Hypocrasy or Theology?

Today I posted a cartoon on my facebook page. In light of what recently happened in Newton, CT it was insensitive of me. I have apologized on fb and would take it down if I knew how to.

LET ME SAY IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS; THIS WAS NOT A COMMENT BY ME ON THE CHILDREN WHO DIED OR WHETHER OR NOT GOD SHOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE OR WOULD HAVE STOPPED IT.  It is a comment, I believe, on the current hypocrisy in America when it comes to God.

What surprised me was how the cartoon illicited some extremely intense feelings. That was the purpose of the cartoon. It was to raise a question, to make a point. That's what cartoons have always done. Hopefully they always will. As one of the fb comments read, "I just also think that the point of the cartoon is more about hypocrisy than theology" I do too. Here is the cartoon.

Okay, please keep in mind that this is NOT my statement about Newton. But why did it connect in my mind as making a statement I liked. (Usually I try to stay away from things like this on fb, but without thinking I clicked "share") Well, if you've been following this blog at all you'll see that one of the things I hate most in myself and others is the "H" word. That's right. HYPOCRISY. I hate it. I really, really do. I am not free of hypocrisy, but it doesn't keep me from hating it.

hy·poc·ri·sy

Noun: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

Folks, can I be honest with you. Christians are probably the number one offenders in this area. We who claim to honor God and to follow His precepts are the first to rip, tear and destroy each other. Apologies are almost unheard of. Reconciliation, the very thing Jesus came for, seldom pursued. Materialism, self-centeredness, all there. Shame on us!

It doesn't stop with us, the conservative right though. The liberal left is equally hypocritical. (I speak on both counts in general terms) You profess to be environmentalist and you can't stop driving your cars, turn off your power, a/c and heat and halt consumption of products which you KNOW are harmful to the environment and yet you castigate without mercy corporations and third world countries who for opposing reasons misuse, to some extent, the environment. Michael Crichton in his novel State of Fear got it right. Read it, if you dare.

But there is a growing hypocrisy in America that is becoming unbearable. It is this, we claim to be a "nation under God and in whom we trust in" but the reality is that we don't want God anywhere near us most of the time. We have taken God out of public schools. We have taken Christ out of Christmas. Now there's an hypocrisy of gargantuan proportions. You who don't want symbols of Christmas displayed on public grounds or others to use the words "Merry Christmas" and yet continue to celebrate a holiday that has God at it's origin. Huh? You want tolerance for yourselves, but won't extend it to others. For those of us who believe in Jesus, no matter how offensive you may find him, leave us alone and allow us to celebrate a holiday that is meaningful to us. It was ours first.

But I digress. I challenge you, before you get offended at the cartoon above to take some time and study history. I believe that you will find that as every great civilisation of the past has risen and fallen, it's demise has been accompanied by a deterioration of the moral standards of it's society AMONG OTHER THINGS. I do not know which comes first. I do know this, as the morals of society decline, so crime rates (including murder) rise, devaluation of life and family, of honesty and ethics decline as well. This decline becomes evident in; corrupt politicians and officers of the law, corporate greed, divorce rates, pregnancy of unwed mothers resulting in single parent homes, legalized abortion and euthanasia, etc. Does this sound familiar?

So here are two questions. Is our society in decline as evidenced by a decline in social morals? Is there hypocrisy  in America when it comes to "claiming" God when we need Him, but doing away with him when we want to live our lives different than His laws teach?

I want you to know something about me. My heart breaks when I see the pictures of those little children who died. But my heart also breaks when I see children who have lost parents due to divorce, when I see children without enough food to eat or clothes to wear. When I see children who have been abused by sexual predators. Or bullied.

We can get all up in arms about arms (gun control), but why don't we get all worked up about the things I just listed? Do we really care that much? Are we hypocrites? 

We can't change what happened last week, but you and I can get radical about changing the lives of a child who is suffering from the things I listed above.  

Your comments are welcome.

Does It Matter What We Believe?

I've been asking the question, "Does it matter how we live" in past blogs. Now I want to ask the question, "Does it matter WHAT we believe". In Christian circles "what" we believe is called "doctrine". Everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, has doctrines that they believe in. And these doctrines do actually determine how we live our lives to some extent. Don't believe me?  Here's a doctrine I have seen on a bumper sticker that many Americans live their lives by...Christians and non Christians. "He who dies with the most toys wins!" You say, "Well that's just a joke". No, I'm afraid it isn't. It is the doctrine of materialism in it's crudest form.

Other doctrines, i.e. live and let live, do unto others as you would have them do to you...or the reverse, do unto others as they do to you.  Kill'em all, let God sort'em out, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get, the early bird gets the worm. All of these funny little sayings are actually reflections of our beliefs. Doctrines. And while no single doctrine typically orders our entire life, there is no doubt that they color our perceptions and hence, directly impact the way we think, act and react.

From a Christian perspective doctrines are either true or false. Biblical or unbiblical. It is possible for Christians to have differing views on doctrines and neither view be considered false. Take for instance eschatology which is the Biblical study of end times prophecy. There are several differing views on when and how this will happen. Why does this not make one or more of the views false? Because all of the viewpoints agree on one point. Jesus will someday return.

There is a particular doctrine that started in the Christian church about 20 years ago. It has been called the "prosperity doctrine" or the  "health and wealth gospel". I have believed for a long time that it is mostly a false doctrine and I am beginning to believe that it has done more damage to the Christian church and to individual believers than any false teaching that has come along in many years. Why?

In brief, this teaching says that God designed and wants every Christian to be healthy and prosperous.This teaching has at it's core some truth. God never intended us to be sick or poor, but...sin entered the world and with it the curse of disease, death and drudgery. Truth: God does bless, heal and prosper. False: God does not guarantee any of it this side of heaven. Truth: If we give to God and others we will be blessed. False: In doing so God is obligated to reward us in this life.

The damage. I have seen good people who can ill afford it give money to preachers and churches because they have been talked into believing that God will bless them 100 fold if they do. These are often multi million dollar ministries. I have seen people who are ill and have not been healed blame themselves for their lack of faith.

The reality: God does works miracles. He does heal. He does prosper us. I have seen both in my own life, but in order for God's promises to be true, they must be universal. I have traveled enough and seen enough to know that there are Christians around the world who live in places of deep poverty and despair. It is an insult to them and to those great men and women of the past who have suffered, bled and died for their faith when we teach this doctrine which has it's origin in our American lifestyle and world view. A lifestyle that heaps luxuries most of the world can only dream of upon us.

Instead, I believe that God has given His church the responsibility to feed and care for the poor and the sick. In so doing we show God's love to others, especially when it cost us. I have been reading an excellent book that should be required reading for all pastors and thinking Christians. It is written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, titled When Helping Hurts, alleviating poverty without hurting the poor...and yourself. In it they take a serious look at why the Church should be involved in poverty alleviation and why so much of what we do actually hurts those we want to help. I think the welfare system here in America would benefit by applying many of these principals to their own programs.

So does what we believe affect how we live? You bet your bottom dollar it does! Are you gonna' give your way to riches or are you going to give of you riches? Do you follow Jesus' example, he who gave up the glory and riches of heaven to be born as the poorest of the poor, in a manger, so that he could reconcile us to himself? Or do you live like a king? We live our lives based on what we believe in. And that's a fact!

Note: This very brief look at the health and wealth gospel does not do it justice. I am no theologian. Greater, more intelligent men than I have argued the validity of this doctrine. I can only tell you what I see and how I see it. It's up to you to decide.

Joy, it's what makes the difference.

Joy. In this whole discussion of "does it matter how we Christians live" the word or idea of "joy" or "joyfulness" stands out as something we are supposed to have, to posess, intrinsic to our experience as Christians. It's probably the one thing I lack most. It's probably the one thing I desire most.


John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

These are the words of Jesus. So what does the word "joy" mean? Strong's defines joy in the Greek as: G5479
χαρά
chara
khar-ah'
From G5463; cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

Cheerfulness...calm delight...gladness...exceeding gladness. Wow! Here's my problem. The stock market goes up, I'm exceedingly glad. The stock market goes down, I'm exceedingly unhappy. My children are well behaved and exhibit joy themselves, I'm joyful too. They fight and fuss, I'm upset and angry. My wife...well better not go there, but I trust you get the picture. What I'm saying is that my happiness is most often dependent on my circumstances, the weather, my satisfaction with my job, my income and the list goes on and on.

Jesus says, "No, that's not how it works." I give you my joy as part of your trust and belief in me. Let me quote from Mark Buchannan's book, Your God is too Safe again. "...true celebration is deciding purposefully to rejoice and making every effort to do so. Celebration is the practice of lifting our eyes from our preoccupation with all the work we have to do and the trouble we're in and the money we owe and the reputation we strive to keep - to lift our eyes from all that and set them on things above. It's training ourselves, in the midst of and in spite of all that might be amiss, to see heaven:..."

I love that last sentence. "Training ourselves, in the midst of and in spite of all that might be amiss, to see heaven." I think that is what I was trying to express in my last post. I couldn't quite find the words to express what I was feeling. How do you describe what might be more real than the reality we are in. How do you describe what it is we might be missing because we are focused myopically on the reality of this world? We need to train ourselves to see heaven. We need to be farsighted. That is, looking beyond the reality of this world, the reality of our circumstances, to what is even more real.

Sadly, so many of us, myself included, who profess to know Christ lack this joy. There are moments, even days were I have joy, but at some point something will come along and take that from me. Joy is not happiness. It is not denying the things that make us sad, the death of a loved one is a sad event, the loss of your job is not something to rejoice in...usually. Christian joy is this; training ourselves to see heaven. It's what makes us different.

The Honest Christian

What if.....

I recently watched a YouTube video about a man who died, but was given a second chance. There are many instances of this happening to people out there. I'm not here to debate the "doctrinal" possibilities of this happening. There are many who will scoff at this or use the Bible to disprove it. And that's okay. A lot of people didn't believe that Lazarus had died and been restored to life either. I don't know if what this man tells about really happened. He believes it did and it's his story...not mine. However, he said something that really got me thinking, especially as I had already been thinking along these lines.

He said this (more or less). "The spiritual world is far more real than this world." So here's my what if. What if this life isn't the one that's real?  What I mean is this. What if all the things we concentrate our energy on; work, careers, houses, cars, entertainment, money...all the things we see as vital to our success and happiness aren't the things that are real, that are going to matter to us for more than the few years we will spend here on earth. Instead, what if the things that matter, that are real are only the things we do that will carry over to the next life. What if the spiritual world really is far more real than this world?

We spend endless amounts of energy on the things I mention above. Maybe the right question to ask is, "What are the things that will carry into eternity?" I don't have a black and white answer for you. Many people would say the time you spend at church, helping others, praying are the things that count. There may be truth in that, but somehow I think it goes deeper than that. I'm not quite sure how to express it in words, but I can sense it in my spirit.

Each day that goes by intensifies my believe that this life is not the real life. That most of the things we focus our energy on are only distractions to what is real. They're not intrinsically evil, some are even necessary. It's more about the focus, the place of importance we assign them. The real life is spiritual, eternal. My understanding of scripture is that what we do with this life really does have an impact on the next life. Not just where we will spend it (heaven or hell), but we will be doing for all eternity. Maybe by focusing in this life on the things that matter in the next life, maybe it really is preparation for our eternal careers.

Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone

Scripture tell us that. "...man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". (Mat. 4:4) With that I must agree, especially as it comes from the mouth of Jesus. The thing I've been thinking about is this. How and by whom are we to be fed spiritually?

In my last post I was honest with you. I haven't been in church much lately. Some Christians have asked me this question when they learn this, "If you're not going to church, how are you being fed?" I usually respond with my own question, "If you saw someone feeding a twenty year old man, what would you think?" My guess is that you would assume that he (the one being fed) was mentally challenged or perhaps had some neuromuscular desease like MS. But, what if there was not one thing wrong with this man other than he had never been taught to feed himself or was perhaps just to lazy. If you were the type of person who spoke his or her mind I expect you would castigate him in no uncertain terms. You might even have a few choice words for the one doing the feeding. Surely you would not see this as normal behavior!

And yet there are an untold number of Believers whose only "feeding" is when they go to church on Sundays and are spoon fed by the pastor. And this is the accepted norm. There are a fewer number who each morning turn to their favorite devotional writer to be fed. And finally there are those, fewer yet, who pick up the Word and feed themselves, wrestling with scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to do as he promised. (John 16:13)

Now, before you call me names like "heretic" or "troublemaker" or close this blog in disgust, allow me to clarify. The intent of this post is not to down play the importance of preaching or to negate the writings of men and women far more spiritual and learned than I. Both have their place and I am grateful for both. As a matter of fact,  in my blog Doing Life Different, I write of how much some of the great men of our time have impacted my life.  It is instead to challenge you, Believer, towards maturity. Learn to feed yourself. It was right and proper when you were "newborn" in the Kingdom to be fed by someone, but now put away childish things and feed yourself. Then when you have become mature you can teach others to feed themselves. It's called discipleship.

It is also a challenge to pastors. Close the laptop, open the Word. Stop getting your messages from E-Sermon and start getting them from the Spirit. If you are guilty of plagiarizing someone else's thoughts, writings or sermons in your messages, fess up and confess. Be willing to humble yourself and acknowledge that rare person who actually spent the time necessary, on his knees and in the Word, to receive the message. (Here's a great link on this subject.)

So here's the question, "Are we a nation of physical gluttons, but spiritual anorexics?"  

Meeting together

Heb 10:24 Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.
Heb 10:25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.


I have for over 40 years now heard Heb. 10:25a preached from the pulpit. "Forsake ye not the assembling together..." It seems to me that I have usually heard it preached when attendance is falling off and tithes are down. Maybe I'm just being my usual cynical self here...maybe. It's just that sometimes I wish I had some "God breathed and inspired" verse of scripture that I could use on my "customers" when business is slow. "Forget not to enter my store and buy provisions for thee and thine entire extended family". Wouldn't that be sweeeet?  Especially if it produced enough guilt to actually work.
Hey, I'm writing tongue in cheek so to speak. However, I don't believe that when that sermon has been preached I usually hear vs 24 spoken on. So here would be my slant on these two verses.  "Let's be concerned for one another. Let's show love and do good. Yeah, let's do it! Oh, and by the way, don't stop hanging out together the way some of you have been doing. We miss you and it's much harder to be concerned and show love for you when you're not around, especially as we know there are some rough times ahead of us." (paraphrase by Saint Mike)

Seriously, although I haven't been in "church" much lately, I don't have anything against going and it is good to do so...but, on the other hand, I've had some really awesome get togethers with friends these past several months. Like today, lunch with a brother I haven't seen in awhile. We had some really good conversation about what God has been doing in our lives. Compared views on scripture. Caught up on the past and the future. I guess you could say we encouraged each other to do good, to keep the faith. I'm pretty sure it qualified as "meeting together". Almost positive!

What say you?

The Ethics of Jesus or the Ethics of the Pharisees

I want to build off something Mark Buchanan writes about in chapter 11 of  Your God is too Safe. He says this, "The Pharisees had an ethic of avoidance, and Jesus had an ethic of involvement...They didn't ask, "How can I make others clean?" They asked, "How can I keep from getting dirty?" ... Jesus in sharp contrast got involved"... Rather than running from evil, He ran toward the good." (end quote)

So what do you make of that? It's a question to you and to me. Do you see Christians as "avoiding evil" or as being "involved" in the process of making others clean? This question is just another in the overarching question, "Does it matter how we live our lives."

There have been times in my life where I have only been interested in avoiding evil. I admit it. Close my eyes to the hurt, to the sin, to the dirt and if I sing loud enough, pray hard enough, fast long enough maybe it will all go away. Of late, I have been moving in the opposite direction, towards involvement. If I reach out, if I love, if I listen, if I risk THEN there is the possibility of change. Jesus did this everywhere He went. Should we, His followers, do any less?

   

Is Your God too Safe?

Mark Buchanan has written a compelling book, Your God is too Safe . I highly recommend reading it. He is a wordsmith of incredible ability and talent. I don't know how many times I have read this book, but it's been often. Each time his words, his description of those who live in "borderland", this place between two countries...a no man's land, strike deep into my own spirit. In his book he accurately describes a condition that exist in many Christians, that in his mind and mine also, is very real. Borderland is a place between two countries which is claimed by no one. In his analogy of this place, which apparently does exist, Buchanan sees where so many Christians leave the old life of sin to begin a new life of faith in Christ only to be stuck between those two kingdoms. They do not wish to return to the old life, but are too afraid, unsure or divided spiritually to move ahead into the "abundant life" Scripture teaches us to expect.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites are delivered from slavery in Egypt (a picture of the unregenerate life) and are headed for the "promised land" (a picture of the new life in Christ). Because of unbelief, fear and a remaining fondness for the old life, they remain for 40 years in the desert, wandering around in circles, going nowhere, slowly dying. I think this is the present day "borderland" Buchanan writes of.

I have been there. Often I am still there. I make brief forays into the new world, only to rush back to borderland at the slightest sign of danger or discomfort. In one of my other blogs, Doing Life Different , I tell of me and my family's journey towards moving to Honduras. The unknowns, insecurities and risks sometimes overwhelm me. I want to rush back to the safety of that which I know. I don't really like it here in this bland, comfortable, undemanding American version of Christian life, but it's what I know best. For the most part it isn't the personal fear of living in Honduras, I've traveled enough over the years through Central America to be fairly comfortable with that, it's more the unknowns of the future, the demands on my faith which to be perfectly honest...are quite often lacking. I see or read of others that seem to have no doubts, no fears, no questions. I applaud them, but down deep there's always the sneaking suspicion that they're faking it. Putting on the false face we Christians wear all too often. Spewing out platitudes and cliches. And if they're not, what does that say about me, about my faith? Next question please.

Buchanan says we want a God we can control, a safe God, a God who is at our beck and call. He writes this, “God isn’t nice, He isn’t safe. God is a consuming fire. Though he cares about the sparrow, the embodiment of His care is rarely doting or pampering. God’s main business is not ensuring that you and I get parking spaces close to the mall entrance or that the bed sheets in the color we want are—miracle!—on sale this week. His main business is making you and me holy."

The God of the Bible is a God who says, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." He's a God who ask you to do hard things, to be different than those who profess and confess no allegiance to Him.

I want desperately to leave borderland, I really do. I know that there is a life out there waiting to be lived to it's fullest. I've read of some of the great men and women throughout history who have lived that way. There's only one problem, things didn't always turn out so well for them. At least in this life. Read Jonathan Goforth's biography or The Heavenly Man , Brother Yun's autobiography. For that matter, read Hebrews 11:32-40. Many accomplished great things, but many also suffered death and dismemberment.

No, God is good, but He is not safe. In this whole discussion, be it one sided, the question remains, "Does it matter how we live our lives?' You bet it does.

Does It Matter?

Some one may ask the question, "Does it really matter how a Christian lives their life?" This blog is not here to argue doctrine or to debate the finer points of theology. It is here to encourage Christians to begin to think about the idea that, if we really believe what we say we believe, then yes...it really matters.

It matters if you want people to believe in Jesus. Have you ever heard the phrases, "The best sermon I ever heard was the one I saw" or "Actions speak louder than words" Ever heard that? Have you ever asked yourself why so many of your friends, families and coworkers aren't interested in hearing you or other Christians talk about Jesus? It may not be you directly that's the reason, but what Christians have become in general. There is very little difference statistically between some one who professes to be a born again Christian and some one who does not. Look at the statistics on divorce. Almost exactly the same in the church as out. It's hard to measure love, attitudes or generosity, but my experience has been that here too there is very little difference. Again, I'm speaking in general terms.

All I can say is, "WAKE UP". DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO SEE JESUS?  Well, if we do, don't you realize that we are to be His representatives?

Churches, pastors, congregants. WAKE UP!

The Character of Jesus...the Character of a Christian

What does the Teacher have to say about how one of his followers should live their life. Oh, by the way...I don't think these are suggestions.

Luk 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,



Luk 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.


Luk 6:29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.


Luk 6:30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.


Luk 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.


Luk 6:32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.


Luk 6:33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.


Luk 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.


Luk 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.


Luk 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Ouch! Are you serious Jesus?

Bless and pray for those who abuse and curse you. For real?

Don't retaliate when hurt. As a matter of fact...give above and beyond when taken advantage of.

Give to EVERYONE who begs of you. Everyone?

Do to others just as you would like others to do to you. You mean make it personal, don't you Jesus>

Now here's the really big question Jesus asks. The one where He really sets the bar high for His followers. Are you ready? If we only do good to those who do good to us, what does that prove? Even those who don't believe in me do that. And again, same question different scenario. When you lend, are you only lending because you expect that it will be repaid?

Look at vs 35. Wow! What a reward for those who follow His instructions. A great reward is due us. Sons of the most high. He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful even as God is merciful. Doesn't sound optional to me, well not if you're a Christian anyway.

Okay, brave soul. How did you do on the test of Christ likeness? Maybe an even better question. Do you care? Now, here's something to think about. Just because we call ourselves "Christian" does that mean we are? Or does Jesus need to call us Christian? And how is he and others going to know if we are? I suggest that it is, in part, by how we respond to the above commands of the one whom we say is our Master. What say you?

So, What Was Jesus Like?

In my last post I put forth the idea that discipleship is becoming more like Jesus in our words, actions, love of God and our neighbors and even our enemies. With this whole question I keep asking, "does it matter how Christians live their lives" as the starting point, I ask this question.

So what was Jesus like? If we can answer this question accurately, then I think we can safely describe what Christians should look like as well. This will then give us a base to judge ourselves from.

Would you like to name a few of the characteristics Jesus exhibited during His time here on earth? Use the comment section below.

A Blind Leader?

Luk 6:39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?



Luk 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.


This is where Jesus started the story we've been looking at. The very obvious inference here is that anyone who is either unaware or unwilling to put into practice the teachings of Jesus is unqualified to lead. Why? Because he will hurt both himself and those he leads.

(Note:) After I published this post, I was thinking of what I said in this and other articles and I had to go back and add this thought. Here, I believe, is an excellent opportunity to put this concept of judging into practice using me as an example. I realize many of you do not know me personally and so you will only be able to judge me by the words I write. For those readers who do know me personally, look at my life, actions and words and ask yourselves this question. "Is Michael a blind man attempting to lead the blind or is he by his life, actions and words (fruit) attempting to become more like Jesus?" If the answer is "blind man" then read no further. If it is "attempting to follow the teachings of Jesus" then, consider that perhaps I have something valid to say. You be the judge.
 
What is the purpose of Biblical discipleship? It is NOT so that we can know more Bible verses to argue our point with. It's NOT so we can point out others faults or develop the finer points of rules and doctrines. It IS  so that we will become like our teacher Jesus. No, not gods for those who might be wondering, but like Him in our actions, words and love for God and our neighbor, even our enemies. That is the ultimate goal of discipleship. The Church seems to be largely unaware of this. We have more knowledge and more information about the Bible and theology than at any other time in history. Yet, it would appear, less Christlikeness than ever before. Why is that?
 
Anyone interested in reading a compelling book on what true Biblical love looks like, check out this book Love Has a Face written by Michele Perry.

Sawdust vs. Log

In my last post I asked the question, "Is anyone ever all bad or all good? If not, then are we still able to judge the quality of the man or woman by his or her actions?" One reader asked me what I thought and I promised a reply, but before I do let's look at one more section of this parable in Luke 6. Remember, we are working our way backwards in this story.

Luk 6:41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?


Luk 6:42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

You hypocrite. Hmmmmm, pretty strong words these, wouldn't you say? In the verses following this (previous post) Jesus clearly says that "yes, we can" and even "yes, we should" judge a person by his/her actions. He even goes so far as to give us a practical comparison using our everyday surroundings. (fruit trees). In these verses He even tells us that we ARE to remove the speck in our brother's eye.

BUT, in these verses Jesus warns us in no uncertain terms to beware. I am continually amazed at the HUGE blind spots OTHERS have. Time after time, for instance, I have seen people complain about some one's lack of consideration for others and they themselves are some of the greatest offenders in this area. Blind spots being blind spots and people being people, I am assuming that I too must have them. My wife tells me that without doubt I have them. LOL.  So what do I think?

I think that we are very clearly given the "okay" to judge people's hearts by their actions. BUT, we had better scrutinize our own lives and actions closely, perhaps with the help of a close friend, before we pass judgement. Without condoning the sin, Jesus was very compassionate to sinners, but whew...to hypocrites...not so much.

Original question. Does it matter how we live our lives? Why is it so difficult for us to be honest with ourselves and face our own weaknesses, failures, character flaws and even hypocrisies?

Good Tree, Bad Tree, Good Fruit, Bad Fruit

Look at the words of Jesus (below). I'm working backwards in this passage from the previous post, Lord, Lord. First I raised the question, "Does it matter?" Now let's look at the question, "Can we tell?" Jesus says that if we are producing evil...we are evil, but if we are producing good...we are good. We are given the ability to judge based on a person's actions.

Luk 6:43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,


Luk 6:44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Luk 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Now here's a tough question. Is anyone ever all bad or all good? If not, then are we still able to judge the quality of the man or woman by his or her actions? How do these thoughts feed back into my initial question, "Does it matter how we live our lives?"

Lord, Lord

Is my question, "Does it matter how we Christians live our lives" a valid, relevant question for today?  Jesus himself asked some very difficult questions along these same lines. Let's take just this one verse and look at it closely for a minute.

Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? (ESV)

This is one question from Jesus that ought to be more than enough to get us thinking. Maybe even a bit worried. After all, if Jesus himself was interested in why people might call him Lord, but not follow his commands, I think there's a better than even chance it is still a valid question. So what are some of his commands? What does it mean to "do" those commands?

Welcome to the Honest Christian (this post is a little late)

Welcome to the Honest Christian. Some of you may be thinking this a strange name for a blog. It shouldn't be strange. "Honesty" and "Christian" should be if not synonymous, at the very least, inseperable. Think about it. Of all the people on the face of the earth, shouldn't Christians be the most honest, trustworthy and upright? Well, according to our guidebook, the Bible, we certainly are expected to be. But are we? Are we first honest with ourselves even before being honest with others?

Can We Preach the Gospel Without Living the Gospel?

210 page views and still no takers on the questions I asked? (The Mormon Atheist being the exception, but he is more interested in proving or disproving the existence of God). Why is that? It is so true that some Christians will loudly condemn and even deride other religions for their beliefs, but what I find when I ask hard questions is that many of us do not like to make it personal to ourselves. Why is that? Should we be willing to ask ourselves hard questions? If not why?

So here is another question. Do we need to LIVE the Gospel in order to really PREACH the Gospel or as some people say, "The Word of God stands on it's own"? I would especially like to hear from those of you on the "outside" looking in.

Disclaimer: Before someone accuses me of not believing in the Word of God and it's power, let me just say that I absolutely believe in it's power. But what is that power and what effect is it supposed to have? What evidence is there that a person is responding to that power?

There! 2 bonus questions!

Let's Narrow the Question Down a Bit

Hmmmm. I had over 50 page views, but no takers on the question. Let me try to narrow the focus of the question a bit.

I have heard many, many people say this. "It's not God I have a problem with...it's Christians". Why is that? Are you expecting perfection? Do you expect us to live at a higher level of morality, integrity etc than we are? Do you see us as accurately portraying Jesus? After all, it is His name we bear. CHRISTians.

What about the church? Is it all about the money? Is it full of hypocrites? Are we accomplishing any good?

Okay Christians. What do you think about these same questions? How would you respond honestly to these questions?

My First Question

Wow! I had my first comment posted on this blog. Thank you. I have been so busy writing on my other blog http://wolfeworldhonduras.blogspot.com/ I haven't paid much attention to this one. At any rate, this blog is open to any and all. PLEASE, keep your comments polite and free of language that others will find offensive. So here's my first question.

I'd really like to hear from some of you who do not profess to be "Christians". What do you really think of the evangelical churches and those of us who attend and profess to be followers of Jesus?Remember...honesty with politeness, please.

Coming soon as time allows!