What Good Is Christianity?

Christianity is really under attack at this time in our world, it is seems especially in our country. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. If you set back and be nothing, or do nothing, have no opinions or thoughts that differ from those which are deemed “politically correct,” then you will be left alone. If however you have strong beliefs and either act upon them or express them, you can expect to be attacked. That’s the nature of Satan and those who have been persuaded to believe as he teaches.

It is interesting to see and hear those who are on the side of evil, those who proclaim that God is dead, or that the Bible is no longer relevant or is outdated, screaming out their hateful criticism of Christians. However let me remind you that being a Christian is more than just wearing a name, it is a life style, it is woven through our belief in what is morally right or wrong. It effects our relationship to our world and those who share this world with us.

The following story makes a good point: A preacher and the president of a soap manufacturing company went for a walk together. The president said, "What good is Christianity? Look at all the trouble and misery of the world! Look at the anger, at the division among people. It’s still there, even after years, thousands of years, of teaching about goodness and truth and love and peace. Still there, after all the sermons and teachings. If Christianity is good and true, why should this be?" The preacher said nothing.

They continued walking until he noticed a child playing in the gutter. Then the preacher said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster. Of what good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!"

The president of the soap company protested, "But preacher, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!" "Exactly," replied the preacher. "Exactly."

You may not be able to change much of the world, you may not be able to stop all of the hate that is being directed towards those of us who claim to be Christians, but just like with dirt, you have to start washing somewhere. Little by little the whole body becomes clean if we don’t stop washing….

Of course the washing starts with ourselves. Peter wrote long ago, “to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also, not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3:20-21).

What good is Christianity? It gives us a moral compass that points to God! It makes us clean and it saves those eternally who are washed clean, (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

GOD WILL PROVIDE

We live in trying, unsettled, unsure times but for those of us who are Christians it is good to know that God is there for us. We trust in God, we rely upon God, we believe that God will provide what is necessary. After all Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

But, is there more to living by faith than just believing and trusting? I believe there is!

A friend shared this story with me that speaks to this problem. “A girl brought home her fiance, a theology student, to meet her parents for the first time. Her father was keen to learn what prospects the boy had.

"How do you plan to make a living?" asked the father. "I don't know," said the student, "but God will provide." The father raised his eyebrows. "Do you own a car?" "No," said the student, "but God will provide." "I see. And where are you thinking of living once you're married? "No idea, but I'm sure God will provide."

Later the mother asked the father what he thought of their prospective son-in-law. "Not a lot, really," sighed the father. "He's got no money and seems to have given precious little thought to the future. But on the positive side, he must think I'm God!"

You see it is a act of faith to trust in God and trust that he will provide, but God also instructs us that our faith requires some actions to have God work in our lives. James 2:14-16 tells us, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

The attitude of the young man in the story above is not a new concept. It is my understanding that when the Gospel was first preached that people really, really believed that Christ was coming back very soon. They gave up there jobs and set with others in their places of worship and prayed and sang waiting for the Lord to come back, believing that God would provide for them. In response to to that problem, Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:10-11, “While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”

I honestly believe that God will provide, but I am also very committed to the fact that He requires us to do something to make that happen.

If you want your life to be blessed, then work at it, if you want your church to be blessed, then work at it and God will provide the increase.

A Light...

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I was thinking about this scripture after our bible class the other night and thought how we often limit the scope of this instruction. As near as I can remember I believe that I have always heard this scripture applied to those of the world. That’s good, that’s how it should be, but I think we forget how much our light effects those around us in God’s family also.

Shinning on the world is good, John says the world is filled with darkness and loves the darkness… it doesn’t really know any better. It doesn’t know or has forgotten the blessings that come from being in the light. But what about those in God’s family who are struggling, who are barely holding on, who’s spirits are near the edge of breaking. Do we ever think about how important it is to shine the light in their direction also?

I was remembering a scene from the movie, “The Mummy”. In this scene at one point they enter a dark cavern like room below a pyramid. There is a shaft of light shining into the room from above. They move a ancient mirror in front of the shaft of light and direct it into the room where it shines upon other mirrors arranged around the room. Suddenly the whole room is bathed in light, you can see everything, treasures beyond imagination, more gold than you could spend in a lifetime.

I wonder how much treasure could be revealed if you took the time to shine your light on others the way you are supposed to? One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 3:12-13 where we are told, “see to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

So, how about making a special effort this week to shine your light, it may make a difference in whether or not they turn away from God or not.

HALLOWEEN, MASKS AND THE ELECTION

Here we are at the Halloween season once again and I don’t aim to promote or condemn it as such just to make some observations. It’s a time for what we call “trick or treat,” which used to mean you pass out treats to those who visited because you wanted to do something nice for the children in you neighborhood. The visitors dress up in strange costumes, wear masks, wigs, face paint, etc. You passed out some treat or you might have your widows smeared with soap or something else as relatively mild as a consequence. It really was (and sometime still is) a community activity meant to be enjoyed.

Times have changed through the years though, for some, what had been a fun time has become a dark and dangerous time. Kids can’t go out unattended any longer, it’s not safe, there are human predators stalking our streets seeking to do harm to folks and property. That doesn’t speak well for our society does it? Many of the “Trick or Treaters,” have changed also. For some It’s no longer about just having fun it’s about “what you can get for yourself,” and what kind of destruction you can cause and the masks and costumes are just a way to hide your identity.

Of course as I was thinking about this, the current elections came to mind and how much they mirror the “Halloween Mentality”. It seems that all of those running for some office wear mask and costumes, trying to hide who they truly are and it seems also more interested in how holding some office can benefit them and not others. Now, I imagine that there are some politicians somewhere (I know one personally), who truly does seek only to help folks and not benefit themselves, but seems a rare thing. What comforts me in these troubled times is that if God can use ungodly men like king Nebuchadnezzar, and the Pharaoh of Egypt to serve his purposes he can still do it today.

Now here is the difficult thing; we don’t know God’s purpose or his reason for doing things in a certain way. What we do know is that God is in control and no matter who wins the earthly election, we have already won the eternal election if we are Christians. 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then in verse 10 & 11 he adds, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The bottom line is that if we serve God faithfully, out Election to the eternal kingdom is assured. It’s an office for life, with no term limits. No masks, no costumes, only the real us revealed before God. I’m tired already of the earth elections, but excited about the eternal one, how about you?

I WANT A NEW ONE

I was doing some work at our house the other day and I kind of over did it. I worked on different projects for probably about 5 hours and I was so tired that I really didn’t feel like doing anything else the rest of the day. You probably know how that feels, just worn out.

The other day I saw an “older gentleman,” with a tee shirt that had a caption with which I could identify. It said, “This Body… One owner, High Mileage, Needs work!” Simple, straight forward, to the point! That describes me at times… and perhaps you also.

Folks often say that it would be great to “turn back the clock,” to a time when we were younger, with the addition of keeping the knowledge we have now. Yes, that is very appealing; a younger body, no aches, no pains, smooth skin, strong muscles, but at this point even with all of our medical technology it is just not possible; at least not possible here on earth.

I heard a story about a little boy who came running to his father and said, “Dad, I just figured what the Bible is about.” His days, said, “Really, what is it about?” The son answered, “It’s on the front, “B.I.B.L.E. and it means, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I guess he got it right didn’t he, that just about sums it up. That is what the Bible is all about, because we for sure are not going to stay here on earth forever.

At times I’m ready for that change, the older I get the more I understand the power of the promise. That’s the promise the Apostle Paul was trying to help us understand in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 where he said: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!  It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.  For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.”(NLT)

Yes, I’m ready for a new one, a new body, one like Jesus, no more pain, no more weariness; no more parts that sometimes refuse to cooperate. There is a time coming when my ‘High mileage” body will be traded in for a new one. That’s what I planning for, that what I’m looking forward to! How about you?

Rejected but loving anyway

I don't know about you, but sometimes I'm not very smart regarding relationships. There are times when I need to focus on what I am doing just a little more, perhaps be a little more aware than I am. Most likely all of us at sometime uses our time poorly and perhaps relate to others in less than appreciated ways.

A friend, Tom, told me that recently they had one of their young grand daughters visiting. She got a Barbie Doll and was playing with it on the floor. He being a good grandfather, got down on the floor with her and tried to show some interest in what she was doing. After a few minutes she looked at him and said, “Grandpa, don't you have somewhere else you can play?” Wow! That's pretty blunt, but she made it clear that she knew what she intended to do and didn't want him interfering.

How do you help someone who doesn't want to be helped? How do you share with someone who doesn't want your input? How do you love someone who doesn't want to be loved? Jesus had that problem though he understood exactly what people needed. Yet even he couldn't force them to want or except his company, his teaching or his love.

Jesus understood this completely and warned his followers in Luke 9:22, “The Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests and the scribes. Then he must be killed, but on the third day he will be raised.”

In Matthew 23:37 Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling.”

Rejected! How do you deal with being rejected? That's one of our greatest fears isn't it? Why don't we get more involved in people's lives? Why aren’t we more open in telling others about the Gospel message? It's not that we fear folks will harm or kill us (for the most part), it's that we fear they may reject us and our message isn't it? Should that stop us from sharing, from trying to be involved in the lives of other folks? Of course not… It didn't stop Tom from loving that grand daughter and it didn't stop Jesus from loving this world. What about you?

The Egg

In a land beyond the ocean in a country far, far away lived a man. He lived a life normal for his small village, working, farming, raising a family, just living life. He was surrounded by beliefs that many of us would find strange. Although he worshiped a higher power, a creator, he was surrounded by those who practiced witchcraft, casting evil spells and controlling people’s lives.

As time passed some missionaries came to this land and taught people about a man named Jesus. Many believed, yet at the same time, many did not. The Witch doctors were of course very unhappy as they made their living selling spells, potions and talismans to the people. Those who turned to follow Jesus rejected witchcraft, so there was a constant conflict among them.

The man in our story came to follow Jesus, he began to practice Christianity. The man’s wife was a believer in witchcraft and opposed her husbands continually and it was a serious problem between them. It was so much of a problem that she couldn’t stand it any longer and decided to take drastic action. She went to the Witchdoctor and asked for a way to change or kill her husband.

The Witchdoctor had the perfect plan; he went to the man’s house while he was working in the fields and placed an egg before the door of the house. He made a special incantation over the egg and sprinkled it with a supposed “magic” powder. When the Christian man looked at the egg it was supposed to make him sick and cause him to die.

When the Christian man arrived home he saw the egg and knew just what it was. He noticed all of his neighbors watching from their doorways and wondering what he would do. To the man it was a test of his new faith; he no longer believed that Witchcraft had any power over him, so he decided to prove that point. He walked up to the egg and proclaimed loudly, “Look at this, God has blessed me with an egg for my supper”. He went into his home, gathered a pan and things to make a fire. He came out and made a fire in front of his house and cooked the egg and ate it to the amazement of all of his neighbors. It was his testimony of his faith in Jesus Christ.

Now you may think that this is an interesting story, but just a story. But it is not! It is a true story that really happened in a small village in Kenya, East Africa. I have been to the house of the man, I have worshiped at the church he began in his village, I have met his wife who was then a believer also.

What is your testimony? What does the world think of when they see you? Does your faith show though in the way you live, the things you say, the way you dress, the faith you exhibit in your actions? Jesus put it in simple terms for us in Matthew 5:15-16 where he said, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. How are you doing?