Response to a comment
I got the following response to one of my postings that argued for God and against atheism. The person is right in part. He said,
“Well death's the actual end for an atheist, so our lives are worth more than you theists who flood the market with "immortality".?
Before I go on however let me preface things with this note. I am a Christian and therefore can only comment on what I see from a Christian perspective.
So that being said, if death is an end then I have nothing to fear. So if I’m wrong about God then so be it. But he states theist flood the world with immorality.
The first thing that came to my mind was who sets the rule with regards to immorality. I believe God does. I cannot believe early man suddenly put together a universal moral code.
If science is to be believed, and I firmly believe it is, there were various early tribes all over the world. Scattered in such a way as it would be difficult, if not impossible for them to communicate directly with each other.
Even at the time the ten commandments were given there were groups around the world that couldn’t possibly communicate with each other that had to have had at least a very similar moral code, such as do not kill, do not steal, etc. otherwise society in those early civilizations would be in a state of anarchy at best.
It would be survival of the fittest. Violence would prevail if violence became the norm early man would potentially drive himself to extinction.
Thus I believe on the heart of every man and woman that has ever lived God has written His moral code.
I would however agree that it seems like theist flood the market with immorality.
I as a Christian can probably list pages of names of men and women who called themselves Christians or the world seen as Christians that were immoral. Everything from Popes, to evangelist to pastors to various individuals sitting in the pew of every church in the world.
How do I know these people are immoral because God set a standard and these people have fallen short quite often in a very public way.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi has a point but Gandhi I believe only seen those who called themselves Christians.
Jesus said,
“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.
The church has been around along time and many people with their own agenda’s have entered it. Many people who are immoral who are in it to make a fast buck have set themselves up as Christians. These people I believe will, as Jesus said be turned away from heaven.
One thing I am certain of however is that at true Christian will not force his morality on anyone outside the church the Apostle Paul 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.
The church unfortunately is a trusting organization by nature thus it doesn’t do a very good job of policing itself. Then that can be said of every organization in the world. Everything from the government to corporations big and small have had people within them who were immoral.
I do not believe the church “floods the market with immorality”
If it seems that way, perhaps its because people within the church are being caught in immorality, because of the high standards the true church and for that matter society outside the church demand Christians to live by.
In world war two German U-boats use to see ships silhouetted against the lights of American cities. The lights caused the ships to stand out thus making them targets.
If it seems like Christians produce more than it’s fare share of immoral people, perhaps, just perhaps it’s because they are standing in the light of God that shows their immorality and other sins.
The writer of Ecclesiastes said,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
If there is no God then those who commit any kind of immoral act on this earth have nothing to fear but if there is they indeed have a lot to fear be they Christians or not.
Think about it.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Saturday, 22 November 2014
On Atheism
On Atheism
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft PH.D.
as quoted in a case for faith by Lee Strobel
I have always contended that there has to be more to life than what I can see, touch, hear and feel. That life is more than an accumulation of a bunch of bobbles bangles and beads. That is why I accepted Christ as my saviour in the first place. He made life make sense.
I truly believe there is life beyond death. That death is not an end. That, that thing that is us, our very soul does not die when our physical body wears out. But travels through eternity.
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.
To my knowledge no Atheist or group has ever come up with a moral code to equal that of the ten commandments.
In those few short words the Bible lays down for mankind in brief how to live with respect for both God and our fellow man.
The Bible does not contest the fact that there is a God. It makes it clear there is. End of story.
The Bible make it clear we all have hope. The Atheist offers no hope.
The call of Jesus to the world is,
The one thing no Atheist has ever been able to explain, is why do so many people around the world who are going through all kinds of pain and suffering still have an unwavering faith in a just and loving, almighty God.
I believe the answer is simple. There is a just, and loving, almighty God.
Think about it.
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft PH.D.
as quoted in a case for faith by Lee Strobel
I have always contended that there has to be more to life than what I can see, touch, hear and feel. That life is more than an accumulation of a bunch of bobbles bangles and beads. That is why I accepted Christ as my saviour in the first place. He made life make sense.
I truly believe there is life beyond death. That death is not an end. That, that thing that is us, our very soul does not die when our physical body wears out. But travels through eternity.
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.
To my knowledge no Atheist or group has ever come up with a moral code to equal that of the ten commandments.
In those few short words the Bible lays down for mankind in brief how to live with respect for both God and our fellow man.
The Bible does not contest the fact that there is a God. It makes it clear there is. End of story.
The Bible make it clear we all have hope. The Atheist offers no hope.
The call of Jesus to the world is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Here’s something to think about.The one thing no Atheist has ever been able to explain, is why do so many people around the world who are going through all kinds of pain and suffering still have an unwavering faith in a just and loving, almighty God.
I believe the answer is simple. There is a just, and loving, almighty God.
Think about it.
Friday, 21 November 2014
Of Doves, Hawks & Hypocrites
Of Doves, Hawks and Hypocrites
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
Jesus here is making a very clear statement, he was sending them out defenceless into a world that could be very dangerous. He therefor tells us to be as careful what we say and do and above all be harmless.
No normal person will ever attack someone they perceive as harmless.
Sadly however many people see what Mahatma Gandhi saw when he said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
It all comes down to who are Christians.
Dwight L. Moody said,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining.”
Dwight L. Moody.
Unfortunately today in the media and out, many non-Christians see Christians as hawks or hypocrites.
But are these people who are acting like hawks truly Christians. Jesus said,
“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.
Sometimes I think we Christians get our civil rights granted to us by a secular government mixed up with our faith.
Unless our freedom to worship and speak freely and the freedoms of other are being taken away I don’t think we should be protesting against anything or anyone.
Freedom of speech and to worship is very much a civil matter. Not a religious one. Christians have had their rights to worship taken away from them many times before and still are having that right restricted, yet we still worship and flourish.
What Gandhi and others are saying is that from their observations they are not seeing those calling themselves Christians as acting like Christ. Something we should be doing at all times.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
I do not believe that Christians have the right to protest against another group who does not threaten our rights to worship freely or our freedom of speech and association.
We must never, never attempt to put our morality on those we disagree with it will turn them against us.
Paul writing to the Corinthians 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
We must enter into open and free discussion with the non-believer wherever and whenever we can. We should be sticking to Biblical issues. To be doing what Jesus would have us do.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
Think about it.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
Jesus here is making a very clear statement, he was sending them out defenceless into a world that could be very dangerous. He therefor tells us to be as careful what we say and do and above all be harmless.
No normal person will ever attack someone they perceive as harmless.
Sadly however many people see what Mahatma Gandhi saw when he said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
It all comes down to who are Christians.
Dwight L. Moody said,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining.”
Dwight L. Moody.
Unfortunately today in the media and out, many non-Christians see Christians as hawks or hypocrites.
But are these people who are acting like hawks truly Christians. Jesus said,
“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.
Sometimes I think we Christians get our civil rights granted to us by a secular government mixed up with our faith.
Unless our freedom to worship and speak freely and the freedoms of other are being taken away I don’t think we should be protesting against anything or anyone.
Freedom of speech and to worship is very much a civil matter. Not a religious one. Christians have had their rights to worship taken away from them many times before and still are having that right restricted, yet we still worship and flourish.
What Gandhi and others are saying is that from their observations they are not seeing those calling themselves Christians as acting like Christ. Something we should be doing at all times.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
I do not believe that Christians have the right to protest against another group who does not threaten our rights to worship freely or our freedom of speech and association.
We must never, never attempt to put our morality on those we disagree with it will turn them against us.
Paul writing to the Corinthians 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
We must enter into open and free discussion with the non-believer wherever and whenever we can. We should be sticking to Biblical issues. To be doing what Jesus would have us do.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
Think about it.
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Not Until
Not until
“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.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-36.
Albert Einstein wrote,
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein.
Albert Einstein was right. I look around the world today and I see a lot of hate, and avarice. I look at the various terrorist organizations and see men and women dealing in hate. At the same time I look at the western world and see incredible wealth mixed with greed.
By far democracy is the best way of life. That being said the capitalism that thrives in democracy while an honest way of living from which many benefits have come, is not always good for people.
I find nothing wrong with honest people making as much money as they wish from things that are not essential. Hey if someone wants to sell a fancy phone for six hundred bucks or a watch for half a million that’s fine with me.
My problem is when people are making a profit off someone’s suffering. I look particularly at the medical industry. The medical industry in essential and those who work in it are honest caring and loving people who are there because they want to help.
Most are not in the industry to make a profit. Like I said they are in it because they care.
I think doctors, nurses healthcare workers and others in essential services should be among the best paid in our society.
I don’t even mind any developer of any necessary product be they drugs or medical devices making their money back even with a little interest. They took the risks in developing it they should be rewarded. Still profits should never be put ahead of the needs of people.
I listened in horror to a news cast today that told of a Canadian mother on vacation in Hawaii who’s ended up in hospital and had her baby prematurely, because of complications it cost her almost a million dollars. And the travel insurance she had has refused to pay. The provincial health care system she was covered with in Canada has paid for some but it’s far less than a hundred thousand dollars.
Think of it a Million dollars! For a human life. For me no one, especially a private company should be making money off a human life.
I understand the doctors and the hospital needs money to function and provide the services. But why does it cost so much more in the United States than in Canada or other countries that have national health systems?
That example aside there are hundreds of examples especially in the area of drug treatment. I understand the drug companies put a lot out in research but isn’t a months worth of dugs costing over a thousand or even ten thousand dollars outrageous?
Who but the rich can afford them.
Ebola is good example of an illness that has no cure because there seemingly was no profit in it for the drug companies. Now thousands of people are dying.
My daughter in law works with autistic children. More and more with these children they are finding things like computers and Ipads help them. The actual computers and ipads are reasonable compared to some of the programs that have been developed. She noted one program cost $15,000 per child. Some private insurances cover a portion of it. But those without have to go cap in hand to service clubs who do a good job at helping but why should they have too.
Why should someone with any disability or health problem not be properly covered by our government plans, is it not a basic human right?
Is a millionaire’s life and well being worth more than that of someone working for minimum wage or on social assistance?
In Canada and I know in all countries with national health systems the system eats up a lot of money. But it’s probably the best money the government spends. It is investing in the health and welfare of its people.
I believe God cares for the individual that’s why he sent Jesus to show how far he would go to have a personal relationship with us.
The quotation from Jesus I used at the beginning of this Blog I believe to be true one day we all will be called to account for our actions by God be we Christians or not.
I think the Talmud say’s it best. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“Those issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians I think we have a duty to do all that Tony Campolo says. I am certain Jesus would have done so. After all Jesus cared for the individual and wishes to have a personal relationship with all people.
Think about it.
“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.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-36.
Albert Einstein wrote,
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein.
Albert Einstein was right. I look around the world today and I see a lot of hate, and avarice. I look at the various terrorist organizations and see men and women dealing in hate. At the same time I look at the western world and see incredible wealth mixed with greed.
By far democracy is the best way of life. That being said the capitalism that thrives in democracy while an honest way of living from which many benefits have come, is not always good for people.
I find nothing wrong with honest people making as much money as they wish from things that are not essential. Hey if someone wants to sell a fancy phone for six hundred bucks or a watch for half a million that’s fine with me.
My problem is when people are making a profit off someone’s suffering. I look particularly at the medical industry. The medical industry in essential and those who work in it are honest caring and loving people who are there because they want to help.
Most are not in the industry to make a profit. Like I said they are in it because they care.
I think doctors, nurses healthcare workers and others in essential services should be among the best paid in our society.
I don’t even mind any developer of any necessary product be they drugs or medical devices making their money back even with a little interest. They took the risks in developing it they should be rewarded. Still profits should never be put ahead of the needs of people.
I listened in horror to a news cast today that told of a Canadian mother on vacation in Hawaii who’s ended up in hospital and had her baby prematurely, because of complications it cost her almost a million dollars. And the travel insurance she had has refused to pay. The provincial health care system she was covered with in Canada has paid for some but it’s far less than a hundred thousand dollars.
Think of it a Million dollars! For a human life. For me no one, especially a private company should be making money off a human life.
I understand the doctors and the hospital needs money to function and provide the services. But why does it cost so much more in the United States than in Canada or other countries that have national health systems?
That example aside there are hundreds of examples especially in the area of drug treatment. I understand the drug companies put a lot out in research but isn’t a months worth of dugs costing over a thousand or even ten thousand dollars outrageous?
Who but the rich can afford them.
Ebola is good example of an illness that has no cure because there seemingly was no profit in it for the drug companies. Now thousands of people are dying.
My daughter in law works with autistic children. More and more with these children they are finding things like computers and Ipads help them. The actual computers and ipads are reasonable compared to some of the programs that have been developed. She noted one program cost $15,000 per child. Some private insurances cover a portion of it. But those without have to go cap in hand to service clubs who do a good job at helping but why should they have too.
Why should someone with any disability or health problem not be properly covered by our government plans, is it not a basic human right?
Is a millionaire’s life and well being worth more than that of someone working for minimum wage or on social assistance?
In Canada and I know in all countries with national health systems the system eats up a lot of money. But it’s probably the best money the government spends. It is investing in the health and welfare of its people.
I believe God cares for the individual that’s why he sent Jesus to show how far he would go to have a personal relationship with us.
The quotation from Jesus I used at the beginning of this Blog I believe to be true one day we all will be called to account for our actions by God be we Christians or not.
I think the Talmud say’s it best. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“Those issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians I think we have a duty to do all that Tony Campolo says. I am certain Jesus would have done so. After all Jesus cared for the individual and wishes to have a personal relationship with all people.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
It's my Belief
It is My Belief
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-4,14.
I regard myself as a fundamentalist Christian. I believe the above verses, “God created the heavens and the earth.”
I believe the words,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
That the “Word” is Jesus.
I believe that He and God are one and that they are also one with the Holy Spirit. That they in union made the heavens and the earth.
Where I would vary from some of my peers is that I don’t really care if it took billions of years as the scientist are suggesting. God could easily have allowed it to be that way. If they are wrong then so be it.
I could also care less if it took six twenty-four hour days. God again could have done it. He could have compressed time. After all I worship and almighty all powerful God.
The point is I believe God created the heavens and the earth.
The Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The more I look at the world the more I see the hand of God. Our world is perfect. Every living thing and for that matter every non-living thing is there to support life on this space rock.
I am sure if it were possible to figure it out, every star, every galaxy, every thing in the universe has a reason for being.
I believe that good science will one day be able to prove that this world has form and order that did not come from randomness coming into order by it’s self.
The one thing Atheist, evolutionist and Christians have in common is faith in what we believe in.
For me it is harder to believe in evolution and the absence of a God than it is to believe there is a God.
The life to me just wouldn’t make sense if there is no God. And if all there is, is this life then what a waste of a soul.
Think about it.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-4,14.
I regard myself as a fundamentalist Christian. I believe the above verses, “God created the heavens and the earth.”
I believe the words,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
That the “Word” is Jesus.
I believe that He and God are one and that they are also one with the Holy Spirit. That they in union made the heavens and the earth.
Where I would vary from some of my peers is that I don’t really care if it took billions of years as the scientist are suggesting. God could easily have allowed it to be that way. If they are wrong then so be it.
I could also care less if it took six twenty-four hour days. God again could have done it. He could have compressed time. After all I worship and almighty all powerful God.
The point is I believe God created the heavens and the earth.
The Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The more I look at the world the more I see the hand of God. Our world is perfect. Every living thing and for that matter every non-living thing is there to support life on this space rock.
I am sure if it were possible to figure it out, every star, every galaxy, every thing in the universe has a reason for being.
I believe that good science will one day be able to prove that this world has form and order that did not come from randomness coming into order by it’s self.
The one thing Atheist, evolutionist and Christians have in common is faith in what we believe in.
For me it is harder to believe in evolution and the absence of a God than it is to believe there is a God.
The life to me just wouldn’t make sense if there is no God. And if all there is, is this life then what a waste of a soul.
Think about it.
Monday, 17 November 2014
Foolishness or Truth
Foolishness or Truth
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Paul writing to the Corinthians in the above passage hits the nail on the head. If you are not a Christian the message of a suffering saviour is foolishness.
To those who deem themselves wise to have one man die for the sins of all men is at first glance a convoluted way of thinking.
For God himself in the form of Jesus Christ to come to the earth he crated and enter into society as a low born person does not make sense at all to non-Christians.
Yet Christians realize this was the only way it could happen.
Think about it, religions around the world agree that God will one day judge the world. Will one day judge each person individually But how could he judge the world fairly if he didn’t understand what it was to be a man?
The reason earthly judges can judge is that they know the law and they understand what it is to be human with all the temptations that lie around us.
For us to stand before an almighty, all knowing omnipresent God who has never experienced what it is to be human and be judged would be simply wrong from a moral point of view.
We could even make the statement to God that he didn’t understand what it was to be human and we’d be right in saying it.
The thing is with Jesus coming to this earth God can say I understand. He can say I understand what it’s like to as an infant to run for my life to Egypt to avoid being killed. He can say I understand what it’s like to feel the sun on my face. To stand in the rain to be loved.
At the same time he can say I understand what it’s like to be flogged and put to death for a crime he didn’t commit.
Jesus calls all mankind to himself saying,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Christians believe that we cannot live a life good enough to be judged fit to enter heaven. That’s why Christ died for us.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
God can also say Jesus made things clear saying,
“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
That Jesus also said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6.
So ultimately the big question is.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That he came to this earth to offer the free gift of salvation to all who would believe in him?
Think about it.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Paul writing to the Corinthians in the above passage hits the nail on the head. If you are not a Christian the message of a suffering saviour is foolishness.
To those who deem themselves wise to have one man die for the sins of all men is at first glance a convoluted way of thinking.
For God himself in the form of Jesus Christ to come to the earth he crated and enter into society as a low born person does not make sense at all to non-Christians.
Yet Christians realize this was the only way it could happen.
Think about it, religions around the world agree that God will one day judge the world. Will one day judge each person individually But how could he judge the world fairly if he didn’t understand what it was to be a man?
The reason earthly judges can judge is that they know the law and they understand what it is to be human with all the temptations that lie around us.
For us to stand before an almighty, all knowing omnipresent God who has never experienced what it is to be human and be judged would be simply wrong from a moral point of view.
We could even make the statement to God that he didn’t understand what it was to be human and we’d be right in saying it.
The thing is with Jesus coming to this earth God can say I understand. He can say I understand what it’s like to as an infant to run for my life to Egypt to avoid being killed. He can say I understand what it’s like to feel the sun on my face. To stand in the rain to be loved.
At the same time he can say I understand what it’s like to be flogged and put to death for a crime he didn’t commit.
Jesus calls all mankind to himself saying,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Christians believe that we cannot live a life good enough to be judged fit to enter heaven. That’s why Christ died for us.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
God can also say Jesus made things clear saying,
“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
That Jesus also said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6.
So ultimately the big question is.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That he came to this earth to offer the free gift of salvation to all who would believe in him?
Think about it.
What is Life
What is life?
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
The other day while going through some boxes my son left when he moved out I found a corduroy winter coat that had been my fathers.
My father died ten years ago. My son had liked the coat so he kept it. I called him up and asked him about it. He said he and his new wife didn’t have a lot of room so he had left it and thought I might want it. Something to remember my father by.
It got me to thinking and looking around my house. There were quite a few things lying around that had been my fathers, a couple of over stuffed, very comfortable arm chairs as well as a large hutch or cabinet.
When dad had died my siblings and I had got together and divided his things between us. Dad had particularly said he wanted me to have the hutch.
It’s large to say the least seven feet high, six feet long and three or so wide. It dominates my livingroom. At the same time it holds what is important to my wife and I, pictures of our children and parents. Things brought back by our younger son from his travels around the world. A few things from my older son who’s just got married, as well as a family Bible that was once my mother in laws, two shofar’s, a big one and a small one. A nativity scene given to us by my wife’s late sister. Our graduation diploma’s from Bible school and numerous assorted letters of thanks from people who have enjoyed my clown act over the years.
None of these things are worth more than a few dollars but to us they are priceless. Still I got to thinking. What is life.
I look at the things my parents left behind take away the furniture and everything they left could fit in a large trunk.
Is that all life is? Some furniture, perhaps a house and a trunk of odds and ends.
I think not. We are much more than the things we collect in this life.
While the writer of Ecclesiastes says these words.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
He comes to the right conclusion saying,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
There is a poignant piece written by Ben Zion Bosker called the Rose talked back it goes like this,
The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment. He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’ He said too himself. Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before. Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound. One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service? My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted. And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people. They live in deeds, not in time. My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye. I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness. So don’t grieve for me. My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent. The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.
Ben Zion Bokser
We each have I believe a purpose in life. We are not the sum total of the shiny metal, precious stones and a few odds and ends. We are much more than that.
God has more for us than just acquiring things or simply existing doing nothing with our lives.
God first and foremost wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
We, every day of our lives, whether we realize it or not stand on the precipice that overlooks eternity. One day whether we want to or not we will make that final step into and eternity that will place us before the thrown of God.
At that point he will not ask do you believe in me for you will not be able to deny it. He will however I believe look at what Christians call the lambs book of life and see if your name is written in it.
Will yours be written in that book?
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Tony Campolo
Think about it...
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
The other day while going through some boxes my son left when he moved out I found a corduroy winter coat that had been my fathers.
My father died ten years ago. My son had liked the coat so he kept it. I called him up and asked him about it. He said he and his new wife didn’t have a lot of room so he had left it and thought I might want it. Something to remember my father by.
It got me to thinking and looking around my house. There were quite a few things lying around that had been my fathers, a couple of over stuffed, very comfortable arm chairs as well as a large hutch or cabinet.
When dad had died my siblings and I had got together and divided his things between us. Dad had particularly said he wanted me to have the hutch.
It’s large to say the least seven feet high, six feet long and three or so wide. It dominates my livingroom. At the same time it holds what is important to my wife and I, pictures of our children and parents. Things brought back by our younger son from his travels around the world. A few things from my older son who’s just got married, as well as a family Bible that was once my mother in laws, two shofar’s, a big one and a small one. A nativity scene given to us by my wife’s late sister. Our graduation diploma’s from Bible school and numerous assorted letters of thanks from people who have enjoyed my clown act over the years.
None of these things are worth more than a few dollars but to us they are priceless. Still I got to thinking. What is life.
I look at the things my parents left behind take away the furniture and everything they left could fit in a large trunk.
Is that all life is? Some furniture, perhaps a house and a trunk of odds and ends.
I think not. We are much more than the things we collect in this life.
While the writer of Ecclesiastes says these words.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
He comes to the right conclusion saying,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
There is a poignant piece written by Ben Zion Bosker called the Rose talked back it goes like this,
The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment. He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’ He said too himself. Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before. Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound. One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service? My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted. And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people. They live in deeds, not in time. My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye. I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness. So don’t grieve for me. My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent. The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.
Ben Zion Bokser
We each have I believe a purpose in life. We are not the sum total of the shiny metal, precious stones and a few odds and ends. We are much more than that.
God has more for us than just acquiring things or simply existing doing nothing with our lives.
God first and foremost wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
We, every day of our lives, whether we realize it or not stand on the precipice that overlooks eternity. One day whether we want to or not we will make that final step into and eternity that will place us before the thrown of God.
At that point he will not ask do you believe in me for you will not be able to deny it. He will however I believe look at what Christians call the lambs book of life and see if your name is written in it.
Will yours be written in that book?
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Tony Campolo
Think about it...
Sunday, 16 November 2014
A difference
A difference
I’m hope in writing this I don’t hit on too many nerves because I write it to make people think.
Some time ago I was going to speak to two groups about what it’s like to live with Bi-polar disorder. One group was Christians from an evangelical church that knew me. The other was at a secular meeting that had never heard me speak before.
During my talk to church group I mentioned that I had, had cancer surgery, that it had been successful, but that thirty days after the surgery I’d been rushed to hospital with what doctors told me were two very large blood clots in my lungs and one in my groin. I almost died.
I do believe that thanks to prayer, to God and some very good doctors I lived.
I mentioned to the group however that the experience with the cancer as extremely bad as that was, was not quite as bad as living with Bi-polar disorder.
I noted that when you are a Christian with cancer you have two possible outcomes. Either you live and enjoy life or you die and go to heaven where there is no pain and suffering.
The one thing Bi-polar disorder gives you is it draws you closer to God each day because there is no cure. Quite often I find I have to rely on God to just get me through the day.
Sadly Bi-polar at times can be like living with the worst pain known to man times ten. At times especially if you are depressed, even with medication you must force yourself go on one day, one hour, one minute at a time. It can be mentally and physically exhausting.
It is something that never seems to end. At least cancer can be beaten or like I said if you are a Christian you pass on to meet your Lord and saviour.
The Christians I spoke to understood this.
Still my friend noticing my notes for the secular audience were the same notes I’d used for the church audience drew me to one side and said,
“you can’t say cancer is better than Bi-polar, because secular audiences unlike Christians who see death as a doorway to heaven, secular people see it as finality an end.”
I’d never though of it that way before so I did change my script and left out the comparison.
I still do believe that death is not an end for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Death is a beginning of a life with God.
The Bible gives me this hope.
The apostle John said,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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 writing to the Ephesians reminds us that Salvation is a gift from God for all who will receive it. He writes,
“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 explaining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Then in chapter ten the writer of Hebrews explains our hope saying,
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23
I do believe in Jesus Christ. That He is my Lord and Saviour. That when I die I will meet Him.
I cannot see death as an end. It is simply a door way to eternity an eternity with God or without Him. The choice is up to the individual.
So the question is, where will you spend eternity.
Think about it.
I’m hope in writing this I don’t hit on too many nerves because I write it to make people think.
Some time ago I was going to speak to two groups about what it’s like to live with Bi-polar disorder. One group was Christians from an evangelical church that knew me. The other was at a secular meeting that had never heard me speak before.
During my talk to church group I mentioned that I had, had cancer surgery, that it had been successful, but that thirty days after the surgery I’d been rushed to hospital with what doctors told me were two very large blood clots in my lungs and one in my groin. I almost died.
I do believe that thanks to prayer, to God and some very good doctors I lived.
I mentioned to the group however that the experience with the cancer as extremely bad as that was, was not quite as bad as living with Bi-polar disorder.
I noted that when you are a Christian with cancer you have two possible outcomes. Either you live and enjoy life or you die and go to heaven where there is no pain and suffering.
The one thing Bi-polar disorder gives you is it draws you closer to God each day because there is no cure. Quite often I find I have to rely on God to just get me through the day.
Sadly Bi-polar at times can be like living with the worst pain known to man times ten. At times especially if you are depressed, even with medication you must force yourself go on one day, one hour, one minute at a time. It can be mentally and physically exhausting.
It is something that never seems to end. At least cancer can be beaten or like I said if you are a Christian you pass on to meet your Lord and saviour.
The Christians I spoke to understood this.
Still my friend noticing my notes for the secular audience were the same notes I’d used for the church audience drew me to one side and said,
“you can’t say cancer is better than Bi-polar, because secular audiences unlike Christians who see death as a doorway to heaven, secular people see it as finality an end.”
I’d never though of it that way before so I did change my script and left out the comparison.
I still do believe that death is not an end for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Death is a beginning of a life with God.
The Bible gives me this hope.
The apostle John said,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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 writing to the Ephesians reminds us that Salvation is a gift from God for all who will receive it. He writes,
“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 explaining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Then in chapter ten the writer of Hebrews explains our hope saying,
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23
I do believe in Jesus Christ. That He is my Lord and Saviour. That when I die I will meet Him.
I cannot see death as an end. It is simply a door way to eternity an eternity with God or without Him. The choice is up to the individual.
So the question is, where will you spend eternity.
Think about it.
Saturday, 15 November 2014
True Christians
True Christians
Some one once asked me a simple thing the other day describe a Canadian coin as he presented it to me. I said it had the queens head on it with the words, Elizabeth II D. G. Regina.
He then turned to my friend and asked him to describe the coin as he presented it. He said it has a beaver in the center, with the words 5 cents with maple leave on each side of it. Below the Beaver is the word Canada and below that the date.
To someone who didn’t know any better we were describing different coins. The thing was I described the front and my friend the back of the same coin.
Mahatma Gandhi was a great thinker. A good man who said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi probably didn’t know what a true Christian is. He had only met those who called themselves Christians.
He like many may have though people from the west, particularly the United Kingdom, and the United States are by default Christians. It is not so. You are not born a Christian simply because your parents were or you live in a particular country.
Jesus told this parable.
“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.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40
Gandhi did not see this first group. He see the second of whom Jesus said,
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46
Many people call themselves Christians and the outside world generally believes them. That goes especially for preachers in the media.
Non-Christians generally don’t know how to tell a “real Christian” from one who is a fake.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
What Campolo is saying is correct. We Christians are called to not only go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the needy, look after the sick, visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in.
The Apostle James wrote,
“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.”
James 2:14-18
The bottom line here is that Christians are to show love to all whom they come in contact with.
Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment was 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.
Earlier in Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
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 5:43-45
The Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
This is what makes up a true Christian
Think about it.
Some one once asked me a simple thing the other day describe a Canadian coin as he presented it to me. I said it had the queens head on it with the words, Elizabeth II D. G. Regina.
He then turned to my friend and asked him to describe the coin as he presented it. He said it has a beaver in the center, with the words 5 cents with maple leave on each side of it. Below the Beaver is the word Canada and below that the date.
To someone who didn’t know any better we were describing different coins. The thing was I described the front and my friend the back of the same coin.
Mahatma Gandhi was a great thinker. A good man who said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi probably didn’t know what a true Christian is. He had only met those who called themselves Christians.
He like many may have though people from the west, particularly the United Kingdom, and the United States are by default Christians. It is not so. You are not born a Christian simply because your parents were or you live in a particular country.
Jesus told this parable.
“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.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40
Gandhi did not see this first group. He see the second of whom Jesus said,
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46
Many people call themselves Christians and the outside world generally believes them. That goes especially for preachers in the media.
Non-Christians generally don’t know how to tell a “real Christian” from one who is a fake.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
What Campolo is saying is correct. We Christians are called to not only go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the needy, look after the sick, visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in.
The Apostle James wrote,
“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.”
James 2:14-18
The bottom line here is that Christians are to show love to all whom they come in contact with.
Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment was 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.
Earlier in Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
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 5:43-45
The Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
This is what makes up a true Christian
Think about it.
Friday, 14 November 2014
Not all
Not All
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Beware of the wolves!
Paul knowing it is the last time, he will see the believers in Ephesus leaves
them with a warning to watch for those who would come as wolves. Those who would even rise up among the believers and pull them away from the faith.
Most people are easily swayed. I think sometimes, that is why they are called sheep.
When I grew up in England, there were a large number of sheep. Quite often, you would hear the shepherd whistling directions to his sheep dog. That dog would easily keep the sheep under control, and direct them to where the shepherd wanted them.
As kids, on the way to the beach, we, frequently, passed flocks of sheep in the meadows, grazing. Being kids, we’d run into the flocks yelling, they’d immediately scatter. We also found, even as ten year olds, that we could easily get them to go wherever we wanted to.
A farmer one day, seeing us do this called out to us, to chase them his way. We did and he even paid us a shilling each for doing it, a king’s ransom for ten year olds in the early 1960's. We found out, later, they were on their way to the slaughter house.
It’s the same with many in the church, today. They are easily rounded up and led to the slaughter so to speak.
Many within the church, do not read the Bible. If they do, they don’t read it enough. They hardly ever pray, and they are so busy, that they don’t stop long enough to hear the voice of God.
Anyone will tell you no church congregation is perfect. Still, it is important for us as believers to get involved with a congregation that preaches the Word of God.
We need to read the Scriptures, and pray asking God to lead us to a church that will meet our spiritual needs and not just make us feel good.
If you’re a leader within your church congregation be it pastor, board member, deacon, teacher, or whatever. You have a duty to watch out for those within the congregation that God has put you over.
You have a duty to read the Word of God, to pray, and take time to listen for the
voice of God. To look and listen for ways to help those in the flock. So that the wolves do not come in and steal the flock.
As individual Christians we need to be mindful of the words of Jesus who said,
“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
The people Jesus was talking about are with us today in our churches, and in the media. They look good they sound good but they are not from God. That’s why Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians and through them to us. Saying,
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Think about it.
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Beware of the wolves!
Paul knowing it is the last time, he will see the believers in Ephesus leaves
them with a warning to watch for those who would come as wolves. Those who would even rise up among the believers and pull them away from the faith.
Most people are easily swayed. I think sometimes, that is why they are called sheep.
When I grew up in England, there were a large number of sheep. Quite often, you would hear the shepherd whistling directions to his sheep dog. That dog would easily keep the sheep under control, and direct them to where the shepherd wanted them.
As kids, on the way to the beach, we, frequently, passed flocks of sheep in the meadows, grazing. Being kids, we’d run into the flocks yelling, they’d immediately scatter. We also found, even as ten year olds, that we could easily get them to go wherever we wanted to.
A farmer one day, seeing us do this called out to us, to chase them his way. We did and he even paid us a shilling each for doing it, a king’s ransom for ten year olds in the early 1960's. We found out, later, they were on their way to the slaughter house.
It’s the same with many in the church, today. They are easily rounded up and led to the slaughter so to speak.
Many within the church, do not read the Bible. If they do, they don’t read it enough. They hardly ever pray, and they are so busy, that they don’t stop long enough to hear the voice of God.
Anyone will tell you no church congregation is perfect. Still, it is important for us as believers to get involved with a congregation that preaches the Word of God.
We need to read the Scriptures, and pray asking God to lead us to a church that will meet our spiritual needs and not just make us feel good.
If you’re a leader within your church congregation be it pastor, board member, deacon, teacher, or whatever. You have a duty to watch out for those within the congregation that God has put you over.
You have a duty to read the Word of God, to pray, and take time to listen for the
voice of God. To look and listen for ways to help those in the flock. So that the wolves do not come in and steal the flock.
As individual Christians we need to be mindful of the words of Jesus who said,
“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
The people Jesus was talking about are with us today in our churches, and in the media. They look good they sound good but they are not from God. That’s why Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians and through them to us. Saying,
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Think about it.
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Stepping out of the boat
Stepping out of the boat
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Matthew14:24-32
What a wonderful illustration of how we let Christ work in our lives. Here the apostles have just seen Jesus perform a miracle feeding five thousand men plus women and children. They had witnessed other things Jesus had done and in this simple incident we see at least Peter still had doubts.
Peter recognized it was Jesus and said, “LORD, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Peter then got out of the boat and as soon as he realized the wind was “boisterous” as the king James version puts it, his faith started to fade and he started to sink causing him to call to Jesus for help.
I think on many occasions we are like Peter.
We say “LORD do this for me.” God does it and we start on our way, then when things start getting “boisterous” we start doubting and have to call out to God for help.
We have little faith at times. Like Peter we have doubts and fears and have to call out to Christ for help.
Being a Christian is a growing experience. We all have doubts and fears times when we feel God is not with us.
We, however, can take heart from the example of Peter. Peter, here doubted, and he even ran away at the trial of Jesus. However, on the Day of Pentecost Peter stood on the top of the house, and preached the Gospel. He went onto stand before the Jewish leaders and proclaim the Gospel, seemingly, fearlessly.
Peter and the other Apostles were people just like us. They had their doubts at times, as they learned from Christ. They had their fears, but, as they listened to the teaching of Jesus, they grew into powerhouses, that quite literally changed the world in which they lived. We must do the same.
In order for us to grow to overcome our doubts and fears, we must study the words of our LORD. Study the Scriptures, and as Peter and the others in that upper room did, allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and work in us.
We must be wholly committed to God.
Where is your faith?
Are you willing to step out of the boat and walk on the water?
Are you taking what you learned of Christ to the world?
Think about it.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Matthew14:24-32
What a wonderful illustration of how we let Christ work in our lives. Here the apostles have just seen Jesus perform a miracle feeding five thousand men plus women and children. They had witnessed other things Jesus had done and in this simple incident we see at least Peter still had doubts.
Peter recognized it was Jesus and said, “LORD, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Peter then got out of the boat and as soon as he realized the wind was “boisterous” as the king James version puts it, his faith started to fade and he started to sink causing him to call to Jesus for help.
I think on many occasions we are like Peter.
We say “LORD do this for me.” God does it and we start on our way, then when things start getting “boisterous” we start doubting and have to call out to God for help.
We have little faith at times. Like Peter we have doubts and fears and have to call out to Christ for help.
Being a Christian is a growing experience. We all have doubts and fears times when we feel God is not with us.
We, however, can take heart from the example of Peter. Peter, here doubted, and he even ran away at the trial of Jesus. However, on the Day of Pentecost Peter stood on the top of the house, and preached the Gospel. He went onto stand before the Jewish leaders and proclaim the Gospel, seemingly, fearlessly.
Peter and the other Apostles were people just like us. They had their doubts at times, as they learned from Christ. They had their fears, but, as they listened to the teaching of Jesus, they grew into powerhouses, that quite literally changed the world in which they lived. We must do the same.
In order for us to grow to overcome our doubts and fears, we must study the words of our LORD. Study the Scriptures, and as Peter and the others in that upper room did, allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and work in us.
We must be wholly committed to God.
Where is your faith?
Are you willing to step out of the boat and walk on the water?
Are you taking what you learned of Christ to the world?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Away from the Way
Away from the Way
“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.
Do you drive people away from God. It is very easy to do so. Christians I think do it all the time. The principle reason they judge others. The other reason is we don’t see them as “normal” or “like us” or that their “lifestyle” is different from ours.
That’s what Abraham essentially did in the quote from the Talmud.
Jesus made it clear we are not to judge.
Matthew recording,
“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.
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, 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.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
If we as Christians are judging anyone, especially those outside the church we cannot expect to win them to Christ.
Paul states,
"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 live in a secular society, with a secular government. It is that government that God allows to govern, that gives us our rights and freedoms. It is that same government that allows other groups we disagree with to have the freedoms they have.
We should never be doing anything to that will restrict another person or groups freedoms.
We are not to judge. We have no right to say who gets to heaven or who doesn’t
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.
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.
Our job is to point people in the direction of heaven. To do what Jesus would want us to do.
Tony Campolo an American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
When the disciples went out into the world particularly as they moved into the greater Roman empire, they must have seen things that to them as Jews were morally appalling.
Yet we have no record of them ever trying to impose their beliefs on others. They simply presented their beliefs to others and let them decide for themselves.
Paul speaking to the Athenians as recorded in Acts 17 is a classic example of how Christians should present the gospel.
Paul wandered through Athens and seen temples to every conceivable god, yet he didn’t criticize. Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel. The result was some believed and some wanted to ask him back.
This is how we should be as Christians. Presenting the Gospel of Christ in a none threatening way in a way that makes people want to think.
Our message should never change. We should not be judging people because of their life style, or whether or not they are like us.
We should be showing love even to our enemies, neighbours, and friends alike.
We should be keeping watch within our own church congregations to see that no evil is going on.
Should we find evil within the midst of our congregations we should be expelling it as Paul said.
We should never be judging those outside the church. The churches job is to reach the lost souls of this world for Christ.
Think about it.
“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.
Do you drive people away from God. It is very easy to do so. Christians I think do it all the time. The principle reason they judge others. The other reason is we don’t see them as “normal” or “like us” or that their “lifestyle” is different from ours.
That’s what Abraham essentially did in the quote from the Talmud.
Jesus made it clear we are not to judge.
Matthew recording,
“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.
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, 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.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
If we as Christians are judging anyone, especially those outside the church we cannot expect to win them to Christ.
Paul states,
"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 live in a secular society, with a secular government. It is that government that God allows to govern, that gives us our rights and freedoms. It is that same government that allows other groups we disagree with to have the freedoms they have.
We should never be doing anything to that will restrict another person or groups freedoms.
We are not to judge. We have no right to say who gets to heaven or who doesn’t
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.
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.
Our job is to point people in the direction of heaven. To do what Jesus would want us to do.
Tony Campolo an American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
When the disciples went out into the world particularly as they moved into the greater Roman empire, they must have seen things that to them as Jews were morally appalling.
Yet we have no record of them ever trying to impose their beliefs on others. They simply presented their beliefs to others and let them decide for themselves.
Paul speaking to the Athenians as recorded in Acts 17 is a classic example of how Christians should present the gospel.
Paul wandered through Athens and seen temples to every conceivable god, yet he didn’t criticize. Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel. The result was some believed and some wanted to ask him back.
This is how we should be as Christians. Presenting the Gospel of Christ in a none threatening way in a way that makes people want to think.
Our message should never change. We should not be judging people because of their life style, or whether or not they are like us.
We should be showing love even to our enemies, neighbours, and friends alike.
We should be keeping watch within our own church congregations to see that no evil is going on.
Should we find evil within the midst of our congregations we should be expelling it as Paul said.
We should never be judging those outside the church. The churches job is to reach the lost souls of this world for Christ.
Think about it.
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