a Christian based county.     One look at the satanic symbols on the back of the money tell you someone forgot to tell the designers of the bills that.
Still the United States is a still great country despite what a certain politician would have you think. America is great and I say that as someone who is not an American and does not live in the United States of America.
America has been responsible over the years of being a safe haven for Christians and other faiths. It has allowed Christianity in particular to grow and spread it’s message around the world.
Unfortunately too many calling themselves Christians have used their freedom to restrict the freedoms of others.
The United States like all democracies in the western world is a secular democracy. Yes it is based on many Christian principles. But that does not negate the fact it is a secular democracy that does its best to cater to people of all faiths, beliefs and lifestyles.
One of the freedoms God gave to the world was Freedom.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
That freedom also lets a person believe in God or not. It allows them to live a lifestyle that Christians and other religious groups may object to.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans under the rule of the Emperor Nero who would eventually put him and the apostle Peter to death said this.
“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.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
Think about it Paul wrote this from Rome a society that had a myriad of Gods. That had beliefs and practices that were far from what God would want. Still the apostles and Christ never spoke out against Rome or anyone outside their faith.
In fact 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.
There are thousands of things if not millions of things that Christians do not like ethically or morally that secular governments allow. Such is the nature of a free and democratic secular governments.
We will not win favour with secular governments if we are protesting them or protesting against groups we disagree with. We do however stand the chance of turning them away from the most precious gift God has to offer, Salvation, eternal life with God, only Jesus Christ can give.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo speaking about abortion made an interesting point when he said,
“In short, I'm not sure that the abortion problem can be solved by legislation. I think it can only be solved through moral persuasion.” Tony Campolo.
You cannot legislate morality if prohibition on alcohol back in the nineteen twenties taught us one thing is that you cannot stop people doing what they want to do by passing a law.
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.
Here Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations then he states,
 “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded...” 
If we as Christian can teach our beliefs to others, rather than protesting and trying restrict their freedoms in a secular democracy. We will do far better. And subsequently our society and the world will be far better off.
Jesus said,
“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.
Simply put that means if you want others to respect and listen to you. You must be willing to do the same to them.
I believe each Christian must ask themselves, “ Am I treating others the way I want to be treated?”
Please think about it.