Equality

Read Deuteronomy 17:14-20
“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 
It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” 
                                                                                                 Deuteronomy17:18-20

Moses had been appointed as leader by God.  However, God knew that the people would in time want a king. Therefore he set criteria for the king.
He would be chosen by God,
Not dependent on military power
Not allied with super powers such as Egypt
He would have few wives
Not excessively wealthy
Devoted to Gods law
The criteria made sense. Especially keeping in mind that Israel was theocracy not a democracy.  Still, however, in the twenty-first century the criteria makes sense.
One of the things we, especially, here in the West complain about, is that our government leaders are out of touch with the man on the street.
Case in point, I heard a few days ago that many people, and doctors in the United States want health care reform.  In excess of forty million simply want health care.
Yet, there are many in government opposing health care reform. This despite the fact the thousands of people go bankrupt because of medical bills.
Here in Canada, many have lost their life savings and pensions, because of the economic conditions. Yet, government officials seem to be blind to the situation.
Is it any wonder that our political leaders can’t see and meet the needs of the people?
A member of parliament here in Canada gets an excellent salary, benefits and a pension plan guaranteed by the Canadian government. In other words the people of Canada.
Their benefits are far better than most of the population.  Far better than the Government of Canada’s pension plan the average Canadian gets.
Further more the average man on the street can loose his pension if the company he or she works for goes broke or pulls up stakes and heads overseas.
Men and women, that are elected to government office are for the most part, well off financially before they came to office.
It costs a lot to run a political campaign. The average person on the street while free to run in the election, hasn’t the finances to get elected.
Politicians have no idea what it’s like to live on less than twenty thousand dollars a year, let a lone what it’s like to live on a welfare cheque.
I’ve never heard of a politician’s child having to live in a cockroach infested building in Toronto or other cities.
No politician has ever had to make the decision to pay the rent or buy food.
That’s were God’s law differs from man's.  It doesn’t say the leaders can’t be wealthy, it simply says in Deuteronomy 17:17 that he can’t accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Politicians, especially, good ones deserve a good salary and benefits.  I’m sure it is a hard job.
However, God recognized that leaders can easily be distracted by power and material things.  Therefore, He requires moderation in all things for the leader.
He requires leaders to know His laws and to do what is right.
He requires leaders to be first and foremost servants of the people, something I feel is lost on political leaders today. Politicians who are too quick to listen to special interest groups. Usually well funded special interest groups with one agenda to get only what they want from the government.
Jesus said:

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” 

                                                              Matthew 23:11  

I wonder would any of our elected members of parliament be willing to wash the feet of the lowliest member of his or her constituency?
Would they be willing to give ten percent of their salary to food banks in their constituency?
Better still would they be willing to pass legislation that funds food banks fully. Would they be willing to pass legislation that gives all the members in their constituency the same benefits they are entitled too by virtue of being an elected representative?
Why not write and ask them?  
After all if they espouse to be Christian, isn’t it the right, and Christian thing to do?
Think about it.

Not Everyone

Not Everyone
“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

I wasn’t going to put this here but after some though I though as the name of the blog is Christian to Christian I thought it proper.
I place it here as a caution to Christians. To remind them there are a lot of men and women calling themselves servants of God who are not.
There are many evangelist who bring in millions of dollars who seem to do little for the average man on the street. Who’s actions at times even repel the non-believer.
Now don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with an evangelist or pastor being given an excellent salary. Good honest men and women of God working full time for the Lord deserve a good salary and benefits.
Also there’s nothing wrong with being rich. Rich believers helped fund the early church. And there are many wealthy people helping fund the church today without any fanfare. I believe it’s what you do with your wealth that counts.
I think all evangelist and preachers need to look to Jesus who lived modestly. Who humbled himself and washed His disciples feet.
They need to look at modern day examples such as Mother Teresa who spent her life reaching out and giving hope to the poorest of the poor.
Is it really necessary for a preacher no matter how much money he has coming into his ministry to live in a mansion.
My current pastor lives in a modest house. A previous pastor I had lived in a rented apartment. My first pastor was bi-vocational. He preached and did his duties at church while at the same time was a milk man. All of these men reached the lost for Christ.
I don’t buy the argument that evangelist need to own private jets. A first class seat or even coach seat on a regular scheduled airline is good enough. Missionaries fly that way all the time and it doesn’t hurt them.
Who knows if a well known evangelist travelled on a commercial flight he or she might just win someone to the Lord while doing so.
Traveling on a commercial airline saves money compared to owning and flying and maintaining a private jet. This means more money to be spent on reaching the world for Christ.
To the North American Christian reading this I would present a challenge to you. Check up on the evangelist you support. Ask them to give you an accounting of exactly where the money they get is spent, right down to the wages they pay their staff and themselves.
I know at our church every year the members are given an accounting of where the money is spent from the salaries of the pastor and staff, to the cost of the church furnishings, to the cost of heating and cooling the building, to the cleaning supplies and other things necessary to keep the church running.
Quite often we support ministries that are based hundreds if not thousands of kilometres from where we live. At that distance we can’t possibly see what is going on internally in the ministry. So why shouldn’t the various ministries we support render such reports when asked by a contributor? Especially if they have nothing to hide?

Justice

“Follow justice and justice alone, 

so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” 

                 Deuteronomy 16:20

How do we see justice?
One speaker I heard noted that Plato’s Republic implied that justice was an harmonious arrangement within society. An agreement in which everyone had their place. Where those with humble functions are content with being subservient to those above them.
Such is not the case with Biblical justice.
The Bible holds that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). With Genesis 2:7 stating:
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Therefore man has within him the very breath of the divine that makes each and every person equal to all others irrespective of their position in society.
Equality is the foundation of all Western democracies. The United States constitution going as  far as to say:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The more one studies the Bible with an open mind, the more one becomes amazed at the treasure house of wisdom.
The Bible has but two points to make.
First and foremost it exists to point man to God. To show man what God requires of him. What man must do to attain salvation.
Secondly, it lays down a code of conduct that God expects man to adhere to with respect to his fellow man.
We serve a God who created the heavens and the earth. A God who despite being the Creator of heaven and earth cares for the individual within His creation.
A God who sent His one and only son not to judge us, but to save us.  As the apostle Paul reminds us:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, 

Christ died for the ungodly.” 

                                                                                            Romans 5:6

Man’s justice is sadly imperfect, as a result, he condemned many an innocent man. God’s justice, however, is perfect and on that Final Day He will judge the world.
I think Ecclesiastes put it best:

“ 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

Think about it.

The Forgotten Line

The Forgotten Line
Read Matthew 6:9-13
     “May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.”                                                                                                         Matthew 6:10(ncv)
I admit I’m at times a bit of a control freak. I like to be in charge. I have at times preconceived ideas on how things should be. I think we all do.
It just seems to be human nature that we want things done our way.
I think that’s why so many people who pray forget Matthew 6:10.
Now, I’m talking to Christians here.
In my over thirty years as a Christian I’ve heard a lot of prayers. Especially, if people want something from God, or bad times are upon them. They tend to want the solution to the problem, to work out their way.
Some things asked for, I think, are justified. Who wouldn’t want a sick loved one or themselves restored to full health.
I remember people praying for my mother-in-law who was dying of cancer to be healed.
They prayed and prayed, yet she died.
The family grieved deeply. Some of those who prayed for her couldn’t understand why she died, after all she was only in her mid-fifties. Others blamed God.
My wife confessed privately to me that her mother didn’t die. God healed her. You see, people are eternal beings and God was calling her home, to a place where pain and suffering were no more. He knew there was no cure here on earth for her, so he called her home.
My wife and I have always prayed, “Your Will be done.” It was something we learned early in our Christian walk.
It was the same words Jesus is quoted as saying in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus knowing what was about to happen to Him prayed

, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; 

yet not my will, but Yours be done.” 

Luke 22:42.

We live in a so called  “fallen world”. A world living far from the ideal God has set out, filled with all kinds of evil.
Sadly, all too often, bad things happen to good people and for whatever reason, God lets them happen.
God simply asks man to have faith in Him, no matter the circumstance.
We must remember that it is God who is in charge and that it is His will that must be done, which is not always what we would like to happen.
Remember the Christian walk is all about God and His love for mankind.
So when we pray, let us look to the example of Jesus when He said,

“This, then, is how you should pray: 

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 

 Your kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread. 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

                                                                                   Matthew 6:9-13

Salt and Light

Salt and light
Read Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 

It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” 

                                                                                       Matthew 5:13,14.
As Christians, we are called to influence the moral and spiritual climate of the world.
I grew up in a generation who’s credo was “do your own thing.” What is good for you may not be good for someone one else. Still, as long as it didn’t hurt someone else, it was fine.
It resulted in the psychedelic sixties and all that went with it.
As my generation grew up, while some of our ideas changed, the basic tenant  remained. “What was good for you may not be good for me.  So as long as you don’t hurt someone else, it’s fine to do your own thing.”
The trouble with that kind of thinking is we as a society failed to give ourselves a moral absolute.
The church in many ways also failed my generation.
From what I remember, at the time the North American church, especially some high profile people in the evangelical movement wanted the status quo.
They condemned everything from rock and roll to Elvis’s gyrating hips to wearing blue jeans in church and long hair on men.
Even the so called “Jesus freaks” the movement I owe my salvation to, were looked down on, particularly by the Evangelical Church.
The church, I believe at that time, here in North America lost much of its saltiness. Simply because it wanted to keep it’s own status quo. That status quo being you come to church in suit and tie, "your Sunday best." You leave the jeans at home.
You keep your hair cut short, you sing hymns from the hymn book and if you listen to more modern Christian music it better not have a rock and roll beat.
It was a time when the church had  had a fantastic chance to reach millions of young people looking for direction and missed out.
All too often, I think the church forgets where it came from.
We, at one time, were a minority, unauthorized religion, espousing radical thought in an Empire that reached from the British Isles to the borders of India.
In those early days we didn’t care how a person was dressed when they came to a church meeting.
We were simply a small number of men and women, mostly Jews given the single most important task in human history.
Our strategy was simple, follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
While here He walked throughout a dusty, dry land. He wore clothes of the everyday man.  Entered the houses of Jew and non-Jew alike.  He spoke to Jewish religious leaders and Roman secular leaders.
Jesus spoke in the temple, in a house, and on the side of a hill.
He taught and spoke with authority, yet he knelt down and washed his disciples feet.
 He showed us by example, what He wanted us to do.  He left us a commission “to go into all the world and preach the good news to all who would listen.”
Yet, sadly, many within our church today have failed to follow that example. They’ve become side tracked with everything from what a person wears to church to church politics, to secular politics, to navel gazing and trying to predict when Christ will come back.
Question. Are you side tracked or are you truly reaching out for the Lord to others around you?

Do unto others

Do unto others

“Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets.” 

                                           Matthew 7:12

Question, how would you feel if people constantly told you that you couldn’t do something that was perfectly legal and not hurting anyone?
A Christian example would be the prohibiting the praying of the Lord’s prayer in school.
I know among Christian circles, this is a sore point. Even though, it’s been in place for years now, occasionally you hear it brought up by Evangelists and others in the media.
It’s not that the Lord’s prayer is in anyway wrong. It’s just that the “secular authorities” feel it would be bias to allow the Lord’s prayer and not let prayers of other faiths be prayed.
When it comes to prayers in Public School, I don’t think the faith community at large has a problem with the Lord’s prayer or prayers of other  being spoken, as long as, they are not imposed on them.
The bottom line in all of this ,is the fact that the Public School system is just that public.  It’s a secular institution set up to educate all people irrespective of what they believe.
It is not there to cater to any one belief system.  As one of my friends once noted “in order to function properly, the Public School system must by nature be very clinical.”
It’s the same when it comes to gay marriage.
We live in a secular world, that like the public school system has to be very clinical.
I know the word marriage for me means a great deal. It means a covenant between my wife and myself under God. I also know that applies to some same sex couples.
By entering into marriage we agreed to a life long relationship.
Sadly many in both the Christian and secular world break that covenant every day.
To them it seems that the word marriage is just a word, as one dictionary definition puts it, “concluded primarily to achieve a practical purpose”.
Secular governments don’t recognize what God considers marriage.
They see the facts and only the facts. They don’t set morals, that is the job of faith groups.
Now I say all of that to say this. Christians must be careful what they say and how they say it. Especially when it comes to speaking out against the gay and lesbian community and same sex marriages.
God knows what it right or wrong. It is not up to us as Christians to judge anyone or anything.
Our purpose according to Jesus is to present the gospel to the world.
God knows if same sex marriage is right or wrong. He knows who’s lifestyle is acceptable to Him.
I know some who claim to be Christians who’s lifestyle I think would not be acceptable to God. But it’s not for me to judge.
If the secular authorities want to allow same sex marriage it should matter little to Christians as long as churches opposing for religious reasons are not forced to perform those marriages.
We are blessed to live in a free and democratic society. Still, however, we must remember, we live in a secular society. Governments in a society, such as ours. must do what is best for all people, irrespective of their beliefs.

I think that’s why Jesus said, “Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets.” 

                                                                                    Matthew 7:12

He knew that Christians would be living in a secular world. He fully understood that they would be one of many beliefs in a cosmopolitan world.
That what they believed would be one belief system among many.
Jesus knew full well that as the Gospel spread it would enter areas that had no understanding of the Jewish roots from which Christianity came. That Christians would be the minority.
That’s why he made it clear in Matthew 7:1,2 that we are not to judge anyone.
I also think Jesus knew that one day, in parts of the world Christianity would be the dominant religion. That we would have the power to crush those we disagreed with, even in a secular society.
        History is full of examples of people claiming to be Christians trying to destroy those whom they disagree with. This is wrong.

That’s why he made it clear, “Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets.” 

                                                                                     Matthew 7:12

I hear in the media Christian leaders coming against persecution. Noting that Christians in many parts of the world are not tolerated even while we in the west tolerate all beliefs.
Perhaps tolerance is a legacy we Christians have given to western nations.
Tolerance and a none judgmental attitude are two of the pillars of Christian belief. The third and most important I believe is reaching out to all mankind with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “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 28:19,20.

We cannot reach a lost and dying world if we even hint at being intolerant. Nor will we be able to reach the world if we impose on others things we would not want imposed on ourselves.
          Reach out to the Gay and Lesbian society offer them the hand of  friendship. Tell them of the Love of Christ.

Same message Different Music

Read Matthew 3

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”  

Matthew 11:18,19

Chapter three of Matthew talks of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. John was in the desert of Judea calling,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 
                                                                Matthew 3:2.
People were coming to John confessing their sins and being baptized.
The religious leaders of his day were coming out and witnessing what was happening. John noted them and spoke against them. He called them to “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8. 
Warned them not to rest on the fact they had Abraham as their father. But to turn to doing the work of God the way God had intended.
This was essentially the same message Jesus would preach. He called people everywhere to repentance for their sins. While at the same time speaking against the wrongs the religious leaders of His day were doing.
John writes, "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 3:17,18
Matthew 23 states,
“But do not do what they(scribes and Pharisees) do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” Matthew 23:3b,4
The difference was that John was “radical” he wore camel hair garments and ate locusts and honey.
Jesus on the other hand, was more “conventional”. He dressed normally and moved among people in the same way, anyone would.  Yet still He was condemned by the religious leaders of His day.
Jesus made it clear, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”  Matthew 11:18,19.
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you present things, people will not listen. People will only believe what they want to. All we can do is present the gospel of Christ as best as we can.
Once we have done it our obligation to God and to the person is complete.
Dear Christian have you completed your obligation to God?
Think about it.

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Read 1 John 4

“We love because he first loved us. 

If anyone says, “I love God,”

 yet hates his brother, 

he is a liar. 

For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen 

cannot love God. Whom he has not seen.

 And he gives us this command: 

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

                                                                                           1John 4:19-21
Once again John emphasises love. The love of our brother.
Who is our brother? The people that are around us are our brothers.
We must treat all people around us as brothers and sisters. If we don’t how can we rescue them.
We need to in love go to these people and say God loves you. We need to in word and in deed show the love of God the father to our brothers and sisters in the world.
If we don’t have love enough to show to the neighbour next door, or the people we work with then how can we express our love to God.
The love God showed to us through Christ is a sacrificial love. Jesus gave his life for us while we were still sinners.
This is the kind of love we must be willing to show to the world. We must be willing to sacrifice the relationships we have with people for the love of the gospel.
We must in love be able to go to our friends and present the Gospel and if necessary face their rejection.
We must let them see that we are doing it out of love for them.
We must present the Gospel in a way that lets our friends family and acquaintances know we love them.
All to many Christians try to force the gospel on people.  Like wise all to many ‘Christians’ try to place a guilt trip on people. They point out the persons sins. They even go as far as pointing out so called ‘special sins’ as if one sin is worse than another.   I’ve even heard people point out sins that are not sins according to scripture. Such sins are only sins because someone has misinterpreted scripture.
We must avoid all of this.
We must simply present the gospel and leave it for the person to accept or reject.
That is why we must be presenting it in love. In doing so we will given them pause to think and have done our duty to God. It’s that simple.

Something to think about
The lyrics from a Beatles song that states “Love, Love, Love all you really need is Love.”  is the truth.
We need to have the love of God so strong in us that we will be willing to approach even our worst enemy with the love of God and not give him any reason to hate us.
Think about it.