Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian life. Show all posts

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Not everyone in the churches of Christ are “ungodly”

English: A of .
English: A of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Last Thursday up tot the end of the weekend it was time again for the many communion feasts and Spring feasts in Belgium.
The Catholic churches have to face a lessening in communion feasts. The second communion is mostly placed aside to celebrate with the humanists and atheists their Spring feast.

It is the sign that more and more people are leaving church. They complain about the several acts of church people which are not acceptable by ethic and normal people. The population has encountered to many cases of paedophile clergy, which has made them lose interest in those who should preach the faith in sacred love and love for God.

Lots of people spit on the church, but they do forget that there are many more churches than the Catholic Church. They also seem to forget that not all the priests and bishops in that Catholic church are such pervert beings. Strange also when they would really believe in God, that they do not seek for other solutions, other churches, other people of God.

Would we all "have to blame Jesus Christ for Judas Iscariot?" asks also John T. Polk II.
His answers is:
No, because “Satan entered Judas” (Luke 22:3). {5-8-2015 Why Reject Jesus’ Church?}
He still considers his church as the church of Christ, the body of Jesus Christ today (Colossians 1:24), and wonders why to blame the churches of Christ for the “ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4 NKJV)? 
But should the church not be an example for the gentiles? Should those who are in charge of the church live according to what they preach and according to what they demand from their flock?

He is right in saying:
It seems people want to dismiss the churches of Christ by emphasizing the hypocritical few.
We also may not reject Jesus because of Judas, and should not reject the church of Christ because some have failed to be faithful.
Paul wrote “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse” (Colossians 1:2).
Everyone in the churches of Christ are not “ungodly,” anymore than all Apostles are betrayers of Jesus Christ!
John T. Polk II writes

People should come to see that there are many more churches than the Roman Catholic church or any other church where they bow in front of crucifixes, graven images and paintings, contrary to the demands of the Most High God.

It’s useful to realize that we are two years away from marking the 500th Anniversary of the “symbolic” beginning of the Protestant Reformation, noted to have begun on October 31, 1517 by Martin Luther.

Peter Traben Haas  writes:
Of course, like all movements, it is impossible to peg a precise date, since often such movements emerge from within a multi-dimensional environment with diverse social factors and influences. But, for all practical purposes, Luther’s posting of the 95 Thesis is as good a moment as any to mark the Reformation’s beginning. {2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
Throughout the ages many changes took place. We even can notice when there where efforts to come back to the Word of God, the Scriptures Alone, and getting away from the idolatry, the bowing down in front of pictures, we can see in those renewal movements a shift took place after a few years and as such in many protestant churches we can find today also again a lot of pictures or Christ and of God and even of different saints.

Peter Traben Haas does think that
2015 is a good time to begin thinking about how Christianity has changed since then, and how Christianity is currently evolving, and more importantly, what might be the next phase of spiritual evolution Christianity is moving into. Everything is growing, including the sphere of consciousness in which Christianity “lives, moves and has its being,” and we would want to grow with it. Most of us are, which is probably one reason why you are reading this.{2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
For sure anno 2015 lots of 'church people' do not take much time to read the bible or to spend time with or to pray to the Most High God.
the contemplative dimension of Christianity is a niche “market,” primarily visible in monastic communities and other like-minded teachers, groups and organizations, such as Richard Rohr or Contemplative Outreach. For the majority of Christian’s, though, “contemplative” is a “boutique” way of being and doing Christian life, totally appropriate for retreats and monasteries, but not yet ready for the mainstream, so the thinking goes. But such ignoring and resistance is about to shift into attention and acceptance. {2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
writes Peter Traben, who would like to see a
Sola Silence. Sola Solitude. Sola Stillness,  Simplicity and Service.
But God perhaps does not want such a silence. God and His son want us to go out in the world proclaiming the Good News. Coming closer to the end times we should shout even more clearly and pronounce to the world the necessity to come closer to God and to worship the Divine Creator, thanking Him for His son who has brought salvation to the world.

Those who love God should let others know that they love the heavenly Father and that they would like to see that more people would come to love this Only One God. It is our task to let the world that not all people are ungodly or are people who love to tell lies or do not mind telling lies. The world has to know that there are still many people who prefer not to tell lies and to worship that One God Who did not tell lies.

That God said about the man in the river Jordan that he was His begotten beloved son. His words we should accept and spread throughout the world, so that all people can come to know Jesus Christ, our saviour, the Messiah.

We also should invite those around us to come to visit us at our meetings, our church, which is the Body of Christ. In-there we should show them what the real  love of Christ is and how we want to share that agapé love with each other. To the world we should prove that there are other churches, who have people who really want to live according to the Laws of Christ and to the Laws of God.

It is up to you, believer, to show the world not all in the Church of God are ungodly.

°°°
If you are looking for a church with men and women who want to be 'set apart' as godly people, please contact the Christadelphians.
Find the Christadelphian Church in Belgium: Ecclesia Brussel Leuven

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Saturday 3 August 2013

Died climbing

Alan Hermann
Alan Hermann wrote:
3 augustus 6:59
I read recently of the epitaph of a Swiss mountain climbing guide. All it said was ‘died climbing’. After considering this I realised that this is a perfect epitaph for every Christian.

The Christian life is well described as a race, a journey or a climb. The good news is that we have a guide and support on the climb who has descended from the highest peak to take our hand and help and encourage us. We never climb alone. It doesn’t matter if we are near the top or still making our way through the foothills. The important thing is that we are still moving upward, still climbing.
A rock climber with a collection of climbing n...
A rock climber with a collection of climbing nuts preparing to climb. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 It has been said that the Christian life is ‘three steps forward and two steps backward’ and I believe that there is some truth in this but again it is not how fast we are ascending but the fact that we are still climbing. We must put aside doubts about our distance from the peak or rate of progress and ask His continual help to climb on. It is his strength, not ours, that makes the difference. In the worst bits he carries us.

 The greatest praise we can receive while alive is, ‘still climbing’. May our epitaphs read, ‘died climbing’.
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Monday 5 July 2010

Two forms of Freedom

There are in fact two forms of freedom - the false where we are free to do what we like; and the true where we are free to do what God likes.
Perhaps we all need to take time occasionally to reflect on our Christian life and ask ourselves two questions. What have I been saved to? How true is my freedom?
Think about it!

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie:Twee vormen van Vrijheid


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2016 linkupdate

Tuesday 5 January 2010

A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn't


"A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn't".
- Unknown

"The Bible shows how the world goes forward.
It begins with a garden and ends with a Holy City."
- Phillips Brooks

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone,
but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.
- Martin Luther


If we get our information from the biblical material
there is no doubt
that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life.
- Eugene Peterson

"One can study because the brain is hungry for knowledge,
even Bible knowledge.
But we pray as the soul yearns for God."
- Leonard Ravenhill

"… that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:15, 16, 17

Jehovah, I ask you for my mind to grow.
that I may get more wisdom out of Your Word.
Let Your Words inspire me and transform me
to a full and good Christian man.

Friday 24 April 2009

A Living Faith #2 State of your faith

A LIVING FAITH
What is the state of your faith?

Faith is a very personal thing and the true state of a person’s faith can only be judged by God. It is impossible to hide our true feelings from Him for He knows our innermost thoughts and all motives are laid bare before Him. Anything less than an honest appraisal of our personal level of faith is a futile effort, for it will be of no spiritual benefit whatsoever. As we have seen in the previous section even a small amount of faith, small as a mustard seed, can accomplish much.

However, we should know and must never forgot that whatever is accomplished is not by our own efforts, but is of God. We have nothing; no knowledge, no skill, no ability, not one single thing that has not been given to us. Even the apostle Paul was moved to say:

“I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1Cor 15:10

It is Paul who also notes: “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand” 2Cor 1:24. It is according to the depth and breadth of our personal faith that we stand or fall. Further, the value of our faith is proved by how we act upon it day by day.

Faith is demonstrated by the degree to which it affects and moulds an individual’s life. So what would you answer to the following questions?

         What is the objective of faith?
         What is your spiritual goal?
         Are you moving towards that goal?

The promised reward of faith is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Yet we must question if eternal life in itself is the objective of faith. If our primary personal spiritual goal is to attain eternal life, then it is possible we have somehow missed the thrust of God’s purpose with those called to be His children. The primary purpose of God is not that men might find salvation, but that the earth will be filled with His Glory. His purpose requires that the earth be filled with beings who will perfectly reflect His divine attributes. Thus in a sense eternal life is a consequence of the true objective of faith.

What then is the true objective of faith? Well, Jesus said in his prayer as recorded in John’s gospel record:

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

So, eternal life is defined as firstly knowing Yahweh the one true God and secondly knowing Jesus Christ His Son who fully and perfectly displayed His Fathers divine attributes. Again Jeremiah writes:

“Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

To know Yahweh is not merely to know about Him. It is not just to have an academic knowledge of His Word and purpose. Knowing Him is not simply having an understanding about His dealings with Israel, His mercy shown towards them and how they fit in with His promises to the patriarchs of old. To know Yahweh is not just about appreciating the principles that lie behind His provision of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Job gives an object lesson for those who would truly know Yahweh. He realised the requirements of his Creator, such that in his fear of the wrath of God falling upon him and his family, after his children had run a course of feasting we read: “Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly” Job1:5. One would thus think that Job fully ‘knew’ the Lord his God and yet after losing all he possessed and enduring so much suffering, Job has these profound words to say:

"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Job 42:5

During his discourse Job had noted, “Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.” Job12:12 and later asks “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Job 28:12. Wisdom and knowledge may come with age and experience, but only if one with a true and honest heart seeks out the Lord God. For Job answers his own question saying that Yahweh “understands its way and He knows its place… Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:23&28

Job had throughout his life up until that time known of Yahweh, he had known about Yahweh, he had known the principles of Yahweh. But it was as it were almost an academic knowledge and appreciation, with reliance upon the observance of law.  But after all his sufferings, after hearing about the glory of creation and about the absolute power and wisdom of his Creator, Job was moved to say:

“You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Job 42:3

Job’s faith was thus placed in an entirely new context, his eyes clearly saw Yahweh in His resplendent glory. Jobs emotions were stirred within him and he knew and feared the Lord his God. Fear in this context being that reverential love and piety that characterise the lives of all the true children of God.

To know Yahweh, is to truly love Him with the whole being given over to His service. Not just knowledge about Him, not just knowledge about His Word, but rather a deep and abiding emotional entanglement with all that He is and will be. Then, and only then, can we truly appreciate and fulfil the greatest commandment of all:

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30



Andy Peel

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In this series:
A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
A living faith #2 State of your faith
A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
A Living Faith #4 Effort
A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
A Living faith #7 Prayer
A Living Faith #8 Change
A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
A Living Faith #11 My place in the body of Christ and my ecclesia
A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus

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2016 linkupdate