Some Simple Truths

 Some simple Truths

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  
The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 
                                                                             1John 1:5-26
Some simple truths from John.
1/ “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
2/ “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not  live by the truth.”
3/ “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,  and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
4/ “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us....”
5/ “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
6/ “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and  purify us from all unrighteousness.”
7/ “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands...”
8/ “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 
John also makes it clear that if we sin we,
“...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
As Christians it is important for us to live a life as close to the ideals Jesus set out for us as possible.
John recognizes that we are human and that we do sin and thus have one who speaks in our defence, Jesus Christ.
Jesus knows and understands what it is to be human and I believe relates this to the Father.
Jesus knows our hearts and minds and he know what it is to be human and how easily we can sin.
That’s why if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have no fear for he has paid the debt for our sins.
Think about it.

A Need

A Need

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  
                                                            Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Are you and the Church you attend showing the love of God? Do people see the love and compassion of Jesus in you.
A man asked Jesus,
“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.
Is your church stuck on form, ritual and tradition?
I watched a news show today that said in the city of London England there is a group of people meeting who have no faith as such. They meet because they feel they need to be with other people.
That personal contact in is lost in the big impersonal city that is London. Apparently there are other such groups meeting like this around the world.
The article went on to say that the Church of England was in crisis in that it is losing many people. That three out of four people in England do not believe in God.
I firmly believe that it is the institution that is the Church of England and other mainline churches that are missing the mark.
They have failed to move with the times. They have built a gilded cage filled with ritual that has no relevance today.
By contrast the evangelical church is bucking the trend and growing.
Why? I believe because they are preaching a relevant message.
In our city I know of a pastor that went to a conference in the United States. His luggage got lost and he was reduced to blue jeans, white shirt and a black suit jacket.
He had to sit on stage like that among other pastors that were all wearing nice suits.
He then had an epiphany. He looked out and seen everyone was wearing the same fine suits.
No wonder he thought people were not coming to church. They take one look at the crowd and feel they don’t belong.
He went home and immediately told his staff no more suites on stage. At the very least business casual. No ties.
He had not been pastor of his congregation very long at that time. The congregation was languishing in the high four hundreds low five hundreds if that.
He started presenting the gospel in a relaxed relevant manner. One that did not compromise the teachings of Christ in any way. One that showed the love of God by trying to be inclusive.
Someone told me it was like putting fertilizer on grass the congregation started to grow. By the time he moved on eight or so years later the congregation was toping two thousand plus. It is still growing under its current pastor who also has a relaxed come as you are attitude. The church even opened two outreaches that are also attracting two hundred plus at each sight.
That church is not alone other churches in cities around us have done the same they’ve become come as you are churches with not expectations with respect to dress code.
It’s difficult in many of these churches to find people in suits today.
Even in our small congregation where the people are older suits are unusual. Our worship leader is frequently dressed in blue jeans.
We accept people as they are and present the word of God to them.
It’s working. People feel accepted and not under pressure to look a certain way.
Think about it Jesus didn’t care how a person was dressed. He associated with anyone. He preached everywhere from the temple to the shores of a lake.
The important thing with Jesus and his disciples is that the message of the love of God reached the world around them.
That everyone irrespective of how they looked, how they dressed or what their lifestyle was could come into a personal relationship with Christ.
Question to you Christian.
Would a person who is shabbily dressed or simply not dressed in their Sunday best be comfortable in your congregation.
Think about it.

A Light upon us

A light upon us

Christians perhaps more than any other group in human history have fierce spot light on us. Upon what we say and do can potentially hang the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with.
We cannot do anything lightly. We have an ethical and spiritual duty to preform every day of our lives.
The call from Jesus is to,
“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...”
         Matthew 28:19,20a
The world is watching us. By what we say and do they will judge Christ and the message he gave us.
Look at the words of Jesus again,
“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...”
It does not call us to judge quite the contrary he warns us saying,
“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 cannot afford to judge even our worst enemy. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”  
                                                                                   Matthew 5:43,44
The Apostle Paul goes as far as saying,
“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.”  
                                                                         1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house in order and not Judge those outside the church because it is only in doing so that we can reach the world for Christ.
Someone once said ten good men can save us but ten bad men can condemn us. In which group are you?
Think about it.

What is a Christian?

What is a Christian?

A woman I know asked me the other day to define for them what a Christian is. She had seen many who called themselves Christians both in the media and on the street that had turned her off.
She had attended a church locally only to be turned off by the hypocrisy of the pastor and judgemental attitudes of some in the congregation.
So knowing that I was a Christian Bible study leader she asked me how I would define a Christian.
         I felt I needed to share my answer.
I answered her initially with the obvious.
A Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That Jesus died for their sins. They are someone who has confessed their sin directly to Jesus and as a result have had their sins forgiven.
Christians are saved by faith Paul stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                        Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
Hebrews 11:1
“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
That being said I believe a Christian must be far more.
Contrary to what seems to come across in the media many times a Christian is not the judge of the world.
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.”
                                                                   1Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our own house clean not to worry about judging the world 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.
I admit all too many Christians do judge. Lack of a judgemental attitude is a characteristic of a true Christian.
A True Christian is doing what 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.
A true Christian is being a light to the world, 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.
A true Christian shows his or her faith in their deeds.
 James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” 
                                                                                                                 James 2:14-19.
Perhaps Francis of Assisi in a prayer says what Christian should be when he writes,

“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
Yes there are many in the media, in the pulpit and in the pews that claim they are Christians but they are not. Jesus even says,
“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
  Think about it.

Married to an Unbeliever?

Married to an Unbeliever?

“To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.  
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.  
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.  
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.”
                                                                               1 Corinthians 7:12-17.
Are you married to an unbeliever? They if they are willing to still stay with you then do so. That’s simply  what Paul is saying her. If the unbelieving partner wants to go then let them do so.
Paul makes a clear and logical point here for saying with an unbelieving spouse that is willing to stay,
“How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
I know that wives can save husbands and vice versa. My pastors wife was married to an unbeliever. He eventually came to know the Lord and not only that he went on to become pastor of our church.
It does happen.
If you have a good marriage and one is an unbeliever there is nothing wrong with that. There is no reason to break up. Simply be the best spouse you possibly because in doing so you may win your spouse and your children to Christ.
Think about it.

On Marriage

On Marriage

“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.  
But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.  
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.  
The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.  
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
                   1 Corinthians 7:1-5
It’s interesting here that Paul states that it’s good not to marry. But Paul realized that while it was good for him it was not for everyone.
Paul also knew of the temptations that were around Corinth. Temptations that could easily make people sin.
Thus he makes it clear that each man should have his own wife. That the husband and wife are equals in that their bodies are not solely their own but each others.
He makes it clear not to deprive each other of sexual relations except by mutual consent for a short period of time when devoting themselves to prayer.
Paul is very cognisant that the God given sex drive in people can cause people to sin.
Kenneth L Barker writing in  Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised): © 2002.  Writes,
“The Christian deprived of regular sexual activity with his or her marriage partner may be tempted by Satan to sexual immorality. The normal God-given sexual drive in the human being is strong.”
Paul also goes on to address the issue of widows in the church stating,
“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.  
But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 
          1 Corinthians 7:8,9.
Again for the same reasons they should marry.
This is as clear cut as I think it could be. Marriage to me is God’s ideal and the husband and wife are one. No one has the right to come between them.
Leo Baeck a Jewish writer wrote something the apostle Paul would understand. He wrote,
“The fence of the Torah has surrounded family life with particular care.  A strict and pure conception of matrimony which could be found nowhere in the ideas of antiquity was freely developed by Judaism.  The ancient statute already saw marriage a ”sanctification,’ and therefore an ethical task to be performed; only husband and wife together, united for life, being the spirit of God, the spirit of holiness, into the home.”
A good marriage. A marriage based on love will endure no matter what.
I believe when entering marriage we must examine closely what love is. Paul 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.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
I have also found the words of Paul to the Ephesians to be valid. He says,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"
                                                                                                               Ephesians 4:26
There are times in even the best marriages when you have disagreements. Times when emotions can flair. We are human and from time to time we will have opposing views, or simply do something that irritates our spouse.
My wife and I even before we were married practised the principle of not letting the sun go down while we were angry.
We never left each other angry even if it meant talking until the small hours of the morning.
All too many marriages end in divorce because it has been entered into, too quickly, with out much thought simply because it felt good to be around the person, or for purely sexual reasons.
We need to examine why we are getting married carefully. There will come a time in any marriage that the feel good things are not there. Times when life is hard and that good feeling when the marriage was new has faded at least for a while. It is through those times when love is tested. But true love will prevail. Read the words of Paul with respect to love again,
“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.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
A good healthy marriage based on love will survive even the harshest trials of life.
Think about it.

Sexual Immorality

Sexual Immorality

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!  
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
             1Corinthians6:15-20.
Paul when writing to the Corinthians knew he was writing to believers surrounded by more than it’s fair share of sin. At its height Corinth had 1000 priestess prostitutes working in the temple to Aphrodite.
So widely known was the immorality in Corinth that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.”
Here Paul warns the Corinthians against sexual immorality.
“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
I remember a doctor friend of mine once telling a youth group that you take a part of the person you have sex with, with you. Not just emotionally but physically.
This was at the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic when little was known about it. He was warning them to beware that they could easily get a sexually transmitted disease.
That saving themselves for marriage was the best possible thing.
It hit home to that youth group when one of their number a young girl only sixteen got pregnant to a guy she didn’t really like. A boy she’d simply had a carnal fling with.
Not only that but another this time a sixteen year old, a boy, got AIDS.
For the girl it meant that she would have in her life for many years to come, a guy that she had no real feelings for, but had fathered her child.
For the boy who’d contracted AIDS back then it was a virtual death sentence and the worse case scenario did come to be. A few years later he died. A tragic thing that didn’t have to be.
Fortunately to the credit of the youth leaders and the church leader they forgave the two and stood by them giving them as much help as they could.
They were young. They’d made a mistake and both confessed their sin and asked God’s forgiveness.  What more could they do?
As Christians living in the twenty-first century we are surrounded by sex. It is easy to get access to it. Every city in the world has it’s seamy side, not to mention the internet.
Men especially seem to fall into sexual impurity easy. Still it is avoidable.
It was not necessary for Christians in Corinth to visit the prostitutes at Aphrodite's temple. Nor is it necessary for Christians to day to pick up prostitutes or engage in any kind of sexual immorality.
As the writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
              Ecclesiastes 1:9.
The temptation of sexual immorality has been around since man started living in villages and probably even before that.
The vast majority of people, Christians and none Christians do not fall into it.
It is therefore up to the individual to resist temptation and to ask God for the strength to overcome.
Think about it.

Inside the Church

Inside the Church

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—  not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.  
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 
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 5:9-13

Here’s something I feel is sometimes missed on Christians. I’ve heard numerous sermons telling Christians not to associate with those “who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.” outside the church.
We can’t avoid these people as Paul says we would have to leave this world. In any case we are called to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.” that does not mean just to the “good People” of the world. It means to everyone especially sinners, of which we are all.
What Paul is saying here is do not associate with anyone who calls himself a believer and is, “Sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”
Such a person is not a Christian and in a worse case scenario can cause others to fall into sin. Paul is calling us to expel those who claim to be Christians and are doing immoral things from among the congregation.
Paul makes special note here,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside”
When it comes to those outside the church it all comes down to Matthew 7:1,2 where 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.
Inside the church we have the right to hold all the brethren up to God’s standards. We have the right to correct them and if they do not accept correction to expel them from the church.
Think about it.

Christian Attitude

Christian Attitude

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 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. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
                                                                           Romans 12:9-21.
Do you Love? Is your love sincere?
Many years ago when I was a young teen in the sixties I watched the movie Good by Mister Chips. It was a musical remake of a nineteen thirties movie.
The opening song was called In the morning of my life. These were the words,

In the morning of my life

 I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

 Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

 Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

                                                                                By Leslie Bricusse 
                                                                             From the Musical Good by Mr Chips
Those words stayed with me until this day. I believe we must fill the world with Love our whole life through.
By profession I am a professional clown and magician. From the very first day I started in the business I said this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father
Please let me perform to the best of my ability. Let me bring a little Joy, Laughter, and Happiness to those whom I perform in front of today.
Let people see the Love of Jesus reflected in me.
           In Jesus name I Pray 
                      Amen.
Paul’s call in Romans 12 is to ensure our love is sincere. Going on to say,
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 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. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This is the call that is placed on the Christian to show love even to our enemies. That we may at least point them the new life in Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
Think about it.

Christian Conduct

Christian conduct.

“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
As I originally  wrote this there was an extremist minister of a small Florida church congregation threatening to burn the Koran on September 11th.
Both Christian leaders and politicians of every stripe around the globe are angered at what he is about to do.
It was said that his actions could lead to more attacks on N. A. T. O. soldiers in Afghanistan. And there were protests in that country.
Christian leaders around the world from the Pope on down are saying this could lead to more persecution of Christians in, particularly in Muslim countries.
This pastor may think he is doing the will of God. He is not.
Sadly he is not the only extremist claiming to be a Christian out there who are not. Other pastors and evangelist have attacked other groups, the homosexual community being a frequent target.
People who do this are not Christians in my opinion.
Jesus clearly states in Matthew,
“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 7:22,23
Neither Jesus or any of his apostles ever spoke out against any other religion or group of people in the Roman world.
True Jesus a Jew, said things about the practices of Jewish religious leaders but he was a Jewish teacher speaking to other Jews. In the same way Christians have the right to correct and debate our teachings with other Christians.
Jesus went as far as giving Christians some basic rules to live by.

1/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
2/“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.
3/But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5: 44,45
Love is the key to Christianity. Jesus said,

“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 22:37-40 
Paul defines what true love is in Corinthians 13 when he writes,
“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.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
In my mind anyone who claims to be a Christian and is spouting hate toward any individual or group is not a Christian.
Christ went to the cross asking God to forgive his persecutors.
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.”
John 3:16,17
As Christians we have a message of eternal significance. Upon us lies the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with. It is our duty to God to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Think about it.

God's Temple

God’s temple

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.  
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;  and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”  
So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,  
and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 
                                        1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Here is a simple truth. We who have accepted Christ as our Lord and saviour are the church. The church is not an organization or building.
Paul make it clear that
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
If I were those who opposed to Christians I would be scared at reading this. God will defend His church. Ultimately everyone will stand before God but woe betide those who have persecuted the church.
The book of Acts record a wise man’s speech at the trial of two apostles. The Sanhedrin wanted to put them to death but he stood up and the book of Acts records,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
                Acts 5:34-39.
Gamaliel’s words are true and I believe history is proving that the Church of Jesus Christ is true. For no one in history has stopped it. Today it is in every corner of the world. Why because the builder of this church is God not man.
              Think about it..

God Lays the Foundation

God lays the Foundation

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.  
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Here Paul talks about him laying the foundation of the church. That, that foundation is Jesus Christ nothing else and no one else can lay that foundation.
Paul states that
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
Simply put if we start to put superfluous things worldly things as part of the church it will be burned away.
And that doesn’t just mean material things, ornate church buildings, fine vestments for the priest, or pastors. It means I believe especially things like traditions, customs and habits that tend to slip into our worship sometimes without us realizing it.
All to often in our churches we get into habits and traditions that mean nothing to our faith. Yet we become it seems, married to them.
Our faith in Christ is still there yet we embellish it with a lot of bells and whistles. And over the centuries we have put a lot of embellishment on what we call the church.
Many church services consist of elaborate rituals that can mean a lot to the faithful, but when it comes to our salvation it doesn’t amount to anything.
I know people in the evangelical world that call themselves fundamentalist point especially to the Catholic church and their practices such as infant baptism, first communion and other things.  They point out that these things do not save. Only faith does.
At the same time these evangelicals are also guilty of some rituals. Many insist on raising of hands during worship. Some have gone as far as moving away completely from traditional hymns to ‘songs of worship’.
Some insist on singing only traditional church hymns. Other churches don’t even allow instruments as part of the worship service.
In other churches one kneels to pray while others stand.
I know of many churches that insist you dress up in fine clothes for church, one’s ‘church clothes’. They consider it an insult to God if you enter the church dressed casually.
None of the things I’ve mentioned above effects our salvation. Such things are a kin to adding gold and silver, precious jewels to the foundation.
Our foundation should be in Christ Jesus. Paul reminding us in Ephesians that,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
Read the words of Paul to the Corinthians again,
“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
What is important to the overall resting place of the individual is whether or not they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their life.
When we stand before God it will not matter how eloquent of speech we are. It will not matter how well dressed we were in church. How good or bad we sung the hymns.
It will however matter whether or not we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
There is an old expression that says.
“Only one life it will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will Last.
Think about it.