Not all are

Not all are
The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

"I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

I have met many people who truly believe in God but are turned off by the people who supposedly serve Him. It’s sad but there are many claiming to be Christians who are not. There are many men and women preaching from the pulpit and in the media that are not Christians.
Jesus 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.

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.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
Like I said, there are many in the world today claiming to be Christians who are not. They have twisted the scriptures to say what they want it to say. Twisted the truths of the bible to suit their way of life.
I cannot tell anyone outside the Christian community how to tell the difference between a true Christian and one who is not. It’s sometimes hard for Christians themselves to tell. All I can do is quote the apostle Paul who wrote,
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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: 19-23
A true Christian will love. 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.
Jesus 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,” 

                                                                                   Matthew 5:43,44

The apostle Paul defining Christian love this way,

“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.

Please think about it.

Christians and Democracy

Christians and Democracy
“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.
While in Church the other day I met a man who said, “pray that President Trump”
I wasn’t surprised it was an evangelical church and many evangelicals support Trump. Also Christians should be praying for their political and religious leaders.
 That being said I think what is happening in the United States at this time can serve as a lesson to Christians on how to vote world wide.
Many evangelicals in North America believe Canada and the United States have governments that are Christian based. Truth is Canada and the United States unlike England, Israel and the Arab nations have no official state religion.
While there are scripture verses carved into buildings and the ten commandments are displayed in some court houses this is more of a cultural thing dating back to the birth of the two nations.
True many of our laws here in North America are based on Jewish and Christian principles but not all are.
Also having Bible verses on buildings and laws based on Biblical principles do not make nations Christian.
The fact is we in North America live in secular democracies. While many people serving in government may go to church they are not necessarily Christian. Churches in North America have a large number of people who are not Christian. They go for many reasons, tradition, to feel good, even to look good for the evangelical voters.
Still this is a good thing, that politicians or anyone for that matter attend church as that is where they can best come into a personal relationship with God.
Now all of that being said what is a Christian to do in a secular democracy?
Keep in mind that in a secular democracy such as exists in North America we will not find a politician that lines up perfectly with what we believe. They will vote for things we as Christians disagree with.
Still I believe Christians must look at the lives of each person running for political office. Jesus referring to false prophets said something that can be applied to politicians as well. He said,
“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.” Matthew 7:15-18.
Simply put in terms of a politician or for that matter anyone. You will know what the person is like by their words and deeds.
When it comes to whom you should vote for there are several Christian principles that we must look for.
1/“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.
We must look at the actions of the candidate and see what they truly stand for. Are they passing legislation that they would want imposed on themselves?
To use the American example again. Would those who are wishing to repeal the affordable care act in the United States and cut millions off health care want their health care removed, especially if they couldn’t afford paying for health care out of their own pocket?
A person seeking political office should never impose things on others that they would not want imposed on themselves.
2/ 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.
Ideally in an election this would mean supporting a candidate that is a Christian. One who love God and loves his or her neighbour unconditionally.
However in some places where there are no true Christian candidates running one needs to look to a person who by their actions shows unconditional love at the very least to their neighbour no matter who they are, their lifestyle, or what they believe. A candidate who shows genuine love for both rich and poor.
3/ The apostle John states,
         “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? 1 John 3:17.
We need to be supporting political candidates that seek to help the poor. For an elected official to help the poor costs them personally nothing. As elected officials they have the right to spend tax payers money and what better way to spend tax payers money than directly on tax payers and especially the most needy in our society?
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“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 states,
“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
I personally believe it is time for everyone who considers themselves a Christian living in a democracy such as we live in here in North America, to ask the question,
“Which candidate seeking my vote is by his or her actions truly exhibiting true Christian principles whether they are Christians or not?
Please think about it.

To the Rich

To the Rich
James writes,
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5:1-6.
There is nothing wrong with wealth. It is what we do with our wealth that can cause a problem for us. Here James is centering out those who are wealthy and oppress the others. It’s something Jesus spoke of. Jesus told 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.
Those who have wealth and power are expected by God to be respectful of those who do not and to do their best to help them even if it is only in a small way. 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.
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. 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... 
Certain kinds of tzedakah are 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.

The Greatest

The Greatest
Jesus said,
“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28.
Man’s way is not God’s way. Within our society those in power tend to tell people what to do. They do not serve those under them. Rather those under them serve them. That is that way it’s been throughout history.
Christian belief however tells us that if you wish to be great in the kingdom of God you must be a servant to all.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

“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.  

Romans 12:9,10

Please think about it.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness
Matthew’s gospel
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  
As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 
“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’  
The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’  
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18: 21-35.
Here Peter asks a simple question as to how many times should we forgive sins, to which Jesus states, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Jesus here is not telling Peter to simply forgive 490 times, but rather times without number.
He then tells the story of a servant that had a very large debt forgiven by his master who then turns around and fails to forgive a fellow servant of his debt. Having the man thrown into prison.
When the master found how the servant had treated the other servant with complete lack  of love and mercy, he then ordered the other to be thrown in jail, for failure to forgive.
Being a Christian is all about relationships, and love. Our relationship to God and those around us. Our love for God and those around us.
The Talmud while not a Christian book was written to those who believe in God. It tells this story that is very much relevant to Christians and others, it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud
Like it or not God will judge us on how we treated our fellow men.
    James the half brother of Jesus states,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!  James 2:12,13.
As Christians we are called to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us. To show mercy and love.
C. S. Lewis noted,

"To be a Christian means 

to forgive the inexcusable 

because God has forgiven 

the inexcusable in you.” 

C.S. Lewis

Martin Luther King jr. the American civil rights leader said,
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Please think about it.