Christian Against Christian

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Lynn

I’ve been called lots of things in my life but “unchristian”, “hateful” and “un-American” are new to me, especially since the one who threwis-your-church-divided-by-disunity those monikers at me was a Pastor’s wife!  She apparently did not take kindly to my posting on FB a couple of articles that presented her presidential candidate in a less than favourable light and was very quick to write a very long explanation why her candidate was worthy of her vote and the other one was not.

I have deleted the article postings because who am I to cause another to stumble?

I am “un-American”… I am Canadian, so she was totally right with that one comment, but to call me hateful and unchristian because we disagreed on opinion just goes to show how terribly divisive this Presidential Campaign has become for Christians here in North America.  And the enemy, (Satan) is having a hay day!!

What better way for the enemy to gain a foothold in the world but to pit Christian against Christian?  The more divided we are amongst ourselves, the less relevant our witness is to those who are unbelievers.  The more we bicker amongst ourselves, the less we have time to do what Christ called us to do: Share the Gospel!

Sitting in pews, in churches all across our two nations, Canada and the U.S.A., there are well-meaning Christians who have polarizing opinions on who should sit in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C.  Christian authors and Pastors who have spoken out in favour of one or the other candidate have instantly been ostracized by congregants and by the Christian community who may disagree with their presidential choice.  I have read comments online from Christians who threaten to “never read” or buy any more of Max Lucado’s books for example, just because he has a differing opinion from them as to who should be in the White House.  Unbelievable!

There are good folks who sit beside me in church who do not share the same opinions as I do about MANY societal issues.  I have a right to my opinion as they do to theirs.  It is not right for me to question whether or not they are more or less “Christian” than I am based on those opinions.  Unless their opinion or mine goes against direct Biblical teaching, we should continue to live in fellowship with one another and try to avoid any divisive words between us.

“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 ESV

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”  1 Corinthians 1:10-13

This presidential election is making one thing abundantly clear: we are under a Spiritual attack from the enemy as never before in my lifetime, and the Church needs to recognize it and pray against the attack now!  One of the most effective strategies of Satan is to bring about division in the Body of Christ.  Jesus’ desire is for Church unity:

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John 17: 15-23  

What is happening when we are name-calling one another, questioning our faith in Christ and refusing to forgive another brother or sister for differing opinions?  We are causing a line of division amongst believers, we are grieving the Holy Spirit, and a waiting, watching world is ultimately rejecting our message of peace and hope.

For shame, America, (and Canada) for shame!

 

 

 

Posted in Proverbs 16:9 - Journey Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

How Many People Can I Offend Today?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Lynn

Ok, here goes…

After the recent debacle of the Canadian quartet, Tenors at the MLB All Star Game, that saw a rogue, “lone wolf” member change the lyrics of our beloved National Anthem to make what he says is NOT a “political statement”, but the entire country would disagree with that….

…I am moved to post what will likely be my most controversial blog response ever.

The what-was-he-thinking-Tenor, not only offended all Canadians by changing the lyrics of our National Anthem, he also offended an entire “Black Lives Matter” movement in the U.S. that has grown in recent weeks after police officers were filmed manhandling and then shooting black men they were trying to subdue.  I am not here to comment on the actions of police officers in these shootings.  The subsequent gunning down of five upstanding, white officers in Dallas, assassinated for all intents and purposes, as retribution for the two shootings by police days before, is an act of terrorism – plain and simple.

The fact is ALL LIVES MATTER whether they are unborn, born, red, yellow, black or white, male or female.  We’re all precious in God’s sight, but desecrating our Canadian National Anthem to state the obvious is not the way to get the point across.

The heartache lies in the fact that we, as people, made in the image of God, do not see each other as God sees us: His greatest masterpiece of Creation!  We define our worth by how others see us.  We demand respect and admiration for things deserved and undeserved.  We want equality at the expense of others.  We label those with differing views as bigoted or intolerant.  We only see the colour of a man’s skin, the accent in a man’s dialect, and the difference in a man’s culture that will either draw us towards that man or away from that man.  (And I’ve already offended many here by not being “gender neutral” in that statement.)

Our “O’Canada” anthem has taken quite a beating over the past few months with the lyrics being changed from “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command” (a grammatically disastrous change I might add).  Our anthem changed by well-meaning, but perhaps a little misguided members of parliament so that the words would no longer be offensive to women, but also to those who do not acknowledge a gender.  It shows just how ridiculous our political correctness has taken us.

Being politically correct does not necessarily make you CORRECT!  In fact, political correctness is an outright contradiction to the teachings in scripture.  Have I offended anyone yet?

Yes, all lives matter, but to me God matters more!

As Christians we are not children of this world, but Children of God.  We are to live by His rules, follow His teachings and conform to His standards, not the world’s.  “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:1-6

As Christians we are called to cast off our former way of life, which was focused entirely on self, and embrace a life that is centred on God.  “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.  That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:17-24

As Christians we are to speak the Truth in love, remembering that we are saved by Grace, a grace that must also be extended to all.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

Lastly, as Christians we are not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”.  It is more important for us to live according to the Bible than to compromise our beliefs by being politically correct.

We are united with Christ and must acknowledge His Kingship in our lives.  We are to model our lives after Him!  “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.   And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:1-11

Live in such a way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Proverbs 16:9 - Journey Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

25 Encouraging Scripture Verses that Prove God IS IN CONTROL

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Lynn

I have been appalled by the violence that has rocked the country this past week.  Then there has been news of building tensions in the Faith is seeing...Middle East and along the Russian border.  Canadian servicemen being assembled on the frontlines.  An Amber Alert for a missing child, the drowning of another child in a swimming pool, road rage, murders and a devastating flood and typhoon overseas.  It is heart wrenching and makes me heart-weary watching the news.  Still, in the midst of all this turmoil, I KNOW God is in control.  It is sometimes hard to fathom the height and depth and width of God’s Love when surrounded by such an out-of-control world, but HE IS SOVEREIGN!  How do I know?  These scriptures assure me:

Psalm 115  “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?”  Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.  But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.  They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.  They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.  They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.  Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—he is their help and shield.  House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—he is their help and shield.  You who fear him, trust in the Lord—he is their help and shield.  The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord—small and great alike.

May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.  May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.  It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.  Praise the Lord.”

Genesis 50:20  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

2 Chronicles 20:5,6,9  “Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you…‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

Isaiah 41:10  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

John 14:27  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 94:19  “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Joshua 1:9  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

1 Peter 5:6-7  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Isaiah 35:4  “say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Psalm 99:1-3  “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.  Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.  Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.”

Luke 12:22-26  “Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

Psalm 27:1-5, 13,14  “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord  all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 55:4-8, 16-18, 22   “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest.  I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.  Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.  He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.  Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Deuteronomy 31:6  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 118:6-7  “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?   The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I look in triumph on my enemies.”

Romans 8:38-39  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 91:1-16  “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.   A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

1 Chronicles 29:11  “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”

Proverbs 19:21  “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Isaiah 45:5-7, 22-24  “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.  I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other.  I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.  “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.  They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’”

Proverbs 16:4-9  “The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.  The Lord detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.  Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.  When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.  Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.  In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Hebrews 2:5-13  ““What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?  You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.  But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.  Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.  He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”  And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2 Timothy 1:7 -12  “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.   And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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