Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: a new look at the ordinances of the church.

"Never mind the bread and wine, unless you can use them as folks often use their eyeglasses. What do they use them for? To look at? No, to look through them. So, use the bread and wine as a pair of glasses. Look through them, and do not be satisfied until you can say, “Yes, yes, I can see the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world….We believe that Jesus Christ spiritually comes to us and refreshes us, and in that sense, we eat his flesh and drink his blood.” ― Charles Spurgeon

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Dear Friends,

If you want my opinion, I think that theologically speaking we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater in many instances just to distance ourselves from tradition, or ritualism. Take Communion or the Lord’s Supper—whichever term you prefer. We have proudly clung to the ceremony as a symbol or sign of Christ sacrificial death, burial and resurrection in this sacred service; however, I am increasingly persuaded that we have fostered a culture that has a form of Godliness but denies the power thereof, and from such we must turn away (2Timothy 3:5).

Friends, the scripture plainly teaches that we are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as often as we meet, yet we Pentecostals as well as other Evangelical and Protestants alike have decided that once a month is enough, or once a quarter or some even say once a year. What gives? Is Communion not more integral to faith and saving grace than that? I think so. We should not, I feel, be guilty of treating this sacred ceremony so cavalierly.

Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood (as gruesome as that may sound to an unbeliever) you have no life in you (John 6:53), he said. Oh, some would counter, he’s talking about spiritual things here. So? Is it not the Spirit that gives life? And, how in anyone's imagination would that exclude the visible symbol or sign of His Spirit?

The thing at issue here is the general understanding of what a sign or symbol's nature is—we tend to think of a symbol as separate from what it symbolizes. Not so, I would argue. A symbol in the Biblical sense is a sign that is intimately connected with what it symbolizes.

Allow me to use this analogy. Two lovers, say, for instance, have caught the twinkle in each other’s eyes—that’s love felt, but not consummated, there’s nothing concrete there. They then move closer, hold hands, smile at each other—that’s love felt again, also. Then suddenly they kiss. That is then unmistakably a visible, undeniable sign and symbol of their love for one another. (This is, of course, in an ideal world.) Once they kiss, the symbol is not external to the love which it symbolizes but is part of it.

At communion, Christ in some mysterious way presents himself to us as we eat the bread and drink the wine and is in no way external to the symbol. Christ actually meets us there. If He didn’t why bother? Just to say that this is simply a gentle reminder, a remembrance only of what He has done for us falls short in pronouncing the efficacy of Communion. If there is no efficacy, then why the caution not to take it unworthily (1 Cor. 11:27)?

In closing, may I say that Communion may well remind us, but friends, to my way of thinking the kiss is there, too.

 Like Jacob of old, let us meet Him at the altar (Gen. 35:1)!

JimR_/

The transcendence of our assurance

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"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us” ― Augustine  

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Any theology worth its salt must combine a Christology from above (the Word-or eternal Logos) with a Christology from below (the Word-or eternal Logos).

To put this in practical terms, our friend is also our Savior. “He walks with us and He talks with us” is far more than just words from a song, it is a living reality. For sure, we on our own are not capable of achieving all the good things God has prepared for us but because He lives, we, too, shall live victoriously throughout all the ages that come. He conquered death, Hades, and the grave and because of Him so shall we.

For, in the final analysis, Christ is the unsurpassable, irrevocable, victorious presence of God’s grace who comes as a friend to walk alongside us throughout all of our life. This is to say that the crucified Christ and the risen Christ is the ground of our hope for eternal life because the incarnate Logos is one and the same as the Logos from above. We must not ever separate the two in our thinking for that Christ is as close as the air we breathe and we must not confuse that with our faulty imagination that at times sees Him as the Christ from afar.

Therefore, I say rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say—rejoice! (Phil. 4:4). Rejoice not in what we have achieved, but rather in what He has achieved through and for us. Only a loving God could and would do that. I am, indeed, thankful that God in His eternality made His “would” our “could” and thereby strengthened our will to accept such a lovingly and freely given salvation for us all.

This is really good news for us all—Jews, and Gentiles of every race and ethnicity; and as with the Twelve we are commissioned to “give as freely as we have received (Matt. 10:8).” Therefore, we can boldly declare to all the that eternal Logos still calls out as with Isaiah,

"Come, all of you who thirst, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost (Isa. 55: 1)!”

For even if we have sold ourselves for nothing, we have been redeemed without money (Isa. 52:3). So, "Come, [He says] all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost (Isa. 55:1).” 

Now, friends, this is no ordinary banquet, it is one prepared by God himself and the invitation is to all (Rev. 19:7-10; Rev. 21:17).

Now, may we all feast on the assurance of His word,

JimR_/

Holiness: a way of life or a goal?

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" There is no key to happiness; the door is always open.”— Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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It’s a fact, we learn more through pain than we do pleasure. “God,” said C. S. Lewis, “whispers to us in our pleasure, and shouts at us in our pain.” This I have found to be true, I would say, without exception. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a spiritual masochist. I certainly don’t get pleasure out of pain, but when it inevitably comes I have found it is best to embrace it until I find a remedy. Sometimes there is none, but as with Paul, I find that God’s grace is really all that I need to get through the tough times (2 Cor. 12:9).

You see, God is more interested in our character than our comfort. Or to put it another way, God is more interested in our holiness than our happiness (James 1:4) “for without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).”

This brings us to the vital question: “What is holiness?”

Well, back in the day, as they say, holiness was “I don’t drink, I don’t cuss, I don’t chew, and I don’t run around with them that do.” Of course, right alongside that, if you were raised in old-timey Pentecostal circles, were prohibitions against movies, television, make-up, and short hair for the women, plus a whole host of “worldly” recreational activities. Made it a pretty sterile life for a young fellow like me in those days who could not throw a ball or read the comics on Sunday, either.

However, as I grew older, I found out that God is generally more interested in what we do than what we don’t do. Love at all times, though, must permeate any and all attempts at holiness. Motivation is key. Love should motivate all. Godly love, however, not a misguided love to be perceived as holy or saintly, but rather for God to judge us as loving people. “By this shall all know that you are my disciples, said Christ, in that you love one another (John 13:35).”

There is, however, a kernel of righteousness in our feeble attempts for holiness by abstaining from all appearances of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). So, we mustn’t just throw caution to the wind. We must avoid evil and that goes for evil as a form of dramatic pleasure. A filthy book produces a filthy mind, and the same goes for television and movies as well. Nor would I suggest that we start a Bible study at some strip joint. We are to be faithful with all godly propriety. The gateway to the soul is through the conscience; and an ill-informed conscience is certainly no pathway for holiness. By all means, we must not grow weary in well-doing, for at the proper time we will reap a plentiful spiritual harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 5:16-26; Galatians 6:9).

May God give us all the strength to persevere,

   JimR_/

A religion-less Christianity

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"For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. ― Saint Teresa of Avila

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Dear Friends,

Count me in on a religion-less Christianity. To reduce God to a set of creeds and/or half-baked definitions misses the point of true Christianity altogether, in my opinion. As St. Thomas ‘a Kempis once asked,

“What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed, it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God?” (Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

Christ is first and foremost found in an encounter, an experience. Indescribable, yet vividly true. Surely in all cases, the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

The central question for every man is, ‘Do you know Christ? Not about Him, but know Him as a friend and a brother?  We must concern ourselves with the "who" in the incarnation, not the how." We must not concern ourselves with “How is Christ in the Church but rather who is Christ in the Church.” We must never reduce Christ to a “how?” but rather on all occasions relate to Him as a “who?”

As with Peter, the Apostle, the perennial question Christ asks all is, “Who do you say that I am.” Peter answered, and rightly so, “You are the Son  of the Living God!”

Surely the letter of a dead creed kills unless it introduces us to the Son of a Living God. Christ said, and not without cause, “Behold, I am alive forevermore! (Revelation 1:18)”

May God burn this reality on the hearts of us all,

JimR_/

Cockroaches and sanctification

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" It's hard to imagine repenting fully of something that one does not understand fully.”— Brett Salkeld

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Dear Friends,

God has not called us to be incremental Christians, nudging ahead one step at a time forever struggling in a mire of doubt, despair, and defeat. No, we are called to be conquers, in fact more than conquerors. We are called to be holy, Christlike—that is our destiny! His gifts and callings are without repentance, too (Romans 11:29). That’s good news.

Now, for the bad news. Far too few Christians get beyond the swamp. Their lives are a never-ending swirl of self-doubt, guilt feelings, and just a whole lot of “Oh, if only I had done it differently.” The truth of the matter is that fretting is the worst tool in our mental arsenal to defeat the enemy of our souls.

In earlier days we used to hear a lot about sanctification. Now, it seems to be all about justification. Justification declares us forgiven— sanctification keeps us that way, and since it is the purpose of both to transform us into the image of Christ ( Romans 12:2 ;Romans 8:28-29) both are of equal importance.

Mark declares that Jesus said we all shall be salted with fire—that is the imperfect is burned away with only that which is pure is preserved (1 Peter 1:7). Fire burns, destroys, salt preserves. Spiritually, this necessary process is for us all. It is something none of us can or should wish to escape (Job 23:10).

Salt however that has lost it properties is useless, and must be thrown out—along, presumably with the putrid food it was to preserve. This is to say that there are a lot of good men and women in the world, but goodness alone is not good enough for Heaven. That goodness must be salted and strengthened and made stronger with fire that purifies.

It is comforting to know that we are not left on our own to bring about this transformation for our God is a consuming fire—a consuming fire that purifies and burns away the doss gets rid of the imperfections and preserves us for all eternity (c.f. Ezekiel 43:22-24).

The tongues of Pentecost may be exhilarating, but it is when we are salted with fire that we are preserved for service. Tongues don’t make us proper witnesses, but the fire does. Oh, that the cloven tongues of Pentecost would fall on us all!

I won't get into all of the ins-and-outs of the doctrine of salt and fire, only to ask this. ‘What good is it to forgive a thief, release him from jail, only to allow him to go out a steal some more?’ He or she must be rehabilitated, remediated for past sin and declared fit for society again.

Far too many are  "talking the walk, but not walking the talk" these days, in my opinion. Declaring that sins have been forgiven is one thing, but it is quite another to stay that way. Imagine a woman walking into her kitchen late at night and watching the cockroaches scurry for cover. Now, imagine that same woman walking about the next morning with the bright sunlight flooding her kitchen floor and then announcing that her kitchen is free from those filthy critters. Why that's silly you say. Sure, it is. Yet this is precisely what just a whole lot of “born again” Christians do. The truth is; however, God wants to get rid of the cockroaches that loiter hidden in the dark places of our soul. Yes, we are justified, but the justified must be sanctified.

Quite frankly I see a lot of false security in teaching that once someone declares faith in Christ as their personal savior everything will be fine and dandy. That’s not what my Bible teaches me.

So, we must ask ourselves, is becoming a Christian a zap or a process? Now, do you need an answer? The answer is it is both. Standing alone neither is sufficient. We must declare outright war on the cockroaches, as it were. But, generally speaking, that takes time. 

Let me put it this way, if you don't feel you are making any spiritual progress in your life, you most probably are not. You see, God is not so interested in what you did, but who you are. That’s why He keeps nudging us along to do better, to become more Christlike, to get rid of the cockroaches that pollute our lives.

What you did has been forgiven, who you are is an entirely different matter. God is most interested in who you are, and nothing less than Christlikeness is enough.We can't scam God. He's 'unscramble.' So, we mustn’t play around with God like some child playing hide and seek, He knows precisely where we are when we visit the dark places in our lives where the cockroaches hide. There are no places hidden from God.

May God give us all the strength to persevere,

 JimR_/

Take time out to be holy . . .

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If you own something you cannot give away, then you don't own it, it owns you." ~ Albert Schweitzer

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Dear Friends and faithful supporters,

Addiction comes in many forms. Some are addicted to drugs, others to food or sex. Workaholics can’t seem to shake the urge to keep their nose to the grindstone day in and day out. The opposite, of course, are those that run from one high to another seeking pleasure—they can’t seem to get enough thrills or new adventures. Such is the nature of addiction. It owns us. In essence, this is what addiction is all about. That is, we have lost control.

Greed, although, not often thought of as such, is simply another form of addiction. It eats away at the soul. Enough is never enough, there must always be more. Envy is the same—that is, it is just unfulfilled greed that is never satisfied.

Sadly, some don’t even realize that they are addicted. Their lifestyle seems perfectly normal. Suggest a change or that they should reconsider their behavior and most will look at you as if you have stepped off some weird planet that just happened to be whooshing by. 

Now, the truth is that taken in moderation there is absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with drugs, or food or sex, or just plain fun or recreation. God, however, makes it clear that piggishness, whether in thought or deed, is not pleasing to Him. For, you see, a selfish self-centered attitude not only affects us, but it also sends a message loud and clear to others that contrary to what many Christians preach, they practice otherwise. Therefore, we in the words of Scripture must—

Let [our] moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. – Philippians 4:5 NKJV

[For] every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. – 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV

[For] whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. – Proverbs 25:28 NKJV

Now, on a practical level what does this mean for us? Primarily, it means that we are responsible people—that is, we are not just responsible for who we are but for how our conduct speaks to others. There is no sense in preaching against greed if we practice otherwise, or have an envious heart, or overindulge in pleasure or frivolous activities. How can we be a witness for Christ if we live in the lap of luxury while others around us are deprived of the most basic of needs? (James 1:27; 2:6; 2:14-18) Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:19) for this is the word of God.

Take care, stay safe,

 JimR_/

What do you do when you run out of steam?

Dear Friends,

There’s not a preacher alive that has not gone through periods of dryness. Further, there is not one that does not dread such times. The heaven above seems to turn to brass. God seems nowhere around. Sunday is coming. It’s Saturday night. The urge to pull an old sermon out of the file is irresistible. So, come Sunday the congregation gets leftovers. No one enjoys tepid stale old leftovers. Yet, until the spiritual impulse returns the folks in the pew must put up with canned sermons, rituals are substituted for a real move of the Spirit, and, furthermore, the undernourished are left to famish. Need I remind you that this is a common occurrence? It’s human nature to go through periods of uncertainty. Spiritual doldrums are common to us all. It is at times like these, however, that we must remind ourselves that, as Paul reminds us, “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).”

What is this faith that we must live by? The quick answer is it is sound doctrine. True. But head knowledge that never reaches the heart is most often where the dryness comes in. Wesley faced such periods. He writes in his journal on Saturday, March 4. 1735—

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.

Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then because you have it, you will preach faith.”

Perseverance was the answer then and it is now as well.

This goes for any relationship. Marriage is no exception. I don’t think the human body could tolerate or sustain the gushy feeling that one felt when they first fell head over heels in love with their spouse. That comes and goes. Further, it cannot be depended on to sustain any marriage, or for that matter any relationship. A resolute commitment can, however, get us through the tough spots in any relationship, even with God.

Keep in mind that faith is a fact, not a feeling.

Stay Safe, and remember God loves you and so do I,

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

Yes, no, but never maybe so . . .

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than to give a helping hand to someone in the dark." Helen Keller

Nothing surprises our Master. Nothing, absolutely nothing! He is the Master of every circumstance. His strength and power never fail. He is indeed the Great I Am, the eternally self-sufficient, powerful, and ever-present One. He is always there in every need (Deut. 31:6; Matt. 28:20; Rom. 8:38-39). We need not fear (John 16:33) for He is willing and able to give us peace in each and every situation (John 14:27). His word to us remains the same,

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32)

Having said all of that, it is a good time to remind us that Christ is Lord of every circumstance, there are no coincidences with Him. He knows the end from the beginning and He and He alone will make the final decision (Isaiah 46:10).

The Good Samaritan was good, but only in the providence of God, for scripture tells us that it was by a divinely ordained coincidence (by chance) that the priest and the Levite and he came upon the bruised and wounded man lying in the ditch on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The good Samaritan, however, was the only one who compassionately responded to the poor man. You know the story. The story, however, doesn’t end there. We, too, are good Samaritans as we respond to the needs of others in need (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6). As Christians, our motto is first and foremost “Others.” For if we do not love the brother or our neighbor whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen (1 John 4:20)?

For most of us, this coronavirus pandemic should trigger a spiritual inventory. Are we the Christians we say we are? Do we smart off and wisecrack about the Chinese just because the first known cases happen to come from the Yunnan Province in China? Do we nitpick and criticize almost every move the present administration takes? What do we do about the poor illegal alien among us with a house full of children, particularly since the stimulus package completely overlooked them? Forget the wall for a moment. Mercy is bigger than any wall. Yes, our borders should be protected, but so must also those indigent aliens among us. Now’s not the time for revenge. Let the law, the government, and others work through that, but during the meantime, each of us is called to be the Good Samaritan, not just in talk but in action.

So, reach out in kindness to the “Others” among us. It is not just a chance of circumstance that God has allowed these particular cases to materialize in plain view in our neighborhoods. Opportunities are there. Just look. You’ll never regret that you did.

Blessings now. Take care, the life you save may just be yours.

 JimR_/

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." ― Mark Twain

Dear Friends,

Good health is generally taken for granted until it is taken away. Very few give even a second thought about the fragility of life until it is threatened by disease, particularly one that is new and exotic like the coronavirus. It's scary. That's for sure. It is in times like these, however, in which we see the real soul of a nation. Personally, I am proud of mine and for the global response that I have seen thus far. I think there is a lesson here for all of us. The real lesson that I see is that men and women can live in reasonable harmony when we all decide to pull together against a common enemy. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do the same when it comes to international disputes, wars, and famines? Wouldn't it be nice if all the belligerents around the world would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and nations would choose to no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war (Isaiah 2:4)?

Well, that day will come, but not until after judgment (Micah 4:3). Is this that time? I think not. Could it be a precursor? Perhaps. In any case, however, it serves as a reminder of how things could rap up in a hurry during the end times. The guidelines that have been established to control this virus is certainly a paradigm for what could be. 

In all of this, however, we must remind ourselves that "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)." This verse in 2 Timothy alone gives us all the assurance we need to face this silent intruder. 

Most of us are restricted in what we can do physically to attack this ghostly monster; however, we must always pray, not simply as a default position when all else fails, but as a constant in our daily activities (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). In regards to this, prayer is an attitude more than just a litany. For sure we must verbalize our concerns, but God is not only asking for our concerns; he wants our hearts, our worship, our soul, our body, and our spirit.

Why do I say this? Well, first of all, it's Bible. God has no favorites, "the prayer of a good person has a powerful effect," so says James (James 5:16). We also have this promise that when “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). So, if you and I submit to God in the spirit of holiness, then we will most certainly be rewarded.

God, however, not not a cosmic Santa Claus just looking over the banisters of Heaven with a bag full of goodies to hand out to every Tom, Dick, and Harry in need who happens along. In God's economy, it doesn't work that way, in or outside the parameters of the Church.

Secondly, I say this because prayer is therapeutic. God will keep those in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast because they trust in God (Isaiah 26:3). 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)

  JimR_/

All talk and nothing to show for it ...

Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example—Philippians 3:17

The older I get the better I understand that our lives are a greater testimony to who we are, and what we believe than anything we may possibly say. One nonbeliever was overheard to say, “I don’t know what religion that fellow has, but I do know that if I ever get religion, I want what that fellow has got.” So often this is not the case, we get the cart before the horse. We mope about, grumbling about everything from the weather to the critters in the Washington swamp, then wonder why people don’t respond to the gospel when we in all piety “witness” to them. 

Some of us have religion alright but not the kind that anyone really wants.

Paul said to young Titus,

“…in everything make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching (2:7).”

Not bad advice, not just to young Titus but all of us as well. The kind of advice that will make us not just hearers of the word, but doers. 

Make no mistake, being a disciple is just an affirmative nod in the right direction—that is, touting an old fashioned Hell and brimstone, hallelujah, come to Jesus religion, but fleshing out that message as an example for others.

The truth of the matter, most people know that they are sinners and need help, no one need to rub it in their face. They sense it. Ask any Hindu or Buddhist, or Muslim and they will tell you that. Pharmaceuticals are making fortunes on trying to meet that need, yet for the most part, all the tranquilizers in the world are hardly more than mental Band-Aids covering up old wounds. What the sinner needs is a path forward that is free from sin. Forgiveness will, for the most part, take care of any guilt complex or spiritual emptiness that any of us has or will ever experience. Now, that is not to say that there are not people, Christians and non-believers alike, who have anxieties and sometimes serious psychological problems that need a good psychiatrist or counselor to guide them through tough times, mentally. Truth is, however, most don’t.

Mahatma Gandhi was reported to have said, “I would become a Christian if I could ever meet one.” May you and I strive to be that person. Gandhi is gone, but there are others.

My God give us the wisdom and courage to practice what we preach,

 JimR_/

Knock, knock, who's there?

Today, I have no new news, but I do have some good news: Jesus loves you and has done everything he possibly can to make life meaningful and worthwhile for each of us.

Jesus says to the church at Laodicea:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in … (Rev. 3:20).”

The decision was theirs. He had made his. So, I think I can safely say that he stands at our doors also, just waiting for an invitation—the choice is ours, however, as said, he has already made his. The unpleasant truth is; however, we have barred the door from the inside, not him. Yet, we grieve that we feel spiritually dry, and long for fellowship while all the while he stands outside knocking.  There is always in Christ a new door of opportunity, and best of all he stands behind that door anxiously waiting to give purpose and new meaning to life.

Old age in many senses of the word is a closed door. Some recognize that and sit down in their rocking chairs and while away their time for that final curtain call. It will come, that is for sure, and in these cases no doubt sooner before later.

For those of us in the so-called twilight years, there are doors of opportunity all around us. There is the door of listening to some poor soul pour out their frustrations and share their fears and disappoints with you—take a load off their shoulders, you might say. In times like that, it is best to leave that door open, kept your mouth shut and listen. Simply listening is therapy. Sometimes the best there is. Consider it a door of opportunity. We in these instances can stand-in for Christ, and listen just as he does.

Mother Teresa, who I had the privilege of meeting on more than one occasion, is quoted to have said,

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

KnockHow true that is. Small doors only open out to much larger opportunities; and if not, what have you lost?

Resplendent testimonies abound from missionaries around the world are a sobering reminder that God does answer intercessory prayers. Prayer in faith can and does remove mountains. Just plain hospitality is another door of opportunity. There was a time that missionaries were invited into homes for times of fellowship and sharing—today is not one of these times. All through scripture and up to recent times itinerate evangelists and missionaries were part of a larger family of God’s children and considered as such. Not anymore. Show hospitality. It’s Biblical (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2). Peter even goes so far as to say,

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).”

Prayer and hospitality are not the only neglected doors of opportunity, either. There are many more. One dear lady years ago decided that the orphan children in Egypt where Bonnie and I served as Directors of the Lillian Trasher Memorial Orphanage needed clothes. She began a Goodwill style drive that collected thousands of used clothes, tied them up in big cotton-like bundles and shipped them to us. Clothes that Americans had discarded as old or out of style were like inheriting a clothing factory to these kids. So, what am I saying? Look, pray, and expect God to lead you to new doors of opportunity even as you reach these golden years.

Practical Christianity is just as much of Christianity as a feel-good worship service. As a matter of fact, you and I will feel much better when we get off our duffs and do something worthwhile.

Blessings, and may God give each of us the wisdom and strength to take this good advice and put it into good use until we breathe our last breath. 

Take good care of others and God will take good care of you!

JimR_/

Forgiveness the old fashioned way ...

Forgiveness comes with undeserved grace.  God, the Father of all graces forgives, choose to forgive. We don’t deserve forgiveness, but He, nonetheless, chooses to forgive. For it is by grace that we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is not a one-way street, however. We too must be full of grace—as a matter of fact, our eternal salvation depends on it (Matthew 6:14-15). So, in this sense grace is a two-way street. God forgive us conditionally. That being so we too must show grace in forgiving others. They may not deserve it, but we must forgive them, nonetheless.

No, this is not a doctrine of works, it’s the gospel of grace; a kind of Godly tit-for-tat grace, you might say. Now that’s pretty strong medicine—a bitter pill for some, but one that we must take if we want God to forgive us. 

This brings up a very necessary point which elicits a question: “Can a Christian keep score—that is hold a grudge?” According to God’s holy word, the answer is no. Yet, we all know that there are many that do. For sure, such are not walking in the light as they see the light for Godly light exposes such hypocrisy. And, hypocrisy it is. Be that what it may be— an alcoholic parent; or a double-crossing “friend” or an unfaithful spouse; the list could go on and on, but the bottom line is that they feel offended and will not forgive. No, they would rather nurse old wounds and muddle on, grumbling through life, and with all assumed piety recited the Lord’s Prayer faithfully each Sunday and sing with the best of them “All is well with my soul.” Nothing could be farther from the truth.

These are tough words, but true words, nonetheless. 

Now, may I go one step further and simply say that you or I cannot expect peace of mind until we are willing to accept God’s conditions for forgiveness. The truth is that nagging guilt complex that many carry around can easily be taken care of in an instance, if only they would give and then ask for forgiveness. For without giving forgiveness, forgiveness is not received. Now, friends, that God’s condition; not just something I pulled out of the thin blue air.

So, forgiveness is serious business, particularly in the Kingdom of Righteousness. Give and it shall be given to you is an eternal principle in all walks of life, and happy is the man whose sins are forgiven (Psalm 32:1; cf. Strong’s).  

Now, take care, and take time to forgive!

 JimR_/

The Living word

Listen as Isaiah proclaims, that the Word of God stands forever

A voice says, “Cry!”

    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

    and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades

    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

    surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

    but the word of our God will stand forever.

Now hear the words of Peter as he explains the meaning of Isaiah’s message,

[The] word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you (Peter 1:25).

So, we ask ourselves, “What is that word?” Most certainly it is His Living Word Jesus Christ as evidenced in word and deed. “How can a dead sheet of paper with nothing but writing on it be alive,” you may ask? Well, the simple answer is, “It cannot.” That is, it cannot unless it is the voice of God. Then it has the weight of His power behind it, and we mustn’t forget that He is alive forevermore.

Just a little Faith will do you . . . really? Think again.

The difference between knowing and doing is the difference between belief and faith, and to believe without faith is sin (James 4:17). To believe, however, is never enough (James 2:19). Obedient faith, even the size of a mustard seed, will make us strong in the Lord; however, such faith will soon die if we do not nourish it (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25).

It is not enough to be religious; rather, we are called into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10). In that respect, we are made by the Holy Spirit new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) who called into a relationship that will bear fruit. Our faith must be proactive, one that is evident in the godly life we live.

James, the cousin-brother of Jesus, rhetorically expressed it this way,

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17).

In a similar vein John also focuses on this principle when he quotes Jesus as saying:

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2).”

So, have no doubt about it, if you are not producing Spiritual fruit, you will soon wither away. And, what is this fruit?  

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)."

Now, what about it, no matter what age you are, may I ask you, are you fruitful? Have you added to:

[Y]our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.

For, as Peter assures us,

[I]f we do these things, we will never stumble, and we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1-11).

Keep in mind, also, that indecision is your worst enemy because if you don’t decide to do better on a daily basis by default your lack of decision will only delay the best that God has for you. Even far worst, it may even cause irreparable damage to your soul and to that of others.

Now, don’t just think about these words, do something, if you have not already done so. On a practical level that may mean asking for forgiveness from someone you offended, or to repent of some secret sin that may be lurking in the closet of your heart. Each of us is different, so I don't know what your decision must be, but I do know the constant standard that all decisions rest on, and that is Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). He is our example. Our perfect example. So, go to Him, and He will guide you along the way.

I remain, prayerfully yours,

JimR_/

Wisdom and courage go hand in hand . . .

Wisdom and courage go hand in hand. Either one is worthless without the other. He that knows to do good and does not do it has sinned (James 4:17), according to Holy Writ. Here the emphasis is on doing good, just for the sake of good. It is selfless, generous, and without a hidden agenda. Such goodness, as with all goodness, is not passive. “Oh, he’s a good person,” you may hear someone say. “Sticks to himself. Would never harm a fly.” And, yet that same “good person” can sit right in the middle of misery all around them and never lift a finger. That being the case, I say, what rubbish! 

Goodness never straddles the fence nor is apathetic towards injustice. Yes, we Christians should be concerned with the refugees, Muslims, and others. Goodness is always willing to go the second mile. So, should we. Goodness is willing to take charge to work for the good of all mankind, as should we. And, as such, goodness is love in action. Therefore, we can safely say that goodness is proactive. Willing always to protect others. Harbor the homeless, care for the destitute. And, yes, to live clean and wholesome lives ((James 1:27). As such, goodness always produces good citizens, too. Further, goodness is a team player, also, knowing full well that three standing together are better than even two … (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Thereby, we know that it is more than just a popular adage to say that there is strength in numbers. It’s the truth! It’s Bible. 

I certainly hope that what I am about to say doesn’t offend some of you that old verbiage of “Once saved, always saved,” is blatantly false. Full of false security. Even dangerous. Scripture is full of cautions against backsliding. Why would God warn someone of an impossibility? Bad, sinful people are slated for destruction, baptized or not. Goodness is measured not in words or ritual, but in acts of kindness, charity, and purity. 

Isaiah said to Ahaz,  

"'If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” (Isaiah 7:9) 

What more does a man need to warn them that steadfast proactive faith is required in any and all circumstances that life may throw at us? 

True, works cannot save us; but works can keep us save in the arms of Jesus (James 2:18). And, friends, that is precisely what an active faith does. Good solid Christian faith takes the guessing out of who we are and that for which we stand, too. Let us then strive for goodness, so that the world may know that we are children of the Most High.  

After all, Jesus did say,  

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). 

Goodness reaches no greater heights than to love as Christ loved! 

JimR_/