Christians and judging

Christians and Judging
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.
Over the years I’ve heard many Christians say that because of what Jesus says here in Matthew 7:1,2. We are not to judge anyone. That is not entirely true.
We are called not to judge other people especially those outside the church because we don’t know what is in their hearts. We truly don’t know what makes them what they are.
That’s not to say we are not to exercise good judgement especially when it comes to those in the Church.
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.
All too many charlatans have hid behind the “do not judge” or “do not come against the elect of God”, argument in order to lead people astray or separate good honest believers from their money.
Christians need to be careful. There are many in our world today who claim to be Christians that are not.
Matthew records Jesus as saying,
“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”  
                                                                                                                                 Matthew 24:4,5.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 
                                                                                                          2 Timothy 4:3,4.
Such things are happening today. There are many, many ministries in both in the media and out that are claiming to be of God but are not. They talk a good talk but they twist scriptures to suit their own way of thinking.
Unfortunately these ministries are mixed with the majority of ministries that are very good and bringing glory to God.
It can be hard to tell them apart.
There are however several things you can do to decide what ministries to support.
1. First and foremost pray and ask God to show you the truth about the ministry.
2. Support your local congregation first. Here in Canada I know all charities which include churches, have to give an accounting as to where the money goes every year.
Additionally you know where your local church stands theologically and have easy  access to their statement of faith.
3. Check the ministry you wish to support carefully.
A/ Ask for a statement of faith from the ministry.
B/ Read the scriptures they use to support their beliefs carefully and see if they are indeed taken in context.
C/ Ask for a financial statement.
   All honest ministries will give you a financial statement including what  is spent on salaries, travel, equipment for the ministry and such.
             If a ministry will not provide you with a statement of faith and their financial statement don’t support them.
Only then after you have checked all of this out should you support anyone.
Always remember the words of Jesus who 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.
Please think about it.

Words from an apostle, example from a thief

Words from an apostle. Example from a thief,
The apostle Paul also tells us,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 
                                                Romans 3:23,24
The apostle Paul also 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.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16.
The apostle Paul makes it clear we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. That all means all. From the Pope, to our political leaders, to paupers, princes and kings. Everyone in every strata of society falls short of what God would have for their lives.
But the apostle also offers hope. He states,
“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.
It is by God’s grace we are saved. Salvation is a free gift from God that we must accept through faith.
The book of acts tells the story of Paul and Silas in jail and this interaction between them and their jailor,
“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 best example of how Christians believe we get to heaven is at the crucifixion of Jesus. The gospel of Luke tells us there were two men crucified that day with Jesus. Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                     Luke 23:39-43
The apostle Paul put it this way.
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Romans 10:9,10  
This is how we get to heaven. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and confess that He is Lord.
This is what the criminal on the cross did. This is what all Christians have done. It is something no one can do for you. You either believe in Christ or you do not. It’s that simple.
Please think about it.

A Proverb

A Proverb
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                                                              Proverbs 3:3,4.
Is love at the centre of your life? Do your actions reflect the kind of love you have in your heart?
Some one once told me there are two kinds of love. Conditional and unconditional.
I don’t believe there is any such thing as conditional love. Especially if you are a Christian. True love has no conditions attached.
The apostle 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....

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Martin Luther King jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                                               Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Jesus realized this, that’s why His call was to love God, our neighbour, and even our enemy.
As Christians we are told by Jesus to love unconditionally. That is the only way we will win a lost and dying world to Christ.
The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  

                                                                                                                              Romans 12:9-18.
Does the above scriptures reflect your life?
Do you love in accordance with what the apostle Paul said?
Please think about it.

What's a Christian to do?

What’s a Christian to do?

The apostle Paul writing to Titus said,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” 
           Titus 3:1,2.
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
                                                                                                           Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
      Hebrews 12:14
The Apostle Peter states,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’” 
                                                                                         1 Peter 2:9-12.
The words above are not mine they are those of the apostle Paul, Peter and the writer of Hebrews.
Think about it these words were written to a church that was living under the emperor Nero who persecuted the church harshly. Yet they all said the same thing.

Live at peace with the people around you. 

Be subject to the governing authorities. 

Live a holy life.

I love those admonitions. In these turbulent times of the early twenty-first century they are very relevant.
Many Christians here in North America sadly are not looked on as people showing these traits. They are seen as people who object to various laws the government passes. They are seen as people who wish to restrict the rights of anyone they disagree with.
They are seen as selfish people who want things their own way all the time.
This should not be so.
To Christians reading this I would ask that you look at your life and ask yourself if you are following the above scriptures.
How do people see you? When a non-Christian looks at your life and lifestyle do they see the attributes of Jesus reflected in your life?
Are you following the teachings of Jesus to Love God your neighbour and even your enemy?
If so are you offering that love unconditionally?
  Are you obeying the words of the writer of Hebrews who said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
      Hebrews 12:14.
Please think about it.

Not all Christians are

Not All Christians are
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                                Matthew 7:15-23.
What the apostle Paul is saying in the above scripture is watch out. There are many who will call themselves Christians who are not.
Paul notes,
“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!’” 
 Sadly I have known a lot of Christians over the years who have followed evangelist and pastors who were not true Christians. They claimed a lot of miracles were done but it was nothing but deceit and lies.
I know of one evangelist who was suppose to be a healer. He came to the church I attended and claimed to heal people. Sadly he fooled a lot of people even the pastors for a time.
He’d been at our church for a couple of days before I seen him and I admit he was convincing. However he was nothing more than a fake.
He convinced a friend of mine who had bipolar disorder that he was healed. My friend stopped taking his medication and was found a few days later, looking for a place to commit suicide. All because of this false preacher.
This man made a lot of outrageous claims.
I’m a magician/clown. I’ve spent a good deal of my adult life not only making people laugh but making them think I’m the biggest idiot in the room.
I amaze children, and adults who know I’m using illusion, think I can produce things from thin air.
I do it by constantly talking and distracting people. I talk a good talk and distract my audience with words and actions.
This so called miracle worker that came to our church did the same thing. I could see it from the outset and went to my pastor about it. As apparently did others. Sadly by the time things were taken care of the man had left.
The good thing in it all was he was eventually disgraced and closed his ministry in Canada. I don’t know what happened to him after that.
One positive thing that came out of it was the church from then on required anyone claiming a healing, had to have it confirmed by a professional. Which is how it should be.
Sadly there are many others out there claiming to be faith healers. Many who claim to be preaching the word of God but are not.
They talk a good talk. They even quote scripture and make it sound good. In doing so they lead people astray.
We as Christians need to be on guard with respect to who we follow or listen to. We need to check out claims of healing. Ask the person who claims to have ministered the healing if they have independent verification.
We should if we know the person that has been healed ask them how they know they were healed.
We need to check out the pastor, evangelist, teacher and see that they are teaching the word of God correctly.
I know when it comes to teaching there are a lot of variations in interpretation among Christians still there is a common set of beliefs all Christians have.
The apostles creed while not written by the apostles is a good example of those common beliefs. The apostle creed states,

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried:

 He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic** church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

(**that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places)

As a Christians we need to be on our guard against those who would claim to be Christians and doing things in the name of God but are not.
We need to hold all preachers both in the media and out to account for their actions and what they preach.
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
Please think about it.

Our Society

Our Society

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
I am a firm believer in God. A God, both believers in Him and those who do not, will answer too.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
                                                                                                                Abba Hillel Silver
It is only when men ignore there is a God who will one day judge them, or twist God’s truths to suit their own way of thinking, that society sinks into conflict.  Sadly when this happens innocent people die. We only have to look at world war two to see this.
Ten million plus dying in death camps fifty-six million plus dying overall in the war, soldiers and civilians.
It is happening to day as Terrorist groups around the world are twisting the truths of God to justify what they are doing.
But it doesn’t stop there. Men, women and children are dying in various kinds of violence on the streets of towns and cities around the world. The result of people who could care less about the consequences and God.
Governments pass laws, imprison law breakers but it seems to no avail. Many countries still have the death penalty yet crime still continues on.
Millions if not billions of dollars are spent on counter terrorism yet the terrorist groups continue their evil ways.
Despite all our scientific and social advancements over the centuries man still has a propensity to find ways and justify ways to cause harm to his fellow man.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.”
Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991)
To my mind this is what happens when God is pushed out of the picture. When people turn from the moral teachings of God.
Man needs moral absolutes and to realize that there is more to life than this world. That life does not end in the death of the body.
That what a person does here will be judged ultimately by God.
Throughout the centuries man has slowly turned from God. Man has set himself up as the supreme being. The result is the world as we know it is slowly heading down hill toward a lake filled with fire and brimstone.
Sadly I believe that until the world turns back to God that decline will continue to happen.
Christians believe that one day Jesus will return to judge the world. That he will return to rule and reign bringing peace to the world.
Until then I believe the only way we have even the slightest hope for any kind of peace is by obeying the words of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
“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.
Please think about it.

Checklist for Christians

Checklist for Christians
The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, 

but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

                                                                                                                          Romans 12:9-18
Dear Christian are the words of Paul to the Romans reflecting your life?
Please think about it.

An Apostles Sermon

An apostles sermon
Every so often I like to quote what for me is one of the best sermons ever spoken. It is an example of how Christians should reach out to those outside their faith.
The book of Acts records this speech spoken by the apostle Paul in Athens,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
                                                                                                    Acts 17:17-34
Please think about it.

Christians and Giving

Christians and  giving
In my last post I wrote about doing to others as you would have others do to you. Here is a lesson directed strictly at Christians. Please take a few minutes to read and consider what it says,
The Apostle James wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                     James 2:14-20.
There are approximately 2000 scriptures commanding us to look after the poor.
As Christians we are called to help the poor in what ever way we can even if it’s only giving a glass of water.
Christians are one of the largest contributors to helping the needy. However there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. Who for centuries have been among the largest contributors to helping the poor irrespective of their faith.
The Talmud tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                                                                                              The Talmud.
This I believe is a concept Christians can understand.
There is however one other interesting concept from Judaism that Christians should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are requiered to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence may give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles...  We have an obligation to avoid becoming in need of Tzedakah. A person should take any work available, even if he thinks it is beneath his dignity to avoid become a public charge.
However, if a person is truly in need and has no way of obtaining money on his own he should not feel embarrassed to accept tzedakah. No person should feel to proud to take money from others. In fact it is considered a transgression to refuse tzedakah. One source says that to make yourself suffer by refusing to accept tzedakah is equivalent to shedding your own blood.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah ar considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 

As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief.
Please Think about it.

You and the needy

You and the needy
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.
The Jews have a concept called Tzedakah. It is something I believe all people, Christian, Jew, or anyone for that matter should consider. The following is a brief explanation of Tzedakah from a Jewish website.
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
The question I would ask you the reader do you treat others the way you want to be treated. Do you do your best to help the poor and needy in your community?
Jesus tells this parable.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 
                                                      Luke 16:19-31.
I believe we as human beings have a duty to help those who are in need as much as we can. It is a sacred trust God has given us.
The Talmud also tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  
He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                             The Talmud.
As I write this it is the first week in January 2016. Not counting the millions of refugees that are streaming out of the war torn middle east, there are millions in the United States, Canada and the western countries of the world in need of food, clothing, and shelter and in the United States in particular decent affordable heath care.
The way I see it having enough food to eat, clothing, shelter and health care are basic human rights.
I believe it is up to both those of faith and those who do not believe to do what we can to see the everyone in our society has access to them.
It is time for those of us who can to reach out to those in need and to call on our governments to do more to help the needy.
Please think about it.

God, Time, Freedom, Man, Events

God, Time, Freedom, Man, Events

“God created time and gave man complete freedom,

to make the events.”

                                                                            Author Unknown.
I make no apologies I am a Christian. I believe God created the universe and everything in it. I believe God gave man complete freedom to do and believe as he wishes. That includes the freedom not to believe in him.
I believe God gives each and every person a lifetime to decide whether they will accept Him into their lives.
I believe that we as individuals through interaction with other individuals and our environment decide our own fate. No one can decide for us.
I believe that God in the form of His Son Jesus Christ reached down to us and offers us life eternal with him if we would just have faith in him.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’
                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:6.
The apostle Paul writing to the Athenians said,
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”  
                                        Acts 17:24-27.
I know there are many who says there is no God. There are others saying if God is real then why doesn’t he show himself to us?
The answer to the second question is simple God has in the form of His one and only Son Jesus.
God however wants more. He I’m sure realizes it easy to have faith in something you can see. To believe in something you can touch. It takes a great deal more trust to believe in something you cannot see. Thus the need for faith.
Not necessarily blind faith. God shows himself in various ways. Through the world around us. Through the words of the Prophets in the Bible and of course through Jesus.
Jesus in a nutshell gives man the choice he must make saying,
“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.
Thus the choice is yours dear reader. Believe Jesus is all He said He is or not. No one can decide for you. Your fate and eternal resting place is in your hands.
If what the Bible says is not true then you have nothing to fear. If however it is true then you have at the very least something to seriously think about.
Please think about it.

Christians and Democracy

Christians and Democracy

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
                                                                                             1 Peter 2:12
To be a Christian is to live a selfless life. A life dedicated to God. A life so good that even if people accuse us of doing wrong they will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
All too often here in North America Christians are seen in a negative way. They are seen as protesting everything they disagree with. From gay marriage, to abortion, to people of other faiths, even political leaders.
This should not be so.
This is not what God wants Christians to do. We are to reach out to the world with the love of God. Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. NOT PROTEST.
We are told by Jesus to Love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We cannot be protesting against them and expect them to see love.
We live in a secular democracy that means the government. A good democratically elected government will do its best to treat all people equally.
A democracy that works correctly is a compromise on the part of all its who make it up.  It is in a democracy that Christians either show their worst or their best.
Christians have a choice to abuse the democratic process and try to pass laws that only favour them. Laws that restrict the rights of others. Thus turning people against them.
                                                               OR
Christians can build bridges calling on the government to pass laws that make all people truly free and equal even if they disagree with them.
Christians or for that matter anyone should not be doing anything that would restrict the rights of any person or group.
One man Martin Niemoller a German Christian cleric, an anti Nazi during world war two. Seen what it was like when people stood by and did nothing. He wrote,

“When they came for the Communists, 

I did not stand up,

 because I was not a Communist. 

When they came for the Jews,

 I did not stand up, 

because I was not Jewish.

When they came for the Catholics, 

I did not stand up, 

because I was not a Catholic. 

When they came for me, 

there was no one left to stand up.”

                                                                                      Martin Niemoller
Quoted below are quotes from scripture and prominent Christians that I think all Christians need to consider,
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made an interesting point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
Francis of Assisi prayed,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 
                                                                                                    Francis of Assisi.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                             Matthew 22:36-40
He also 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
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." 
                                                                                                                                           James 2:8-10.
Please think about it.