Of great price.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46
I speak here directly to Christians. How valuable is your faith. Would you give your all for Christ? Do you take your stand for Christ when those around you do not.
I know there are many people who go to church all their lives yet outside of Church do not take their stand for Christ. They go along with the crowd. Even if the crowd says and does things Christians shouldn’t be doing.
In order for our faith in Christ to be affective we must value it above all things. We must if necessary be willing to die for our faith.
Here in North America I very much doubt we’ll under every day circumstances have to be willing to die for our faith. However we may from time to time be called to stand up for what we believe.
In our work place and in our daily lives we shouldn’t participate in things that would be contrary to what Christ would do.
We must be willing to take our stand for Christ even if we loose friends.
While we like Christ should be willing to sit down with anyone. We should not be compromising our faith when we do so.
We must be willing to present the Good News of Jesus in a simple way respecting the beliefs and ways of those you are speaking to.
Questions: Is Christ the most precious thing in your life? Are you doing all you can to further the kingdom of Christ?
Please think about it.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
Saturday, 11 July 2015
An Obligation
An Obligation
“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
As soon as I’ve posted this I will be going to the Jesus festival held annually in our city. It’s a time when the predominantly smaller churches get together to celebrate Jesus in a park in the centre of our small city.
We give away free food and other things without obligation to anyone who comes.
As I prepared things for it I was curious to find out what Canada’s poverty level was. I knew it was in the teens.
According to the Canada without poverty website an anti-poverty website,
“1 in 7 (or 4.8 million) people in Canada live in poverty.... Marginalized Groups: Members of society that are especially vulnerable to poverty including persons living with disabilities, single mothers, Aboriginals, elderly individuals, and racialized communities
21% of single mothers in Canada raise their children while living in poverty (7% of single fathers raise their children in poverty).
People living with disabilities (both mental and physical) are twice as likely to live below the poverty line.”
The United States is not much better, according to one source
“In 2013, 45.3 million people lived in Poverty USA. That means the poverty rate for 2013 was 14.5%.” (That’s more than the population of Canada)
The same report says,
“Poverty does not strike all demographics equally. For example, in 2013, 13.1% of men lived in Poverty USA, but 15.8% of women. Along the same lines, the poverty rate for married couples in 2013 was only 5.8%–but the poverty rate for single-parent families with no wife present was up to 15.9%, and for single-parent families with no husband present over 30%.”
These are appalling statistics for two developed countries.
Sheldon Danziger the director of the National Poverty Centre at the University of Michigan said he was especially impressed by a figure showing Canada and the U.S. have the same relative child poverty rate -- 25.1 The chart also showed that after government taxes, benefits and other social programs, Canada's child poverty rate drops to 13.1, while America's barely budges, hovering above 23.1 percent.
The thing is be it 13.1% or 23.1% this is an horrible statistic. That no civilized society should stand for.
I believe it was Saki Knafo writing in the Huffington post in 2012 quoted, Jane Waldfogel, a professor of social work at Columbia University, who wrote about how the labour government in the United Kingdom approached the poverty problem, she writes
“that the Labour Government's efforts to combat child poverty in the U.K. were "larger and more sustained than in the United States." Shortly after he became prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair found himself staring at a UNICEF report similar to this new one, except that England's child poverty ranking was much higher.
So Blair's government instituted programs modelled after former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. The U.K. developed Sure Start -- an early-care program for low-income children similar to the U.S. Head Start. British families could apply for the Working Tax Credit, similar to the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Labour Party spent more on these programs, even as the U.S. spent less, and within five years the number of children living in "absolute poverty" in the U.K. had fallen by half. According to the UNICEF report, 12.1 percent of British children now live in relative poverty -- nearly half the percentage of American children.”
Twelve point one percent is still high but a step in the right direction and it shows if there is a government will poverty can be reduced if not eliminated.
We as individuals need to be speaking to our Government representatives and urging them to do more. After all what better way to spend tax money than directly on the poorest members of our society.
I as a Christian ask Christian to heed the words of James when he wrote in his Epistle,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20.
The Talmud 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
Whether we are a Christians, a Jews, someone of other faiths or for that matter atheist, is not showing compassion and helping the poor anyway we can only the humane thing to do?
Is not helping the poor of our society a way of dealing honourably with our fellow man?
Please think about it.
“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
As soon as I’ve posted this I will be going to the Jesus festival held annually in our city. It’s a time when the predominantly smaller churches get together to celebrate Jesus in a park in the centre of our small city.
We give away free food and other things without obligation to anyone who comes.
As I prepared things for it I was curious to find out what Canada’s poverty level was. I knew it was in the teens.
According to the Canada without poverty website an anti-poverty website,
“1 in 7 (or 4.8 million) people in Canada live in poverty.... Marginalized Groups: Members of society that are especially vulnerable to poverty including persons living with disabilities, single mothers, Aboriginals, elderly individuals, and racialized communities
21% of single mothers in Canada raise their children while living in poverty (7% of single fathers raise their children in poverty).
People living with disabilities (both mental and physical) are twice as likely to live below the poverty line.”
The United States is not much better, according to one source
“In 2013, 45.3 million people lived in Poverty USA. That means the poverty rate for 2013 was 14.5%.” (That’s more than the population of Canada)
The same report says,
“Poverty does not strike all demographics equally. For example, in 2013, 13.1% of men lived in Poverty USA, but 15.8% of women. Along the same lines, the poverty rate for married couples in 2013 was only 5.8%–but the poverty rate for single-parent families with no wife present was up to 15.9%, and for single-parent families with no husband present over 30%.”
These are appalling statistics for two developed countries.
Sheldon Danziger the director of the National Poverty Centre at the University of Michigan said he was especially impressed by a figure showing Canada and the U.S. have the same relative child poverty rate -- 25.1 The chart also showed that after government taxes, benefits and other social programs, Canada's child poverty rate drops to 13.1, while America's barely budges, hovering above 23.1 percent.
The thing is be it 13.1% or 23.1% this is an horrible statistic. That no civilized society should stand for.
I believe it was Saki Knafo writing in the Huffington post in 2012 quoted, Jane Waldfogel, a professor of social work at Columbia University, who wrote about how the labour government in the United Kingdom approached the poverty problem, she writes
“that the Labour Government's efforts to combat child poverty in the U.K. were "larger and more sustained than in the United States." Shortly after he became prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair found himself staring at a UNICEF report similar to this new one, except that England's child poverty ranking was much higher.
So Blair's government instituted programs modelled after former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. The U.K. developed Sure Start -- an early-care program for low-income children similar to the U.S. Head Start. British families could apply for the Working Tax Credit, similar to the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Labour Party spent more on these programs, even as the U.S. spent less, and within five years the number of children living in "absolute poverty" in the U.K. had fallen by half. According to the UNICEF report, 12.1 percent of British children now live in relative poverty -- nearly half the percentage of American children.”
Twelve point one percent is still high but a step in the right direction and it shows if there is a government will poverty can be reduced if not eliminated.
We as individuals need to be speaking to our Government representatives and urging them to do more. After all what better way to spend tax money than directly on the poorest members of our society.
I as a Christian ask Christian to heed the words of James when he wrote in his Epistle,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20.
The Talmud 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
Whether we are a Christians, a Jews, someone of other faiths or for that matter atheist, is not showing compassion and helping the poor anyway we can only the humane thing to do?
Is not helping the poor of our society a way of dealing honourably with our fellow man?
Please think about it.
Friday, 10 July 2015
Warning!
Warning
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”
2 Corinthians 2:17
Paul here is referring to false teachers that have entered the church and are getting money from gullible church members.
As Christians we must be careful who we send money to. There have been false teacher from the time of the early church until today. Today in the twenty-first century with the mass media world we live in it’s hard to tell the real Christians from the fake.
There’s a lot out there claiming you give ten dollars, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars to their ministry and God will bless you ten or even a hundred fold. What garbage.
They treat God like a sugar daddy that doles out cash.
It’s alway been my opinion that all ministries calling themselves Christian should send to those who support them a detailed listing of where every penny goes. I know the church I attend and every church in Canada has to report to there congregation how they spent their money during the year. It should be the same for all ministries.
I know good ministries when asked will give an accounting to you if you ask. I would have problems with any ministry that will not provide and accounting of where the money goes.
It is so easy to twist scripture and put a spin on it that makes it sound like it’s right when it’s not.
Paul writing to Timothy warns,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
The message here is Christian beware! My advice is always support your local church first. You know who they are and where the money goes. You know that their teaching is in line with the Bible. If it’s not you shouldn’t be there.
So support your local ministry first. Then if you have something extra left over and you feel God telling you to give to a particular ministry give. But don’t expect huge returns on your money. You should give because you want to, not with the thought in mind that you will get interest on your money like some bank.
Giving to God’s work is part of being a Christian. So be wise as to where you give. Pray and ask God where to give and how much. Do not be swayed by some sweet talking televangelist, evangelist, preacher or teacher.
Please think about it.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”
2 Corinthians 2:17
Paul here is referring to false teachers that have entered the church and are getting money from gullible church members.
As Christians we must be careful who we send money to. There have been false teacher from the time of the early church until today. Today in the twenty-first century with the mass media world we live in it’s hard to tell the real Christians from the fake.
There’s a lot out there claiming you give ten dollars, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars to their ministry and God will bless you ten or even a hundred fold. What garbage.
They treat God like a sugar daddy that doles out cash.
It’s alway been my opinion that all ministries calling themselves Christian should send to those who support them a detailed listing of where every penny goes. I know the church I attend and every church in Canada has to report to there congregation how they spent their money during the year. It should be the same for all ministries.
I know good ministries when asked will give an accounting to you if you ask. I would have problems with any ministry that will not provide and accounting of where the money goes.
It is so easy to twist scripture and put a spin on it that makes it sound like it’s right when it’s not.
Paul writing to Timothy warns,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
The message here is Christian beware! My advice is always support your local church first. You know who they are and where the money goes. You know that their teaching is in line with the Bible. If it’s not you shouldn’t be there.
So support your local ministry first. Then if you have something extra left over and you feel God telling you to give to a particular ministry give. But don’t expect huge returns on your money. You should give because you want to, not with the thought in mind that you will get interest on your money like some bank.
Giving to God’s work is part of being a Christian. So be wise as to where you give. Pray and ask God where to give and how much. Do not be swayed by some sweet talking televangelist, evangelist, preacher or teacher.
Please think about it.
Thursday, 9 July 2015
If you want
If you want
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Do you treat people in the same way you like to be treated? Think about it. When you present the gospel to friends do you point to their sins or do you point to the message of Love and salvation Christ offers.
I watched with interest the other day a preacher who with all the best of intentions started spouting off about the ills of society. He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time bashing one particular group. Still by my count he did manage to bash almost every group in our western society that he disagreed with.
As I listened I thought to myself what a waste of time, energy and money. It was obvious he and the organization he represented spent a lot of time and money on the television program. Television and Radio time doesn’t come cheap.
The reason I say he wasted all that money is the fact he bashed so many groups telling them that they wouldn’t get to heaven, that his message of salvation was lost.
The moment you criticize anyone you loose them.
While his message may have rang true with the believers in his church it was definitely was a turn off for non-Christians watching.
He portrayed God as a God of do’s and do not’s. A God with a big stick ready to bash you. That’s not what the Bible says.
James writes,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
James 2:8-13
The bible is a book of mercy.
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
Jesus makes it clear to all men everywhere what his principle purpose in coming to this world is when he 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 3:16-18.
Please think about it.
If you want to be judged,
judge someone.
If you want to be treated as a bigot,
act like one.
If you want to be hated,
hate,
If you don’t want to be listened to,
don’t listen to others.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
Do you treat people in the same way you like to be treated? Think about it. When you present the gospel to friends do you point to their sins or do you point to the message of Love and salvation Christ offers.
I watched with interest the other day a preacher who with all the best of intentions started spouting off about the ills of society. He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time bashing one particular group. Still by my count he did manage to bash almost every group in our western society that he disagreed with.
As I listened I thought to myself what a waste of time, energy and money. It was obvious he and the organization he represented spent a lot of time and money on the television program. Television and Radio time doesn’t come cheap.
The reason I say he wasted all that money is the fact he bashed so many groups telling them that they wouldn’t get to heaven, that his message of salvation was lost.
The moment you criticize anyone you loose them.
While his message may have rang true with the believers in his church it was definitely was a turn off for non-Christians watching.
He portrayed God as a God of do’s and do not’s. A God with a big stick ready to bash you. That’s not what the Bible says.
James writes,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
James 2:8-13
The bible is a book of mercy.
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
Jesus makes it clear to all men everywhere what his principle purpose in coming to this world is when he 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 3:16-18.
Please think about it.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Your Choice
Your choice
“The Bible does not defend itself. It was written to people who accepted its message and therefore spends little time convincing its readers of its authenticity.”
Author unknown
I could write volumes is defence of the Bible’s authenticity. At the same time I could speak for hours giving proof of that God exists and Jesus is God incarnate but it would not convince some people.
Some people just want to believe what they want to believe. They believe there is no God so they view only the facts that say there is no God.
They will not accept the accuracy of the Bible and dismiss its truths as being bias.
As far as I’m concerned that is all well and good.
God when he created mankind gave him a freewill. That freewill gives each and every person the right to believe in God or not. God will not force anyone to believe in Him. It’s that simple.
God want’s our belief in Him to be an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Son
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3.
The Bible notes Jesus gave a choice when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
Therefore the choice is yours dear reader. Believe there is a God and Jesus is his one and only Son. The Saviour of the world or not.
There is no middle ground.
If I am wrong and there is no God. Then you have nothing to fear, but if I am right then you at the very least have a lot to consider.
Please think about it.
“The Bible does not defend itself. It was written to people who accepted its message and therefore spends little time convincing its readers of its authenticity.”
Author unknown
I could write volumes is defence of the Bible’s authenticity. At the same time I could speak for hours giving proof of that God exists and Jesus is God incarnate but it would not convince some people.
Some people just want to believe what they want to believe. They believe there is no God so they view only the facts that say there is no God.
They will not accept the accuracy of the Bible and dismiss its truths as being bias.
As far as I’m concerned that is all well and good.
God when he created mankind gave him a freewill. That freewill gives each and every person the right to believe in God or not. God will not force anyone to believe in Him. It’s that simple.
God want’s our belief in Him to be an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Son
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3.
The Bible notes Jesus gave a choice when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
Therefore the choice is yours dear reader. Believe there is a God and Jesus is his one and only Son. The Saviour of the world or not.
There is no middle ground.
If I am wrong and there is no God. Then you have nothing to fear, but if I am right then you at the very least have a lot to consider.
Please think about it.
God Exists
God exists
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.”
Blaise Pascal
The Psalmist wrote,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Put simply God does things His way not the way man thinks he should do things. God asks all people everywhere to have faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Being an Atheist is also an act of faith. To be an atheist you have to have postulated that for whatever reason there is no God. You have to have come to the conclusion that simply because you can’t see God he doesn’t exist.
To my mind it’s like saying you can’t see you brain therefore you don’t have one.
The psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Think about it the universe from the most distant galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle is in perfect balance.
I listened to a scientist not long ago that said everything in the universe no matter how minute effects life on this earth. From the light of distant stars to our sun to the smallest sub atomic particle. Everything is in balance. Adjust that balance ever so slightly and life as we know it on this earth would not exist.
For me creation proves there is a God who made it.
Ben Zion Boskser wrote,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God. But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.”
Ben Zion Bokser.
Please think about it
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.”
Blaise Pascal
The Psalmist wrote,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Put simply God does things His way not the way man thinks he should do things. God asks all people everywhere to have faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Being an Atheist is also an act of faith. To be an atheist you have to have postulated that for whatever reason there is no God. You have to have come to the conclusion that simply because you can’t see God he doesn’t exist.
To my mind it’s like saying you can’t see you brain therefore you don’t have one.
The psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Think about it the universe from the most distant galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle is in perfect balance.
I listened to a scientist not long ago that said everything in the universe no matter how minute effects life on this earth. From the light of distant stars to our sun to the smallest sub atomic particle. Everything is in balance. Adjust that balance ever so slightly and life as we know it on this earth would not exist.
For me creation proves there is a God who made it.
Ben Zion Boskser wrote,
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God. But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.”
Ben Zion Bokser.
Please think about it
Monday, 6 July 2015
Spiritual Colour
Spiritual Colour
I as a Christian believe I must present my beliefs to anyone who would listen but nowhere does Bible tell me to impose those beliefs on anyone or attempt to restrict the beliefs of others.
I believe simply that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for the sins of each and every man and woman irrespective of who they are. That each person must make the choice for themselves as to who Jesus is. To accept Him as the Son of God or not.
At the height of the civil rights movement in the United States Kenneth Waters wrote this description of God
I have been a Christian since I was nineteen I’m now sixty-one, you do the math. Throughout that time I have strived to present the Good News of Jesus Christ is a pure a form as I can.
The more I read it the more I realize the importance of presenting the teachings of Christ to this world.
For me the apostle Paul when speaking at the Areopagus in Athens presented the message of Christ in a way we as Christians should emulate the book of Acts records,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others”
Acts 17:17-34.
Notice Paul never once criticized the beliefs and lifestyle of those around him. He kept to the script if you will of preaching the love of God and the Salvation that only Christ can bring.
This dear Christian is what we should be doing.
Please think about it.
I as a Christian believe I must present my beliefs to anyone who would listen but nowhere does Bible tell me to impose those beliefs on anyone or attempt to restrict the beliefs of others.
I believe simply that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for the sins of each and every man and woman irrespective of who they are. That each person must make the choice for themselves as to who Jesus is. To accept Him as the Son of God or not.
At the height of the civil rights movement in the United States Kenneth Waters wrote this description of God
So then, just talk about Spiritual colour and tell them:
Whatever colour love is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour justice is, that’s that colour of God:
whatever colour peace is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour freedom is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour joy is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour healing is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour salvation is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour power is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour truth is, that’s the colour of God:
So, then, regardless of who we are or where we come from,
regardless of our own skin colour or racial identity,
we should strive to be God’s (spiritual) colour.
Amen.
Kenneth WatersI have been a Christian since I was nineteen I’m now sixty-one, you do the math. Throughout that time I have strived to present the Good News of Jesus Christ is a pure a form as I can.
The more I read it the more I realize the importance of presenting the teachings of Christ to this world.
For me the apostle Paul when speaking at the Areopagus in Athens presented the message of Christ in a way we as Christians should emulate the book of Acts records,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others”
Acts 17:17-34.
Notice Paul never once criticized the beliefs and lifestyle of those around him. He kept to the script if you will of preaching the love of God and the Salvation that only Christ can bring.
This dear Christian is what we should be doing.
Please think about it.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Jesus and Judgement
Jesus and judgement
“Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”
John 12:44-48.
Notice to Christians the above scripture makes it clear that while on this earth the job of Jesus was to save the world not judge it. He makes it clear in John12:48 that people who reject him on the last day will be judged. The last day has however not arrived.
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.
Jesus came into the world to save the lost. It is our job to continue that work. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
The teaching of Jesus was to Love God, Love your neighbour, Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.
The apostle Paul wrote of Love,
“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.
Take a look at the above,
Christian you must love even those you disagree with. It is the only way to reach the world for Christ.
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
I like what Tony Campolo said. We should be feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and standing up for the oppressed.
We should be standing up for the freedoms of all those around us, for to restrict the freedoms of others will ultimately see our own freedoms restricted. It’s all apart of loving our neighbour.
Martin Niemoller a German Christian and anti Nazi during world war two wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand”
Martin Niemoller
Dear Christian
It is your job to Love your neighbour no matter who they are. It is your job to present and not force the Gospel of Christ on people. That is the calling of Christ.
Remember your actions just might determine the eternal resting place of those you come in contact with.
Please think carefully about it.
“Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”
John 12:44-48.
Notice to Christians the above scripture makes it clear that while on this earth the job of Jesus was to save the world not judge it. He makes it clear in John12:48 that people who reject him on the last day will be judged. The last day has however not arrived.
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.
Jesus came into the world to save the lost. It is our job to continue that work. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
The teaching of Jesus was to Love God, Love your neighbour, Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.
The apostle Paul wrote of Love,
“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.
Take a look at the above,
Love is patient, love is kind.
Is that your kind of love?
Love does not envy, it dose not boast. it is not proud,
Is that your kind of love?
It is not rude, it is not self seeking.
Is that your kind of love?
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Is that your kind of Love?
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Is that your kind of Love?
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres.
Is that your kind of Love?
Love never fails.
Is that your kind of Love?
Are you showing the greatest thing you can, Love to your fellow man?Christian you must love even those you disagree with. It is the only way to reach the world for Christ.
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
I like what Tony Campolo said. We should be feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and standing up for the oppressed.
We should be standing up for the freedoms of all those around us, for to restrict the freedoms of others will ultimately see our own freedoms restricted. It’s all apart of loving our neighbour.
Martin Niemoller a German Christian and anti Nazi during world war two wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand”
Martin Niemoller
Dear Christian
It is your job to Love your neighbour no matter who they are. It is your job to present and not force the Gospel of Christ on people. That is the calling of Christ.
Remember your actions just might determine the eternal resting place of those you come in contact with.
Please think carefully about it.
Friday, 3 July 2015
How dare they say that
How dare they say that
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.”
1 Peter 2:13-17
“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.
These are powerful statements to Christians. Written at a time when Christians were living in what essentially was a pagan empire. The Roman empire.
Peter who said “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men...” would be put to death by the emperor Nero, as would Paul.
Jesus makes it clear,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
So put this way, if you want to get persecuted. Persecute others. If you want your freedoms restricted, restrict the freedoms of others. If you want to be judged judge others.
Christians have no right to impose their beliefs on others any more than we would want others to impose their beliefs on us. Our job is to simply present the Salvation message of Christ to those who will listen.
The apostle Paul speaking to the church in Corinth and through them to us makes a clear statement that we have no right to judge those outside the church,
“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.
He tells us we are not the judge of those outside the church God is. We are to keep our own house clean. We are to police ourselves and expel those who are teaching falsely within the church. Those who are judging others in the name of Christ.
No Christian has the authority to judge anyone who ever they are.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Tony Campolo
If we as Christians want to maintain our freedom we need to respect the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela wrote,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
James 2:12,13
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?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? "
Matthew 5:43-46
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Your neighbour dear Christian is everyone you meet. Whether you agree with them or not.
Dear Christian Jesus gave you your job when he said,
“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 28:19,20.
We cannot do this job unless ALL people irrespective of who they are less than free.
Think about it.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.”
1 Peter 2:13-17
“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.
These are powerful statements to Christians. Written at a time when Christians were living in what essentially was a pagan empire. The Roman empire.
Peter who said “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men...” would be put to death by the emperor Nero, as would Paul.
Jesus makes it clear,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
So put this way, if you want to get persecuted. Persecute others. If you want your freedoms restricted, restrict the freedoms of others. If you want to be judged judge others.
Christians have no right to impose their beliefs on others any more than we would want others to impose their beliefs on us. Our job is to simply present the Salvation message of Christ to those who will listen.
The apostle Paul speaking to the church in Corinth and through them to us makes a clear statement that we have no right to judge those outside the church,
“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.
He tells us we are not the judge of those outside the church God is. We are to keep our own house clean. We are to police ourselves and expel those who are teaching falsely within the church. Those who are judging others in the name of Christ.
No Christian has the authority to judge anyone who ever they are.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Tony Campolo
If we as Christians want to maintain our freedom we need to respect the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela wrote,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!”
James 2:12,13
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?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? "
Matthew 5:43-46
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Your neighbour dear Christian is everyone you meet. Whether you agree with them or not.
Dear Christian Jesus gave you your job when he said,
“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 28:19,20.
We cannot do this job unless ALL people irrespective of who they are less than free.
Think about it.
Freedom and the Christian
Freedom
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe. In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
Baruch Spinoza
I am speaking here as a Christian appalled at the way Christian groups especially in the United States are reacting to the gay marriage law.
The United States and all western democracies are just that democracies. They are not “Christian democracies” they are “secular democracies”. There is no such thing as a Christian government on this earth at this time. And governments like it or not have the right to define marriage even if it is not to the liking of Christians.
Living in a secular democracy is something the apostles knew very well. They lived in the Roman empire an empire as ethnically diverse as any nation today. An empire that was filled with pagan practises that the average Christian or Jew at the time would have disliked immensely.
Yet nowhere in the New Testament do I see Jesus or his disciples speaking out against the civil secular authorities.
Jesus even when brought before Pilate never said anything against the civil authority of Rome. In fact he said,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
John 19:11a
The apostle Paul while living under one of the worst emperors Nero even wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3
Someone years ago once told me, when you restrict someone else’s freedom you ultimately restrict your own.
It is my feeling that provided the freedoms granted to any group does not infringe on my freedoms to believe as I wish as a Christian then they should have the right to believe and do as they wish.
We know such a system worked because thanks to the freedom of the Roman empire with all its diversity Christianity flourished.
The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Put simply Paul is saying, lets keep our own house clean and not judge those outside the church. Especially others who do not recognize our standards and ethics.
We as Christians are called to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy, even if we disagree with them. We can’t show this in a democracy if we are trying to restrict someone’s rights.
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:12,13.
We are to show love and mercy even to our worst enemy and the gay, lesbian and trangendered community are not our enemies. They are the same as anyone else in this world, people in need of the love of God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18,
Christians have no right to judge anyone, that is God’s job. Only God knows the inner thoughts and feelings of an individual. Only God knows what makes a man or woman what they are.
The apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:11,12.
One of those sinful desires is the desire to judge individuals.
Perhaps the best example of how a Christian should speak and act toward those whom he disagrees with is when the Apostle Paul spoke at the Areopagus in Athens Acts 17:17-34.
Athens was the centre of pagan worship. There were things I know Paul would object to but Paul realized that he was a visitor, or as Peter said an “alien and stranger.” therefore he respected their beliefs and ways.
As a result they listened to him, some accepted Christ while others wanted to hear more.
I know within some church groups same sex marriage is a bone of contention. I know many groups treat the trangender community as if they have “special sins”. This should not be.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
We cannot win souls for Christ be they in the gay community or in any other community in this world if we are judging them and trying to restrict their rights. They will only turn us away and that prevents us from doing our job.
Jesus told Christians what our job is when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Christian please think carefully about how you act around non-Christians no matter who they are. All men and women in this world are in need of the saving grace of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Upon your actions may rest the eternal destiny of those you come in contact with.
Remember the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe. In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
Baruch Spinoza
I am speaking here as a Christian appalled at the way Christian groups especially in the United States are reacting to the gay marriage law.
The United States and all western democracies are just that democracies. They are not “Christian democracies” they are “secular democracies”. There is no such thing as a Christian government on this earth at this time. And governments like it or not have the right to define marriage even if it is not to the liking of Christians.
Living in a secular democracy is something the apostles knew very well. They lived in the Roman empire an empire as ethnically diverse as any nation today. An empire that was filled with pagan practises that the average Christian or Jew at the time would have disliked immensely.
Yet nowhere in the New Testament do I see Jesus or his disciples speaking out against the civil secular authorities.
Jesus even when brought before Pilate never said anything against the civil authority of Rome. In fact he said,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
John 19:11a
The apostle Paul while living under one of the worst emperors Nero even wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3
Someone years ago once told me, when you restrict someone else’s freedom you ultimately restrict your own.
It is my feeling that provided the freedoms granted to any group does not infringe on my freedoms to believe as I wish as a Christian then they should have the right to believe and do as they wish.
We know such a system worked because thanks to the freedom of the Roman empire with all its diversity Christianity flourished.
The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Put simply Paul is saying, lets keep our own house clean and not judge those outside the church. Especially others who do not recognize our standards and ethics.
We as Christians are called to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy, even if we disagree with them. We can’t show this in a democracy if we are trying to restrict someone’s rights.
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:12,13.
We are to show love and mercy even to our worst enemy and the gay, lesbian and trangendered community are not our enemies. They are the same as anyone else in this world, people in need of the love of God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18,
Christians have no right to judge anyone, that is God’s job. Only God knows the inner thoughts and feelings of an individual. Only God knows what makes a man or woman what they are.
The apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:11,12.
One of those sinful desires is the desire to judge individuals.
Perhaps the best example of how a Christian should speak and act toward those whom he disagrees with is when the Apostle Paul spoke at the Areopagus in Athens Acts 17:17-34.
Athens was the centre of pagan worship. There were things I know Paul would object to but Paul realized that he was a visitor, or as Peter said an “alien and stranger.” therefore he respected their beliefs and ways.
As a result they listened to him, some accepted Christ while others wanted to hear more.
I know within some church groups same sex marriage is a bone of contention. I know many groups treat the trangender community as if they have “special sins”. This should not be.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
We cannot win souls for Christ be they in the gay community or in any other community in this world if we are judging them and trying to restrict their rights. They will only turn us away and that prevents us from doing our job.
Jesus told Christians what our job is when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Christian please think carefully about how you act around non-Christians no matter who they are. All men and women in this world are in need of the saving grace of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Upon your actions may rest the eternal destiny of those you come in contact with.
Remember the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.
Thursday, 2 July 2015
Who do you serve?
Who do you serve?
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14,15
As Christians we must be careful whom we serve. I’ve heard too many people over the years say I follow such and such an evangelist or pastor. Or such and such a pastor or evangelist says this or that.
These people take the words of these men and woman at face value. They never question them. They will even argue with others who disagree with them as if the pastor or evangelist they are following is infallible.
Such things happened in the early church the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?”
1 Corinthians 1:11-13.
As Christians we should never let one man or woman’s interpretation of the scriptures be our only source of teaching. Men make mistakes they are only human.
There are even some teachers and preachers who deliberately pervert the scriptures. They believe a certain way and, if you will “cherry pick” the scriptures that back their belief. They fail to listen to scriptures that contradict their beliefs.
The classic line I hear from such preachers is “don’t come against the elect of God.”
There is a fine line here. Within the Christian community we have differences of opinion on various things and that is fine, provided, it’s not on the major issues. Issues such as the sovereignty of Christ.
So we must be careful not to speak out against any minister, preacher, teacher or evangelist simply because we disagree with them on the minor points.
There are still however false Christian teachers out there who say they believe in Christ who are out there to get rich or deliberately lead people astray. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
Sadly thanks to the mass media world we live in we are exposed to false teachers all the time. These teachers may even seem legitimate. They string scriptures in such a way as to make their doctrine seem correct when it is not.
That’s why we as Christians need to be on guard. We need to know our Bible. We need to study the scriptures daily.
We need to find a body of believers that have as their base the Bible. A group that studies from the bible directly. A group that does not just use study notes from one pastor, evangelist or teacher but from a wide range of teachers.
I’ve found over the years some of my best learning experiences have come when I’ve read teachings of those I disagree with.
When I come across someone I disagree with I ask myself why do they think the way they do? Are they right or am I? If I get a chance I even speak to the person who has opposing view to me.
In our adult bible study I lead at the church I use this technique. Everyone who attends has the right to express their view whether my pastor or I agree with it or not. We then discuss it as a group using the scriptures as our authority.
We are careful to see that every scripture is taken in context.
We also look at the history and culture of the time as well as various commentaries from a wide range of authors.
I believe that the word of God is so important it is our duty to see that we are preaching and teaching it in as accurate a way as possible.
I believe this because the potential eternal resting place of someone’s eternal soul may depend on what I and other teachers teach.
Therefore my advise to all Christians is to study the Bible carefully. Use a wide range of commentaries. Listen to a wide range of teachers. Question what they say and what you believe. Be open an honest and willing to accept that you may be wrong in some of what you believe. If you are proven to be wrong, be willing to change.
Remember the absolute authority about God is the Bible not some Televangelist, evangelist, preacher, or teacher.
And through all of your studying pray, pray, pray. Pray and ask God to show you the truth in the scriptures.
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14,15
As Christians we must be careful whom we serve. I’ve heard too many people over the years say I follow such and such an evangelist or pastor. Or such and such a pastor or evangelist says this or that.
These people take the words of these men and woman at face value. They never question them. They will even argue with others who disagree with them as if the pastor or evangelist they are following is infallible.
Such things happened in the early church the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?”
1 Corinthians 1:11-13.
As Christians we should never let one man or woman’s interpretation of the scriptures be our only source of teaching. Men make mistakes they are only human.
There are even some teachers and preachers who deliberately pervert the scriptures. They believe a certain way and, if you will “cherry pick” the scriptures that back their belief. They fail to listen to scriptures that contradict their beliefs.
The classic line I hear from such preachers is “don’t come against the elect of God.”
There is a fine line here. Within the Christian community we have differences of opinion on various things and that is fine, provided, it’s not on the major issues. Issues such as the sovereignty of Christ.
So we must be careful not to speak out against any minister, preacher, teacher or evangelist simply because we disagree with them on the minor points.
There are still however false Christian teachers out there who say they believe in Christ who are out there to get rich or deliberately lead people astray. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
Sadly thanks to the mass media world we live in we are exposed to false teachers all the time. These teachers may even seem legitimate. They string scriptures in such a way as to make their doctrine seem correct when it is not.
That’s why we as Christians need to be on guard. We need to know our Bible. We need to study the scriptures daily.
We need to find a body of believers that have as their base the Bible. A group that studies from the bible directly. A group that does not just use study notes from one pastor, evangelist or teacher but from a wide range of teachers.
I’ve found over the years some of my best learning experiences have come when I’ve read teachings of those I disagree with.
When I come across someone I disagree with I ask myself why do they think the way they do? Are they right or am I? If I get a chance I even speak to the person who has opposing view to me.
In our adult bible study I lead at the church I use this technique. Everyone who attends has the right to express their view whether my pastor or I agree with it or not. We then discuss it as a group using the scriptures as our authority.
We are careful to see that every scripture is taken in context.
We also look at the history and culture of the time as well as various commentaries from a wide range of authors.
I believe that the word of God is so important it is our duty to see that we are preaching and teaching it in as accurate a way as possible.
I believe this because the potential eternal resting place of someone’s eternal soul may depend on what I and other teachers teach.
Therefore my advise to all Christians is to study the Bible carefully. Use a wide range of commentaries. Listen to a wide range of teachers. Question what they say and what you believe. Be open an honest and willing to accept that you may be wrong in some of what you believe. If you are proven to be wrong, be willing to change.
Remember the absolute authority about God is the Bible not some Televangelist, evangelist, preacher, or teacher.
And through all of your studying pray, pray, pray. Pray and ask God to show you the truth in the scriptures.
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!
Jesus is alive!
"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
Luke 24:13-24.
Above is the story of the men on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus after his resurrection. It clearly states that people seen Jesus after he had died and rose from the dead. That he was in bodily form.
This is a claim that is unique to Christians. The Author and Finisher of our faith is the One and Only Son of God, Jesus.
We believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died for sins he didn’t commit was buried and rose from the grave victorious. That he ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He did this for us. The apostle Paul writing,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
The other day our Church played a movie called God is not dead. It fell into the category of drama. I would recommend if you get a chance to see it. The point of the movie was simple God is not dead despite what some vocal atheist say.
At the end of the movie it asked people to text three words to all their contacts. Those three words were “God is Alive!”
I would ask you the reader if you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God to consider texting or tweeting this line to all your contacts,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be....” Acts 16:31a “Pass it on”
Ask your Christian friends to do it also.
It may be the most important thing you ever tweet or text.
Think about it.
"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
Luke 24:13-24.
Above is the story of the men on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus after his resurrection. It clearly states that people seen Jesus after he had died and rose from the dead. That he was in bodily form.
This is a claim that is unique to Christians. The Author and Finisher of our faith is the One and Only Son of God, Jesus.
We believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died for sins he didn’t commit was buried and rose from the grave victorious. That he ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He did this for us. The apostle Paul writing,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
The other day our Church played a movie called God is not dead. It fell into the category of drama. I would recommend if you get a chance to see it. The point of the movie was simple God is not dead despite what some vocal atheist say.
At the end of the movie it asked people to text three words to all their contacts. Those three words were “God is Alive!”
I would ask you the reader if you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God to consider texting or tweeting this line to all your contacts,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be....” Acts 16:31a “Pass it on”
Ask your Christian friends to do it also.
It may be the most important thing you ever tweet or text.
Think about it.
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