Love and Compromise

Love & Compromise
“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 3:1-4.
Do you let love guide your way?
The apostle Paul writes of love,

“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.
More and more I see within North American society confrontation taking place simply because people disagree with what someone believes. We are becoming a confrontational society.
Be they Christians, those of other faiths or atheist we see confrontation happening over disagreements in everything from prayer in the schools, to what is being taught in schools, to abortion to same sex marriage, to the wearing of the face coverings by some Muslim women, and more. The list seems to go on and on.
Perhaps it’s time to take a break, save some money by not hiring lawyers and going to court.
Perhaps it time to come together in love as a society and have free and open dialogue over these things with out resorting to the courts.
To show respect and understanding of others. To respect one another’s beliefs and point of view. To live and let live.
I as a Christian wish to tell people of my faith. But I do not wish to impose my faith on anyone. That would be wrong and contrary to my faith.
At the same time I have no objection to listening to what an Atheist or those of other faiths have to say. Quite honestly I believe it’s a good thing.
As long as the government or individuals do not force anyone to do something contrary to what they believe we should live and let live.
The apostle Paul says something that is good for all people to do. When he wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” 
                                                                                                         Romans 12:18.
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.
These while Christian words of wisdom are words I believe everyone can understand and put into practice.
Sadly in North American society it seems the very thing the founders of the constitutions of both Canada and the United States wrote to help people live in harmony, the assurance of “our rights” seems to be causing conflict.
People are demanding their rights without thinking that others have rights. They seem to fail to realize that living in the free secular democracy demands compromise from time to time.
Please think about it.

Freedoms Rights and Respect

Freedoms, Rights and Respect
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.  
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” 
                                                                    1 Corinthians 10:23,24.
In a previous blog I wrote that especially here in North America we have a habit of worshipping rights. Particularly the bill of rights. Some Christians and non-Christians are out there yelling about “THEIR RIGHTS!” . 
They demand their rights while failing to realize others in a democracy have their rights also.
Sadly all to many people Christian and non. Hold their rights and freedom higher than the rights and freedom of others.
From the beginning of the world God gave man freedom. It is a fundamental right of every man and woman on the planet.
God gave this freedom to man, knowing that to truly have freedom God had to give man the right to even reject Him and deny His existence.  That is the nature of true freedom. The right to believe what we wish.
Freedom also has another aspect,
Nelson Mandela said,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
                                     Nelson Mandela
I quoted above the apostle Paul who said,
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.  
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” 
                                                                    1 Corinthians 10:23,24.
No matter who we are we should be respecting the rights and the freedoms of others. That includes the right to disagree.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
                                                                                                               Romans 12:18.
That to me means allowing, even people whom we vehemently disagree with, to have the freedom to believe and do as they wish. The only proviso being they are not hurting or restricting the freedoms of others.
Please think about it.

Rights and Freedoms

Rights and Freedoms

Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“I contend the state ought to do its thing and provide legal rights for all couples who want to be joined together for life. The church should bless unions that it sees fit to bless, and they should be called marriages.”
           Tony Campolo.
Campolo makes a compelling point, after all we live in a secular democracy. And it is the government and people of that democracy that choose what is called what under the law.
The democracies we live in, in the west are at least as diverse as the Roman Empire and they as such do their best to accommodate all their citizens.
The Roman Empire had things going on that Christians and Jews would have found contrary to their moral and ethical standards. Yet the Bible does not mention anywhere that the disciples or Jesus spoke out against Rome’s authority.
In fact with the Emperor Nero in power and persecuting Christians the apostle Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”  
                                                                                                                                 Romans 13:1 
The Gospel of John records this exchange at the trial of Jesus between Pilate and Jesus,
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 
 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above...” 
                                                                                                                                    John 19:10,11a
As Christians I believe we Christians need to respect the government and the beliefs and lifestyles of those around us.
Only when governments or others start to restrict our rights or the rights of others should we be speaking out against the government or other groups.
Tony Campolo also makes another important point,
“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 as a Christian extend the hand of friendship to those of different faiths and lifestyles. I believe Jesus died for each and every individual irrespective of who they are. That Jesus offers redemption from sin to everyone.
I believe it is my duty to God to present all who will listen to me of the salvation message Jesus has to offer, not force it on them. I do it because I believe it is the most important thing I can present to those I encounter.
Jesus said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
          John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8
Paul also writes,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
                                                                                 Romans 3:23
That all means just that all. Every man and woman that has ever lived has sinned. Have fallen short of what God wants for their life and Jesus died for those sins.
C. S. Lewis stated of Jesus,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                             C.S. Lewis.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                      Matthew 11:28-30.
When Jesus said all he meant all. All who believe in Him can enter into his eternal rest.
Jesus never said it was a select group that could enter His eternal rest. That could obtain salvation. He made it clear all could.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Christians believe that it is God who reached down in the form of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. That salvation and eternal life with God is a choice and an act of faith.
A person must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That he died for their sins. That you must confess your sins directly to God. That it is the Holy Spirit that convicts men of their sins not man.
We also believe the Salvation is a personal thing between the individual and God that only God knows the heart of the individual. That no one on this earth can judge whether or not you are saved. You and God alone know that.
Please think about it.