Stewards for Christ

Stewards for Christ
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                                                  1Corinthians 4:1,2.

  As Christians we are stewards of Christ. While a servant had no unique position within his masters household, a steward did.
A steward was a slave who administered all the affairs of his masters household. He owned nothing himself, but was entrusted by his master to handle all of the what the master owned. Joseph in the Old Testament was Potiphar’s steward (Genesis 39:2-19).
Just as Joseph was faithful to Potiphar and did his best to administer Potiphar’s estate so must we as Christians be good stewards of Christ’s estate.
As Christians we are called to administer the word correctly. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth....” 2 Timothy 2:15.
We must remember that everything we do, is done for Christ, not for our personal gain or glory.
We as Christians must study the scriptures carefully and present them carefully and correctly to those around us, Christian and non-Christian alike.
That is what it is to be a follower of Christ.
Please think about it.

Interesting Observations

Interesting Observations
The Psalmist wrote,

“The fool says in his heart, 

“There is no God.” 

                                                          Psalm 14:1.

Billy Graham the great American Evangelist said,
“I can't prove it scientifically, that there's a God, but I believe.”
                                                                                        Billy Graham.
I’m with Billy Graham on this. We may not be able to sit down and make a scientific formula that proves the existence of God. That however doesn’t preclude his existence.
We can however see God’s handiwork. The Psalmist telling us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                                  Psalm 19:1.

I do not believe that the universe came into existence randomly that takes more faith than I have. I can however see the hand of God the creator in the universe.
Just take a look around from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle every thing is perfectly harmonized to create life as we know it. This to me suggests there is a creator.
I’m not hung up on whether God created the world in billions of years or in six days. Such a thing is immaterial to my faith.
The fact of the matter is I believe God exists and the more I see and observe the world around me the more I see His hand.
Furthermore I believe the God that created the heavens and the earth entered this world in the form of His one and only Son Jesus Christ. He did this in order to point mankind to heaven.
Yes I know this sounds at the very least foolishness but I believe it is true. The Apostle Paul wrote.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness

 to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved 

it is the power of God.” 

                                                                                   1 Corinthians 1:18.
I think all too often man want’s God to operate the way he thinks. God however does not do this. God works in his own ways.
It would be very easy for God to show himself and force everyone to worship Him but God does not want that. In creating mankind he made each individual unique, with a freewill to do as they wished even if it meant not believing in Him.
God requires the individual to have faith in him. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“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.

God I believe has shown Himself to mankind in various ways, the creation of the universe being just one way, the Hebrew prophets was another, the Bible yet another, and even by entering the Universe he created in the form of his one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“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  
This is what I and all Christians believe. The choice however is entirely up to you the reader.
Please think about it.

Of Faith and Deeds

Of Faith and Deeds
James the half brother of Jesus 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?”                                                                                                         James 2:14-20.
I have found over the years some who claim to be believers in Christ quote the words of Paul who said,
“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.
They say something to the effect, “I believe it so I’m saved I have nothing more to do.”. nothing could be further from the fact.
James in the scripture I quoted above tells us “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
As Christians we cannot do things lightly. It is a command of Jesus to reach out to the world around us. To help those who poor and needy both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense.
Martin Luther King jr. once prayed,
“We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more  than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.” Martin Luther King jr.
This is what we, if we claim to be believers in Christ should be doing. Our faith should spur us on to help those in need.
Francis of Assisi said,
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” Francis of Assisi.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ is this what you are doing?
Please think about it.

Christian Actions

Christian Actions
The Apostle Paul writes,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 
                                                                                    Galatians 5:18-25.
Do you exhibit the fruits of the Spirit?
A friend told me of a woman who was a member of the Salvation army. This was decades ago in Europe. She would wander into bars in her uniform take off her cap and go around the patrons asking for donations. She never condemned them for their drinking or being in a bar. She never preached a sermon. She never verbally asked for money. She simply took off her cap and moved from patron to patron.
Everyone in that bar however knew what the uniform, and she stood for and they respected her.
One day apparently there was a big burley sailor who entered the bar. Someone not familiar with her. He stood in front of her and said a few choice and very vulgar words to her, trying to intimidate her. Still she stood her ground.
The bar according to my friend became very quiet. The man looked around and could see every eye was on him. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a large bill, put it into her hat and left. To the shouts of delight of the other patrons.
The woman paused, waited for the noise to die down and said something to the effect. “That man is loved by God. As are you all. I shall pray for him as I do for you all each day. That you may accept Christ as your saviour.”
My friend although not a Christian remembered that encounter as if it were yesterday.
When he told me the story I thought of how she showed the love of Jesus. I remembered the words of Paul who said,
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
In doing what she did she exhibited these attributes of the spirit as should we all who claim to be believers in Christ.
That woman planted a seed in my friends heart. I had the good fortune of being able to water that seed when he told me about her. To tell him about the Love of God, the Love of Jesus.
All because of this nameless woman who years before had exhibited the fruits of the spirit in front of my friend.
I’m sure that woman never consciously realized my friend was watching, but he was. The fact is if you claim to be a believer in Christ those around you are watching.
Francis of Assisi once wrote,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                     Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Christian qualities

 Christian Qualities
 Jesus said,

“Blessed       

are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled. 

Blessed 

are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed 

are the pure in heart,

for they will see God. 

Blessed 

are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God. 

                                                                                       Matthew 5:6-9.

If you claim to be a Christian are the above qualities part of your life?
Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Are you merciful to those around you, even your enemy?
Is your heart pure before God?
Are you truly a peacemaker or do you stir up discontent?
James the half brother of Christ said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2: 12,13.
As Christians we must be all that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:6-9.
The only way we can be all of this is if we truly love. The apostle Paul defines true love this way,

“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....” 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

True love is the purest of emotions that is why I believe Jesus told us to love God, Love our neighbour and even our enemy.
If we truly love we will long for righteousness. We will show mercy. We will be peacemakers and we will be pure of heart.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

 but have not love,

 I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and if I have a faith that can move mountains, 

but have not love, 

I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor 

and surrender my body to the flames,

 but have not love, 

I gain nothing.” 

                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

That is why 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.
As Christians we must always remember that it is only through loving those around us unconditionally that we can truly win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Not to believe in Him is Absurd

Not to believe in Him is Absurd
The Psalmist writes,

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God.

 It is he who made us,

 and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

                                                                                              Psalm 100:1-5

As I said in my previous blog God is real. I believe in Him. Whether you the reader believe in him or not is entirely up to you. I know that one day I will be able to sing the above Psalm in person in front of God.
Voltaire once said,

“To believe in God is impossible 

not to believe in Him is absurd.”

                                                        Voltaire.

Today in the twenty-first century the debate whether or not God exists still rages on.
Atheist I believe arrogantly say there is no God. I say arrogantly, because for anyone to say there is no God is to say in effect they are God, and that they know everything and have been everywhere. Something we know is not true for no one living has gone beyond the grave and come back to tell of it.
Throughout history man has believed in an afterlife and God in one form or another. The ancient Egyptians built magnificent pyramids to place their kings in the hopes it would help them enter the afterlife.
Throughout Europe the ancient peoples buried their people with care putting into the deceased graves items they thought would be needed in the next life.
Even today people of faith around the world perform elaborate rituals in the hopes of going to heaven.
To say that these people are mistaken or worse stupid, is wrong. The people that build the pyramids were not dumb or stupid. Nor are people today.
I believe people know instinctively there is an afterlife. That there is a God. Belief in God gives life meaning and people today just as people throughout time are looking for meaning to life.
The call of Jesus 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.
Jesus offers peace for one’s soul.
Christians believe there is a God who loves us and offers us eternal life with Him in heaven. 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.

The Christian God reached down through Jesus Christ to mankind to show him the way to heaven. That it is by the grace of God we get 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

Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”

Hebrews 11:6

Faith defined as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

 Hebrews 11:1.

That being said the choice is always up to you.
Do you believe in God?
Please think about it.

God and You

God and you
The Book of Genesis tells us,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
Now whether God created the heavens and the earth in six days of sixty billion years has no bearing on my faith. I believe there is a God and that He created the universe and everything in it.
That being said there was a picture taken back in 1990 by the NASA space probe Voyager. Voyager has the distinction of flying further in space than any other space craft. It is still going and is now beyond the solar system. I’ve put the picture at the top of this article. Carl Sagan at the time called it a Pale blue dot.
Officially this “Pale Blue Dot” is a photograph of planet Earth taken on February 14, 1990, by the Voyager 1 space probe from a record distance of about 6 billion kilometres (3.7 billion miles,)
Carl Sagan said of it,
“From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” Carl Sagan.
When I as a Christian look at it I am amazed. This “mote of dust” as Sagan calls it is in the exact spot not only in the solar system but in the universe for life to exist as we know it.
Yet looked at in terms of the universe as a whole it seems insignificant. It is so small that it could easily be overlooked.
God however did not overlook it. John’s gospel tells us,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4,14. 
God considered His creation and in particular mankind so important that He in the form of Jesus Christ entered this world to point mankind to heaven.
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.
That being said I admit it takes a great deal of faith to believe as I and other Christians do.
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.
I believe God wanted things this way because people of faith are the strongest of believers. Scientist are a good example of people of faith. They postulate a theory and continue to believe in it until it is proven wrong. Albert Eienstein is a good example. Some of his theories were not proven until well after his death.
Thus it is with anyone who believes in God.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“I can't prove it scientifically, that there's a God,

but I believe.”

                                                                        Billy Graham.
Blaise Pascal said belief in God I believe is a wise wager. He wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
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
 Thus the question becomes are you willing to wager on what you believe in regards to God?
Please think about it.

Living Water

Living Water
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10.
Living water in Jewish culture is water in motion. Rain water, rivers, wells, spring-fed lakes even oceans are considered living water. It is water that washes things away dirt and impurities it is water that cleanses. At the same time it is the source of life.
This is something that is seen dramatically in the middle east. For months the land is parched. You can smell the dust. Then when the rains come the dust is washed away. New life emerges, the land becomes lush and green.
Jesus mentions living water twice. The first time is with the Samaritan woman at the well there he states,
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10.
Notice here he does not call himself the living water only that he would give her living water.
Later in John we read,
“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39.
Note here Jesus means it is the Holy Spirit which indwells believers, that flows from above through the heart of the redeemed that brings life and light to the world.
As Christians we are the channel through which Living Water flows.
Living water in the natural world has it’s source from above it is rain water that falls from above. It is then channelled by rivers and springs throughout the land. Land that uses the water to produce new life.
Likewise when it comes to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is channelled through believers to the world around them where it convicts individuals of sin. Producing believers in Christ and life everlasting.
That is why it is important for Christians to follow 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.
Please think about it.

By This

By This
Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34,35.
Here is one of the key’s to being a Christian, Love. It started with God. The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
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
Prior to this Matthews gospel records Jesus as 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.” Matthew 5:43-45.
The early church obviously put their love into action because the book of acts records,
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47.
Love is the key to the Christian life. Love for God. Love for one’s neighbour. Love for one’s enemy.
The apostle Paul defines true Christian love this way,

“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

James the half brother of Jesus said,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:8-13.
Thus the question becomes especially if you claim to be Christian do you love unconditionally?
Jesus did and so must we.
Please think about it.

Words for Christians

Words for the Christian

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

Question, do you? Do you overcome evil with good?
The apostle Peter states,
“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.
Do you do this?
Many years ago I was told by my first pastor to memorize 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.
He told me if you sincerely believe what Jesus is saying you will respect all people no matter who they are, even your enemy.
In following these words of Christ you will also find that you are respected by those of different faiths, lifestyles, and positions in life. Thus making it easier for you to present the gospel of Christ.
One other verse he told me to memorize was from the book of Hebrews.
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.
As a Christian now of in excess of forty plus years I have found these words to be true.
If you consider yourself a Christian...
Please think about it.

The Eleven O Clock Prayer

The Eleven O Clock Prayer

“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

It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits.
Will the new law be legal?
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant.
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.”
From my office window I watch, asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another?
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ, of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man 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
Were the shoe on the other foot would he want people demonstrating against what he believed in, against his lifestyle?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head? What makes them who they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Especially if you consider yourself a Christian,
Please think about it.

It seems right but is it?

It seems right but is it?
The writer of Proverbs states,

“There is a way that seems right ot a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                                               Proverbs 14:12.
I am writing this directly to Christians with the intent to get them to look at their relationship to Christ.
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 7:22,23.
If you claim to be Christian will you hear the above words of Jesus? I think many claiming to be Christians be they in the pulpit or in the pew will hear those words.
It is I believe very possible for someone to consider themselves a Christian and are not. I say this because I heard an interesting sermon this week. It pointed out that Christianity is in danger of becoming part of the culture of the country particularly in the United States and Canada.
Mahatma Gandhi once said,

Jesus is ideal and wonderful,

 but you Christians

 - you are not like him.

                                                                          Mahatma Gandhi.
Even though Gandhi said those words decades ago he is right. Many calling themselves Christians are not anything like Jesus.
When I hear of people calling themselves Christians who go to court for the right not to serve homosexuals in their business, I ask myself are they truly Christians. When I hear people calling themselves Christians and wanting to restrict the rights of any lawful group that is doing no harm, I ask myself are they Christian.
Do Christians in a secular democracy such as the United States and Canada have the right to impose their beliefs on those who are not Christians?
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
Should Christians be demanding that same sex marriage be banned? Should Christians try to restrict the rights of other religious groups just because we disagree with them. Should Christians seek to restrict immigration allowing only groups they agree with into the country?
Billy Graham the great American evangelist once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                                                                              Billy Graham 
If we claim to be Christians we need to heed what the apostle Paul and indeed Billy Graham said.
Did not Jesus associate with everyone, the Samaritan woman, Roman soldiers even tax collectors.
Matthew’s gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
The Pharisees would not sit down with people they thought were sinners. As a result I would imagine as today they would turn people away from God.
I’ve been a Christian in excess of forty years now and the one thing various non-Christians have said to me over the years is, “why should I become a Christian. I live a better life than them. The ‘chistians’ I know are intolerant”
I’ve heard many times Christians being called bigots. Sadly many times they are right. Many calling themselves Christians are intolerant and bigoted.
Jesus and the apostles lived in a society that was far from Christian morally. It was a multicultural mix of people some practising what to them would have been morally reprehensible behaviour. Yet they never spoke against it.
The never spoke against it because they KNEW they had the answer to changing the world around and pointing people to heaven.
Billy Graham said,
“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 as Christian need to be very carful in what we say and do because people are looking at 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.
Jesus told us to love God, love our neighbour, and even love our enemy. That to my way of thinking means love everyone.
As true Christians we must be willing to interact with anyone no matter their faith, their lifestyle or there position in life. This is what Jesus and the apostles did. In doing so they won souls for Christ.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it