Month March 2014

Christians should be nice

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Westboro Baptist founder dies

As news gets around about the passing of Fred Phelps, I need to say that he does not represent me as a christian, and I dare say very poorly represents Christianity at all. His death gives me no happiness, but it does give us all to reflect on our lives moving forward.

Ec 7:2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. – NKJV

You see, nowhere in the scripture is that kind of hatred allowed. As a matter of fact, Jesus said….

Mt 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” – NKJV

This passage is no authority for overlooking sin or allowing it. What it does speak to, is how we are to act toward folks. In another passage, which kinda reminds me of the protest of the Westboro Baptist church, we see people getting ready to stone a woman caught in adultery.

Joh 8:3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
5 “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. – NKJV

We need to learn from our Lord’s example. He pointed out to the crowd that they themselves are no better than this particular sinner. Look closely at how Jesus finishes……

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” – NKJV

We all need to be nice, sin less and obey the Gospel. If you want to bring more people to Christ then let’s see what He said….

Joh 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – NKJV

 

spencer

Borger, Tx

 

IYADWYADYAGWYAG

The Preacher Leave a comment

IYADWYADYAGWYAG 

If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got

I learned this saying about 20 years ago while managing a restaurant. The basic premise is this, if you want something better then you have to do something different. Einstein said it this way, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

In business that is a fine way to go about it. If a business fails to improve, grow or update their technology, they shall eventually die.

Change in the church

As awesome as this is in business, this is a very dangerous thing for the church. Many today feel that the church needs to change. They say….

The old ways produce so little fruit.
We need to bring the church or even the Gospel into the 21st century.
We need to preach a modern Gospel.
Let’s begin programs and organizations that will bring people into the church.
Let’s build Community centers and sports facilities.

While speaking with a pastor at a particular denomination, he commented that their Wednesday study had a larger attendance than their Sunday service. Why? “We feed ’em!” He was speaking of a weekly spaghetti dinner.

You and I would agree that feeding is most certainly required; Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.-KJV

The “food” that one serves is what is at issue. Is that the point of the Gospel? Feeding people physical food, providing entertainment when we get bored? You see, what we’re converted with, we’re converted to. What happens when you take those things away?

What if following Jesus only provided salvation? Would that be enough?

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” – NKJV

The Gospel as it was written is RELEVANT TODAY –

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. – ASV

Eph 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles–
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), – NKJV

As you can see here and other places when you study your Bible, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant today, tomorrow and forever.

A final thought…..

The Apostle Paul gives this warning about changing the Gospel……Ga 1:6 ¶ I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. – NKJV

If you always do what is GODS will, you always get what is GOD’S way!

Spencer
Borger, Tx