Advice from Jesus
“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.
Christian do you practice these words of Jesus?
Because I am close to the American border we get an American television station claiming to be Christian over the air. Sadly they have many programs that at least to my mind are attacking everything from the gay community to Muslims and almost everything in between. They say they are only putting out the facts but that’s not how I see it. Nor for that matter do those who are being attacked.
We have no right to judge others outside the Church. The Apostle Paul says,
“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.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made a good point when he said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
That’s what we all should be doing. Jesus made it clear what the job of the Christian 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.
We as Christians cannot make disciples if we are constantly criticizing others. If we are trying to restrict the rights of others even if we disagree with them.
Again to quote Campolo,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Tony Campolo.
Please think about it.
Thursday 13 August 2015
Tuesday 11 August 2015
The Fear of God
The fear of God
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
Psalm 111:10.
“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.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Dear Christian
Do you fear God, or do you take Him lightly. The Talmud a Jewish book while not recognized by Christians as a holy book has an interesting concept I think is relevant to Christians. 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.
We will be held accountable to God for everything we did. As Christians we believe we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus. But it shouldn’t end their. We need to be doing what we can for our fellow man. James the brother of Christ puts it this way,
“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.
What are you doing to help your fellow man?
Please think about it.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
Psalm 111:10.
“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.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Dear Christian
Do you fear God, or do you take Him lightly. The Talmud a Jewish book while not recognized by Christians as a holy book has an interesting concept I think is relevant to Christians. 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.
We will be held accountable to God for everything we did. As Christians we believe we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus. But it shouldn’t end their. We need to be doing what we can for our fellow man. James the brother of Christ puts it this way,
“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.
What are you doing to help your fellow man?
Please think about it.
Christian duty
Christian duty
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4
There is an interesting concept from Judaism that Christians I believe should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah as I can find. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes...
Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence my give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden...
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:
After all James the brother of Christ 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.
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
Please, Think about it.
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4
There is an interesting concept from Judaism that Christians I believe should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah as I can find. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes...
Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence my give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden...
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, be giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.
As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief.After all James the brother of Christ 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.
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
Please, Think about it.
Monday 10 August 2015
A Statement Under Oath
A statement under oath
“But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
“Yes, it is as you say,”Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.”
Matthew 26:63-65.
Here is a truth about Jesus. He made the statement under oath before the high priest that He was the Christ, the Son of God. Further more he went on to say,
“In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Quite a statement. Jesus was an educated man he knew Jewish law. He knew what claiming to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God would bring on him if the high priest did not believe him.
The high priest did not believe him saying,
“He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.”
At that moment the fate of Jesus was sealed. Under Jewish law of the day Jesus had to be put to death. All they had to do was convince the Roman governor to let them do it. Which for political expediency he did.
Christians believe Jesus is all he said he is. We believe He is the Son of God, we believe he is the suffering Messiah who will one day return to earth. We believe he is the Christ.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity makes valid point when he says,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
I know there are many out there who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God the Christ, the Messiah.
What I would ask them is to study the New Testament particularly the first four books. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Keep in mind that for Jesus to make the claim he was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. It would get Him the death penalty.
Ask yourself would an intelligent, well educated man say the things he did if he were not the Son of God.
And here’s one more thing to consider. In Acts chapter five we are told the story of two of Jesus’ disciples preaching in his name. They are brought before a Jewish religious court who wanted to put them to death for making the claims that Jesus is the Son of God. A wise man among them however rose and said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38,39.
Over two thousand years have come and gone since then. Christianity is now the largest religion in the world and still growing. Not only that it is growing without the use of force. It is a faith built on love for God, ones fellow man, and even ones enemies.
I contend that Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
I only ask that you think about it.
Post Script to Christians,
There many out there who claim to be Christians but do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. I firmly believe that you cannot be a Christian and not believe Jesus is the Son of God. The entire New Testament makes that clear.
“But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
“Yes, it is as you say,”Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.”
Matthew 26:63-65.
Here is a truth about Jesus. He made the statement under oath before the high priest that He was the Christ, the Son of God. Further more he went on to say,
“In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Quite a statement. Jesus was an educated man he knew Jewish law. He knew what claiming to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God would bring on him if the high priest did not believe him.
The high priest did not believe him saying,
“He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.”
At that moment the fate of Jesus was sealed. Under Jewish law of the day Jesus had to be put to death. All they had to do was convince the Roman governor to let them do it. Which for political expediency he did.
Christians believe Jesus is all he said he is. We believe He is the Son of God, we believe he is the suffering Messiah who will one day return to earth. We believe he is the Christ.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity makes valid point when he says,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
I know there are many out there who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God the Christ, the Messiah.
What I would ask them is to study the New Testament particularly the first four books. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Keep in mind that for Jesus to make the claim he was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. It would get Him the death penalty.
Ask yourself would an intelligent, well educated man say the things he did if he were not the Son of God.
And here’s one more thing to consider. In Acts chapter five we are told the story of two of Jesus’ disciples preaching in his name. They are brought before a Jewish religious court who wanted to put them to death for making the claims that Jesus is the Son of God. A wise man among them however rose and said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38,39.
Over two thousand years have come and gone since then. Christianity is now the largest religion in the world and still growing. Not only that it is growing without the use of force. It is a faith built on love for God, ones fellow man, and even ones enemies.
I contend that Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
I only ask that you think about it.
Post Script to Christians,
There many out there who claim to be Christians but do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. I firmly believe that you cannot be a Christian and not believe Jesus is the Son of God. The entire New Testament makes that clear.
Sunday 9 August 2015
Our Prayer
Our prayer
Jesus said
The lesson of the Lords Prayer is simple.
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Put another way Jesus in Matthew seven states,
“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.
Dear Christian
Do you do things this way?
Please think about it.
Jesus said
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:9-15The lesson of the Lords Prayer is simple.
1/
It tells us to recognize the holiness of God.
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”
2/
It tells us to ask God to bring His kingdom into being on earth as in heaven,
“your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
3/
It asks God to supply our daily needs.
“Give us today our daily bread.”
Then it states,
4/
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
For give our debts, our sins, in the same way we forgive those who sin against us.
5/
We are then instructed to ask that God leads us not into temptation.
To deliver us from the evil one.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Jesus then concludes with,“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Put another way Jesus in Matthew seven states,
“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.
Dear Christian
Do you do things this way?
Please think about it.
Saturday 8 August 2015
Why Jesus came
Why Jesus came
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13.
Here is why Jesus came to save sinners. The Apostle Paul states,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
Paul also notes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
God reached down to man. Man who had fallen short of what God wanted for his life.
Unless we as individuals admit we are sinners, humble ourselves before God and confess those sins we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
It is by the grace of God that we get to heaven Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“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.
We must accept that saving grace. We must admit that we are sinners and dependent on the grace of God to forgive our sins and let us into the Kingdom of Heaven. We cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven simply because we are humans and are far from perfect.
The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10.
Anyone can know today that they are going to heaven. All they have to do is admit Jesus is the one and Only Son of God. That He came to earth to die for your sins. Then confess those sins directly to God asking his forgiveness. Then ask Jesus into your heart and life. A prayer as simple as this,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I believe in you. I believe Jesus is your one and Only Son. That He came into this world to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and ask you to forgive them.
Please dear Lord Jesus come into my heart and life this day. Teach me your ways show me how I can serve you.
Amen.
If you said that prayer and meant it. I urge you to start reading the New Testament. Then I suggest you find a church congregation that you can be a part of.
I always suggest Baptist churches because they are consistent in what they believe and practice. In North America I also recommend the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Canada and the Assemblies of God in the United States. All believe the Bible and do their best to follow its teachings correctly.
I recommend that you also speak to the pastor of the church. All good and honest pastors will agree to meet with you. Ask questions. If you don’t understand the answer ask for clarification.
If you don’t like what you hear look for another congregation.
Also remember each church congregation even within a denomination has its own flavour so to speak. Some are lively others more conservative in worship. Some are very formal while others are less so.
So if you don’t find the first church you go to your liking try others.
Please think about it,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13.
Here is why Jesus came to save sinners. The Apostle Paul states,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
Paul also notes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
God reached down to man. Man who had fallen short of what God wanted for his life.
Unless we as individuals admit we are sinners, humble ourselves before God and confess those sins we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
It is by the grace of God that we get to heaven Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“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.
We must accept that saving grace. We must admit that we are sinners and dependent on the grace of God to forgive our sins and let us into the Kingdom of Heaven. We cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven simply because we are humans and are far from perfect.
The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10.
Anyone can know today that they are going to heaven. All they have to do is admit Jesus is the one and Only Son of God. That He came to earth to die for your sins. Then confess those sins directly to God asking his forgiveness. Then ask Jesus into your heart and life. A prayer as simple as this,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I believe in you. I believe Jesus is your one and Only Son. That He came into this world to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and ask you to forgive them.
Please dear Lord Jesus come into my heart and life this day. Teach me your ways show me how I can serve you.
Amen.
If you said that prayer and meant it. I urge you to start reading the New Testament. Then I suggest you find a church congregation that you can be a part of.
I always suggest Baptist churches because they are consistent in what they believe and practice. In North America I also recommend the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Canada and the Assemblies of God in the United States. All believe the Bible and do their best to follow its teachings correctly.
I recommend that you also speak to the pastor of the church. All good and honest pastors will agree to meet with you. Ask questions. If you don’t understand the answer ask for clarification.
If you don’t like what you hear look for another congregation.
Also remember each church congregation even within a denomination has its own flavour so to speak. Some are lively others more conservative in worship. Some are very formal while others are less so.
So if you don’t find the first church you go to your liking try others.
Please think about it,
Friday 7 August 2015
A Personal God
A personal God
Genesis states,
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7
When God made man, He created man that He could have a personal relationship with man. Not as one has with a pet or a robot. God gave man the ability to think logically. He also gave man a freewill. Man the right to choose between right and wrong.
Man chose wrong in disobeying God’s and thus was banished from the garden.
God however still wants to have a personal relationship with man. That’s why He chose the Abraham. Through Abraham all the world would be blessed.
That’s why God instituted the practice of sacrifices to cover the sins of man. That each and every man would realize they are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.
Today Jews all over the world celebrate Yom Kippur the day of atonement.
Yom Kippur as I understand it was instituted as a time each year when each person confesses their sins to God asking His forgiveness. It is as I understand a persons last appeal, a last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate their repentance and make amends.
As a Christian I believe God took things one step further.
God in the form of Jesus entered this world to show not just mankind in general how far he would go to have that personal relationship with him. But to show each and every person how far He would go to have a personal relationship with them.
The other reason I believe God in the form of Jesus had to enter the world was to prove he was a just God.
A God who is everything Christians and Jews believe, all powerful, all knowing omnipresent etc. I believe, realized that man could stand in front of him and quite rightly say, “you do not understand fully understand what it is to be human. Intellectually you may understand, but because you have only experienced absolute power you don’t fully understand.”
In coming to this world in the form of Jesus, God experienced from a human prospective what it is like to be human. He felt everything from the mundane things such as sun on His face to the rain. He experienced the joys of life, the love of devout parents and friends. At the same time he experienced what it was like to be rejected, persecuted, brutally beaten and put to death for a crime he didn’t commit. Put to death for simply political expediency.
And he did all this that we may be reconciled to God.
The Apostle Paul states,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Romans 5:6-11
Jesus himself 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.
Now I know those who are not Christians will disagree with what I have said. And I personally cannot change anyone’s mind. I as a believer in Jesus believe however have an obligation to say what I have said.
It is between God and the individual reading this to decide for themselves if what I have said is right or wrong.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
It is up to you the reader to decide for yourself the importance of Christianity. The importance of Jesus.
Please think about it.
Genesis states,
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7
When God made man, He created man that He could have a personal relationship with man. Not as one has with a pet or a robot. God gave man the ability to think logically. He also gave man a freewill. Man the right to choose between right and wrong.
Man chose wrong in disobeying God’s and thus was banished from the garden.
God however still wants to have a personal relationship with man. That’s why He chose the Abraham. Through Abraham all the world would be blessed.
That’s why God instituted the practice of sacrifices to cover the sins of man. That each and every man would realize they are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.
Today Jews all over the world celebrate Yom Kippur the day of atonement.
Yom Kippur as I understand it was instituted as a time each year when each person confesses their sins to God asking His forgiveness. It is as I understand a persons last appeal, a last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate their repentance and make amends.
As a Christian I believe God took things one step further.
God in the form of Jesus entered this world to show not just mankind in general how far he would go to have that personal relationship with him. But to show each and every person how far He would go to have a personal relationship with them.
The other reason I believe God in the form of Jesus had to enter the world was to prove he was a just God.
A God who is everything Christians and Jews believe, all powerful, all knowing omnipresent etc. I believe, realized that man could stand in front of him and quite rightly say, “you do not understand fully understand what it is to be human. Intellectually you may understand, but because you have only experienced absolute power you don’t fully understand.”
In coming to this world in the form of Jesus, God experienced from a human prospective what it is like to be human. He felt everything from the mundane things such as sun on His face to the rain. He experienced the joys of life, the love of devout parents and friends. At the same time he experienced what it was like to be rejected, persecuted, brutally beaten and put to death for a crime he didn’t commit. Put to death for simply political expediency.
And he did all this that we may be reconciled to God.
The Apostle Paul states,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Romans 5:6-11
Jesus himself 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.
Now I know those who are not Christians will disagree with what I have said. And I personally cannot change anyone’s mind. I as a believer in Jesus believe however have an obligation to say what I have said.
It is between God and the individual reading this to decide for themselves if what I have said is right or wrong.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
It is up to you the reader to decide for yourself the importance of Christianity. The importance of Jesus.
Please think about it.
Thursday 6 August 2015
Your Neighbour
Your Neighbour
A soft, soaking rain is falling from the sky. Cars made a swishing sound as they travel along the almost empty street.
All around there is the noise of the city, slowing, rising to a crescendo, then equally slowly dying to a momentary silence.
Before me, lays a picture of downtown edge. At the corner, stands a service station. Its bright lights illluminate the white wall of the restaurant across the street from it. The smell of gasoline mingling with the smell of grilling meat permeates the still air.
My watch reads 2:00 am.
Near the corner an old woman, her torn dress visible below the dirty, shabby, gray winter coat, stumbles along, holding the wall for balance.
Finally, losing her fight to remain upright, she leans her back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, coming to rest over a hot air vent. Alone, she sits motionless as the rain falls.
“Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fall among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
“Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
“Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
“So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
“On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him: ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
“So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10 32-37.
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.
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
Please think about it.
January 14th
Outside the air is a warm, seventeen centigrade, unseasonable for this time of year in this part of the world.A soft, soaking rain is falling from the sky. Cars made a swishing sound as they travel along the almost empty street.
All around there is the noise of the city, slowing, rising to a crescendo, then equally slowly dying to a momentary silence.
Before me, lays a picture of downtown edge. At the corner, stands a service station. Its bright lights illluminate the white wall of the restaurant across the street from it. The smell of gasoline mingling with the smell of grilling meat permeates the still air.
My watch reads 2:00 am.
Near the corner an old woman, her torn dress visible below the dirty, shabby, gray winter coat, stumbles along, holding the wall for balance.
Finally, losing her fight to remain upright, she leans her back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, coming to rest over a hot air vent. Alone, she sits motionless as the rain falls.
Who will tell her of God’s love?
Who will love her?
Who?
Jesus said,“Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fall among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
“Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
“Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
“So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
“On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him: ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
“So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10 32-37.
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.
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
Please think about it.
Wednesday 5 August 2015
There is a God
There is a God
Ben Zion Bokser 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
Not believing in God is a right God gave to all mankind. God in creating mankind with a freewill gave man a choice to believe what he wished. Even if what he believes is not true. That is the nature of freedom. One of the tenants of true freedom is to believe as you wish.
For me however if there is no God there is no meaning in life. The poet wrote,
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
Jesus is saying to you,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Please think about it.
Ben Zion Bokser 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
Not believing in God is a right God gave to all mankind. God in creating mankind with a freewill gave man a choice to believe what he wished. Even if what he believes is not true. That is the nature of freedom. One of the tenants of true freedom is to believe as you wish.
For me however if there is no God there is no meaning in life. The poet wrote,
Where
Where are the people?
Where?
Are they but shadows in the mall?
Are they?
Are they shadows in time,
Shadows wandering,
Collecting the latest trinkets, bobbles or beads.
What is life?
What?
Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?
A wisp in the eternal aether
Are people wisps?
What of man’s, or woman’s! accomplishments?
What of them?
Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?
Is that life?
Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?
Is it?
Or
Is life.
Yours and mine...,
more?
Is it a divine opera?
An opera played out on a high mesa
A stage suspended between heaven and hell.
Are we as Shakespear said simply actors?
Life,
I believe,
Is an opera played out before God.
Lived on a high mesa between heaven and hell.
We are but actors in a play.
Actors who write their own script.
Actors awaiting the final curtain call ushering us to eternity.
Are you ready for the final curtain?
Ready to go beyond the vail?
Are you?
What is the sum total of your life?
What?
What will “they” say about you as you pass on?
What will God say?
Where will you spend eternity?”
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
Jesus is saying to you,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Please think about it.
Tuesday 4 August 2015
Your Life
Your Life
Here is a beautiful piece of wisdom from Ben Zion Bokser I believe is a universal truth it is entitled The Rose Talked Back
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 aan 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
Question: is your life worthwhile? Have you done anything to help people? To perhaps even enrich the lives of those you meet?
It doesn’t have to be something great or earth shattering.
I remember when some years ago when we first moved into our house. It was winter and there had been a modest snow fall four or five inches. Enough that we needed to shovel the drive way. As we did we seen an older lady as it turned out in her eighties, across the street doing her best to shovel her driveway.
All we did was stop what we were doing and go across to shovel her driveway first. It cost us nothing but a few minutes of our time. Still you could see she deeply appreciated it. From then on for the rest of the winter my son’s or I after a snow fall slipped over to shovel her driveway before we did our own.
It was a small gesture but it made a big difference to that lady.
Such things are easy to do. It’s the little things that make a difference, volunteering at a food bank, a hospital, a hospice, or other places where there is need.
Someone once told me multimillionaires and billionaires give money and that is needed. But it is the average person who volunteers their time that makes the system work. Average people doing what they can when they can.
This is a Christian truth but one that I believe is echoed in all faiths. It a concept I believe even atheist can agree with.
As Christians I firmly believe we need to be giving of our time not just our money to help people. James the brother of Christ writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20
Please think about it.
Here is a beautiful piece of wisdom from Ben Zion Bokser I believe is a universal truth it is entitled The Rose Talked Back
The Rose Talked Back
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 aan 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
Question: is your life worthwhile? Have you done anything to help people? To perhaps even enrich the lives of those you meet?
It doesn’t have to be something great or earth shattering.
I remember when some years ago when we first moved into our house. It was winter and there had been a modest snow fall four or five inches. Enough that we needed to shovel the drive way. As we did we seen an older lady as it turned out in her eighties, across the street doing her best to shovel her driveway.
All we did was stop what we were doing and go across to shovel her driveway first. It cost us nothing but a few minutes of our time. Still you could see she deeply appreciated it. From then on for the rest of the winter my son’s or I after a snow fall slipped over to shovel her driveway before we did our own.
It was a small gesture but it made a big difference to that lady.
Such things are easy to do. It’s the little things that make a difference, volunteering at a food bank, a hospital, a hospice, or other places where there is need.
Someone once told me multimillionaires and billionaires give money and that is needed. But it is the average person who volunteers their time that makes the system work. Average people doing what they can when they can.
This is a Christian truth but one that I believe is echoed in all faiths. It a concept I believe even atheist can agree with.
As Christians I firmly believe we need to be giving of our time not just our money to help people. James the brother of Christ writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20
Please think about it.
Monday 3 August 2015
The Foundation
The Foundation
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
1 Corinthians 3:1-15
Here Paul is making it clear that Jesus must be our foundation. The teachings of Christ must be paramount in our lives.
He warns that we must be careful how we build on that foundation. We cannot build on this foundation using earthly logic using earthly wisdom. Such ministries have no spiritual depth and are usually growing only because of a person who can speak well, who has personal charisma.
There is a lot of wrong teaching in the Christian world most I would say is simple misinterpretation or an honest error on the part of the teacher.
Still there is a lot of men and women out there who are deliberately misleading people usually for money.
All however will come to light when they stand before God.
Those who are false teachers and leading people astray deliberately will hear 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
Those who are legitimate believers in Christ who have built their ministries from earthly things. Who have built things in their own strength, what Paul describes as, gold silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw will as Paul says,
“be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
How is your ministry. Is built on the foundation the word of God, the teachings of Christ. Is the ministries of the church you attend build on the word of God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit?
Think about it.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
1 Corinthians 3:1-15
Here Paul is making it clear that Jesus must be our foundation. The teachings of Christ must be paramount in our lives.
He warns that we must be careful how we build on that foundation. We cannot build on this foundation using earthly logic using earthly wisdom. Such ministries have no spiritual depth and are usually growing only because of a person who can speak well, who has personal charisma.
There is a lot of wrong teaching in the Christian world most I would say is simple misinterpretation or an honest error on the part of the teacher.
Still there is a lot of men and women out there who are deliberately misleading people usually for money.
All however will come to light when they stand before God.
Those who are false teachers and leading people astray deliberately will hear 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
Those who are legitimate believers in Christ who have built their ministries from earthly things. Who have built things in their own strength, what Paul describes as, gold silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw will as Paul says,
“be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
How is your ministry. Is built on the foundation the word of God, the teachings of Christ. Is the ministries of the church you attend build on the word of God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit?
Think about it.
Sunday 2 August 2015
Are you living the life?
Are you living the life?
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
I write this to North American Christians in particular. Especially those in the United States. I see Christians both in the media and out bashing other faiths and lifestyles. Many do it because they are under the delusion that the United States and Canada are Christian nations. They are not. There is no Christian nation in the world today.
North America resembles the Roman empire not heaven.
Further more the people that are speaking out against others say they have the right to express their opinion because they have the right to freedom of speech.
This may be so. But speaking out against other groups even if you disagree with them is not what the Christian fathers wanted.
True Jesus and the disciples spoke up against wrong teaching within the Jewish faith of their day. But they were Jews speaking against other Jews. That is acceptable.
The apostle Paul says,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our house clean not judge others. In speaking against non-Christians we are turning them against us.
Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18
The writer of Hebrews wrote,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14.
If we are criticizing and perceived as attacking those of other faiths and ways of life we cannot reach people for the gospel.
Paul writing to the Galatians wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22,23
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”
Matthew 5:9.
Are you a peace maker. Are your actions in line with that of the Spirit of God?
Think about it.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
I write this to North American Christians in particular. Especially those in the United States. I see Christians both in the media and out bashing other faiths and lifestyles. Many do it because they are under the delusion that the United States and Canada are Christian nations. They are not. There is no Christian nation in the world today.
North America resembles the Roman empire not heaven.
Further more the people that are speaking out against others say they have the right to express their opinion because they have the right to freedom of speech.
This may be so. But speaking out against other groups even if you disagree with them is not what the Christian fathers wanted.
True Jesus and the disciples spoke up against wrong teaching within the Jewish faith of their day. But they were Jews speaking against other Jews. That is acceptable.
The apostle Paul says,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We are to keep our house clean not judge others. In speaking against non-Christians we are turning them against us.
Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18
The writer of Hebrews wrote,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14.
If we are criticizing and perceived as attacking those of other faiths and ways of life we cannot reach people for the gospel.
Paul writing to the Galatians wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22,23
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”
Matthew 5:9.
Are you a peace maker. Are your actions in line with that of the Spirit of God?
Think about it.
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