Belief< Yes or No?

Belief, Yes or No?
John’s gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“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 11:25,26,27.
Here is my simple question for today. Do you believe as Martha did that Jesus is the Son of God, or do you not? For when it comes to Jesus there is no middle ground.
Please think about it.

Believe

Believe
The book of acts tells of this incident between Paul and his jailor. What he said is as relevant today as it was then. The book of acts states,
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30,31.
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.
We Christians believe it is our faith in the saving grace of Christ Jesus that saves us. 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

To me this is obvious. You must first believe there is a God. If you don’t believe he exists you wont even be looking for him.
I believe also there is another reason we must have faith there is a God. A reason why an almighty God will not simply show Himself in a miraculous way.
Someone who believes in anything. Who has faith in anything especially if they can’t physically see it. These people are the strongest believers. People who will go to their deaths for what they believe in.
Do you believe in God?
Please think about it.

A Reason

A Reason
John’s gospel records these words,

“Jesus wept.” 

           John 11:35.

Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate. God in the flesh. The apostle John states,
"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.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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 1:3.
Many non-Christians ask the question if God is all powerful and all knowing why would he even bother entering the world He created?
I think the simple answer is to show mortal man that He fully understands the human condition.
Jesus while on this earth functioned as a normal man. He knew what it was like to feel the mundane things of this life. The sun on your face. The smell of dust after a rain. The radiant smell of flowers. The smell of cattle.
Jesus knew what it was like to have a loving mother and father.
Jesus knew what it was like to play as a child. To have friends and enemies.
Jesus also knew what it was like to be wrongfully convicted of a crime, to be beaten and put to death.
In his short thirty-three years on this earth Jesus experienced all that there was to experience about being human. The good and the bad.
Charles H. Spurgeon said,
“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.” Charles H. Spurgeon.
When we stand before God we can never say “you are almighty and do not know what it is to be human.” because he does.
Not only that in dying for us he showed in human terms how far he would go to point us to heaven.
Billy Graham the American Evangelist said,
“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'” Billy Graham.
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.
If this statement is false there is nothing to fear. If it is true. At the very least there is a lot to consider.
Please think about it.

Many will say

Many will say
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.
Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, 

but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”

                                              Mahatma Gandhi.

When it comes to many who call themselves Christians Gandhi is right. Many calling themselves Christians are not like Christ. They are not even Christian.
A true Christian is someone who is doing their best to put the teachings of Christ into action in their life and lifestyle. Teachings summed up by 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.
For a true Christian Love is the motivating factor in their life. The apostle Paul defining love as,

“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.

A true Christian remembers why Christ came into this world Jesus saying,
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17.
Something we can only do by showing God’s love to all people.
Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thus I would ask anyone who claims to be a Christian, Are you showing the love of God to those around you?
Please think about it.

Inclusiveness

Inclusiveness
Jesus said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.
Take a close look at the above scripture particularly the sentence that states, “For got did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” John 3:17.
If we claim to be Christians this should be our objective. To save the world.
As Christians we are called to reach out with the love of Christ to all men and women irrespective of their faith, their lifestyle or who they are.
We need to show the love and compassion of Christ without prejudice.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter four he didn't care who she was. He witnessed to her, offering her eternal life.
This is how we should be as believers in Christ. We should administer the word of God in love as the opportunities arises.
Neither Jesus or his apostles ever preached hellfire or condemnation. Jesus did speak words of correction to the Jewish religious leaders of his day. But then he was a Jew and as such had the right to do so.
Still he never condemned the secular civil authorities of Rome or as we see in the case of the Samaritan woman people outside the Jewish community.
Paul preaching in Athens with all the paganism that was there, never once preached against the practices and lifestyles of the Athenians. 
He presented the salvation of Christ saying simply this is what I believe it is up to you to make your own mind up.
While we can and must win souls for Christ outside the walls of the church. Our churches must be inclusive.
That's not to say we are to relinquish our core values. Far from it we should be ministering the word of God in a positive, loving, unadulterated way.
In a way that will give all people irrespective of who they are pause to think.
If God loves the world and sent Jesus into the world to save the world then we must do the same.
The James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
"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.
We must remember that one day we will be judged by God and as such do our best to minister His word as far as is humanly possible in spirit and in truth.
It is only by doing this that we will win souls for Christ.
Think about it.

My Job to Love

My job to love

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

                                                                             Romans 3:23.

The Talmud tells this story,
"An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?" The Talmud.
I listened the other day to some Christian evangelist. At least he called himself a Christian evangelist. I wondered however if he was Christian considering what he was saying.
This man was so negative. He was screaming at all the ills of the world. He particularly took aim at the LGBTQ community.
When he did my heart sank.
Now I'm not gay. Far from it. But over the years I've know some wonderful men and women from the gay community. Most of them have at one point in their life have struggled with their sexuality.  Ultimately however they have made the decision to accept who they are.
These men and women also at one point in their lives were also turned off by people calling themselves Christians.
When I heard this man yammering on about the evils of homosexuality it hurt even me. Were he to say it in Canada it may have even fallen under hate speech.
He made being gay out to be some special sin. There is no special sin. That evangelist has sin in his life as much as anyone be they gay or strait.
Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans,
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
                                                                            Romans 3:23.
That all, means all, irrespective of who they are.
I personally do not believe in Hell fire and brimstone preaching. I believe it violates a commandment of Jesus who 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
In an article entitled "Too hot for the Pulpit." Published in Seven a magazine published by Promise Keepers, Mark Hughes. Notes that here in Canada, Revenue Canada has quietly put in place rules that forbid clergymen speaking out on political issues.
He noted that "We can still speak on the hot button issues of our culture, but the day of hellfire and condemnation is long over. We need a more gracious approach." going on to say,
"Recently I ran into an old school friend that had been living in Winnipeg's homosexual community for years. He knew I was a pastor and made this statement, "I guess your church would never welcome someone like me?" I answered, "of course we would, your homosexual sin is no worse than my heterosexual sin. The day you are not welcome, is the day no one is welcome." Mark Hughes
Over the decades especially here in North America it seems the church has got away from Love and salvation. Many preachers have it seems forgotten the words of Jesus who 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
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said something that has resonated with me ever since I heard it. He said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                           Billy Graham.

Please think about it.

A question

A Question

"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

Someone asked me, What do you most desire from Christians living in America?
I replied, That Christians turn to the back to the Bible. Stop mixing politics with their faith, and follow at least three things Jesus said,
1/ “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
2/ “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.
3/ “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.
If Christians followed these three things, the world would change for the better.
Please think about it.

Words

Words
In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                                      Proverbs 12:18.

Over the years I’ve been a Christian I’ve seen many things done in the name of Christ that should never have been done.
I’ve seen men and women both in the pulpit and in the pew that have said things that turn people away from God.
I’ve heard well meaning Christians say Atheist are going to burn in hell and expect to win Atheist to Christ. Hell being something an Atheist could care less about since they don’t believe in Hell.
I’ve seen Christians standing in front of Abortion clinics with signs condemning the practice.
While this may at first glance seem a good thing. It isn’t. If anything it will push people away from Christ.
Billy Graham the American evangelist wisely said,

"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love," 

                                 Billy Graham.

Jesus said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16,17.
The reason for Christ’s coming to this earth was to save individuals. To offer them eternal life with God. This is what Christians should be doing.
We have no right to judge anyone outside the church. The Apostle Paul said,
"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.
         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.
While I am not in favour of abortion it unfortunately is allowed in our secular governed society.
It perhaps is also a failure of the Church. That for many years heaped condemnation on women for getting pregnant out of wedlock, instead of showing them the unconditional love and compassion of Christ and providing them with help when they most needed it.
Likewise I cannot condemn an Atheist who’s turned further from God by hearing some Hell fire and brimstone Christian. A Christian who should have been sitting down and reasoning with him or her in good faith.
Sadly for a multitude of reasons Christians forget the words

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                                      Proverbs 12:18.

Do you?
Please think about it.

What are you saying

What are you saying
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 if you will is the prime directive of all Christians. We are to go and make disciples of all nations.
The way I see it is we are not to get involved in politics or combine our faith with other philosophies or anything else. We are to go into all the world and tell people of the saving grace of Christ Jesus.
And! Like it or not if we tell the world we are a Christian. The world is watching us. They are watching our every move. Francis of Assisi put it this way,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                            Francis of Assisi.

So my question to anyone claiming to be a Christian is.
What is your sermon telling people about yourself and Christ?
Please think about it.

Do not Mestreat

Do Not Mistreat
In the book of Exodus we read,

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, 

for you were foreigners in Egypt.” 

                                           Exodus 22:21.

Here is, it seems, a verse forgotten by many calling themselves Christians here in Canada and the United States.
Not so long ago I was invited to an informal breakfast with a group of men from various churches at a local coffee shop. I’d been there before and knew that while we feasted on eggs, bacon and potatoes prepared in various ways, the discussions would be lively covering a wide range of topics.
I was not disappointed.
Prominent in the discussion was the immigration and refugee question. One man in particular was worried that the influx of certain groups would change Canada fundamentally. That laws would be changed to accommodate them and we’d all have to live by that law.
Sadly what he was saying is not all that uncommon within some circles. I even had a woman in the congregation I attend come up to me and say the same thing.
In both cases neither knew anyone from the group they were talking about. And when I asked what they found offensive about the law they feared would come in they couldn’t tell me. Both were ignorant and ignorance breeds fear.
That being said God himself tell us,

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, 

for you were foreigners in Egypt.” 

                                           Exodus 22:21.

Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45
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 neighbour as yourself.'  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
The way I see it refuges and immigrants are a mission field coming to our doorstep. Many are fleeing a horrible situation in their homeland looking for a better life.
Jesus said,
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.
If you consider yourself a Christian would you want to be sent back to a situation that put you and your family in danger? I think not.
Therefore as Christians we should be showing the unconditional love of Christ to those who come to this country.
I know I am eternally thankful for those Christians who showed me, a new immigrant, at to Canada the time, the love of Christ.
If you consider yourself a Christian. Please consider carefully the way you view refuges and immigrants.
Not only that take a good look at yourself and examine how you look upon all those who may be different from you. Ask yourself the question. Am I truly showing those around be the love of Christ?
Please think about it.

Eternity and you

Eternity and you
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
“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 there is no God then the above statement is true.”everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind;...”
Some atheist say when we die we will live on in the memories of others. A statement that is not completely true. Perhaps if we have made a great discovery we may be remembered in some history book. But most of us will be forgotten within a generation or so.
Ask yourself, where was your great, great, great grandmother or father born? What was the colour of their eyes? What was their favourite piece of music? Where is their grave? What was their greatest achievement? Few people can answer these questions.
So my question to anyone who does not believe in God is where is the purpose in life if we are forgotten within a few generations? If all we are on this earth to do is procreate.  If all our achievements are only remembered in some dusty history book.
The way I see it without God life is meaningless. God’s existence makes life worthwhile. God gives us something to look forward to when this life is over. Eternal life with Him.
The writer of Ecclesiastes after a close examination of life 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. 
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.
Ultimately the choice is yours. You can choose to believe there is no God, or you can choose to believe in God.
Think carefully about it for the choice you make, I believe, has eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

What are we?

What are we?

“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

The poet writes,

What are people?

What are they?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time,

Shadows wandering...

 collecting the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads.

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether 

Are people wisps?

What of man’s, or woman’s! accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply 

a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Or 

Is life.

Yours and mine...

 more?

Is it a divine opera?

An opera played out on a high mesa 

A stage suspended between heaven and hell.

Are we as Shakespeare said simply actors?

Life,

 I believe, 

Is an opera played out before God.

Lived in a world suspended between heaven and hell.

And we,

We are real life actors in a high stakes play.

Actors who write their own script.

Actors awaiting the final curtain call 

That sends us to eternity.

Are you ready for the final curtain call?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

What will “they” say about you as you pass on?

What will God say?

Where will you spend eternity?”

Jesus said,
“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.