• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

                              Getting into heaven

What must we do to get into heaven? How often must we do whatever it is we're supposed to do? Is there a set standard we must follow to get to heaven? Which religions heaven is best? What is heaven? Where is heaven? Is heaven really real?

These are some questions about heaven, but do we know the answers to all of them? Which of these is the most important one to know? Do we need to know the answers to these questions?

Heaven is an important part of our faith, and every other faith for that matter. It’s something that people from all cultures have always thought about. Every civilization from the beginning of time has had some form of heaven.

But why is this? What is it about the afterlife that fascinates us so? Why must we need there to be something? What makes all people and all nations need some form of afterlife? Well I have this theory that it’s because we all subconsciously know that this is not our home. We have this supernatural connection with our Father and Creator. A connection that makes us long for him, something must take His place if we don’t know about him. The non-Christians put something there even the atheist have something. But these things don’t take his place it just makes us think we don’t need him, but infract we do. Nothing will really replace him; it can just temporarily substitute him.

 No one wants to believe in nothing. And no one wants it to just stop after they die. We all want there to be something even if we don’t admit it.

There is the theory that when we die we will come back as a different creature. Or that when we die we become ghosts and haunt the earth. Or that we all become the God of our own world. The theory that our spirit just hangs around to help our fellow humans, protect nature or strengthen the elements. The most popular theory is that we become angels to help those we loved.  

Do you know what the craziest part of all people needing some form of heave? No one knows much about it. And no one has been there. All people believe in this other place for us to go after death but none of us have evidence. This is what makes me believe that it’s our bond with God. How else could all people from all time have the same longing for something else?

So let’s talk a little of what heaven is to most people, to us, and also what the Bible says about it. 

 Let’s start with what we think of heaven. Most people think heaven is a place where we go after we die. To them it’s a place of happiness, relaxations, and contentment. They believe that all you need to do to get there is be a good person; this is why when people die most people say it’s ok there in a better place. I’m sorry to say that this is not the way it works. These are also the people that think when we die and go to heaven we become Angels, and if there’s someone we were close to we would become there guardian Angel. But once again this is not the case; Angels are a separate creation that God made at the beginning of time.

Now let’s talk about what we think of heaven. We believe that heaven is the dwelling place of God,” hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when pray towards this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear forgive.”1 kings 8:30. And we believe, when we go there we will prays him for eternity. We believe that there will be no marriage, no sadness, pain.”But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither be give in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like angels. They are Gods children, since they are children of the resurrection.” Luck 20:35-36. We will spend all of the time that will no longer be,” there will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the lord will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:5 Worshipping God. We will be with the other believers of all time, before and after us, together we will be glorifying Christ and will learn all we want to know.

The bible talks allot about heaven, but not so much what it’s like. We know it says only those who are saved, and do the will of God can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. “Not everyone who says to me ‘lord, lord’ will inter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven.” For god to explain what heaven is going to look like or what’s going to be there, is like trying to describe color to a blind person or sound to a deaf person. Good luck. And that’s all we need to know. Does it make a difference knowing what’s going to be in heaven, if the streets aren’t paved in gold wont you still want to go? Or we're told that we will sing prays to God and worship Him for eternity, are you going to not get saved because you don’t want to sing. If this is how you fill your dumb, we will be worshipping God in a perfect place. And the thing is, worship is not just singing, everything we do can be done in a way that is worshiping God.

What else would we looking forward too? Is there anything that we can look to after we die? Why would anyone not want to go to this perfect place? What do you have to lose? Think, living a good life, with morals and a promise of salvation, what’s the down side?  

This is what Christ says is going to happen when he returns. “When the son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separate the sheep for the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the kings will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘lord when did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing cloths and cloth you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you’? “Then the king will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did me.” Mathew 25:31-40.  

When he calls, are you going to be reedy? Have you been preparing for that unknown day and hour? Right now are you a sheep or a goat? Will Christ recognize you or will he call you a stranger?  Have you done all you could to keep his word alive? How have you strengthened His kingdom? Are you doing all you can to better his kingdom or are you just passing though? Have you been storing your treasures in heave or are they all here?

• Comments (16) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

It’s now the Christmas season, and in between the shopping, cooking, gift raping, singing, and decorating; remember why we do these things. We sing of the reason for the season, but do we sing the truth?  We put up decorations that we think show the magnificent and phenomenal advent 2000 years ago. But again, how accrete are we?

Who were the wise men? When did they get to Jesus? Where was Jesus when they got there? Where was Jesus born? Who were the Sheppard’s? What was the star? Did it happen the way it was professed? I am going to try to get to all these but we could be here for a long time, so I will hit the hot spot and give you other reverences’ I have found.

Ok, first let us dissected the most common songs. We’ll look at “silent night”, “we the kings”, and “away in a manger”. Ok these are the words to silent night. “Silent night, holy night, all is calm all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

Ok so let’s take it apart. Silent night, mothers tell me, is it silent when you’re in labor. I didn’t think so. The reason it says silent night here, is to give the elution that since Jesus was God, his birth would be a pleasant one. But even if Jesus didn’t cry (which I think he did) I’m sure Mary was not being quit. But at the same time I do believe that God may have made her labor a less painful one. Not to mention the fact that Bethlehem was completely packed, with twice as many people in a city, there would be constant noise. Now I will say that it was most definitely a holy night but all is calm, only in the fact that Christ was born is holy, in the rest of the city it was a more rowdy night than normal. Remember there are lots of extra Jews and Romans (and where there are Romans there are problems).  Holy infant so tender and mild, this is the only thing that I think is acierate. He is the Holy infant but when you cram all the holiness and power of God into a small child do you think he would be tender and mild. I think it would be cool to see a manger scene with the baby Jesus with a six pack and big biceps and triceps. But I know he didn’t it would just be cool. I also have a problem with sleep in heavenly peace, just think for a sec all the Sheppard’s would have wanted to hold him and play with the son of God they knew he was the messiah so I have no doubt that Jesus would have been passed around the Sheppard’s and all the other people they told. Really if you had a chance to hold baby Jesus wouldn’t you.

So as you can see, this, one of the most used carols is vary inaccurate. And that was just the first virus of the first song there’s still two more. Ok now we’ll look at away in a manger. It goes like this. “Away in a manger no crib for a bed, the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; the stars in the sky look down where he laid, the little lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”  Well we know that away in a manger no crib for a bed the little lord Jesus hay down his sweet head is right. Next is; the stars in the sky look down where he lay, the little lord Jesus asleep on the hay. This part is also right, in more ways than we know. Angels were also called stars of the sky, so we have angels looking down on Jesus. The only thing I don’t know about is the asleep part I just don’t think he would have slept much that night. So as you can see this song is pretty much right on with the bible. So I like this song.

Now is where I would talk about “We Three Kings” but my hymnal didn’t have it; so ill just say that the song is wrong. I mean just look at the title its wrong, so if that’s wrong how can the rest be right. The “three kings” were not kings they were magi. And nowhere does it say there were three of them, there were three gifts munched so we assume that there was three men that came. But think; the magi were a group of people who spent there life’s in study. They were called the wisest of the wise. Now if this group of them that lives in the east was studying and watching the messiah to come, don’t you think they would all want to come a see him. The gifts were gold; insects, and mire, now we all just assume that it was one gift of gold, one gift of insects, and one gift of mire. But what if they all gave a small gift of one of the three listed. So maybe five people gave him gold, two gave him mire, and seven gave him insects. So he would have resaved gold, insects, and mire.

Now that’s just the three king problem. There is also the fact that they were not there the night Jesus was born. They didn’t get to him until he was a toddler. Our bibles say child so we sometimes think he was a baby, but he wasn’t. The original Greek word used translates to toddler or young child not a baby, and most defiantly not an infant. He would have been around the age of two. So as you can see this is also a wrong song and we didn’t even go through the whole thing.

Why is it that we sing the story of Christ wrong? Why don’t we tell the true story? I’ve been told it’s to paint a pretty picture. But when you think about it, how is that beneficial to the people we’re reaching out to? Don’t we want them to know the truth of what happened? Or are we trying to make everything about Christ pretty and perfect? I’m sorry to tell you that it’s not. How many people do you think knows the true story and how many only know the stuff we sing? What if by singing these songs and telling the wrong story, we and helping the destruction of Christian beliefs. Do we have something to do with the loss of strong Christians? Do you really want to be one of the people who dose more for the “Santa Christmas” rather than the true Christ part?

We spend two months on the “Santa Christmas”, and only a few hours on Jesus’ birth. How bad is that? Now I’m not just saying that the non-believers, or Christmas and Easter Christian spend two month on the “Santa part and one or two hours on the Christ part, a lot every Sunday Christians, and even the everyday Christians do this. Now some might spend more time then others on the true Christmas, but in comparison with the time spent on the “Santa” part you would think we worship Santa and he came down out of heaven to save us. 

Now I’m going to read the intern story of Jesus’ birth, and it’s a lot of scripture, but it’s the reason we are here. If people can sit though a two hour movie, or an 8 hour Christmas movie marathon you can sit here and listen to the most important birth in all of history.

I’m going to start reading the really Christmas story. Starting with the angel that came and told Mary what was about to happen. So turn to Luck 1: 26. And as I read this try not to think of the normal Christmas seen try to make a new one with what you have and will hear. In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled be his word and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God. You will be with Child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and be called son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin? The angel answered, ‘the Hoy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will over shadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her six month. For nothing is impossible with God’ ‘I am the Lords servant,’ Mary answered. ‘may it be done to me as you have said.’ Then the angle left her.” So here we had the foretelling of Jesus. Oh and Mary’s response is magnificent isn’t it. She was just told that she is going to have a baby when she not married yet, knowing what could be done to her. She knew that if Joseph wanted he could have her stoned, and she 13 or 14 I would be terrified, but not Mary, she simply says “let it be done unto me as you have said” how assume is that. Jesus most definitely picked the right mother.

Continuing the story of Jesus’ birth we will go back into Matthew 1:18. “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child though the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want exposes her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the lord had said though the prophet: ‘The virgin will be child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ which means “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” and in Luke 2:1-7 it tell more of the birth of Jesus so if you would like to read with turn to Luke 2:1-7 “in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taking of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judah, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She raped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Now I want you to look at something, in virus 6 it says “while they were there the time came for the baby to be born.” We always picture it like she goes into labor as soon as she gets in Bethlehem and there franticly looking for a place to go. Then the inn keeper tells them they can use his stable if they want. We think this because it’s how it’s portrayed in the movies and pictures and other books, but look closer. The bible tells us that during the time they were in Bethlehem the time came to give birth. It does not say they barely made it to Bethlehem, I don’t know why we think this, God would have made sure they had a place to give birth to his son. They may have been there for days or even weeks before the time came. Now look at virus 7, it says “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She raped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” No ware does it say that the stable belonged to the innkeeper; we just look at it like that. But once again it’s not what it says. This is what the movies, and kid’s story books and learning videos say not what the bible says. In fact I have found an article that says he may have been born in the stable that the sacrificial lambs were born and taken care of. I don’t have time to read it but I brought some copies of it if you would like to see for yourself. We need to stop looking at the bible the same way as holly wood and start looking at for what it is. Why do we need another book to give us a picture of what we read, the other book can and often do help us understand what we read but look to the bible for the picture.

Ok let us take a look at the magi. Where do they fit in? Well if you go back to Matthew 2 we will see what they did and when they came. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of king Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ When the king heard this he was displeased, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the peoples chief priests and teacher of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem they replied, for this is what the prophet has written’  ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a carful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report back to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ After they had heard the king they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And have been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”    

Ok the Magi are coming from the east so maybe from Babbleon, and they first go to the King and ask him where the Christ is. They ask him because they believe he was also looking and wanting for the child to be born. But in fact he’s not; he actually tries to kill him. Well they find out what they needed to know and continued to the Christ. So they get to Bethlehem and find the house that Jesus is living in. Did you get that? They find the HOUSE Jesus is living in. and they go in and bow down before him. Then it says they open there treasures and present him with gifts. So here it is they all open there bags and give him the most valuable things they have Gold, Incense, and Myrrh. It does not say one gave him gold another gave him incense and the third gave him myrrh.

Ok it’s now time to look at the Shepherd’s. These are the guys that were there when Christ was born. They are the first people to see him and hold him. Which seems kind of odd, think Shepherd’s are the first people to be with the son of God and the savor of their people. This is just crazy, that the son of God, God in the flesh would chose to be born in a stable and would send angels to tell Shepherd’s to come and see him before telling kings of man of importance.

Ok so let’s start reading in Luke 2:8. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. But the angle said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savor has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sing to you: you will find the babe rapped in cloths and laying in a manger. ‘Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was laying in a manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her hart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

There is a lot to the shepherds, first is that after they hear what the angel said they went right away to see Jesus; they didn’t think about they just left. Now think it’s not like they weren’t doing anything, they were tending their flocks. While looking after their sheep they just got up to see him. This drop what you’re doing characteristic that the shepherds have is something to look at. They left their sheep alone to go see Jesus. Now we might not see this as special but it is. Think of a solder leaving his post or a store owner living his store unlooked. They left all they had and owned. If fact all the sheep my not have been there’s. So they may have left someone else’s livelihood alone. The consequences for leaving there sheep could have been they could have been attacked, stolen or there could have wandered off by themselves. And if this happed they would have been out on their money, job and live.

Are you like the shepherds? Dose Jesus mean enough to you to drop what you’re doing? Would you scarify your job or money for him? Are you like the magi? Willing to travel to whatever end to be with Jesus. Would you give him the best you have? Will you listen to God and not the men of power of this world? How much is Jesus worth to you? I want to encourage you to spend the Christmas time the way Christ would want you to. So yes have a good time eat food be with family sing song, but remember why we do it. Make Jesus the sinter of your celebration not Santa. Share the true Christmas story with someone let them see the meaning of this fun but hectic time. Be the shepherd, be the magi, be Mary. And have a great time.

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

What is it that makes a Christian? What do we think of when we think of a Christian? Most think of a nice person who thinks of others and does community service. A lot of people think of a person who says how others should live but don’t live their lives the way they tell others to live. This is something that annoys both Christians and non-Christians alike.

Now this is where I say I'm not a minister so you can't fire me. I will tell you now that this may be offensive so if you get offended easy I'll apologize now. I'm going to be telling you what a real Christian is and how most people think they are a Christian but aren't.

Ok first I'll talk about being nice. Most people think that being a Christian is all about being nice to everyone in every instance. And that’s true to an extent. To help you understand what I mean I have a jokeish skit to tell you. ''An atheist was walking through the forest admiring the wonderful thing Evolution had made. As he looked at the great trees, and beautiful streams he felt a since of wonder. He looks up to see the giant eagles and feels the wind he is in complete awe. Just then a twig snaps behind him, he turns to look and sees a 13 foot tall bear. The man turns and runs. He takes a look back to see if the bear is still there and it is. It's only 10 feet away now. When he looks forward again he trips on a root and falls to the ground. The man rolls over trying to stand back up but it's to late. The bear grabs the man's shoulder with one hand and raises the other to strike the man in the face. The man cries out "Oh God help me." Just then time stops. The wind stops blowing, the eagles stop in mid-flight, the stream stops flowing, and a great deep voice from above says "How dare you ask me for help now you who has refused to believe in me you who have told others I don't exist and now you’re asking me for help that doesn't make much sense." The man replied "Ya that would be pretty hypocritical don’t it? Maybe you could just make the bear a Christian things would be good." God said, "If that's what you want so be it." Time started up again the wind was blowing the eagles flapped and soared again the stream trickled down the hill and the bear loosened his grip on the man. The man said "Thank God." Then the bear backed up knelt down and said "Lord, thank you for this meal you have provided.''

Now that's funny we laugh but I think many people think kind of like that. you see if the bear was a Christian then he would be nice and it wouldn’t be nice to eat someone. But what the man forgot was what’s nice in his eyes is not nessasaraly what’s nice in Gods eyes. And that’s the kind of nice we as Christians strive for, to be nice in Gods eyes. Infect that’s the only kind of nice that matters to me. To most people it would not be nice to tell someone there doing wrong and they need to get there life straightened out and get right with God. But we are told to do this; this is the right thing to do. Christianity is not about doing the nice thing it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes the right thing isn’t always nice but we're still called to do it. I don’t at all mean that we should be mean about anything we do. We should do the right things as nicely as possible. None of these things make us a Christian. Most theses are good things to do, but it’s not what makes us a Christian.

Now I’ll talk about what people think you need in a church, to make it a church. And how that makes them not a Christian. Do churches need to have pews, or a steeple, or stand glass windows? Is that what makes a church different from another building. Here's an example of some Christians who don’t know what it is to be a Christian. A lot of churches are getting rid of their pews and switching to chairs. Well almost every church including Sturgis church lost lots of people. People who think a church must have pews and must have a steeple. Those people must not have read the same Bible I have. Jesus spoke on the side of a mountain, in the street, and the first century Christians had service in houses and caves and even tombs. Not churches with pews and a steeple and stained glass windows. Now I'm not saying those things are bad but I am saying that's not what makes a church. A church is a place where Christians gather to worship and learn about God.

These people that think like this are not true Christians. True Christians don’t care about their surroundings they just care about worshiping and learning about God. It’s not where we do this but how and why we do this. The thing that should be most important is giving God glory, and if you’re too wrapped up in how you and your church look then you seriously need to get your walk with God straightened out and find out what Christianity is really about. You don’t need to get all dressed up and put on your ''church'' face. Infect if you have a ''church'' face then you have problems. Now I’m not at all saying that you can’t get dressed up I usually do, but I’m am saying that it’s not nesasairy. God sees us in our grubs and he love us the same as if we were dressed to go to a fancy ball. Threes no dress code at real church and if you've been to or go to a church that says you must be dressed up in a serten way, I’ll tell you straight up that that’s not a church that God blesses or loves.

Real Christians know that we must stay united as one, for the body of Christ is one. And if we separate and argue with one another than we are not acting as Christ taught us to. And when we don’t act as Christ taught us, we're not being real Christians. I would even argue that we're not true Christians when we're arguing with one other. Now I’m not saying that we can’t disagree with one another but we must do it in a way that encourages one another and it can’t come to the point that we divide the Church. Division is not what Christ wants. There can be no division in Christ’s church, for there is only one Body that is Christ.

So why do we have so many different types of churches. I would say there are 15 to 20 main types of churches and thousands of branches off them. The main ones would be Roman Catholic, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Missionary, Nazarene, Church of God, Four Square, Church of Christ Christian Church, and Pentecostal and that's just some of the top "main stream" churches. This is something that I hate. It annoys me to no end. Church's split for retarded reasons; the simplest, dumbest things churches split on. I know I've told most of you this story but it's so stupid I'll tell it again. "I'm not sure where this church is but there is this church that wanted to have a mural of the garden of Eden painted on one of their walls and when they started painting Adam and Eve the painter asked if they wanted to give Adam and Eve a belly button or not and the two men supervising were in disagreement of whether or not to give them belly buttons. One said yes, the other said no. So they had a congregational meeting and asked if they should give Adam and Eve belly buttons or not. And of course they could not agree. About half the church said yes and about the other half said no and a handful said it makes no difference. So they went ahead and gave them belly buttons and so many people got mad they left the church and started a new church that believes they didn't have belly buttons. And hares the best part, they went ahead and painted over the mural because it was causing too much dispute." Now how retardedly retarded is that?

This is a big thing. You may laugh but it’s seriously the biggest problem in Christianity. Every time a church spits more people are turned ageist God. When we show we can’t stay united as one church in the name of Christ Jesus our foundation, we create flaws in the church. And when we create flaws in the church we're saying that Christianity is not the one true way to Heaven. I mean if we as Christian can’t stand form in our beliefs and steadfast to one another, others will think that it’s just another realign, not the one true way to heaven. Would you all agree that we are divided? Would 110 different translations of the English indicate we are not united? Would 45 different types of churches in Sturgis say we're not one body? Why are we so divided? Why are we in so much disagreement? I'll tell you why. It’s because we've let Lucifer take control of our world. He got his first foothold when the Roman Catholic Church started and he got one more foothold every time someone tried to brake off it.

I will say that the early Roman Catholic Church did take the word all over the world. But they did it in the wrong way and because of the mistake of making a different church then what we had before. The one Christ made. Satan has so much to use ageist the church now. Because we couldn’t stay together as one. Roman Catholic Church foot hold #1 husit church #2 Zimbwiny churches #3, and so on and so forth. Untie you get to us now, foot hold #1,000,000,000. He can do so much harm to the church. And it’s because he has so many footholds.

So what can we do? Well the only thing i think we can do is start uniting together as one body as Christ tells us to. And if would have stayed like that we wouldn’t have had this problem in the first please. We need to look at one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Not just people that go to a Church of Christ Christian Church, but all Christians. This way we can take away the devils foot holds and bring Christ bake to all the churches. But how do we know who a Christian is. In this case I’m talking about people that call themselves Baptist or Catholics, or Methodius, or anything else. These are still follower of Christ as a howl but how do we know who the true followers of Christ are?

So if we are in an agreement that being nice is not what makes us a Christian then what does? Is it giving away lots of thing to the needy? Or is it doing all kinds of work for helpless people? How about making people happy? What about being good on Sunday and when we're around our "church friends''? Aversely none of these things make us a Christian. Most theses are good things to do, but it’s not what makes us a Christian. So what is it that makes us a Christian?

Why don't we see what the Bible says makes a Christian in 2 Corinthians 10: 23-24 it says "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." Ok, so we can do whatever we want but it’s not always beneficial or constructive. We should be striving to do good for others. That is what Christ says to do. Lets skip ahead a little to 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greek, or the Church of God. - Even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." So it's not doing a food thing that makes us a Christian. It's doing things in the name of Christ and for His glory not ours. If you see a Christian doing good things for others and devoting his time to serve all those around, but he takes credit and looks to see how he can get praise from other for what he did, I can and will tell you that that person is not a Christian and he's doing no good for Christ. Now I'm not just talking about doing things, I'm also talking about praying. If you act like your praying so people will think better of you or pray loudly to yourself, you are not a Christian. It says in Matthew 6: 5-8, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard by their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Now I don't think he's saying you can't pray out loud when your in a group of Christians and your asked to pray (like here at church), I'm pretty sure he's saying not to go out in town, stand in the entrance to Wal-Mart praying as loud as you can. We are to do the things we do for God, neither so that God knows we do them nor so our friends or family know. Our realigns deeds are best displaced when they’re not. The only one that needs to know is God. Now I’m not saying we must do everything in secret, I’m just saying if we’re not doing it souly for God were not doing it For God at all. Those who make a show of there praises to God have gotten all there going to get here on earth and they will resave nothing from God in heaven.

Christianity is not about being showy, or about the thing you do. But at the same time its not about hiding our faith. Yes we should not publicly anouns our prays and deeds so all know that we did them and we good Christians. its more than that, its trying to do the right thing in every sichowation. Christianity is all about using the gifts God gave you to give God prays and glory. Its about telling more and more people the good news of Christ, not so we can say look i brought 20 people to Christ but just so 20 people know the good news. Its about helping those in need, not so we can bring them to Christ but cuz there in need. If that not way your a Christian then your not a Christian for the right reason and when you’re not a Christian for the right reson your not a true Christian. Its not the name or title that separates us from the rest of the world, its what we do, how we do it, why we do it, and who we do it for and who gets the credet. That’s what makes us different from the people who do nothing and through out the title Christian.

Now if your thinking why would someone say any of that? its cuz id would rather tell people what Christ says we are to do. and if you feel like i was being to picky and we can go half way with the Christian thing I’ll tell you again that you can’t, its all or nuthothing with Christ. If your thinking you know I haven’t been doing this right, and id really like to get straitnd out with the Lord then id invite you to come forward and tell God you’d like to put him first in your life. If you think you haven’t been a true Christian then come and try aigen Gods always here to take a truly repented heart back. so as we sing just come forward and give your life to Christ.

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link