MADNESS RUN AMUCK

AMERICA IS GOING CRAZY; at least a large portion of it is. I am beginning to fear that our beloved country is on the verge of self-destructing. That is exactly what will happen if Americans don’t come to their senses quickly and denounce and condemn this idiocy and hatred that is being spread among us by extremist groups that are only a small percentage of our population. The far left of our political spectrum, the left-wing media, and the far-left democrats are fanning the flames of racism, dissent and hatred; and it is fast getting out of hand, fostering more hatred, resulting in killing, destruction of property and further dividing our country.

I am in favor of peaceful assembly and demonstrations according to the constitutional Bill of Rights; but the moment they turn destructive and deadly, they should be declared illegal and broken up. I believe most Americans can see that all of this madness is being unjustly blamed on our duly elected president. I also believe that the objective behind all this craziness is the obstruction and failure of his presidency.

Every possible negative is being used in the fight: Political correctness, lies, hatred, bigotry, racism, and even the entertainment media. When I saw that an ESPN sports announcer had been fired; simply because his name was Robert E. Lee, that was the straw of stupidity that broke the camel’s back.

These people who are fanning the flames of all this madness into a frenzy are the enemies of our nation; and they seem bent its destruction. They don’t love our country and its way of life; and they would rather see it destroyed than to succeed under the current presidency. They are offering nothing to solve its problems. America is deeply divided and they only want to further divide it. Tearing down our statues and monuments will not heal our land; only further divide it.

What America really needs is to turn back to God. The Bible tells us, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17 We also read in 21 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Celebrate Jesus' Life

The Christmas holidays are past and now the next big Christian holiday will be Easter, the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Christians are blessed to have a Living Savior. Jesus bodily arose from the dead; there was no body left behind for His dead body was changed to a living glorified body. He became a quickening Spirit by His resurrection and He gives eternal life to all who will repent of their sins and believe in Him.

We celebrate His birth on Christmas day. Let’s devote the other 364 days to celebrating His life. The best way to celebrate His life is to live this life knowing we have eternal life in us. If we know we have eternal life in us, every day should be filled with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory. Let us spread it all around to everyone. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”(1 John 3:14 KJV)

M.O.E. Ministry of Encouragement

I have discovered a niche that is vitally needed but it is not a crowded field. It is the Ministry of Encouragement. All Christians should encourage other Christians as well as non-Christians. It has been my sad experience that people who call themselves Christians, spend far too much of their precious time berating other Christians. There is too little tolerance among Christians; especially toward those of other denominations. Folks, we are all trying to get to the same place so let’s be a help and not a hindrance to each other.

Is our goal to point people to Christ and to heaven? Or is our goal to get them into our church? I have seen many people who were turned off to Christians because, “They fight among themselves too much.” This is not good for the cause of Christ.

If we all believe in Jesus, that He is the Son of God, that He died so our sins could be forgiven and that He arose from the dead so we could have eternal life, then we have enough in common with other believers to make us brothers and sisters and we should not fight among ourselves.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35, KJV)

I want to encourage all Christians to put these verses into practice in the New Year. You have the tremendous power to possibly make the difference in someone’s eternal destiny. As a young Christian in my twenties, I was blessed to have many encouragers who were great help in my Christian life. I also had lots of discouragers who tried to tell me I wasn't saved or I was in the wrong church; and many other things that were a hindrance to me. Maybe the people meant well but they were sadly lacking in Christian love and discipleship methods. Let us be very careful to never become a stumbling block to anyone.

Understanding the Bible

During the holidays I have been reading my favorite blogs. If I combine all the talking points I’ve read, a most interesting pattern emerges. It is in the way people understand and interpret the Scriptures. I make no claim to being an expert in Biblical Hermeneutics but it deeply troubles me that people can see one verse or a passage of Scriptures and interpret it in so many different ways. I can only conclude it is because of the influence of so many theologians across the centuries.

Theologians have provided us with dozens of different understandings of the Bible and we have to ask, which is the right understanding? It is my belief there can be only one correct interpretation of the Bible. Any passage of Scriptures may have many different applications but there is always one true message which God intended for us to receive from it. How do we discover the intended message from the Scriptures? That is what Biblical Hermeneutics is all about.

Hermeneutics throws all the confusing theologies out the window and allows the Bible to be its own interpreter. All Scripture is in agreement with and supports and confirms all other Scriptures. Only when we compare Scripture with Scripture can we arrive at the one correct interpretation of their meaning. In the coming weeks and months, I hope to further expand in this subject. I would greatly appreciate comments from those who read this blog.

What Shall I Do With Jesus Which Is Called Christ?

On Palm Sunday Jesus rode triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem, amidst the cheers and adoration of the crowd of people that gathered along the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:9–10)

Late in the night, on Thursday, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and apprehended by the by the elders and the chief priests who took him to the high priest where he was charged and condemned to death. The high priest sent Jesus to Pilate who sent him to Herod who sent him back to Pilate. Pilate questioned the people about Jesus. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:22)

What happened between Sunday and Thursday? Why did the people turn against Jesus so quickly? The answer, Jesus did not live up to their expectations of him. They wanted a new king for Israel. Jesus never claimed to be the king of the Jews. Instead, he preached about the kingdom of heaven.

He began talking about death and said things like, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) The life of serving God was a life of service to mankind. They wanted a king to set them free from servitude. In fact, hosanna, in the Greek, means, “Oh save.” It comes from a Hebrew word, yasha, which means, rescue us. They wanted to be rescued from the Romans.

Jesus’ popularity with the people quickly dissipated. Their shouts of praise changed to calls for his death. How many people expect Jesus to be something he is not? How many of us want Jesus to fit our concept of a Savior? How many of us are willing to follow him while he feeds the multitudes but turn against him when he starts making demands of us to follow him while bearing a cross?

Jesus came to save us from our sins; and for that he had to die. Why can’t people study their Bibles and see what Jesus was really all about. How many of us praise him on Sunday but by Thursday have turned away from him?

What will you do with Jesus?

Christian Love

The hallmark of the Christian is love. The hallmark is the mark of genuineness. Genuine Christians love; they love their neighbors as themselves and they love one another with a genuine love.

Jesus told a Pharisee, a doctor of the law, who had asked him which was the greatest commandment. Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37–39) It is understood that our neighbor is every other person alive. Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments down to two commandments for, he said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40) If we keep these two commandments, we fulfill all the Law and the Prophets. Regardless of what you might think about their implications, these are God’s commandments and they are intended for all people to live by. Jesus included these commandments in the New Covenant and everyone who calls themselves a Christian is to live by them. They demand a tough love because we are not allowed to pick and choose who we are going to love.

Jesus also said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:43–44) Christians, Are you fulfilling the law of love as set forth by Christ?

If we are Christians, we are followers of Christ and that makes us disciples of Christ. in the following Scripture, Jesus gave instructions aimed directly at his disciples. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35) His first requirement is that we love one another as he has loved us. How did he love us? He loved us enough that he left his Glory that he had with the Father; and came to the earth and took on the form of a man in a demonstration of solidarity with us. He taught us his ways which are the ways of righteousness. He freely laid down his life as an offering for our sins. He arose from the dead and ascended back to the Father where he is our advocate making intercession for us.

Now, he is asking that we love each other with that same love wherewith he loved us. One of the saddest things which I have observed, in my forty six years in the ministry, is that to many “denominational Christians” spend far too much of their time putting down other Christians instead of loving them and praying for them and uplifting them as they should.

Then, Jesus places the hallmark of genuineness on Christian love. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) When the world sees us Christians, do they recognize us as Christians because of how we love each other? If we love as Jesus loved, we are genuine Christians.

In the Scripture verses which I have given you, the word “love,” appears five times. Four times it is used as a verb which means it is something we do. Once, it is used as a noun. Can you tell which one that is? Love is something wonderful that Christ gives us. Love is also what all Christians are to do if they please God. The word Jesus used for love is the Greek word, agapao, which is the verb form of the word. It is found 127 times in the New Testament. The noun form is agape. It is found 89 times in the New Testament. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

What Christmas is All About

Christmas is all about Christ.

It is not about Hanukkah.
It is not about Hindu or Islam.
It is not about Santa Claus and eight tiny reindeer.
It is not about Christmas trees, bright lights and snow.
It is not about toys and shopping.
It is not about black Friday and businesses making profits.

Christmas is about Christians celebrating the birth of the Savior of all men.
Christmas is about the Christ, the anointed one, the one chosen by God the Father to be the Redeemer of all men.
Christmas is about the Christ Child; born of a virgin named Mary.
Christmas is about Jesus, the son of man and the Son of God.
Christmas is about Emmanuel, which means, God is with men.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10–11

Let us celebrate Christ and not the season.
Have a blessed Christmas.