An Admission form a Christian

An admission from a Christian.
Jesus said,
“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 write this to non-Christians with the intent of being honest.
The Church has been around a long time and like with any institution that has been around for millennia false teachers have entered the Church.
Unfortunately especially when it comes to those who espouse to be in the evangelical church there is no policing. Preachers in North America in particular can say what they want to say. They can pervert the words of Jesus and the teaching of the apostles for their own gain. In the above quoted Scripture from Matthew Jesus himself admits there will me many who say they did God’s work but were not Christians at all.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“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.
I see these men in the media all the time. You only have to Google the names of some of these preachers to see they are not Christians.
There is however a growing group of Christians in all denominations who are starting to take a hard look at the Bible and its teaching. They are turning back to the true teachings of Jesus. One of love for God, our neighbour and our enemy.
Men and women who believe the teachings of the Apostle Paul who said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
                                                                                                            Romans 12:18.
Who follow the teachings 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
“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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
Jesus who 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 22:37-40
Such men and women are the “new fundamentalist”. Men and women who know Jesus reached out to everyone irrespective of what they believed or their lifestyle.
Men and women like myself who dislike what passes for Christianity sometimes. People who wish to ensure that all people have the opportunity to feel the Joy and Peace only a relationship with Jesus can bring.
A relationship that costs nothing more than having faith in Christ.
As the apostle Paul put it,
“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
Christianity is God reaching down to man. It is Jesus calling to each and every person saying,
“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.
We believe as Christians have believed from the time of Jesus that the most important message we can give to the world is the words of Jesus who 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.  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 3:16-18..
Please think about asking Christ into you life today.

To Non-Christians

To Non-Christians

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                                Mahatma Gandhi
This is a note to non-Christians from a Christian. Above I quoted Mahatma Gandhi.  Gandhi saw a lot of people who claimed to be Christian but are not.
Just because someone goes to church, can quote scripture from memory or has a fancy television program, doesn’t mean they are Christian.
Christians are not born Christians it is a choice one makes when you are old enough to understand what you are doing.
Sadly what also happens is some pick up the bible and start preaching what it says wrongly. Yes they may have years of Bible school and seminary but that does not make them Christian. They have an agenda and pick verses and chapters from the bible out of context to back what they say.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy this warning,
“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.
This has happened all through church history and with the rise of the internet and other social media is exploding today.
Some who are preaching the Bible wrongly are I am certain are simply mislead. Others are deliberately misleading people for personal gain.
Jesus warned that on judgement day,
“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 thing is it’s often hard for someone outside, or for that matter someone, in the church to tell who a real Christian is and who is simply one in name only.
The advice I usually give to people who ask how to tell the difference is money. Every ministry needs money to continue. The good ministries will generally simply ask a person who can to give without promises made on God’s behalf. The request is usually made with a few simple well chosen words.
On the other hand ministries that are not preaching sound Christian teachings are usually preaching give to get. So called seed faith.
Give God ten, or a hundred, or a thousand and He’ll give you it back ten, a hundred or a thousand fold back. As if God is some kind of sugar daddy or banker that gives you outrageous interest.
Another key thing a true Christian will show is love kindness and understanding to all people irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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
The writer of Hebrews saying
“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.
This is what Mahatma Gandhi didn’t see in those who called themselves Christians.
A true Christian will obey the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                            1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
A true Christian will not judge those outside of the church. That is God’s place because only He knows what is on the hearts of men.
Thus I ask you to give God and Christ a chance. Please take time to read the Bible particularly the New Testament.
Pray and ask God to show you the truths there in and take time to find a church to your liking where you can learn more about God.
Please think about it.