Christians Believe

Christians Believe,
1/ We Christians believe we enter heaven thorough faith in God. That we are saved through faith, through the Grace of God not by works we have done,
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                 Hebrews 11:6
2/ We believe, that we must confess our sins directly go God. The apostle John states,
“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.
3/ We believe, we are Children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
The apostle John writes,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                                 John 1:12,13. 
The apostle Paul states,
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
Galatians 3:26-28
4/ We believe we are a holy priesthood,
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. 
                                               1 Peter 2:9,10.

5/ We believe God so loved the world he entered the world in the form of His one and only Son to point us to heaven. Giving each individual a choice. Jesus speaking of 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.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                               John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.

A Christian Principle

A Christian Principle

“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.
Here is a universal principle I believe everyone be they Christian or not can understand,  “do to others what you would have them do to you,”
I firmly believe that everyone will one day have to give an accounting to God. I firmly believe what 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.
The Talmud makes an interesting point when it says,
“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
I know the Talmud is not considered an inspired book by Christians but the principle it points out is Christian.
For the Christian there can be no limits on who the “others” are.
Too many people calling themselves Christians limit who they help. I’ve heard people claiming to be Christians yell insults at people they don’t like.
One of the big hot button debates in the United States is same sex marriage. Those calling themselves Christians protest against it. That is not doing to others as you would have others do to you. Unless you want those you protest against to protest against you.
Secular governments make the laws and are not bound by Christians principles and morals.
Jesus and the founding fathers of the church understood this very well. They lived in the Roman empire. That had practises that they would strongly object too, yet they didn’t. If Jesus and the apostles didn’t speak out against those outside their faith.
The apostle Paul saying,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                             1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Paul also says,
“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.” 
                                                                                                                                 Romans 13:1
The apostle Peter backs that statement saying,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”  
                                                      1 Peter 2:13,14.
They said this while living under the emperor Nero who would eventually order their deaths.
As Christians we need to take a good look at how we are conducting ourselves. Are we obeying the words of Jesus who 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.
Please think about it.

"He" Shows

"He" shows

C. S. Lewis speaking about Jesus said,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.” 
                                                 C.S.Lewis.
Over the years I’ve had people say to me, “Why doesn’t God show Himself to me?”
One look at their life tells me their mind is closed or they have a preconceived idea of how God should show Himself.
Many people have made up their mind that God dose not exist and adamantly maintain that position their whole life. What they say is “They are right and believers in God are wrong”
To argue with such a person is futile.
Still it is their right to believe what they wish.
To say God does not exist however is quite a statement.
It means first of all that the person believes they know everything. That they have faith that they are right and the majority of people that have ever lived or are living today are wrong.
That people of faith are living a lie. That people of faith are under a mass delusion.
Think about it there are about three billion Christians on the earth, several billion Muslims, millions of Jews and Hindus not to mention all the other faith groups all of whom believe in God.
Are these people truly deluded?
As a Christian I have a distinct set of beliefs that say God exists and that He entered the physical world, the world He created in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to reconcile each person to Himself.
That is my belief. That however aside all of the other faith groups in the world recognize there is a God. The majority of the people in the world believe in an after life and God. Are we all as one prominent atheist stated “to be considered insane?”
I cannot believe that. It just doesn’t make sense.
The Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 
                                                                                               Psalm 19:1-3.
The universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle are in such prefect alignment as to allow life to exist here on Earth. This cannot be simply by chance.
   If there is no God and a life after this, then life is in my opinion meaningless.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” 
                                                                                                      Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
If we are simply on this earth for but a short time. Just long enough to collect a few bangles bobbles and beads. Just long enough to do a few works then what’s the point.
I truly believe man is an eternal being that he will one day stand before God. As 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 
I as a Christian believe that Jesus is the way to heaven and eternal life with God. I believe Jesus when He states,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
       John 14:6
I believe the apostle Paul who wrote,
“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.
I believe the writer of Hebrews who said,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                    Hebrews 11:6.
If as Atheist say I am wrong then I have nothing to fear for I have lived a good and rewarding life.
If I am right in my beliefs which I am sure I am, then Atheist have a lot to fear.
The American Evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
                                                                                                   Tony Campolo.
Thus my question is. “Are you sure of your beliefs?”
Please think about it. 

The Way

The Way
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.”
          Thomas Aquinas
No other person, no other faith in the world has made such a claim as Jesus and His followers.
Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
  John 14:6.
Even when faced with the wrath of an angry crowd Jesus did not back down on His claim to be God John records.
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                            John 10:24-32.
Jesus even after being beaten, hung on the cross and facing death never backed down. Luke’s Gospel records what happened on when Jesus hung on the cross with two criminals.
Luke tells us,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                       Luke 23:39-43.
Notice Jesus did what only God could do. Promise the man he would be with Him in Paradise.
In John’s Gospel we are told this conversation between Martha and Jesus. John records,
“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?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” 
  John 11:25,26.
Jesus made all these statements knowing that to claim to be God or equal to God could have had him killed. In fact it was that very Jewish law that his enemies reminded the Roman governor of and used to have Jesus put to death.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity, wrote of Jesus,
“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.
The apostle Paul Writing to the Romans said,
“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.
Christians believe that through Jesus, God reached down to mankind and said to man I love you so much I am willing in earthly terms to show you how far I will go to offer you eternal life.
Christians do not believe man can be good enough to stand before Holy God. You cannot work your way to heaven. The Apostle Paul stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
C. S. Lewis points out,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                        C.S. Lewis.
The fact is, Jesus died for you the reader. Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

All men are like Grass

All men are like Grass
The prophet Isaiah wrote,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 40:6-8.

When your life is over how will you be remembered?
In the town where I live there is a small cemetery where twenty or so people are buried. They are the earthly remains of what at one time was a prominent family in this part of Canada. There are libraries, other buildings and even a road I drive on every day named after the family such was their importance at one time.
Yet today thousands of people daily travel down the roads named after the family use the library and other buildings and pass that small cemetery and pay no attention to it. Most don’t know who the family is or what t they did.  Such is the way of the world.
All of mans deeds eventually no matter how noble they may be are forgotten. A great example is the signing of the Magna Carta one of the greatest documents in history. People know about it. But other than King John who was forced to sign it, who knows the name of the men who wrote the Magna Carta. Undoubtedly some historians but few others. Yet historians tell us it was one of the most important documents ever written.
Like wise it is with the deed of all men. They eventually will be forgotten at least by men. God however will not forget.
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.” 
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
You can choose to deny God that is a freedom God gave you. That still does not negate the fact that God exists.
I believe every person on the earth needs to decide for themselves, first if there is a God and second if there is as I am certain, will He let you into his heaven.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                     Ephesians 2:8,9
Christians believe God reached down to man and offered him salvation simply by believing in his one and only son Jesus Christ. Jesus said of himself,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                                John 3:16-18.
Put simply all our good deeds as good as they are will not get us to heaven only faith in God will do it.
The good deeds as a friend of mine said “are the icing on the cake.”
James the half brother of Christ writes,
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.
It is by our good works that people also remember us. It’s quiet often why libraries, other buildings and roads are named after people. Still even those good works will one day be forgotten by all but a few historians.
All the accolades of man however mean nothing in the face of eternity. There’s an old saying that goes like this,
“You have only one life. It will soon be past. Only what’s done for God will last.”
To the Christian reading this I would ask. Are you doing something with your faith? Are you helping others in the name of Christ?
Francis of Assisi a man who practised his faith 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
  Dear Christian is this the sincere prayer of your life?
Please think about it.

Lazarus Rising

Lazarus Rising
The Gospel of John records,
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  
Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  
But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 
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?” 
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 
And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”  
When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.  
Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.  
When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 
Jesus wept. 
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 
                                                                                                   John 11:17-44
Here is the story of Lazarus as recorded by the apostle John. Like all the gospels John’s was written within living memory of the events.
Like all the miracles Jesus performed if not true and proven to be a lie would be detrimental to the cause of the fledgling Christian movement.
Especially something like raising a man from the dead. This is an incredible claim at any time. Yet early Christians and Christians to this day believed this.
So Christians then and now are either believing a lie that has lasted centuries or the truth. It’s the same for not only the story of Lazarus but all that is said in the New Testament.
Within the New Testament there are if you think about it incredible statements made about Jesus. Foremost Jesus claim to be the Son of God the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
Jesus said,
“I and the Father are one.” 
                                    John 10:30.
He also said,
 “...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
                                                                                                                                                 John 14:6.  
To claim to be equal to God under Jewish law at the time was a serious crime punishable by death,
When Jesus was on trial before Pilate the Jews reminded the Roman governor of that law. John’s gospel records,
“The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 
                                     John 19:7
Jesus knew all about the law yet up to his dying breath he never wavered in His claim to be God. Luke’s Gospel records Jesus while on the cross as calling out to God the Father asking forgiveness for those who are crucifying him. Luke records,
“ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
                                                                                                                         Luke 23:34a
C. S. Lewis points out,
“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
Within the story of Lazarus lies a question that I believe all people must answer. When speaking to Martha the sister of Lazarus,
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?” 
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 
This is a question you must answer. This is a question that everyone who hears about Jesus must answer.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it

Freedom

Freedom
Baruch Spinoza said,
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe.  In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
                                                                                                                               Baruch Spinoza.
Freedom the most sought after thing by mankind. Yet there are people in this world that would restrict the freedoms of others even in a democracy.
It is my opinion that as long as someone’s freedoms do not impinge on my rights or hurt anyone then they should have the right to do as they wish.
I like what Spinoza said, “In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
God gave man a freewill. That freewill in order to be truly free had to give man the right to do as he wished, whether it is right in the eyes of other men or of God. Likewise that freedom even includes the right to believe in God or not.
No person has the right to tell another what to do or how to live their lives, providing they are not harming another.
All too often, and I see this as Christian, I see Christians groups trying to restrict the freedoms of others. This should not be so.
      Nor should others attempt to restrict the rights of Christians or any other religious group or anyone period.
Jesus told us,
“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
If we judge others it is only natural that they judge us the same way. If we try to restrict the freedoms of others it is natural that they will come against us and try to restrict our freedoms.
Jesus told us,
“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.
Doing to others what we would want them to do to us is the corner stone of a free democracy.
We cannot be truly free if we restrict even the rights of just one person, whether we agree with them or not.
Please think about it.

Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.
                                                                                                                                Abba Hillel Silver.
The framers of the United States Declaration of Independence recognized what Abba Hillel Silver wrote. They wrote,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom perhaps is mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. Provided that is they are not harming anyone or any thing. As it has been said,
 “your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
When God created man, He gave man complete freedom to do as he wished. That freedom included the right to believe in Him or not.
That freedom included the right to live life they way the individual whished. Even if it is a life not pleasing to God.
Sadly many Zealots, be they Christian, Atheist, those of other faiths or Terrorist, are blind either deliberately or without realizing it to what true freedom means. They want things their way.
You cannot impose freedom on anyone. Like I said true freedom is allowing people to do as they wish providing they do not cause harm to anyone or any thing.
We as people living in a free democracy need to realize that fact, and be willing to stand up for the rights of even those with whom we vehemently disagree.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991).
Martin Niemoller 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
Niemoller knew what he was talking about. He seen first hand what happened in Nazi Germany.
For me the best way to ensure freedom is to practice what Jesus taught. To love God, our neighbour and even our enemy.
To do follow the words Jesus said when he 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.
Please think about it.

Watch out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 
                                                                                                                      Matthew 7:15-23
In this day and age it can be hard to spot the good from the bad within the Christian community. There is no real oversight especially when it comes to Evangelical Christians.
If a Christian pastor or evangelist has a disagreement with the denomination they are with all they have to do is set up shop as an independent congregation. Then the only oversight there is, comes from a board elected by that independent congregation usually from suggestions made by the pastor.
Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with most independent Churches. Most are doing a good job and staying true to the word of God. Still there are some that are not.
The apostle Paul warned.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 
                                                                                                        2Timothy 4:3,4.
It is these people we must be aware of. There are many charlatans out there claiming to be Christian, claiming to perform miracles and doing other wonders that are not.
Discovering who they are is very difficult in this multi media age. All too often we only see what they want us to see in the media.
These people string scripture together that sounds good. They even deliberately misinterpret scripture to take advantage of unsuspecting believers.
They make wild claims saying they have proof of what they are doing is true yet when pressed for that proof they say its confidential or make some other excuse. This should not be so.
Every church, every pastor, every evangelist should be open to scrutiny by those who support them.
If they make claims of healing they should be willing to give proof of the healing.
My pastor set the example for our congregation. He had colon cancer. When they went to operate on him they found the cancer was worse than they thought. They cut out what they could and told him, that had they known before they went in the extent of the cancer they wouldn’t have gone in. Now at best he had two years to live.
He believed God would heal him. Our church prayed for him and today five years on they cannot find the cancer. Our pastor was cured. The doctor told him it should be there but they can’t detect it.
It was proof God had healed him. All of this he shared publicly with our congregation.
This is how it should be with all who claim to have healed someone. The healing should be verified, preferably by a reputable independent source like a doctor.
Likewise when it come to handling of money contributed to the ministry. Every penny should be accounted for.
By law in Canada all charities and that includes churches have to give an accounting. Our congregation is given an accounting every year that includes not only what was paid out in expenses for various events and equipment for the church, but how much the pastor and staff are paid and how much was spent on travel by them.
It is a very transparent process that keeps everyone honest.
Thus it should be for every ministry. Christians need to hold all those whom they support to an accounting not just as to how the money is spent, but a spiritual accounting also.
If a miracle takes place it needs to be verified preferably as I said, by an independent source.
Even what the minister or evangelist is preaching needs to be checked periodically to see if it lines up with the scriptures. If it doesn’t the person needs to be spoke to.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Simply put we are not to judge those outside the church. Instead we are to keep our own house clean and expel those who are not properly administering the word of God from among us.
The apostle Peter said,
“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.
This is what we as Christians should be doing ourselves and should be expecting our Christian leaders to live up to.
Please think about it.

Live Good Lives

Live Good Lives
          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.
This is a call through the ages to all Christians. We must live as Peter says,
“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.”
  The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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.
“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
In other words if we are acting like the world and doing things the way the world is doing things then people are not going to see God.
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.
If you’re a Christian reading this take a few minutes to assess your lifestyle, your way of doing things. Does your life reflect what Jesus would do or does it resemble the world.
Take a look at any ministries you support are they acting like Christ? Are they showing Love and compassion for the world or heaping condemnation and judgement on the world? Are they trying to sell as one pastor said to me, lotions, potions, and other junk?
As Christians we are to live holy lives. Lives different from the world. We have no right to judge the world.
Remember the apostle Paul wrote,
“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 call of Jesus to Christians is,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
                                                                           Matthew 28:18-20.
The call of Jesus to the world is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                       Matthew 11:28-30.
The choice Jesus gives the world is,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                               John 3:16-18.
The world however will not listen to or even hear the message God want them to hear if we are not living our lives differently from the world.
As the writer of Hebrews put it,
“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.
So dear Christian are you living at peace with all men? Are you living a life of holiness that helps point people to God?
Francis of Assisi made two interesting statements we as Christians need to think about he said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” 
                                                                                           Francis of Assisi.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                     Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon telling those around you?
Please think about it.

You, God, Jesus, & Eternal Life

You , God, Jesus & Eternal Life
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
                                                                                                                                   Romans 10:9-13
Do you believe in God? To you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind?
The apostle Paul here is pretty specific in what he says. He says,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved....
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”.
That everyone means everyone. God does not care who you are or what kind of life you are living. God through Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                          Matthew 11:28-30.
 God through Christ made it easy to enter heaven. God reached down in the form of His
One and only Son Jesus to save the world all it takes is faith.
The Apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                       Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                 Hebrews 11:6.
I believe God asks man to have faith in Him in order to be saved because it is a hard thing to do. The writer of Hebrews defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1.
It is a very hard thing to believe in something you can on see or touch. Thus someone with faith in God and the Salvation Jesus brings, is a true believer.
In John’s gospel we read of the story of how Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus appeared to Thomas and John records,
“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
                                      John 20:27-29
Notice what Jesus says, “blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.”
Are you one of the blessed? Someone who has not seen God, not seen Jesus but believe?
Where do you stand with respect to Jesus?
Please think about it.

Your Sermon

Your Sermon
Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                       Francis of Assisi.
Dear Christian, when people see your sermon today what will they see?
Will they see negative things or positive things?
Will they see someone who is judgmental, pushy, bombastic, inconsiderate, or worse a bigot?
OR
Will they see someone who is loving, caring understanding. Someone who is willing to listen to them even if they disagree with them?
Is your sermon based on the teachings of Jesus?
Jesus said,
 “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.
“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.”
Matthew 5:43-45.
“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.
Are you living the life Christ wants you to live.
Francis of Assisi although not a gospel writer got things right when 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.
When people see your sermon today do they see God’s love reflected in your life?
Please think about it.