One Man's Opinion: 2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, truly only what’s done for Christ will last.

To reminisce and hanker after the good old days is a vivid sign that we have given up on today’s journey, and the path that God has laid before us. It is a subtle way to ignore the command that: "This is the way; walk in it (Isa. 30:21)."

To ignore that command is a vital mistake, for the fact of the matter is that God never changes directions for us, that we do ourselves. So, to make up for our lack of decisiveness we offer sacrifice—the sacrifice of the good old days, instead of obedience. Forgetting, of course, that sacrificial tokenism is never acceptable in God’s economy. For where a man’s treasure is, there also is his heart (Matt. 6:21). Our life is like a vapor, a puff of smoke. Literally, we are here today, gone tomorrow; and only that which we have done for Christ will last, as C.T. Studd reminds us in his poem:

“Only One Life”—

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,” Thy will be done;”

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all;”

Only one life,’ twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Christ has in so many words, reminded us of the same, when he said:

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62.”

May the truth of these words sink deep within to the resources of our soul, our very being; and may we purpose never to look back for comfort in the past, but to hope for the future towards which God has directed us, and with the Psalmist understand that: God’s word is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path (Ps. 119:105).

Blessings, each step of the journey; better yet bless others along the way!

JimR/-

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

No New Years Resolutions for me . .

Dear Friends, prayer, and financial partners,

Well, by now the tinsel is drooping, the Christmas lights have stopped blinking, and the cat has broken the low hanging baubles. It's almost New Year's Day 2018. Can you imagine? Where has all the time gone?

There is no greater time to remind ourselves that the past is the past, and only what has been done for Christ will last.

Nothing could be truer.

I don't know about you, but I quit making New Year's resolutions years ago. Couldn't – or didn't I should say, keep them, so why bother. Me? I prefer daily resolutions. Each morning when I wake up, I renew my determination to do better than yesterday, so that I will be a better man for tomorrow. Better for me, means to become more like Christ. That, of course, is a big order. So, I am not foolish enough to go it alone. No, Jesus became my partner in life a long time ago. Longer than I really can remember, to be honest with you.

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to please God—or at least knew that I should; and when I didn't—which was often, I felt rotten.

Feeling rotten, however, I discovered a long time ago gets you nowhere. Getting right with God in those moments is the only cure for rottenness. That should never wait for a New Year's resolution to do so, either.

Each day is a new start, so why wait for December 31^st?

So, this New Year may we all resolve once again to please Christ, and each day thereafter, as well.

May you have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Merry Christmas 2017 & Happy New Year 2018!

Dear Friends, financial and prayer partners,

The birth of Christ will be celebrated around the world. People will exchange gifts and prepare a big sumptuous dinner. It is a fun time. A time of joy. Peace on earth is wished for all. It is my favorite time of the year. This year Bonnie and I will celebrate Christmas in Vietnam with part of our China family— Gary, Sandy, Kirsten, and her good friend Tommy.

Christmas, however, is more than a fun time to get together with family and friends or a manger scene with Mary and the Baby Jesus, with Joseph and the stable animals looking on. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ, the time that God the Father, as scripture says, “So, loved the world, that He gave us His Only Begotten Son (John 3:16).”

33 years later, that same Son, was crucified on a Roman cross, and treated like a common criminal. That death signifies a punishment that we deserve, but He took it instead. But, thank God that is not all, 3 days later He rose from the dead, and later ascended into Heaven with the promise that He would return for all who believe the story, and asks forgiveness for our sins based on His merits, not ours.

And, furthermore, that forgiveness also has latent within it a promise that we, too, shall rise from the dead when he returns and be with Him forever. It is free, too. You cannot buy it. Jesus has the power to promise that, too. For the Bible, God’s holy word says,

For in Him resides the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and we are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9).

This, in part, is what it means to be a Christian. It is the true meaning of Christmas. So, I trust that today you will enjoy the festivities; but even better, may you experience a new joy and appreciation for Christmas more than ever before.

So, may my wife, Bonnie and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Once again be blessed; better yet, remember that it is more blessed to give than receive,

JimR/-

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Shame on you . . .

"His Omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. . . . Nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God." — C. S. Lewis: The Problem of Pain

At first glance: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5),” reads like an oxymoron.

How on earth can hurting someone bring about peace? However, don’t ask the military that question because they will tell you that the brave men and women who keep our nation safe do just that. Military violence, however, is born out of revenge, to get even, and countless other political reasons. Not so with Jesus—that violence the Lamb suffered was for the healings of the nations (Rev. 22:1), who like a lamb, was led to slaughter, yet did not protest in the least (Isaiah 53:7)—which was, of course, in face of the fact that:

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. [And even] when they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to [God] who judges justly (1 Peter 2:22-23).”

The truth is, at Calvary nothing changed except our guilt. God did not—not, not one iota. The Cross simply revealed His heart. Jesus is the same as He always was, and is, and shall forever be (Hebrew 13:8).

Thank God, that this man who was despised and rejected by humankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain, who was despised as one from whom people hide their faces, and held in low esteem (Isaiah 53:3) remains the same now as He always was—that is, the Savior of the world.

Now, I am well aware that Isaiah 53:3 has many interpretations, but to me the obvious is that shame is strongly at work here, and that the Amplified Bible got it right when they translate that is was they who hid their faces from Him—not the other way around. How could they bear to look upon one so badly disfigured against whom they had cried, “Crucify him, crucify him;” although he had done no wrong? So, no, it was not Christ who hid His face from them, but they from His.

Interesting, isn’t it, the first thing Adam did after sinning was to hide himself. After which he had the audacity to blame it on "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate (Genesis 3:12-13)."

The world hasn’t changed much at all, has it? Still men hide their faces. Shield their conscience, as it were, believing as it were that they can get away with it. Yet, he bore the Cross as a triumphant trophy for all to see.

Men are guilty of the same today. Some hide behind ignorance (2 Peter 3:5); others behind pride (Obadiah 1:3); still yet others behind a thousand and one excuses (Luke 14:18-20). None, however, can, indeed, hide from God who sees all, knows all, and is the reason for our existence in the first place (Psalm 139). There is no reason. He has already exposed sin for what it is, and Scripture says that sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14); and that includes the shame of the sins of the past.

The Communion table bears this out. Take eat he says, this is my body which was broken for you. Drink, this is my blood which was shed for you. Do this to remember that it was I who redeemed you from the awful fiery pit of Hell and destruction (1 Cor.11; et. al.). No hiding of His face from us there. No, not at all. We remember it as it was, men hid our faces from Him.

The very thought, should liberate us. Wipe away all guilt complexes, shame, and tinges of a dissatisfied conscience. For if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is free, indeed (John 8:36).

Once again be blessed; better yet, bless others,

JimR/-

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Jesus did not call us to destroy us but to save us.

Faith, make no mistake, is a spiritual exercise. The scripture reminds us of such when it says,

“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5: 5).”

Think with me for a minute. Faith outside of the spirit is not faith at all, but just a strong desire, or a foolish commitment, an act in futility. But it is not faith. Wish all you want to become righteous, but you never will, until you eagerly make a conscious effort to wait through the Spirit for the hope of righteousness.

Righteousness, as such, is initially passive and then only afterwards active. First, we must wait. Righteousness is first infused, before it is then effused. Yes, we are the light of the world, an effusion for all to see; but only after the Holy Spirit has ignited a fire within us, burning out all the dross. That’s the painful part. The waiting part. It is, however, cleansing, and absolutely necessary if He is to fulfill His purpose in us.

The trajectory of our life always points to Jesus. Our reason for being. The perfect paradigm for our life. Not just any Jesus, however, but the Jesus of Golgotha—the Jesus of the Cross.

We are, therefore, to take up our cross daily, and follow Him. Which is to say, to follow Jesus means sacrifice. It means self-denial. To follow Jesus means that the life that we live is no longer ours, but His. Paul wrote long ago,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 NIV).”

This new life—the new birth, if you please—is not something which you attain, or achieve; it is something for which you must wait. Such righteousness is a labor of love, not law. An act of surrender which envelopes you into the arms of Christ the Great Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (I Peter 2:25).

Jesus said,

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:27).”

Others, those who refused to believe, He declared, were not His sheep. That, my friend is a stern statement; none-the-less, these are His words not mine. Thus, we can say without fear of contradiction, that if one does not follow Christ—that is acknowledge Him, in all His ways, one can never expect Christ to direct their paths (Proverbs 3:6). This is to say that to be a follower of Jesus is not a part-time vocation, but rather a lifetime of commitment.

Commitment can be lonely, especially when you must wait for God to work the miracle of righteousness in your life. This we call the process of sanctification. It is the obedient surrender to God’s promise which says,

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).”

To wait, will mean a time of deep reflection, of self-examination. For most it will be an agonizing silence of becoming—thus, we must take up our cross and follow Him daily (Luke 23:23) since such transformation does not take place in a day, or a week, but over a lifetime. It is a daily walk. Waiting doesn’t necessarily mean that we sit still. One can walk and wait as well. It does, however, mean that we are committed to a life of sacrifice, as He was, also.

It’s a tough commitment; yet, Jesus did not call us to destroy us but to save us. May God give us the patience and the perseverance to wait, even while we walk. Tortuous paths may lie before us; yet, there is no turning back, for He has said, “This is the way, walk in it.”

In all my years of walking and waiting, I have never met a solitary saint—all have been actively involved, busy doing God’s work, while they wait. So, to become like Christ is not an invitation to join a monastic convent to hole up somewhere until righteousness comes. Righteousness has already come. Our task is to invite the fulness of Christ into our lives, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:6). That is to say, we will walk where He walks, talk as He talks, suffer as He suffered, and in general be Christlike. This is so important because the Scripture does say, “Without holiness, no man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14).”

We must never forget that as believers, who have been born from on high, that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

So, now, we may, therefore,

“Arise, shine; for our light has come, [for] the glory of the LORD has risen upon us (Isaiah 60:1).”

Once again be blessed; better yet, bless others,

JimR/-

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

God doesn't have a "B" plan . . .

Nothing like having a good "B-Plan" if things don't go as expected. However, if you, I or anyone else is looking for God's "B-Plan" forget it! He doesn't have one. Never did; never will. He has always had one central purpose for each one of us: That is, to form us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).

Try to substitute another plan from your own ingenuity, and at best we are going to mess up what God has planned for us all along. This is to say that even if God does not always get His own way with us, He never gives up. He simply doesn’t. This is where free will comes in. We will get sidetracked from time to time. He knows that, and will put up with it, but He remains focused and determined. He wants us to be the person for which we were created. Always has; always will.

What a disappointment it is to watch some of us blunder through life with no purpose in mind, not realizing that God has had one for each of us all along. How sad it is to hear someone sigh: “I am so bored. Wish I had something exciting to do.” Truth is, we have plenty to do. God’s work is never finished—that is, at least down here. So, instead of trying to work ourselves out of the doldrums by constantly taking up our time with some frivolous hobby, or incessant stream of music blasting our eardrums into shreds, why not concentrate on turning ourselves into the man or woman that God wants us to be?

What’s that? you say. Need you or I, or anyone else ask? The answer was settled long ago at a place we call Calvary. But then, we only get there by offering ourselves as living sacrifices—like He did, so many years ago. Yes, Calvary, too, is meant for us. Not just the sacrifices He made, but those that we must make also. We, too, must take up our crosses daily, and follow Him ((Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), even if it means the greatest of all sacrifices—that is to lay down our lives for Him, as He did for us.

So, we must stop looking for a “B-Plan,” there is none! God is never satisfied with any less than the best. Why should we be? The truth is, we can’t.

Nothing like having a good "B-Plan" if things don't go as expected. However, if you, I or anyone else is looking for God's "B-Plan" forget it! He doesn't have one. Never did; never will. He has always had one central purpose for each one of us: That is, to form us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).

Try to substitute another plan from your own ingenuity, and at best we are going to mess up what God has planned for us all along. This is to say that even if God does not always get His own way with us, He never gives up. He simply doesn’t. This is where free will comes in. We will get sidetracked from time to time. He knows that, and will put up with it, but He remains focused and determined. He wants us to be the person for which we were created. Always has; always will.

What a disappointment it is to watch some of us blunder through life with no purpose in mind, not realizing that God has had one for each of us all along. How sad it is to hear someone sigh: “I am so bored. Wish I had something exciting to do.” Truth is, we have plenty to do. God’s work is never finished—that is, at least down here. So, instead of trying to work ourselves out of the doldrums by constantly taking up our time with some frivolous hobby, or incessant stream of music blasting our eardrums into shreds, why not concentrate on turning ourselves into the man or woman that God wants us to be?

What’s that? you say. Need you or I, or anyone else ask? The answer was settled long ago at a place we call Calvary. But then, we only get there by offering ourselves as living sacrifices—like He did, so many years ago. Yes, Calvary, too, is meant for us. Not just the sacrifices He made, but those that we must make also. We, too, must take up our crosses daily, and follow Him ((Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), even if it means the greatest of all sacrifices—that is to lay down our lives for Him, as He did for us.

So, we must stop looking for a “B-Plan,” there is none! God is never satisfied with any less than the best. Why should we be? The truth is, we can’t.

Still on Kingdom Business in Southern Asia,

JimR_/-

Idle talk gets a lot of people in trouble

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Idle talk gets a lot of people in trouble—including me, at times; thankfully, however, those times have become few and far between the older I get. The wise man thinks twice before he speaks once. Anger has a way of dulling the senses, and unless one has control over that deadliest of all vices, one is apt to spout off and think later. The road of good intention is strewn with broken relationships, simply because someone could not keep their trap shut.

Standing behind the pulpit with or without clerical garb offers no immunity either. Preaching the word, being instant in and out of season is always operative; however, preaching the word and giving the congregation or anyone else a piece of your mind is not what God has in mind. James tells us that:

[W]isdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

I couldn’t put it better than Romans 12:19 puts it:

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

So, unless you or I or anyone else is sure that God wants us to go for it and give someone or a congregation a piece of God’s mind, it is best left unsaid. So, if in doubt; then don’t.

A very wise man once said:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

And, experience has taught me the hard way that he was right. None of the advice that I have just given is necessary, if everything we do is done in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).

Along with this, I am sure you have heard that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” What rubbish! The injuries caused by sticks and stones are mild compared to a vicious onslaught of vengeful spite. There are far worst ways for a husband to abuse his wife than to give her a black eye; a broken heart brings more pain. That’s for sure.

When we do everything in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus, we, first, must submit ourselves to His will. We are no longer in charge. And, believe me, that’s not easy. It’s not easy because we want some of the credit when things go right, and none of the blame when things go wrong.

Further, to do something in the name of someone, in Scriptural terms, means that we exercise power that is only that which the name gives us. Our feeble strength simply gets in the way otherwise. This is in line with the old proverb that says:

“If you don’t have an answer to the problem, don’t become part of the problem.”

And, it is at the point that you and I insert the power of our will into the mix that we only acerbate and become part of the problem. Paul must have had this in mind when he wrote:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13 KJV)

God in such circumstances fights for us, and even give us the armor to protect ourselves. This is not an aggressive stance against someone or anything, it is just God’s method for protecting us. Our stand may be passive—and therefore, hard to hold; but it is never defenseless or hopeless. We are to resist the Evil One, eschew that which is evil, and keep in focus that the battle is the Lord’s to fight not ours. The admonishment to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) is as operative today as it was the day our Master gave it. So, why try and change it by inserting our own solution or will? It just doesn’t make spiritual sense to do so.

It is to His name that all nations and people shall bow, not ours or some charismatic preacher speaking words of rubbish into our lives. In such cases, we must let God do the talking; and I am quite confident that He is capable informing me of His intention and doesn’t have to go through someone shouting a “word of prophecy” into my life. Again, what foolishness.

If you or I or anyone else think it is necessary to run here and there to find some powerful preacher, or self-appointed Apostle to do God’s work in our life for us; then we have not learned what it is to do everything in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is not to say that God does not speak through others to us, but in such cases, it is always done within the structure of a confirming body (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 John 4:1; Et al.). For me, that is my denomination; for you yours—and in rather rare cases (it seems these days) an independent congregation which is solidly based on Scripture, and not the scatterbrain opinion of some elsewise religious hack stuffed with just a whole lot of pent-up anger with which he is willing to share with others. Tough words. But really, there is only one pope in Rome and with whom we all take issue; so why go about creating other ones in every little dinky upstart congregation with a new preacher with a new twist on Scripture? Whatever the case, our stance must always be anchored firmly in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His authority, not ours or anyone else’s.

Now, may the anchor of His Name hold you firmly until His appearance,

JimR_/

Incarnational witness . . .

“Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.” ― Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation

Most Christians I know are eager to witness to the truth of the Gospel; however, they are just too timid, or don’t know how, or feel ashamed of their example. So, any meaningful witness is simply not done.

One need not be perfect to be a perfect witness for Christ. Transparency and openness takes care of that. In transparency, we all admit that we are struggling sinners saved by God’s grace. In bold transparency, St. Paul declared himself the chief of sinners, of whom he said, he was the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). That in and of itself is a powerful witness to God’s grace. That leaves us with timidity and ignorance. Now, would it surprise you there is a way to take care of all three at once and leave a powerful and lasting witness to the goodness of Christ?

That witness lies at the very core of who you are. We are, said Paul, living epistles, seen and read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:1-3). Thus, as Christ, we are in all actuality the final and most enduring witness that will last for any appreciable time. We, as Christ, have the privilege of continuing in the memory of man long after the words which we have spoken are forgotten. So, witnessing is not just about words; it is about a life: Christ and ours.

This, I call “incarnational witnessing.” I am sure the term is not unique, but it is helpful in capsulating the essence of what true witnessing is all about. Christ, as we have so often been reminded, wrote no book, made no great fanfare about who he was, or for that matter what he was up to, either. He lived a simple, albeit miraculous life, humble and pure. There was not a selfish streak in him. “Others,” was his motto. He lived as he died, really, for others.

What a witness. What a man!

We, too, have this unique opportunity. We, too, can and must practice what we all preach. That in the final analysis is reduced to who we are. Preach it, or teach it; however, if we don’t live it, we most often do more harm than good.

“Sir, we would see Jesus (John 12:20-21),” was the longing of the Greeks who came to Philip, lo those many years ago. It is still the cry of multiplied millions around the world. That is no exaggeration, either. Oh, they may not word it that way, or even consciously be aware of it. But they do seek answers. They seek peace, and a meaning to life. Christ can give it all, and more. That they want, too.

Far too often we seek eloquence, when we should instead seek silence, and the solitude of prayer and let Christ’s life speak through us for us. Holiness is pure eloquence. There need be no other witness, unless asked. Holiness in each and every case speaks louder than words. Be perfect, as your father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48) is holiness in perfection. That we must strive for, for without holiness, no man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14) —and, may I add, neither shall they see Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Sir, we would see Jesus, is still the cry of the broken hearted, the sad, lonely and dejected. You and I are commissioned to fulfill that desire; but that is possible only if we like Paul carry the scars of Christ in our bodies (Galatians 6:17) for all to see that we indeed have not just talked the talk, but walked the walk, taken up our cross daily and followed him. That is to say, to be a true witness is not easy. It requires effort, and as necessary, sacrifice. Such holiness—that is, Christlikeness, speaks volumes.

Holiness, like martyrdom, is a thing of the heart. One need not sacrifice their life to qualify; willingness alone is enough.

Holiness as one of the true virtues is really in all actualities an outgrowth of love: God’s love, for God is Love personified, as is Christ, who as we believe is God. Therefore,

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8 NIV)

And what does Scripture also say? Here it is in black and white:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35 KJV)

What a testimony. What a witness!

Now, may the God of all love, keep you securely in all love, to whom we give all the glory, now and forevermore bless you and me with all understanding of that great love.

JimR_/

Will sincerity get you to Heaven?

Often, I hear people say, “All religions are basically the same, so It doesn’t matter what you believe, really, as long as you are sincere about it.” That being the case, why then bother with all the gory details of the Crucifixion, or why would God send His only begotten Son to the earth in the first place? Apparently, God didn’t think Judaism was good enough, or Buddhism which existed long before Christianity. Philosophy fits into the same category. Not much new there, since the time of the ancient Hindu or Greek philosophers, either, just some modern twists on old thoughts. So, there must be a reason for this shift from what was to what must be.

Contrary to popular opinion, then, it does matter what one believes. All roads may lead to Rome, but not all roads lead to life everlasting. Only Jesus is that road, the way so to speak. He is also the truth, first and foremost. In Him, and through Him, and for Him, all things exist (Romans 11:36). Get that wrong, and you’ll wobble through life with uncertainty, always in a state of moral confusion, not really convinced that you or I or anyone else can ever be really sure of spiritual truths.

For some, this means that their destiny is up for grabs. Who knows what lies ahead? Now, I am not just talking about the world at large, either. Our pews are full of people that are just not quite sure. Not sure if righteously living, for instance, in the long run pays off.

No, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that honest doubt is wrong; what I am, however, saying, is that we like the father in Mark 9: 14-29, who brought his son to Jesus to be healed, must seek God for clarification, and spiritual insight into such matters, rather than just simply accept what appears confusing to us. Half-truths will produce half answers. Which, in the long run, are not answers at all, they are simply excuses. The lazy man’s way out, you might say.

Believe me, it is easy to become spiritually lazy, if you are not already. Carrying a Bible to church on Sunday to look good, and neglecting to read it the rest of the week is a good sign of spiritual laziness, as are our little cookie cutter prayers throughout the week.

So, it does matter what we believe, and how we act. This is all God’s plan for us. Yes, we must contend for the faith that was once and for all times delivered to the saints (Jude 3); not just contend, however, we must live it (Jude 20-21).

Be blessed, better yet, bless others,

JimR_/-

Monday, November 13, 2017

May peace be upon you!

“Blessed is the peace maker,” our Lord declared, “for they will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9).”

Peace, however, seems so elusive these days, not just in the world at large, but in many churches. Homes and families, and neighbors are not exempt, either. Yet, the primal urge for each new generation is to desperately seek peace. Wars are fought over the issue, nations and people are torn apart, all in an effort for peace. Wars are won, still there is no peace. Peace like an elusive dream escapes the antagonists. On a lesser scale, but one of the greatest consequences, spouses abandon families and seek peace and quiet elsewhere, only to find that turmoil is again present, just under a different name, or a different roof.

The fact is that unless one has found peace within, regardless of the situation, there will be no peace without. Peace is a gift, otherwise, Christ would not have said,

“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 (John 14:27).

So, one cannot become a peacemaker without first making peace within, and only God can bring that about, for He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

Now, I understand that my reading audience is Christian primarily; however, it is one thing to be a Christian, and quite another to live like Christ. I find it amazing that some feel they can fudge on being Christian, and still expect peace. None-the-less, this is often the case. Paul succinctly presented the case when he wrote:

The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8: 6-8)

Which is to say, that none of us can expect peace within unless we are willing in each situation we face for God to reign unhindered and freely in our hearts. There is no such thing as a little peace and quiet—either we have it, or we don’t. Contentment is not necessarily peace. Contentment may serve as an artificial substitute; but it is simply not peace. So, one should never confuse the two.

In fact, contentment can and most often does lull the complacent Christian to sleep. All may seem well in Zion—so to speak, while, all Hell is brewing just outside our walls of contentment. Eventually, the enemy of our souls will break those walls, and without the Prince of Peace within none of us can withstand the onslaught of worry, fear, and despair.

So, let us not fool ourselves, money will not bring peace. Neither will a fine home, a luxury car, or a Caribbean cruise. Contentment, perhaps, but not peace.

Let us, therefore, humble ourselves before Him with an honest expectation that He, the real peace giver, will flood our souls with peace—that peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, that will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, of which Paul speaks (Philippians 4:8).

Friends, please understand this is not just rose colored religious jargon that I have written, these words are true. They are therapy. They are wholeness for the mind. They are medicine for the soul. They are God’s promises, not mine.

So, the bottom-line is that regardless of how “Christian” we consider ourselves, that is not enough. The peace of Christ is first passive, then active. Passive in the sense that we must wholeheartedly submit in obedience to Christ; and then active in the sense that we then can become peace-makers. To think otherwise is to not understand the real meaning of what it means to have peace, particularly, peace with God.

Governments, and agencies like the United Nations do a fine job from time to time to bring about a lull in conflicts, but overall such peace is only temporary, elusive, and passing. Eventually, a new trouble-maker will gladly step up and take the place of the last; and like an endless Ferris wheel conflict and turmoil returns once again, and again, and so on. The same applies to us, unless we allow Christ and His Kingdom to reign unhindered in our lives.

So, this peace of which Christ speaks, is beyond merely a good try on our part, but rather a mystery. However, none-the-less, it is a life that we must live (1 Peter 1:16; Colossians 2:9-11). Therefore, let us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 11:14).”

As the Arabs say, may peace be upon you!

JimR/-

Monday, November 6, 2017

Shifting sands of time . . .

There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous. Blaise Pascal

One may resolve to live righteously; yet, foolishly twist the words of Christ and scriptures to suit themselves. Such self-righteousness is not righteousness at all—it’s a spiritual oxymoron, if there can be any such thing. Yet, some try to go it on their own. They make up the rules along the way, and think that they can get by with it. It’s the modern answer to an old outdated morality, they proclaim.

Somehow, according to their way of thinking, love—erotic or otherwise, trumps all. God has shifted His eternal will to meet today’s cultural norms, and self-defined love is the standard. The quicker the old morality is replaced, the better, as far as they are concerned, particularly when the politically correct wind of the future is blowing in a different direction.

Gender identity is scoffed at, by these absent-minded purveyors of political and religious liberalism. After all, as the reasoning goes, why cannot one become what one wishes to become? Born a man, want to be a woman? No problem. A good surgeon and some hormonal shots and enough money, and that can be resolved. Thus, despite all available scientific and psychological research, these decadent purveyors of licentiousness plod on trampling decency underneath them wherever their warped theology takes them.

Strange isn’t it, that in regard to gender and marriage, Jesus responded to the Pharisees,

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:8)

No question of gender there, or whom should marry whom. Why then do our politically correct churches agitate for change? Same sex marriage? Not in God’s eye, they’re not.

What about the foolish regulation that wool could not be mixed with linen when making a garment (Deuteronomy 22:11)? Surely that was a stupid law, right alongside the other regulations found in the law—as for example, proscribing same sex relations, and a host of other archaic regulations.

Well, the answer is simple. Only the priest had that privilege (Deuteronomy 22:11)—that is, to wear a garment made in such a way. So, laypersons were prohibited to dress that way. Today there are similar laws. It’s illegal to dress up in a badge and a uniform to impersonate a police officer, isn’t it? Police have the authority to stop a speeding car, or handcuff a person, or breakup a domestic dispute and arrest the culprit — things no one else may do. In a similar manner, God gave priests special authority to lead worship in his Holy Presence, administer Temple rituals so that they were, therefore, identified by the clothes they wore. So, it was and is unethical and misleading for a lay person to dress up like a priest, particularly when this can confuse the public or provide unwarranted privileges to the imposter.

I bring the issue up once again because I see so many Christians, pastor’s and laymen alike retreat to a politically correct corner and cave in to the most egregious immorality imaginable. Murder is alright—their warped reasoning goes, after all an abortion is a woman’s right. Furthermore, love is the bond that unites a couple, regardless of sex; and, therefore, God must be pleased to sanction such practices.

Not according to Scripture, particularly Romans 1:18-32, or as implied by the words of Christ, as found in Matthew 19:8, which was quoted above. The natural minded confuse the order of creation, including human sexuality, among other things, when our theology strays from God’s Word. Friendships aside, we are obligated to take a stance solidly on Scripture; speaking in love (Ephesians 4:15), of course.

We are only complete in Him. There is no perfection outside that. Anything less is like spinning our wheels. We get nowhere. Frustration sets in. Like the proverbial gerbil, round and round we go, and where we stop no one knows.

The writer to the Hebrews declared,

For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:11)

Which brings about an interesting conundrum, and that is, who sanctifies us? Christ, of course. He is the One who sanctifies us, the Scripture tells us, doesn’t it?

So, it’s best to stick with Jesus and His Word under all circumstances, past and present, whether or not it is the politically correct thing to do.

Let us therefore, put on the whole armor of God, including the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:11-20). For It is because of God that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Therefore, to dismiss the words of Christ and his duly appointed Apostles and prophets, upon whom the Church is built, with Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) as outdated is perhaps religion, but not much more—certainly not the faith that was delievered once and for all to the saints, of which Jude speaks.

Now, may God keep you safely in the arms of Jesus, for in Him dwells all the fulness of God bodily, and we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10).

JimR/-

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Goodness that is not from the heart is not goodness at all, nor is it possible to delegate compassion

Two of the most cherished traits of a true man or woman of God are goodness and compassion. Goodness by compulsion; however, is not goodness at all. Delegated compassion falls into the same category. Yet, I’m afraid that many of our Christian activities fall in these two classes.

Churches see the Scriptural mandate to feed the hungry, take care of the widows, homeless and orphans, so what do they do? Appoint a committee. Many of those that serve do so out of compulsion, and in some cases what little compassion that is shown lacks the depth of a dedicated ministry, or mission for that purpose. This opinion, I base, not as a criticism, but rather on statistical facts. The burn out rate, speaks for itself.

I speak from experience on this issue, both as a pastor and a director of ministries of compassion.

Personally—I shall not go into details—I was once asked to head up a ministry that my heart was not really in, I had very little compassion for repeated offenders. Mess up once. Okay. Twice? Maybe. Three times? Forget it! That at best was my limit. As I look back on those days, I say to myself, “Well, when judgement day rolls around, I won’t get many brownie points there.” Not that we get brownie points, but we do get rewards.

In the other instance, I was director of the Mission of Mercy Hospital in Calcutta, and from that I really got a lot of fulfillment and satisfaction. I found it easy to identify with the sick, and suffering. I have been ill a lot myself, and suffered a lot in the process. So, I understood. I had compassion. Neither did I feel compelled to take the position. I did it out of choice, not compulsion.

Through it all, I somewhere along the line learned very valuable lessons for the ministry. Lesson number one: compulsion is meritless, because such goodness must come from the heart. Secondly, a heart of compassion may be recognized, but you can never appoint or delegate compassion. If it is not in the heart, forget the appointment. In the long run both goodness and compassion fail; not out of effort, but rather out of attempting to accomplishing a spiritual ministry with carnal means.

What’s the answer, then? Stop the ministries? Perhaps, in some cases yes—that is, in how they are administered. The answer lies in how to know how to recognize a gifting, and then approving it. Compassion cannot be delegated, neither can goodness.

I sometimes think of all the “ministries” and “obligated activities” that we perform as a denomination as kind of “check list” ministries. So and so is ill. Did I send a get-well card? If so check it off. Oh my, the church manual says that we must support missions. Let’s see now. How much money shall we let slip through our coffers to fund that? Mustn’t let compassion make too big of a run on our budget. A sizable honorarium should take care of that. Yes, it should and most probably will; but it will also stifle compassion and in the long run shrink what little money you do have budgeted for compassion ministries. Put compassion for missions on your check list, if you will; but in the long run your budget will suffer. That goes for other ministries of compassion as well. Stewardship is necessary, as are budgets; however, God given compassion will never override your other needs. People are responsible, when reminded of what’s in the budget, and if experience has taught me anything, it has taught me that God is able to meet all of our needs according to his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

Personally, I have found that down through the years, any sacrificial giving on my part has really harmed nothing but my life style.

Well, much more could be said, but that will just have to wait for another time.

Blessings, and take care!

JimR_/-

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Snake oil salesmen in the ministry? You bet'cha . . .

In appearance there is a fine degree between genuineness and hypocrisy, but a world of difference in fact. A hypocrite can fool you, but never a righteous man. There are those little clues if you look for them. A hypocrite will try to impress you with the money they give, plaques on the wall, degrees flaunted, anything to impress others. Of course, God sees right through all of that, and so do men and women of God. Why shouldn’t they? That’s what the gift of discernment is all about: Something to remember though, is that:

" [The] natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:1).”

So, don’t try and discern it on your own. That’s impossible. Spiritual con-men are a dime a dozen. They come in all shapes and sizes. And, they are tricky, too. Some live piously in multimillion dollar mansions. Others, fly around in private jets like some modern snake oil salesmen hawking their spiritual wow-power. The dumb, deaf, and blind thrill seeker jump around from one charade to the next and when things do not go as expect, they blame Jesus or at the very least a lack of faith. Either allegation is, however, in the final analysis, just a bunch of hooey, though.

Jesus has already warned us that these purveyors of self-interest would be around peddling their wares, and to be on the lookout for them (Matthew 7:22, 23). Now, I realize that that is a broad brush to paint with; however, not all that say, “Lord, Lord" are genuine (Matthew 7:21-23). The sooner we learn it, the better, too.

Gullibility is not what God had in mind when He said,

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14-15).”

Bogus healings aside, none-the-less, God does still heal, but He doesn’t need some phony dressed in a $5,000.00 dollar made suit to do it, though. One from J. C. Penny’s will work just fine. Laying all sarcasm aside, however, we need to teach those in our care as under shepherds to be on the lookout for these ravenous wolfs in sheep’s clothing. They are a dime a dozen, but in the long run the cost is much higher.

Jesus didn’t mince words, when he felt that bigger issues were at stake (Luke 11:37-54; Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 20:45-47); neither did Paul (Romans 8:28; Romans 8:30; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6–11; Galatians 2:7; Galatians 3:1-5), and, of course much more throughout the Bible. The bottom-line? We, too, must be diligent to defend our people against these outsiders who raise havoc among believers at large, and embarrass all of us.

I know that this is old hat for some of you; however, I grieve each time I see lives ruined by these spiritual charlatans. Believe me. Some of this grief hits pretty close to home, too.

Let us therefore, content for the doctrine which was

delivered to the saints, once and for all,

JimR_/-

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