Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham 
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.
If there is one thing the Christian must remember is we are a holy nation. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth.
As Christ’s representatives we must live a life that is acceptable to God and show those around us the love of God.
We must as 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.”
The writer of Hebrews make a clear statement as to what Christians are to do saying,

“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.

That means doing our best to live a life that show love and understanding to all men even our enemy.
There is a very famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believe we need to take to heart as Christians it states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;

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.
As Christian travellers through this world this is what we should be doing. Living a life of faith, understanding and Love. Love as defined by the apostle Paul who said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                       1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian please look at your life and ask yourself am I living a life acceptable to God. A life that is holy. For as the writer of Hebrews states,

“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Please think about it.

Christians, do not Judtge

Christian, do not Judge
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”Tony Campolo.
What he said is not new 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.

The apostle Paul said,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 

Are you not to judge those inside? 

1 Corinthians 5:12.

I find it interesting that the only time Christians can judge anyone according to scripture is if they are Christians.
Someone outside may not agree with our morals and teachings and because of the freedoms God gave to them they have the right to do as they wish.
It is different with those who claim to be Christians. If someone claims to be Christians they then must agree to live by the moral standards and agree with the all the basics teaching other Christians believe.
If they do not then according to the apostle Paul, Christians can expel those who do not live up to the moral code expected by the Bible. Those also who are teaching false doctrine can be expelled from the congregation of believers.
Christians need the right to judge other Christians because there has been from the very start of the church those claiming to be Christians that are not. The apostle Paul stating,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
When it comes to the rest of the world we are to do as Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

This is the duty of the Christian to take the salvation message of Jesus to the whole world and teach them all that Jesus taught them.
Dear Christian are you doing this or are you spending time judging the world?
Please think about it.

Because

Because

Because...

“He (God) first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

I will...love God

Because...

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish 

but have everlasting life.”  

John 3:16

I will...love God

Because... 

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, 

that you love one another; as I have loved you,

 that you also love one another.  

By this shall all know that you are My disciples.  

If you have love for one another."  

John 13:34,35

I will...love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because

Jesus “...you shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

I will love.

Because...

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, 

and pray for those who spitefully use you.”   

Luke 6:27,28

I will...love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who spitefully us me.

Because...

The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind: 

love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

does not rejoice in iniquity, 

but rejoices in the truth; 

bears all things; believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things. 

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 

I will...I will love.

Because...

The Bible says, “Now abides faith, hope and love, 

these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.  1

 Corinthians 13:13

I will...Have faith and hope in God and I will Love all people unconditionally.

Because 

The Bible says  ...by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and not of yourselves; 

it is a gift of God, not of works; lest anyone should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8,9

I in accepting Gods Grace have a home in heaven with God...

Do you?

     Please think about it

The Christian Lifestyle

The Christian Lifestyle

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

” Proverbs 3:3,4

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.

The apostle Paul 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.

As Christians we have an obligation to be doing what the above scriptures are telling us to do. People need to see our lives filled with love for all people even our enemies.
Unfortunately way to many people claiming to be Christians do not exhibit these attributes toward others. They have become bad religious copies of the world.
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. 
This should not be so.
Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.

If you claim to be Christian take some time to assess your life, lifestyle and actions toward those around you. Ask yourself, What is my sermon telling the those around me about me. About Christ.
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 

Colossians 2:9.

There is a uniqueness in Christian belief that is in no other faith anywhere in the world. We Christians believe that Jesus is God. That God through His One and Only Son, Jesus entered the world to point each and every person to Heaven. That God became a man.
The writers of the New Testament do not debate this point. The apostle John recording Jesus as saying,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

John 14:6.

That is a pretty definitive statement.
The Writer of Hebrews states,

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times 

and in various ways, 

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, 

whom he appointed heir of all things, 

and through whom he made the universe.  

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory 

and the exact representation of his being, 

sustaining all things by his powerful word. 

After he had provided purification for sins, 

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” 

Hebrews 1:1-3.

The writer make a pretty clear statement that Jesus made the universe.
1/That Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory.
2/The exact representation of his being.
3/That he sustains all things through his powerful word.
4/That He provided purification for sins.
I know it sounds farfetched even the apostle Paul noted,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; 

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? 

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, 

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached 

to save those who believe.  

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  

but we preach Christ crucified: 

a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  

but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, 

Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, 

and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Unfortunately man tries to make God conform to his way of thinking. He says God should do things their way.
Even when Jesus was on the cross there were those who scoffed at him and would not believe who he was unless he came down from the cross.
At the crucifixion of Jesus we have essentially the choices all people must who hear the story of Jesus must make. We have in microcosm how people react to Jesus,
Luke’s gospel records,
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.  
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
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 23:32-43.
As we look at crucifixion we see several things happening.
1/ Jesus praying to God and asking God to forgive those who are crucifying.
2/ People doubters in the crowd sneered at Jesus wanting to see Him save himself. 
3/ The soldiers mocked Him and like some in the crowd demand Jesus save himself.
4/ One of the Criminals being crucified with him hurled insults at Him and said “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
5/ The other criminal did what we all must do to enter heaven. He believed Jesus was all He said He was by faith. He then confessed that he was guilty of his sins. Then asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom.
6/ Jesus told that criminal that he would be with Him in paradise that day.
This is how it is in the world today. Some people do not believe Jesus is who he says he is. Some demand signs from Him. Others mock Jesus and those who believe in Him.
Then there are those who believe Jesus is all He said He is. The Son of God, the Saviour of mankind.
You dear reader have a choice today. You can act like the crowd the soldiers and the one criminal and doubt Jesus. You can ask for signs showing who Jesus truly is.
The other option is you can believe Jesus is The Son of God the Saviour of mankind. You confess your sins to Him and accept Jesus into your life by faith.
This is a choice each individual hearing about Jesus must make.
C. S. Lewis said
“He (Jesus) 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.
He also 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.
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it. 

A Passing Whiff

A Passing Whiff

“Apart from God every activity is merely a passing whiff of insignificance.” Alfred North Whitehead.
The writer of Ecclesiastes writing of this life said,

“What has been will be again,

 what has been done will be done again; 

there is nothing new under the sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:9

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; 

all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

Ecclesiastes 1:14.

One thing the atheist and Christians I think can agree on is life as we know it in the light of eternity is short. Most people will live and die within a few hundred kilometres of where they were born. Most will not be remembered to anyone other than their families within a generation.
On my computer is a picture of my paternal grandmother. I never met her she died when my father was seven long before I was born. All I know is her name that from what my father and his siblings said she was gentle and loving. I also know that she won a bible contest. I had for some time the Bible she won. But that’s all I know of her.
Who her friends were, what she liked, what she didn’t like, are all lost to history. Such is it with people.
One thing I’ve found in my life however is the truth Ecclesiastes states, “what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Someone once told me the things people do are the same from generation to generation it’s just that in our day and age those things have become high tech.
The acts of man do remain the same. War may not be fought with swords and spears but war is fought. People still steal, cheat, lie, and do all kinds of negative things.
People still love, get married, do wonderful acts of kindness, are heroic and do many good things. But within a hundred years of our death for must of what we like or did will not be remembered.
I once asked a group of Canadians who Thomas D’arcy McGee was. They couldn’t tell me. Mcgee was a father of Confederation who helped form Canada as a nation. In 1868 became the first politician to be assassinated in Canada. He helped found Canada yet many Canadians if not most know nothing of him.
That’s the way it will be for all of us one day.
Whether people remember us or not is unimportant however in the light of eternity. It is whether or not that we know God that will count.
I as a Christian believe people need a personal relationship with God. We can have that relationship by accepting Christ as our Saviour.
John’s gospel records this,
“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 told people plainly who he was the Son of God. One with God. Many in his day as now do not believe that. That was their choice. It is a choice you must make.
God will not force himself on you.
Jesus speaking to Martha asked a question we all must answer when he asked,
“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,-27.
Before you answer that question for certain, I would ask that you make an informed decision. Don't rely on what I have said, or some else has said, read the New Testament for yourself and see what it says about God, and Jesus, then decide.
Please think about it.

God and the Christian

God and the Christian
Lenny Bruce said,
“Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God. Really.” Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."
What Bruce said, is not entirely incorrect. I as a Christian of now over four decades have seen many churches and those calling themselves Christians here in North America walk slowly away from God. It has been slow and gradual. So slow those it’s happening too have not noticed it.
Many have turned from the true purpose of the Church. The real reason Jesus came into the world.
For many calling themselves Christians church has become a social club. Or a group that protests against abortion clinics, gay rights and anything else they disagree with. This is not what God intended. Such things turn people away from Jesus, away from God.
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.” 

John 3:16,17.

Jesus speaking to His disciples and through them to us 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.
This is the prime directive of the church to make disciple of all nations and teaching them all Jesus taught us.
Jesus made things clear about our attitudes toward other people when He 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.

The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.
We are not the judges of those outside our own faith. That is up to God. We are to judge those within our own faith making sure they are doing what is right according to scripture.
We are to present the good news of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen to us and present it in a respectful and loving manner.
The other way some calling themselves Christians are falling short of doing what God wants them to do, is in doing good works.
Now don’t get me wrong THE CHURCH MUST DO GOOD WORKS. However that should be an outgrowth of our faith. We should be presenting our faith to the world in word and in deed. The apostle James said,
“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 ?  
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”James 2:14-26.
Christianity is not a religion as such. It is not a church building we go to once or twice a week. Christianity is a life committed to doing the work of Jesus Christ in word and in deed. It is a lifestyle that should show people the way to eternal life with God.
Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
Question: Are you a true Christian living you life and faith in a way that is pleasing to God?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him.  I ended up asking God to do His work through me." Hudson Taylor.
I think what Hudson Taylor said is true. Christians seem to go through various stages. The first is God help me. Many seem to stay here and see God as a servant or worse a “sugar daddy”. Someone to supply their needs.
If a Christian is truly progressing they then move on to the next step. They ask God if they can help Him as if God really needs help. Again many stay at this point. They wait for God’s reply and some do indeed help God in one way or another. Sadly however many wait their whole life waiting for God to ask them to help Him.
Again if Christians are truly progressing we go to the next step asking God to do His work through them.
It is only when we let God work through us that we can truly do His work.
Jesus just prior to his arrest and crucifixion while in the garden with his disciples said,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  
Luke 22:42. 
The key words being “not my will but yours be done.”
Someone once said,
“Most people wish to serve God — but only in an advisory capacity.” Author Unknown.
We must, if we truly want to do God’s work, be willing to let God work through us no matter what He asks.
Sadly too many Christians are not willing to do this.
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him,

 and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5,6.

The disciples did this and look what they did. Billy Graham said of the disciples.
“The men who followed Him (Christ), 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.
We if we are willing to let God do His work through us can do the same.
Are you willing?
Please think about it.

The Christian and God

The Christian and God

“Most people wish to serve God — but only in an advisory capacity.” Author Unknown.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
If you claim to be a Christian do you believe the words of Jesus I just quoted? Are you committed to Jesus, really committed to God. Does God take precedence in your life. Given a choice between a sporting event, a movie, a dance class, and God, does God come first?
There are times when we for family and other events will miss church but if it becomes a regular occurrence we need to question our commitment to God.
Most churches have bible studies and midweek things for adults and children. Do you go to them, or dose sports or dance classes or other things come first?
Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with sporting events, dance classes and other things in their place, but they should never constantly take place ahead of God.
Think about what you are doing. Especially if you have children. What are you teaching them with respect to God? Are you showing by your words and deeds that He takes first place in your life?
If you truly love someone you will want to be with them all the time. The Zohar tells this story,
“A man fell in love with a woman who resided in the street of the tanners.  If she had not lived there, he would never have entered this evil-smelling section; but, since she dwells there, the street seems too him like the street of the perfumers.” From the Zohar.
That’s how it should be between us and God. We should want to be spending time with Him both in church and in our home above all things.
It is said that when the Romans finally captured the Temple in Jerusalem the priests were so dedicated to God that when their world was literally collapsing around them they kept performing their duties until they were stopped by the Romans. Something that apparently impressed the Romans.
This is what we as committed Christians should be doing. People should look at us and not see fanatics but rather committed men and women of faith. A faith that is part of our life and lifestyle.
Take a few minutes and ask yourself and God if you are truly committed to Him. Then ask are you doing enough for God?
Please think about it. 

The Bible and the Whisky Bottle

The Bible and The Whisky Bottle.
There’s an interesting quote from Harper Lee the Author of To Kill a Mockingbird. She wrote,
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)...”Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
What she says is true. Throughout the years man and women have used the bible to justify the killing of thousand in the Crusades, to supporting slavery and segregation. To restricting the rights of those who lifestyle they disagree with, to robbing innocent people of their hard earned money. At least someone with a whisky bottle in his hand at worst dishonours himself.
Christians do not do a very good job of policing themselves and freedom of speech laws in our democracy allow for anyone to say anything. Thus almost anything can be said in the name of God and Christ even if it’s not true.
False teachers are not new. They’ve been around since the times of the apostles. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“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’s easy to call oneself a Christian. It’s easy to take scriptures out of context and make them say what is not true. Jesus said,
“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 7:21-23.
We here in North America and the western democracies enjoy incredible freedoms. Freedoms that unfortunately are a double edged sword. It allows us to exercise our faith without fear. While at the same time allowing false teachers to arise and lead people astray.
It is therefor incumbent on each Christian to study the Bible for themselves to pray and ask God to show them the truths there in.
It is incumbent of Christians to find and fellowship with a Church that is founded solidly on the truth of the Bible.
Christians should not be afraid to ask their pastor evangelist or any Christian teacher questions about what they have taught on.
Christians  should not be afraid of pointing out any errors or perceived error to a pastor, evangelist, or Christian teacher. Remember they are only men and are fallible.
It is only by open discussion of things you may not understand or think that is in error that we get to the truth of the scriptures.
No good and honest teacher of God’s word will refuse to answer your questions. If they don’t. Have nothing to do with them.
Please think about it.

Thorns and the Christian

Thorns and the Christian
“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Here in 2 Corinthians we have the apostle Paul admitting he has a problem, “a thorn in the flesh”. The majority of commentators I’ve read believe it was a physical ailment of some kind. Many think eye trouble but no one is one hundred percent certain.
What the problem however is immaterial to the fact that the Apostle Paul had an on going ailment. That he interpreted the ailment as being allowed by God to keep him from becoming conceited.
It’s very easy for great men, or for anyone, to become conceited. To take all the credit for their success.
Paul was a great evangelist a great servant of God. Paul could have taken all the credit for the success of his ministry, when in fact it was God working through him.
Over the years I’ve heard false teachers claiming to be Christian saying that Christians should be completely healthy all the time. That they should be wealthy. Yet this was not the case with Paul.
Paul wrote,
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  
I can do everything through him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:12,13.
The apostle Paul one of the greatest Christians leaders ever to live knew what it was like to be hungry, to be in need, and to have plenty. All of that in addition to having his “thorn in the flesh”.
Just because we are Christians does not exclude us from getting sick or being in need, or hungry or for that matter being wealthy.
We live in a world that throws a lot at us good and bad at us, but through it all we should be drawing closer to God.
Especially in the bad times we should echo the words or Paul who said, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”.
Even in the good times we should be thanking God for what we have. All too often Christians fail to do that.
I know many people who are in wheelchairs, have mental health issues, or chronic problems of various types that serve the God faithfully.
Yes at times what they can do for God may be limited but they still serve him faithfully. Giving God the praise for all that is done. Something all who claim to be Christians should do.
Please think about it.

The Christian and Anger

The Christian and Anger

“My dear brothers, take note of this: 

Everyone should be quick to listen, 

slow to speak and slow to become angry, 

 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” 

James 1:19,20.

I have listened with alarm at those calling themselves Christians who get angry at anything that they feel God does not like.
I see and hear Christians particularly in the United States getting angry at as they would say the “homosexual” community and same sex marriage as well as same sex washrooms and it seems a myriad of other things connected with the LGBT community.
They get angry at elected government officials for passing laws that they object too. Saying God does not like such a thing.
They presume to know the mind of God and are trying to do his job when the apostle Paul specifically states,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 

Are you not to judge those inside?” 

1 Corinthians 5:12.

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

We live in a democracy that by its very nature must be inclusive irrespective of what one group may think. The apostle Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1,2.
Thus according to non other than the apostle Paul governments are allowed to govern by God and by rebelling against a lawful, and especially, in my mind democratic government, we are rebelling against God.
James the half brother of Christ wrote,

“My dear brothers, 

take note of this: 

Everyone should be quick to listen, 

slow to speak and slow to become angry,  

for man’s anger 

does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” 

James 1:19,20.

Those who claim to be Christians and are getting angry at the government for passing laws that don’t harm them or restrict their rights or the rights of others should take stock of what they are doing.
Getting angry as James said, “dose not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
What brings about a righteous life and brings people to know Christ is expressed by 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.

The apostle Paul writes,

“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

You can’t win anyone to the Lord with a fist in their face. Which is what your doing in trying to restrict the rights of anyone or demonstrating against them.
However if you are exhibiting the fruits of The Spirit you will win people to Christ.
As Christians we cannot do anything less than extend the hand of friendship to our neighbour, and even to our enemy. Only by doing so will we truly reach people for Christ.
As 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

Is your life and actions exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit?
Are you living in Peace and living a holy life acceptable to God?
Please think about it.