Reaching the Lost

Reaching the Lost
The Gospel of Luke records,
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 
                                                                                                Luke 5:27-32.
As Christian are you reaching out to the sinner in a positive way? Would you be invited into the house of a non-Christian to share your faith?
Jesus taught in a very positive way. He did not differentiate between people. He spoke to a Samaritan woman whom most Jews of the day would have shunned. In the above incident he entered the home of a tax collector to eat with him.
The religious leaders of the day criticized him for doing so.
Many Christians are like that today.
Many Christians spend a great deal of time talking against the sins of the world but not reaching out to the sinner.
By preaching against the sin they may say they are reaching out to the sinner but the reality is the sinner is seeing it as an attack on their person, on their way of life.
If anyone had the right to judge a person it was Jesus yet he didn’t. Instead he presented the word of God to all that were around him.
This was the key trait of both Jesus and the Apostles. When they presented their beliefs they did not speak out against anyone other than those within their own faith.
This is the example we must follow. 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.
Every true Christian desires to tell people of the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus. It is therefor imperative that we treat people in the same we would like to be treated. It is imperative that we reach out with the hand of friendship and build bridges between ourselves and others. For it is only then that we can reach people for Christ effectively.
Like the writer of Hebrews said,
“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.
Please think about it.

Christian Actions

Christians Actions
Jesus said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” 
           Matthew 10:16.
We as Christians are sheep in a world filled with wolves and if we are not careful the wolves will pounce and devour us. That is why Jesus told us to be wise.  To look at the world around us and be innocent in our dealings.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
                     Matthew 7:1,2.
People will judge you the way you judge them. If you are speaking out against their lawful rights in a democracy especially, they will speak out against you. They may even try to take you to court and try to restrict your rights.
Jesus called us to be “Innocent as Doves”. A dove does not speak out against anyone. A dove does not pick a fight with anyone be it on the street in the form of a demonstration, in the courts or in the elected legislature.
There is a quote from the apostle Paul I love it states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                             1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Christians are told not to judge especially those outside the church.
We are however allowed to judge those inside the church to ensure that they are teaching the word of God correctly and told to expel those who are not practising or teaching the word of God correctly.
The key I believe to living a Christian life is to remember several things Jesus said. When asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
  This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                               Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus also 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 5:43-47.
Jesus said also and I believe this is one verse we should always recite if we are thinking of demonstrating or speaking out against anyone, 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.
If we want people to demonstrate against us as Christians, then demonstrate against those we disagree with.
IF, on the other hand we want people to know the love and salvation only Jesus can bring we need to reach out with the hand of friendship and love to all people whoever they are even our enemies. This is what Jesus did this is what the disciples did and they changed the world.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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
The apostle Peter states,
“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 2:12.
Dear Christian
Please think about this.

Christian Life

Christian Life
The Apostle Peter states,
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.   But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
           1Peter 1:13-16.
Is your mind “prepared for action”? Prepared to effectively present the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Are you self controlled? Is your actions different from the evil desires you had when you were in the world living in ignorance?
When I look at this passage I particularly think of some people I’ve met from the United States calling themselves Christians, these are people I believe are committed to Christ. They are wonderful caring people with high moral standards.
Still these people love saying “I HAVE MY RIGHTS”. “It is my right under the constitution.” “This is a democracy and I have the right to protest against things I disagree with.”
These people are completely right they do have the right to protest in a democracy. That is the great thing about a democracy. We have freedom of speech and action. We have the freedom to worship and do as we see fit under the law.
What many Christians seemed to miss was that the constitution and the bill of rights as good and noble a document they are. They are man’s words.
Just because we have the right to do something doesn’t mean we should do it.
It seems to me the “natural man” in us wants to at time stand up against things. We want to yell at the top of our lungs at a group we disagree with YOU’RE WRONG AND I’M RIGHT!” it’s human nature. Especially it seem for Christians who have strong moral and ethical beliefs.
Still protesting against anything short of standing with others against the restriction of another persons rights I believe is wrong for a Christian.
I believe standing up against another group that is causing no harm and is operating legally is wrong and could possibly be an evil desire. Simply because it is not something Jesus would do.
The apostle Peter says,
“But just as he (Jesus) who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The apostle Paul saying,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....”
       Romans 12:18-20a
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
Question, Are you living a holy life before man and God?
Are you living a life that is in line with the teachings of Jesus.
Please think carefully about it.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                                                        Psalm 150
Something simple for you dear Christian to think about. Do you praise the Lord enough? By that I mean yourself. Rather than just simply listening to praise music do you lift your voice in praise to God?
We all as often as we can need to take time to simply be alone with God and praise Him, in word, in song, with instruments or without.
Do you?
Please think about it.

A Pointy Stick

A pointy stick
Every now and then I like to post something that pokes Christians with a very sharp pointy stick and make them think. This post is one such post. I would ask that you the reader, read it carefully consider what you would do and why.
Images of a Woman
That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.
Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and for the last little while there has been rumors circulating about me that are not entirely true. Thus to set the record strait, and because I have been asked to sit on the church board,  I have ask the pastor to speak to you and give my testimony. Then allow you to ask questions.
I do this because I very much desire to be open and honest with this assembly.
I was if you will born with a hidden birth defect in which the sex in my brain did not match the sex of my body.
I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life. 
I have lived with this condition for over fifty-three years. I was married for over thirty years of those years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who did her best to understand me and help me through some difficult times. As have my children who are with me here today.
Sadly my wife died several years prior to my coming to this assembly. 
Thus I felt it was time to free myself of this conflict inside me.
Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.
So just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that. Thus like I said it is the reason I am speaking here today.
For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If they did, no one commented.
I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  A burden that at one point took me to the brink of suicide.    As it seems God has chosen not to remove this burden, I have accepted that I am what I am. A child of God who knit me together in my mothers womb.
To quote the Psalmist,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 
                                                                      Psalm 139:13-16.
I am today the same person I was prior to my surgery. The only difference is I am at peace with myself. The burden I carried for so long has gone. I believe God has used the surgeon to fix the defect I was born with.
Now I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today. However I will answer any questions you might have.
After which, I will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”
There were many questions answered, the then pastor came to the front.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our church board, please rise to your feet.”
Question.
How would you vote?
Why would you vote that way?
What biblical teachings you are basing your vote on?
Would such a person even be welcome as a member of your congregation?
Please think about it.

Faith and Deeds

Faith and Deeds
The writer wrote,

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 illuminate 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?

The Apostle James writes,

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?

 Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,”

 but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” 

Show me your faith without deeds, 

and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! 

Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 

                                                                                                                              James 2:14-20.
Dear Christian are your deeds showing your faith?
Are you doing all you can to help those in need around you?
Please think about it.

Live Differently

Live differently
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”
                                                                                                    Billy Graham.
Dear Christian are you living differently?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                           Francis of Assisi
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
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.
Are you doing this or are you following the ways of the world.
It has been said that if you look at the so called “Christian culture” here in North America you will see a Christian version of everything secular.
I have watched what passes for Christian television. On it they are selling everything from survival rations, to cosmetics, to vitamins, to various oils and potions, all with Christian names.
They mix their politics and their faith sadly letting the politics dominate.
Simply put they have copied the world. This should not be.
If people are to find the way to heaven we need to be living a life that is holy and wholly different from the world.
When people see you life what will they see. A Christian imitation of the world or a holy life that points people to Christ?
Remember the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,
“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.
And 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.

Do not conform

Do not conform

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 
             Romans 12:1,2.
Here’s something to think about if you are considering protesting against non-Christians irrespective of who they are.
The world protests against laws, groups and people they disagree with. Such is the way of the world. Christians are told not to conform to the pattern of this world.
No Christian in the early church ever protested.
We are told by the apostle Paul,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 
The writer of Hebrew states,
“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.
You cannot be holy and be protesting against things. You cannot be holy and mix your faith with the politics of the day.
Take a look at the first century church they didn’t protest. They lived under the emperor Nero who persecuted them yet they turned the world upside down.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Jesus), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.
Billy Graham.
Is your heart right side up?
Do you show Love for God, your neighbour, and your enemy?
Or are you too busy mixing your faith with politics or protesting against something.
Please think about it.

A Christian Obligation

A Christian Obligation

“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.
Dear Christian
Do you fear the Lord?
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“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.
Because Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
                                                                                                           Matthew 7:21-23.
There will be those who think themselves Christians or call themselves Christians who will not get into heaven.
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.
There are many people in the church today claiming to be Christians or think they are Christians but are not. They are not following the key precepts of God. They are not doing to others what they would want others to do to them.
We need to remember the key precepts of God. Loving God, your neighbour and even your enemy.
The Book of Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
                                                                                                  Deuteronomy 6:5-8
 Jesus echoed the words of Deuteronomy when he was asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                   Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus then went one step further saying,
“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 5:43-47.
 Francis of Assisi wrote something that all Christians should consider. He wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                                                  Francis of Assisi
This is the only way we can win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Presenting the Gospel

Presenting the Gospel

Luke the writer of the book of acts tells us about the apostle Paul’s actions and the sermon he spoke while in Athens.
In doing so God through Luke and Paul is showing Christians how to act around none believers.
Luke 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.
The message the apostle Paul delivered that day to the Athenians is the same message God wants the people of the world to here today.
Christians especially here in North America need to look carefully at Paul's words and his actions.
First of all Paul was reasoning with people around him publicly. He was speaking to people in a non-confrontational way. I believe it can be inferred that he listened to the arguments against his belief as much as he presented his beliefs.
He must have been doing things the right way because Luke records,
“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?” 
Notice it was the Philosophers not Jews or Christians that invited Paul to speak at the Areopagus a place where ideas were exchanged. The ancient equivalent of a Ted Talk, a chat room or public form such as today’s media today.
When he spoke there he never once told the Athenians they were sinners. He never once attacked their beliefs or there practices.
Paul simply presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Salvation only Jesus can give.
This dear Christian is how we should be presenting the gospel.
Please think about it.

Your Sermon

Your Sermon

Francis of Assisi said
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon to those around you? Are you preaching the gospel of Christ at all times?
 What gospel do people see in you? Do they see someone who is forcing their faith on others? Do they see someone who is quick to judge? Do they see a bigot or a hypocrite or worse?
Take a few minutes to look at your life and see how others see you. Ask God to show you how others see you.
All too often Christian especially those who grow up in the church with Christian parents and grand parents. They fail to see themselves the way those outside the church see them.
There are many well meaning Christians out there jumping up and down in public and in the media saying this is the way God wants things. Saying some of the laws that the government are passing are an abomination to God.
What they are saying may well be true. There are laws our governments pass that are against God’s law. Then again so were many laws of the Roman empire.
Yet the apostle Paul could say,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  
                                                                                         Romans 13:1,2.
Jesus, Paul and the other apostles took the high road. They did not rebel and protest against Rome.
Paul while in Athens did not protest the temple prostitutes. Instead he did things in a positive way. He talked about the saving grace of Jesus in the market square and anywhere else people would listen. It led to him being asked by  Epicurean and Stoic  philosophers to speak a the Areopagus. A place where exchange of ideas took place. Not only that some people were saved and while others scoffed at what he said, while others and this is important, wanted to hear more. We as Christians should always strive to present Christ in such a way that people want to hear more about Him.
Sadly today many high profile preachers and other Christians in the media would never have got that chance were they in Athens at the time.
They wouldn’t have been invited because the message they purvey in public is so negative and against many things the people of Athens and people today are not against.
When Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples, he did not tell us to protest and judge others. Listen to the words of Paul,
“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 
                                                                                              Romans 13:2
That judgement will come from God but it will also come from the people around them. If you are judging others and calling them names you will be judged likewise.
Paul makes it clear
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                                1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
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
        What sermon is your deeds preaching?
Please Christian think about it.

On Being Christian

On Being Christian
Do non-Christians see Jesus reflected in your life?
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                             Mahatma Gandhi.
In a previous blog I said the actions of a Christian can and do have eternal consequences.
In the above quote from Mahatma Gandhi we see what he thought about those who claimed to be Christians that were around him.
The same thing is happening today. Non-Christians look at the actions of those calling themselves Christians and cannot see the love of Jesus.
I am always horrified when I see people calling themselves Christians protesting. Be it against abortionist, Gay rights, the rights of Muslims or other groups. This should not be so.
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.
Here is the key  
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...” 
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through               him.”
We as Christians are continuing the work of Christ. We are called to go into all the world and “rescue the perishing” as my first pastor was fond of saying.
We cannot do that by protesting.
The apostle Paul says clearly,
“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.
Here in North America especially in the United States I find that Christians all to often mix politics and their faith. They mix their constitutional rights with their faith. They demand their rights! They seemingly forget that in a secular democracy such as we have in the United States and other western countries all people have equal rights whether we agree with them or not.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“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
Notice here Peter says we are “aliens and strangers”. As Christians we are citizens of heaven only passing through this world.
Peter’s call is to 
“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.” 
Protesting against anything or anyone is not living a good life. Especially in the eyes of those that are being protested against.
We cannot win a single soul to Christ by protesting against them.
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.
In other words by protesting against someone you disagree with, if you are trying to restrict the rights and freedoms given to any group, you are giving them the right to protest against you and restrict your rights.
Christians need to stop looking at the constitution and the bill of rights. As good as they are they are mans words.
We as Christians need to start studying and taking to heart the words of Jesus and the apostles. Who called us to LOVE God, LOVE our neighbour and LOVE our enemy.
A wise man during world war two in Nazi Germany 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 up.

                                                                                    Martin Niemoller.
     We as Christians are called to reach out to even our worst enemy. We must in a free secular democracy accept the fact that all are equal even those whom we disagree with.
     Further more we must use the freedoms our democracy gives us to show LOVE and present to our friends, neighbours and enemies the Salvation that only Christ can bring.
Please think about it.