A note for the 21st Century Church

 A note for the 21st Century Church

"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 2:11,12.

Think about this...

Jesus and his disciples, 

• Never Voted.

• Never Protested.

• Never judged anyone outside their own faith.

Yet they within a century they had spread the Good News of the Love of Jesus Christ throughout the known world.

They did so by,

• Presenting the Love of God to their family friends and foe alike.

• Showing Love and Mercy to all those they came in contact with.

• Living as far as possible at peace with those around them.

The disciples put into action the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18.

And the words of the writer of Hebrews,

“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.

Above all they put into action the words of Jesus who said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12

Please think about it.

Jesus gives us a job

  Jesus gives us a job

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." 

                                                                                             Psalm 19:1-3.

I over the years have listened with interest to discussions among Christians about creation. Some believing in the six twenty-four hour day theory. While some believe the creation is billions of years old, the so called “old earth theory”.

For me this is an unimportant question. I believe, Genesis when it states,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

                                                                                        Genesis 1:1.

I believe the apostle John when he states,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Exactly how God created the universe and everything in it doesn’t matter. The fact is he is God and could have done it either way.

For me as a Christian the most important thing is, is that there is a God who loves us and wants to fellowship with us. Jesus said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.". John 3:16, 17.

In Matthew Jesus give all who believe in him a job. He states,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

This is what we should be doing. To do less is to potentially sent someone into a Christless eternity.

Please think about it.

From Psalms

  From Psalms

The Psalmist writes,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By living according to your word. 

I seek you with all my heart; 

do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart 

that I might not sin against you. 

Praise be to you, O LORD; 

teach me your decrees. 

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

I delight in your decrees; 

I will not neglect your word.” 

                                                      Psalm 119:9-16.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. Why not make these words from Psalms a reality in your life today?

Please think about it.

A guiding light

  A guiding light

The psalmist writes.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." 

                                                                                  Psalm 119:105

Thus my question to you dear reader is; Is it? Is the word of the Lord a guiding light to you in all your ways?

Sadly for many claiming to be Christians today Gods word is not their primary guiding light. They mix the word of God with other things, everything from philosophies, other faiths, and even the constitution of the country in which they live. This should not be so.

If we are true followers of Christ Jesus our guidance should come directly and unadulteratedly from the Bible. 

You cannot pick and choose what you believe in the bible and disregard the rest. St. Augustine said,

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.

The bible is the inspired Word of God. The apostle Paul telling us,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”2 Timothy 3:16,17.

So I ask you again; is the Bible your guiding light?

Please think about it.

Concerning the poor

  Concerning the poor

In the book of Acts we read,

“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly" Acts:10:2.

Here in North America we live with freedoms that are the envy of the world. We also live in a very materialistic society. And materialism has infiltrated the church. 

There are many evangelist and pastors who have twisted the truths of scripture and made themselves millionaires by praying on the poor. Saying to people that if we truly love God we will be healthy and wealthy. If you give to their ministry giving what they call “seed faith”. 

   Telling you God will give you a ten or hundred fold return on the money you give, as if God is a cosmic banker.

They say if you aren’t getting wealthy or have bad health then you have sin in your life or lack faith.

Yet the reality is quiet the opposite. There are many who love God who are just making ends meet.   

In Lukes  Gosple we read 

"A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.  

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.''" 

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 18:18-22.

I would say from what is said here in Luke, it is those rich pastors and evangelist that should be giving everything up, giving all they have to the poor to follow Christ.

Now I know the Talmud is a Christian book but it reflects Christian values. One quote states, 

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 statement is true the apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13. 

Can you imagine how much better the world would be if multimillionaires and billionaires gave half their wealth to help the poor.

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

In the book of James we read,

"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. James 2:14-17.

I firmly believe all who claim to be Christian, all who claim to be true followers of Christ Jesus need to be helping the poor in anyway they can. We need to do it because in this world we are the hands of Christ.

Please think about it.

A command from Paul

 A command from Paul

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.

Is the above a description of what you do? When people look at your life do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love?

Do you forgive others any wrongs they have done to you in the way the Lord did you? Do you forgive others unconditionally which is the way God forgave you?

Take a little time to pray and ask God to show you if you are truly doing what the apostle Paul is telling believers in Jesus to do.

Please think about it.

Not against the law

  Not against the law

In the book of Galatians we read,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23.

 Here’s a simple question. Are you exhibiting these fruit in your life?

Please think about it.