gospel

Are you a stuck-up Christian?

Fellow Christians and non-Christians, John 8: 7 (“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”), is undoubtedly one of the most powerful yet humbling Scripture in the New Testament. Unfortunately, many Christians either do not think the context of the passage apply to them, or they flatly do not understand it.

I have arrived at this harsh conclusion after observing fellow Christians for many years. I have realized that many of us, especially some who preach from the pulpit, are pompous and stuck-up. Like the Scribes and Pharisees mentioned in John 8, we enjoy pointing out the sins of others but we cover up ours. We even look down on the people we labelled as sinners with disdain.

Naturally, one do not expect a follower of Jesus Christ who truly understand Jesus’ mission and what He meant when He said: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32), to exhibit  a repulsive attitude toward the people Jesus came to save. Unfortunately, none of us is blameless in this regard.

But if we are going to talk gospel according to Jesus and the disciples, then we must first come down off our high horses and face the harsh reality. The church cannot grow if we continue to pour water into the faces of those who need Jesus in their lives. Many of these people do not know that they need Jesus. Therefore, it is our solemn duty to tell them why they need Him.

As Christians, we must never forget where we were when we found Jesus. Some of us had been in similar situations as the people we now condemn. But just like Paul, we had an awakening and we turned our life around. Notice, Paul never forgot the life he had lived before he met Christ, but he never returned to it. And most noticeable, he was never Stuck-up, pompous, judgmental, or condemning.

What is your biggest fear ?

There is a litany of Scriptures counselling us against fear. Scriptures like:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34. And: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Luke 12:22-26, are among some of the most quoted ones.

Still, despite the positive energy those Scriptures emit, everybody has fears. And, depending on one’s priorities, fear can either be spiritual or temporal. And sometimes both.

According to my dictionary, “Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, whether real or imagined”.

Honestly, my biggest fear is spiritual. And it has to do with Jesus’ return, and I am not ready. There is no one among us who can predict the future. One could be in a state of readiness today, and the Bridegroom returns tomorrow and you are not ready.

Everybody remembers the parable of the ten virgins Jesus told His disciple on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 25:1-13). The only reason the five foolish virgins did not meet the Bridegroom was because they ran out of oil. And it could happen to you.

What is your biggest fear?

It’s a wonderful life.

It’s a wonderful life
Christians are not immune from ills and perils. We are human beings. Pain and suffering, disappointment and setbacks are all part of life’s journey. But, despite our troubles, the Christian life is wonderful.

What makes the Christian life wonderful?
I cannot quite put into words why the Christian life is wonderful. Neither can a professional basketball player explains how he made fifteen three-pointers in a row in one and in another game he made zero; nor can a professional golfer explains how he made a hole-in-one. But there is something about living a Christian life that makes one feel wonderful.

Naturally, naysayers, like atheists, will say you are crazy. And every time a tragedy happens they put you on the spot and ask you questions they know you will never answer to their satisfaction. Questions like, Where was God when this or that happened?. Why did he allow so and so to happen? And instead of saying I do not know, some Christians pretend to know the mind of God and conjure up answers that do not make practical sense.

But, I do not know the mind of God. And I cannot explain why bad things happen to good people, but I know without a doubt the Christian life is overwhelmingly wonderful. And to experience it you must be born again.

New day, New beginning

Happy New Year everybody!

024“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things have been made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).

I would like to take a little time to thank all of you for your continued support of this blog. You guys have been simply awesome–beyond measure.

Even though we may not always agree on every point; we treat each other with respect. I wish the greater society on the whole would take a page out of our books.

I pray that the God of Abraham will continue to inspire you to inspire and lead others to Christ.