The Church
“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
One question I get asked when I teach bible studies is, can in their words “a homosexual get to heaven” I always answer a resounding yes.
Mark Hughes founding pastor of Church of the Rock in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada, writing in the Promise keepers magazine Seven, November-December 2014 tells of meeting an old friend who had been living in Winnipeg’s homosexual community for years the friend made the statement, “I guess your church would never welcome someone like me?” he replied “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.”
Sadly all to many people be they from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trangendered, community) don’t feel comfortable going, especially to an Evangelical church. How sad.
Our churches should be open to everyone. They should be welcoming places.
My first pastor way back in the 1970's once put a sign outside our church it read,
“This church for sinners only. All welcome”
Several members of the church were upset but he preached a sermon based on Roman’s 3:23. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
He made it clear in his sermon that all meant all no exceptions.
This was a man that used all kinds of things to witness to people, at a time when the evangelical church in North America at least was ultra conservative.
So conservative that I went to church in blue jeans once and was told not to do it again as a youth leader I needed to show up in dress pants at least. Thankfully the church today is a come as you are church. The way it was meant to be.
The primary job of the church has always been go and make disciples. Jesus saying,
"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.
We are called to love God our neighbour and enemy alike (Matthew22, Matthew 5). It is something we cannot do if we are spewing fire, brimstone and damnation on people. Our job is not to judge.
Like I mentioned in a previous blog post, the apostle Paul calls us to police ourselves and leave the judging of people to God. Paul writing,
“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.
We are to welcome people into our church congregations.
We as Christians have been given the most important task in the history of mankind. That of pointing people to heaven.
A mighty light is shining on us and the eternal resting place of those we come in contact with is at stake. We cannot afford to judge anyone.
We must love all whom we come in contact with 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
There is a very appropriate story from the Talmud about Abraham it goes like this,
“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.
Think about it
Wednesday 11 March 2015
Tuesday 10 March 2015
Woe
Woe
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
Matthew 18:5-9
Here is a warning from Jesus we need to be careful how we treat people and what we teach.
A friend of my daughter in law has a child about eight. She is visibly disabled.
The child grew up in church and heard much about a specific preacher. She wanted her mother to take her to this man to be healed.
They got there and were told to sit a the back. During the alter call, a call for those in need of a healing touch, the child asked her mother to take her forward.
To the horror of the mother they were intercepted on their way down to the front and asked to go to their seat.
It totally devastated the child, and the two went away disillusioned.
The mother also noticed at the time that there were no people at the front with visible or extreme disabilities.
Here is an example of how someone can cause someone’s faith to be questioned. To cause someone to sin.
Fortunately as I understand it the little girls faith rebounded because it was in Jesus not in the preacher.
Not all such encounters have such a happy ending.
The warning Jesus give in this passage is not only a warning about making children sin, but about making all people sin. Turning people from the saving grace of Christ.
Back in the nineties a high profile televangelist said God was going to kill all the homosexuals in North America within a few years. What garbage! And how wrong he was. The LGBT community has more rights today that ever before in North America.
Were that man to make such a prediction in old Testament times and found to be wrong he’d have been stoned.
Now I am not a gay man, but I cringe when I hear the gay community coming under attack by preachers and individual Christians as if they have some special sin.
Those who call themselves Christians and are attacking the LGBT community or any community be it Islam, Hindu’s Buddhist or any other group are guilty of making them stumble.
The people who are being attacked see the attack especially if it’s on their faith or lifestyle as a personal attack. Thus it gets their guard up and shuts down all dialogue.
In doing so these so called Christians are becoming a stumbling block to those people.
When Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”Romans 3:23 he meant all. That includes televangelist, pastors, Christian teachers, the Christian sitting in the pew and all those outside of the church walls, in fact everyone that has ever lived or is living today.
The apostle Paul make it clear what we in the church must do.
“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.
Tony Campolo and American evangelist wrote,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Tony Campolo
Jesus gave the Church it’s prime directive when he 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.
The scriptures also give a warning, Jesus saying,
“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.
To the Christian reading this be on guard that you are not a stumbling block to those around you.
Do everything in love. Remember the words of the Apostle James,
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...
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.”
James 2:1-4, 9,10
Think about it
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
Matthew 18:5-9
Here is a warning from Jesus we need to be careful how we treat people and what we teach.
A friend of my daughter in law has a child about eight. She is visibly disabled.
The child grew up in church and heard much about a specific preacher. She wanted her mother to take her to this man to be healed.
They got there and were told to sit a the back. During the alter call, a call for those in need of a healing touch, the child asked her mother to take her forward.
To the horror of the mother they were intercepted on their way down to the front and asked to go to their seat.
It totally devastated the child, and the two went away disillusioned.
The mother also noticed at the time that there were no people at the front with visible or extreme disabilities.
Here is an example of how someone can cause someone’s faith to be questioned. To cause someone to sin.
Fortunately as I understand it the little girls faith rebounded because it was in Jesus not in the preacher.
Not all such encounters have such a happy ending.
The warning Jesus give in this passage is not only a warning about making children sin, but about making all people sin. Turning people from the saving grace of Christ.
Back in the nineties a high profile televangelist said God was going to kill all the homosexuals in North America within a few years. What garbage! And how wrong he was. The LGBT community has more rights today that ever before in North America.
Were that man to make such a prediction in old Testament times and found to be wrong he’d have been stoned.
Now I am not a gay man, but I cringe when I hear the gay community coming under attack by preachers and individual Christians as if they have some special sin.
Those who call themselves Christians and are attacking the LGBT community or any community be it Islam, Hindu’s Buddhist or any other group are guilty of making them stumble.
The people who are being attacked see the attack especially if it’s on their faith or lifestyle as a personal attack. Thus it gets their guard up and shuts down all dialogue.
In doing so these so called Christians are becoming a stumbling block to those people.
When Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”Romans 3:23 he meant all. That includes televangelist, pastors, Christian teachers, the Christian sitting in the pew and all those outside of the church walls, in fact everyone that has ever lived or is living today.
The apostle Paul make it clear what we in the church must do.
“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.
Tony Campolo and American evangelist wrote,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”
Tony Campolo
Jesus gave the Church it’s prime directive when he 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.
The scriptures also give a warning, Jesus saying,
“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.
To the Christian reading this be on guard that you are not a stumbling block to those around you.
Do everything in love. Remember the words of the Apostle James,
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...
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.”
James 2:1-4, 9,10
Think about it
Monday 9 March 2015
Sometimes
Sometimes
“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
Here is a quick thought. All too often in life things happen to us that we don’t understand. We get sick even though we have a healthy lifestyle. We come into conflict with people about our faith, even though all we are doing is presenting it in a non-threatening way.
The fact is, sadly, we live in a fallen world and things at times don’t go our way. It is then especially that our faith should kick in. It is then we should go to God and praise Him for the good things he’s given us. And ask Him to hold our hand through the bad times.
We should remember all of Job’s problems and say with him,
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;...”
Job 13:15.
Think about it.
“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
Here is a quick thought. All too often in life things happen to us that we don’t understand. We get sick even though we have a healthy lifestyle. We come into conflict with people about our faith, even though all we are doing is presenting it in a non-threatening way.
The fact is, sadly, we live in a fallen world and things at times don’t go our way. It is then especially that our faith should kick in. It is then we should go to God and praise Him for the good things he’s given us. And ask Him to hold our hand through the bad times.
We should remember all of Job’s problems and say with him,
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;...”
Job 13:15.
Think about it.
Sunday 8 March 2015
all are one
All are one
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
The above is a fact for all who believe in Christ Jesus. We are all children of God and we are all equal.
The apostle John writes,
“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.”
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God
John 1:1-4,11-13.
This is something totally unique to Christians. We believe that once we receive Jesus into our lives we actually become Children of God. That all people whoever they are become equal.
This belief arose at a time when such things as slavery were common place and women were far from equal with men.
The apostle Paul making the clear statement,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As Christians we believe we have a personal relationship with God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Christ died for the sins of each of us.
C. S. Lewis states of Jesus,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
The key to becoming a Christian, to becoming a Child of God is to accept Christ as your personal Lord and saviour.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Faith is the key to becoming a Christian. 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.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
The final word goes to the apostle John who recorded 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. 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.
Ultimately the decision is up to you on whether you believe what the New Testament says or not.
Please think about it.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
The above is a fact for all who believe in Christ Jesus. We are all children of God and we are all equal.
The apostle John writes,
“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.”
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God
John 1:1-4,11-13.
This is something totally unique to Christians. We believe that once we receive Jesus into our lives we actually become Children of God. That all people whoever they are become equal.
This belief arose at a time when such things as slavery were common place and women were far from equal with men.
The apostle Paul making the clear statement,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As Christians we believe we have a personal relationship with God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Christ died for the sins of each of us.
C. S. Lewis states of Jesus,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
The key to becoming a Christian, to becoming a Child of God is to accept Christ as your personal Lord and saviour.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Faith is the key to becoming a Christian. 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.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
The final word goes to the apostle John who recorded 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. 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.
Ultimately the decision is up to you on whether you believe what the New Testament says or not.
Please think about it.
Saturday 7 March 2015
A Church Divided
A Church Divided
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
I like the way Paul starts here. He points out the divisions. It’s the same in the church today.
We have people who hang on every word of various preachers and evangelist. At times they take the word of the interpretation of the evangelist or pastor over the bibles clear statements.
Here in our city we had one big church fall apart. The senior pastor fell into sin. The situation was complicated but the short version was. That the pastor left to set up an independent church elsewhere rather than accept correction from his church board.
Many people fell away because of the incident to the point the congregation no longer exists. It left people questioning their faith.
Many people from that church no longer attend any church. I believe they fell away because they followed the pastor not Christ.
Pastors, evangelist and church leaders all make mistakes. That’s why we should not be following a man.
We must follow Christ. We must be studying the scriptures and following the teachings there in.
There is a saying that is very true. “The teachings of Christ and the Apostles are true. It unfortunately is the interpretation of them by modern teachers, evangelist and other Christians that are frequently in error.”
As Christians we must follow Christ not a man.
I’m old enough to remember Jones town. A situation where a very enigmatic preacher named Jim Jones lead followers from the United States down to a Jungle town in South America where they committed mass suicide. Hundreds of men women and children died.
This was admittedly a very extreme occurrence but is an example of what happens when one follows a man and not Christ.
There are other less extreme things happening in the Christian world all the time. Especially when it come to evangelist in the media.
We as Christians need I believe from time to time check ourselves and ask are we following a man, a movement or Christ.
If the answer is not Christ we need to turn from our error and turn back to Christ.
Think about it.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
I like the way Paul starts here. He points out the divisions. It’s the same in the church today.
We have people who hang on every word of various preachers and evangelist. At times they take the word of the interpretation of the evangelist or pastor over the bibles clear statements.
Here in our city we had one big church fall apart. The senior pastor fell into sin. The situation was complicated but the short version was. That the pastor left to set up an independent church elsewhere rather than accept correction from his church board.
Many people fell away because of the incident to the point the congregation no longer exists. It left people questioning their faith.
Many people from that church no longer attend any church. I believe they fell away because they followed the pastor not Christ.
Pastors, evangelist and church leaders all make mistakes. That’s why we should not be following a man.
We must follow Christ. We must be studying the scriptures and following the teachings there in.
There is a saying that is very true. “The teachings of Christ and the Apostles are true. It unfortunately is the interpretation of them by modern teachers, evangelist and other Christians that are frequently in error.”
As Christians we must follow Christ not a man.
I’m old enough to remember Jones town. A situation where a very enigmatic preacher named Jim Jones lead followers from the United States down to a Jungle town in South America where they committed mass suicide. Hundreds of men women and children died.
This was admittedly a very extreme occurrence but is an example of what happens when one follows a man and not Christ.
There are other less extreme things happening in the Christian world all the time. Especially when it come to evangelist in the media.
We as Christians need I believe from time to time check ourselves and ask are we following a man, a movement or Christ.
If the answer is not Christ we need to turn from our error and turn back to Christ.
Think about it.
Friday 6 March 2015
Many will say
Many will say
"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
For me I am very cautious when some preacher or evangelist starts saying such and such prophesies are being fulfilled.
Here in North America it seems to be the wild west when it comes to ministers and evangelist especially of a charismatic or Pentecostal bent. There is no real oversight on these people they make wild claims that don’t come about.
I remember one gentleman that started sprouting from his soap box in the media that there was going to be calamity when the year 2000 came about. The computers were going to go wild.
He and many like him had Christians believing the world was going to slip into some kind of turmoil.
Some people at the church I was attending at the time asked me in all seriousness if I was stocking up on water and food. For when the computers caused the electrical system to fail.
I smiled and said I had a two bottles of water in my fridge and intended to cook my turkey as normal in my electric oven.
I was right there was no massive break down. Sadly however the church never came out and held the false prophets to account for their errors. These false prophets never gave the money back they made from the books they sold.
Had they been in Old Testament times they’d have been stoned. We let them off without even a word of admonition, to more than likely prophesy falsely again.
Even as I write this there is some garbage being spouted about the “Blood Moons” don’t be fooled folks. Blood moons have happened before on Jewish festivals and important holidays. It’s bound to happen. The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar year so blood moons have happened before on Jewish holidays.
And for the record they have never happened during a major event. They occurred after the Spanish inquisition. The never occurred during the most monumental event in Jewish history the holocaust of world war two.
That being said I think as I see it, it’s a waste of time and money trying to predict when Christ will return. It’s a kin to reading tea leaves.
Instead of sending money to some evangelist who thinks he is predicting the return of Christ or some major event, instead of buying books on prophesy, sent the money to a missionary who is reaching out to the lost. Give it to your home church for missions and local outreach. It will do far more good.
After all 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.
The most noble thing a Christian can do in their life is introduce someone to their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Not attempt to see the future.
Think about it.
"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
For me I am very cautious when some preacher or evangelist starts saying such and such prophesies are being fulfilled.
Here in North America it seems to be the wild west when it comes to ministers and evangelist especially of a charismatic or Pentecostal bent. There is no real oversight on these people they make wild claims that don’t come about.
I remember one gentleman that started sprouting from his soap box in the media that there was going to be calamity when the year 2000 came about. The computers were going to go wild.
He and many like him had Christians believing the world was going to slip into some kind of turmoil.
Some people at the church I was attending at the time asked me in all seriousness if I was stocking up on water and food. For when the computers caused the electrical system to fail.
I smiled and said I had a two bottles of water in my fridge and intended to cook my turkey as normal in my electric oven.
I was right there was no massive break down. Sadly however the church never came out and held the false prophets to account for their errors. These false prophets never gave the money back they made from the books they sold.
Had they been in Old Testament times they’d have been stoned. We let them off without even a word of admonition, to more than likely prophesy falsely again.
Even as I write this there is some garbage being spouted about the “Blood Moons” don’t be fooled folks. Blood moons have happened before on Jewish festivals and important holidays. It’s bound to happen. The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar year so blood moons have happened before on Jewish holidays.
And for the record they have never happened during a major event. They occurred after the Spanish inquisition. The never occurred during the most monumental event in Jewish history the holocaust of world war two.
That being said I think as I see it, it’s a waste of time and money trying to predict when Christ will return. It’s a kin to reading tea leaves.
Instead of sending money to some evangelist who thinks he is predicting the return of Christ or some major event, instead of buying books on prophesy, sent the money to a missionary who is reaching out to the lost. Give it to your home church for missions and local outreach. It will do far more good.
After all 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.
The most noble thing a Christian can do in their life is introduce someone to their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Not attempt to see the future.
Think about it.
Thursday 5 March 2015
Jesus
Jesus
For centuries the enemies of Christianity have persecuted Christians. There have been many secular prophets for centuries predicting the end to Christianity, yet still it continues on.
The reason it continues on is because Christians are telling the truth. There is a God that loves them, that sent His one and only Son to earth to die for the sins of each man and woman.
When two of Jesus Apostles were brought up before the Sanhedrin for preaching the salvation message of Christ. They were going to put them to death but a wise man, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law stood up and said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38,39
Gamaliel was right Jesus came from God. He is everything he said he was.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The choice however to believe in Jesus is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”
“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”
And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.
AnonymousFor centuries the enemies of Christianity have persecuted Christians. There have been many secular prophets for centuries predicting the end to Christianity, yet still it continues on.
The reason it continues on is because Christians are telling the truth. There is a God that loves them, that sent His one and only Son to earth to die for the sins of each man and woman.
When two of Jesus Apostles were brought up before the Sanhedrin for preaching the salvation message of Christ. They were going to put them to death but a wise man, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law stood up and said,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38,39
Gamaliel was right Jesus came from God. He is everything he said he was.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The choice however to believe in Jesus is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.
Wednesday 4 March 2015
Real Love
Real Love
“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
Poets throughout the ages have tried to express what love is. Yet I believe there is no better words for describing love than the words of the apostle Paul.
It’s a check list for true love.
We live in a society where marriage is easy and divorce is easier. Divorce statistics are unbelievably high.
I think the reason we have such high rates of divorce is that we don’t know what love is.
Love in the twenty-first century seems to be mistaken for that bubbly feel good thing that we get around someone we like, or the feeling we get from having intimate relationships with someone.
While that may be part of an overall love relationship it is not entirely what love is. Love is more.
Love is there for the long haul.
I’ve been on this earth as of my last birthday sixty plus years. Thirty-four years of which have been in a loving marriage relationship.
My wife and I have gone through the feel good stage at one end and at the other end of the spectrum we’ve been totally ticked off at each other.
We’ve done things that drive each other insane. We still do. Never the less in the end we make up, cuddle up and still after all of these years enjoy being with each other.
I can honestly say that I can’t remember what our last disagreement was about. I just asked my wife if she could remember and she couldn’t.
We know we’ve argued, and had disagreements especially when we were younger. We are both very strong willed with very definite ideas on things. Our arguments at one time I’m sure could be heard across town. But in the end we kissed and made up.
But over the years our disagreements have actually become less and less. And we honestly upon reflection as I was preparing to write this, can’t remember much of what our arguments were about.
What we do remember is when we lived in the Toronto area travelling to Niagara Falls walking hand in hand for a short time before returning home, only to have to rush to the hospital so my wife could give birth to our first son.
We remember the little things, like holding hands when we went to church on Sunday. The reasons she has an artificial rose beside her computer.
When we were about to get married our pastor at the time quoted the above verses from 1 Corinthians Thirteen to us. He reminded us that true love is not a physical thing although that is a part of it.
He reminded us that true love is a spiritual union of two souls that become one.
Over the years we in our marriage we have proven that to be true. We look at what Paul wrote,
And we know it’s true.
Think about it.
“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
Poets throughout the ages have tried to express what love is. Yet I believe there is no better words for describing love than the words of the apostle Paul.
It’s a check list for true love.
We live in a society where marriage is easy and divorce is easier. Divorce statistics are unbelievably high.
I think the reason we have such high rates of divorce is that we don’t know what love is.
Love in the twenty-first century seems to be mistaken for that bubbly feel good thing that we get around someone we like, or the feeling we get from having intimate relationships with someone.
While that may be part of an overall love relationship it is not entirely what love is. Love is more.
Love is there for the long haul.
I’ve been on this earth as of my last birthday sixty plus years. Thirty-four years of which have been in a loving marriage relationship.
My wife and I have gone through the feel good stage at one end and at the other end of the spectrum we’ve been totally ticked off at each other.
We’ve done things that drive each other insane. We still do. Never the less in the end we make up, cuddle up and still after all of these years enjoy being with each other.
I can honestly say that I can’t remember what our last disagreement was about. I just asked my wife if she could remember and she couldn’t.
We know we’ve argued, and had disagreements especially when we were younger. We are both very strong willed with very definite ideas on things. Our arguments at one time I’m sure could be heard across town. But in the end we kissed and made up.
But over the years our disagreements have actually become less and less. And we honestly upon reflection as I was preparing to write this, can’t remember much of what our arguments were about.
What we do remember is when we lived in the Toronto area travelling to Niagara Falls walking hand in hand for a short time before returning home, only to have to rush to the hospital so my wife could give birth to our first son.
We remember the little things, like holding hands when we went to church on Sunday. The reasons she has an artificial rose beside her computer.
When we were about to get married our pastor at the time quoted the above verses from 1 Corinthians Thirteen to us. He reminded us that true love is not a physical thing although that is a part of it.
He reminded us that true love is a spiritual union of two souls that become one.
Over the years we in our marriage we have proven that to be true. We look at what Paul wrote,
“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 13:4-8aAnd we know it’s true.
Think about it.
Tuesday 3 March 2015
Creation
Creation
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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
This is what I believe. God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he created it using the big bang or some other method I do not care. It’s unimportant to my faith.
Whether it took us six billion years, six thousand years or six days is unimportant to my faith.
The bible states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Creation is one a faith thing with me but not blind faith.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I see a universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest microbes and atoms all governed by laws. There is no randomness in nature. The universe is mathematically perfect.
Where it seems like randomness I think it’s just a case that man has not found the formula or the pattern. There is a lot man has yet to learn.
The lack of randomness and perfect order of the universe tells me there is a God of creation.
By that same faith I believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God. The Bible stating,
“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....
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 1:1-3,14.
As I look into the heavens, study science and read the Bible I am amazed at how they compliment each other. Keeping in mind especially that the Bible is a book of faith not intended to be used as a science book.
I believe those who believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Bible have no fear of science because I believe good science will point to the existence of God.
At the beginning of this article I’ve put a picture of the earth taken from the space probe Voyager. It has travelled further in space than any man made object. At this point it is beyond the solar system.
From trillions of kilometres away N.A.S.A. turned its cameras around and took the picture.
As I look at it I am amazed and humbled that the God of creation did consider every individual human being on that “mote of dust” as Carl Sagan put it, worthy of his personal love.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
Jesus died for me as an individual and he died for you.
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with your dear reader. Would you open your heart and mind to Him today?
Please think about it.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
This is what I believe. God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he created it using the big bang or some other method I do not care. It’s unimportant to my faith.
Whether it took us six billion years, six thousand years or six days is unimportant to my faith.
The bible states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Creation is one a faith thing with me but not blind faith.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I see a universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest microbes and atoms all governed by laws. There is no randomness in nature. The universe is mathematically perfect.
Where it seems like randomness I think it’s just a case that man has not found the formula or the pattern. There is a lot man has yet to learn.
The lack of randomness and perfect order of the universe tells me there is a God of creation.
By that same faith I believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God. The Bible stating,
“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....
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 1:1-3,14.
As I look into the heavens, study science and read the Bible I am amazed at how they compliment each other. Keeping in mind especially that the Bible is a book of faith not intended to be used as a science book.
I believe those who believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Bible have no fear of science because I believe good science will point to the existence of God.
At the beginning of this article I’ve put a picture of the earth taken from the space probe Voyager. It has travelled further in space than any man made object. At this point it is beyond the solar system.
From trillions of kilometres away N.A.S.A. turned its cameras around and took the picture.
As I look at it I am amazed and humbled that the God of creation did consider every individual human being on that “mote of dust” as Carl Sagan put it, worthy of his personal love.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
Jesus died for me as an individual and he died for you.
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with your dear reader. Would you open your heart and mind to Him today?
Please think about it.
Monday 2 March 2015
Christians and Persecution
Christians and Persecution
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
Matthew 11:12.
Jesus is saying here that from the time of John the Baptist what has become known as the Christian message has been moving forcefully ahead. While at the same time there have been men who have at times violently opposed it, from the time of it’s inception until the present day.
According to human rights watchers Christians are among the most persecuted people on the planet.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
Writing in the World Post Kelly James Clark states,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘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.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
And just as importantly said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1.
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So the question to the none believer becomes, Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to follow Christ if it were not the truth.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“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
For the Christian Christianity is of infinite importance.
As for Christianity's enemies there must be something they see as threatening. Otherwise why would they persecute a faith that promotes, love of God, love of ones neighbour and even love of one’s enemies?
A true Christian want nothing more than to present the eternal life offered by God to the rest of the world that they might decide for themselves if it is true or not.
Yet sadly in many parts of the world this is not permitted.
Think about it.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
Matthew 11:12.
Jesus is saying here that from the time of John the Baptist what has become known as the Christian message has been moving forcefully ahead. While at the same time there have been men who have at times violently opposed it, from the time of it’s inception until the present day.
According to human rights watchers Christians are among the most persecuted people on the planet.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
Writing in the World Post Kelly James Clark states,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘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.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
And just as importantly said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1.
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So the question to the none believer becomes, Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to follow Christ if it were not the truth.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“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
For the Christian Christianity is of infinite importance.
As for Christianity's enemies there must be something they see as threatening. Otherwise why would they persecute a faith that promotes, love of God, love of ones neighbour and even love of one’s enemies?
A true Christian want nothing more than to present the eternal life offered by God to the rest of the world that they might decide for themselves if it is true or not.
Yet sadly in many parts of the world this is not permitted.
Think about it.
Saturday 28 February 2015
judging
judging
“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.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Christians here are told not to judge others. We are not to judge especially hypocritically.
This is not the same as discernment.
I’ve heard people say well you shouldn’t judge what the priest, minister or evangelist says because it’s judging. Not so.
The apostle Paul writes,
"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
There is nothing wrong with questioning the teachings of anyone ministering the word of God, be they a Sunday School or Bible study teacher, a pastor, evangelist or whoever is ministering God’s word.
This is discernment.
When we question what we are being taught this is a good thing it helps us get to the truth of the matter. Especially if what is being said sounds suspicious.
An honest teacher of the Bible will not object to being questioned about his or her teaching.
What Jesus is telling us here is not to judge other people be they Christians or non-Christians for what they are or what they do. Especially since we may be doing or have done similar things before we were prompted by the God to change our ways.
We cannot tell what is in someone’s heart.
All Christians grow in the Lord at different rates and it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict someone of any wrong they are doing.
When it comes to non-Christians this is especially true. Judging them may very well turn them away from God.
The Talmud tells a story about Abraham it goes like this,
“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
Judging someone especially outside of the church is dangerous. What Jesus says is true,
“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.”
People around us are aware of what we do and say. They are aware of our short comings If we judge them they are going to judge us in the same way.
It is not the Christians place to judge sin. That is God’s no one else’s. Only he knows the heart and mind of anyone.
The job of the Christian, the only Job of the Christian is to present the Gospel to anyone who will listen and let God do the rest.
Think about it.
“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.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Christians here are told not to judge others. We are not to judge especially hypocritically.
This is not the same as discernment.
I’ve heard people say well you shouldn’t judge what the priest, minister or evangelist says because it’s judging. Not so.
The apostle Paul writes,
"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
There is nothing wrong with questioning the teachings of anyone ministering the word of God, be they a Sunday School or Bible study teacher, a pastor, evangelist or whoever is ministering God’s word.
This is discernment.
When we question what we are being taught this is a good thing it helps us get to the truth of the matter. Especially if what is being said sounds suspicious.
An honest teacher of the Bible will not object to being questioned about his or her teaching.
What Jesus is telling us here is not to judge other people be they Christians or non-Christians for what they are or what they do. Especially since we may be doing or have done similar things before we were prompted by the God to change our ways.
We cannot tell what is in someone’s heart.
All Christians grow in the Lord at different rates and it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict someone of any wrong they are doing.
When it comes to non-Christians this is especially true. Judging them may very well turn them away from God.
The Talmud tells a story about Abraham it goes like this,
“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
Judging someone especially outside of the church is dangerous. What Jesus says is true,
“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.”
People around us are aware of what we do and say. They are aware of our short comings If we judge them they are going to judge us in the same way.
It is not the Christians place to judge sin. That is God’s no one else’s. Only he knows the heart and mind of anyone.
The job of the Christian, the only Job of the Christian is to present the Gospel to anyone who will listen and let God do the rest.
Think about it.
The answer to Radicals
The Answer to Radicals
“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
I look at the news and see young people especially heading off to join radical Islamic groups such as ISIS and I ask myself why.
The answer seems to me strait forward. The Western democracies appear to offer them nothing.
While the latest electronic gadget, fine automobile, jewellery, brand name clothing may appeal to the majority of people in the west. It does not to the minority that are slipping away to join the radical groups.
Our western society with all its rights and freedoms while to my mind the best possible way of life is not for those who have become radicalized.
Back in the 1958 John B. Harrington published a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"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
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
I think those who are becoming radicalized agree, be it subconsciously or consciously with Paul Gallico. Our very materialistic western society despite all it’s rights and freedoms is lacking in many ways.
Man is more than a physical being. Man has a soul, that materialism as much as it may try cannot fill.
There is nothing wrong with the latest gadget, the nice car, brand name clothing but unfortunately they have become demigods in our society. A society that is turning away from the one true God.
For me as a Christian I feel our society has failed and all the best secular programs as good as they may be will not succeed in reaching those who are truly looking for meaning in life.
At the same time I see a failing by the church to reach such people.
Living in North America I see a lot of people claiming to be Christians in the media that are speaking out not only against Islam they are speaking out against anything that is not in their eyes Christian.
That is not the job of the church. The apostle Paul didn’t walk into Athens and speak against the god’s and goddesses. He preached the good news of Jesus Christ and won souls.
That is what all followers of Christ should be doing.
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.
If we as Christians stick to the message of God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
If we preach that message to the youth of our day in a way that is appealing to them, the message of Christ, we will win their souls for Christ and turn them away from the radicals of the world.
The message of the Gospel of Christ is as relevant today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. It can and will change live if we present it in the right way.
They key is reaching out in love. Extending a hand. Telling them that if they are dissatisfied with the secular society around them there is another alternative that the Gospel of Peace. The love of Jesus Christ and the Love of the one true God.
“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.
This is what all mankind is looking for be they those who are looking to radical Islam or simply the man and woman on the street.
This is what we as Christians should be presenting.
Think about it.
“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
I look at the news and see young people especially heading off to join radical Islamic groups such as ISIS and I ask myself why.
The answer seems to me strait forward. The Western democracies appear to offer them nothing.
While the latest electronic gadget, fine automobile, jewellery, brand name clothing may appeal to the majority of people in the west. It does not to the minority that are slipping away to join the radical groups.
Our western society with all its rights and freedoms while to my mind the best possible way of life is not for those who have become radicalized.
Back in the 1958 John B. Harrington published a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"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
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
I think those who are becoming radicalized agree, be it subconsciously or consciously with Paul Gallico. Our very materialistic western society despite all it’s rights and freedoms is lacking in many ways.
Man is more than a physical being. Man has a soul, that materialism as much as it may try cannot fill.
There is nothing wrong with the latest gadget, the nice car, brand name clothing but unfortunately they have become demigods in our society. A society that is turning away from the one true God.
For me as a Christian I feel our society has failed and all the best secular programs as good as they may be will not succeed in reaching those who are truly looking for meaning in life.
At the same time I see a failing by the church to reach such people.
Living in North America I see a lot of people claiming to be Christians in the media that are speaking out not only against Islam they are speaking out against anything that is not in their eyes Christian.
That is not the job of the church. The apostle Paul didn’t walk into Athens and speak against the god’s and goddesses. He preached the good news of Jesus Christ and won souls.
That is what all followers of Christ should be doing.
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.
If we as Christians stick to the message of God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
If we preach that message to the youth of our day in a way that is appealing to them, the message of Christ, we will win their souls for Christ and turn them away from the radicals of the world.
The message of the Gospel of Christ is as relevant today as it was when Jesus walked the earth. It can and will change live if we present it in the right way.
They key is reaching out in love. Extending a hand. Telling them that if they are dissatisfied with the secular society around them there is another alternative that the Gospel of Peace. The love of Jesus Christ and the Love of the one true God.
“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.
This is what all mankind is looking for be they those who are looking to radical Islam or simply the man and woman on the street.
This is what we as Christians should be presenting.
Think about it.
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