The Church
James the half brother of Jesus 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.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist 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.
Just recently someone sent me a Facebook post it was from the Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Missouri, Deon K. Johnson in response to president Donald Trumps call to open the Churches immediately deeming them essential. In his reply to Trump Bishop Johnson gave an excellent description of what the church truly is. He said,
"The work of the church is essential.
The work of caring for the lonely, the marginalised, and the oppressed is essential.
The work of speaking truth to power and seeking justice is essential.
The work of being a loving, liberating, and life giving presence in the world is essential.
The work of welcoming the stranger, the refugee and the undocumented is essential.
The work of reconciliation and healing and caring is essential.
The church does not need to “open” because the church never “closed”. We who make up the Body of Christ, the church, love God and our neighbours and ourselves so much that we will stay away from our buildings until it is safe. We are the church." Bishop Deon K Johnson.
The church is not buildings. The church is made up of individuals world wide that love and believe with their whole heart and soul that Jesus is Lord and God. No virus or act of man can stop the church from it’s appointed task.
All adversity be it man made or a pandemic does, is make the church adjust and be creative in how it goes about doing God’s work.
Jesus said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18,19.
It is this ministry the ministry that Jesus started that we as believers in Christ Jesus are called to carry on. Thus my question to you.
Are you preaching the good news of Christ Jesus? Are you doing all you can to show the Love of God to those around you and help them in any way you can no matter how small?
Please think about it.
James the half brother of Jesus 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.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist 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.
Just recently someone sent me a Facebook post it was from the Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Missouri, Deon K. Johnson in response to president Donald Trumps call to open the Churches immediately deeming them essential. In his reply to Trump Bishop Johnson gave an excellent description of what the church truly is. He said,
"The work of the church is essential.
The work of caring for the lonely, the marginalised, and the oppressed is essential.
The work of speaking truth to power and seeking justice is essential.
The work of being a loving, liberating, and life giving presence in the world is essential.
The work of welcoming the stranger, the refugee and the undocumented is essential.
The work of reconciliation and healing and caring is essential.
The church does not need to “open” because the church never “closed”. We who make up the Body of Christ, the church, love God and our neighbours and ourselves so much that we will stay away from our buildings until it is safe. We are the church." Bishop Deon K Johnson.
The church is not buildings. The church is made up of individuals world wide that love and believe with their whole heart and soul that Jesus is Lord and God. No virus or act of man can stop the church from it’s appointed task.
All adversity be it man made or a pandemic does, is make the church adjust and be creative in how it goes about doing God’s work.
Jesus said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18,19.
It is this ministry the ministry that Jesus started that we as believers in Christ Jesus are called to carry on. Thus my question to you.
Are you preaching the good news of Christ Jesus? Are you doing all you can to show the Love of God to those around you and help them in any way you can no matter how small?
Please think about it.
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