Why ‘Coming Out’ as a Christian at work is so very hard?

Dave is a competent young professional. He looks worn and defeated. In talking about his workplace, he said that bickering, criticism, and lack of support for Christians had spread through his organisation – a workplace he used to love. Now, he said, “The tension here is so thick I hate going to work.” he says.

Coming Out of The Christian Closet

Almost everyone has a story to tell about a bad boss, a bizarre colleague or a terrible place to work. However, as a Christian based digital media website, we have heard tons of stories of religious discrimination in the workplace.

We are blessed to have freedom of religion in the UK; (these rights are part The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and applies to freedom from religious discrimination, accommodation, and hostile work environment matters in both public and private workplaces) but recently the attacks upon Christians has increased, and people have lost their jobs and closed their businesses as a result of standing up for their belief. Practicing Christianity at the office or even sharing beliefs seems to touch on nerves, hurt feelings, and ignite high-levels of anger as well as passion in non believers. And it seems like the workplace climate may be getting worse: the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) considered 3,721 religious discrimination complaints in 2013, up from 1,709 in 1997.

“Secular ideology is so pervasive in the professional environment that we often have a difficult time fitting into the culture of the office. Many of us simply “go with the flow,” choosing to participate in the promotion of secular thought and values rather than risk being ostracized and ridiculed by defending the absolute truth of Christianity and the moral certitude of the distinctively Christian vision.”

You know what we’re talking about. Do you pray before lunch with a bunch of clients? Do you invite a new friend to church? Do you quote an appropriate Scripture during a dinner party? Do you hand someone your newsletter (FaithMD)?

However, a poppy is not just for Christmas, and a Christian is not just for the weekend.

But what does it really look like to unite our jobs and faith? After all office politics can be cruel and unfair and you’ve got to play the game”¦ haven’t you? We mean it’s easier to just to pretend you’re out and avoid that phone call”¦ isn’t it? When you’re putting in that expenses claim”¦ everyone creams a little off the top, so why lose out? And when there’s no holiday left to take but you need a day off, it’s easier to call in sick, isn’t it”¦? After all the world didn’t come to an end. So, what’s the big deal?

It’s sin — that’s the big deal.

Staying Godly in a Godless Workplace

The following are a few suggestions as to how to practice your faith at work.

Dont’s

You don’t need to open a beauty salon called “A Cut Above” or a coffee shop called “He Brews” or have to wear a cross or leave a Bible on your desk for others to know that you’re a Christian.
Don’t Engage in Gossip. Even if your workplace only has five employees, it’s almost a given that at least some of them will engage in gossip from time to time.
Don’t Be a Hypocrite. One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel’s effectiveness is Christians who act one way at church and another way elsewhere. If you make your employer a billion dollars yet disgrace Jesus in the process, you’re a failure.
Don’t Hide Away. Our right relationship isn’t just with God, but it’s a right relationship with the world around us.
Don’t lie in the Workplace – Ever. This seems self-evident for Christians, but that’s where we’re under our greatest temptation.

Do’s

Be Righteous.The best witness of your faith is to live it. Treat others as you would like to be treated, be kind, and do everything with love. This doesn’t mean that you have to meekly accept any wrongs at work or to avoid. “If the salt loses its saltiness, it’s good for nothing.”
Be Hopeful. People of hope don’t lie about the reality of the world, but they are pressing on toward a new day. They inject positive direction in every dark situation.
Be Faithful. Christians can explain their faith to others confidently and give attractive examples of the Christian life—even in just doing their jobs well. There’s no such thing as a private faith.
Be About God’s Business and Know God’s Word. After all the Bible is more a love letter than it is a rulebook, more a reliable compass than it is a measuring rod, more a liberating gift than a heavy restraint.
Be Merciful. Your ability to walk rightly, is not a prowess gained. It is a gift supplied by a loving, merciful God who is shaping us into the image of his Son.
Be Prayerful. There will be people who do not like you for any number of reasons. Make it a practice to pray for the people that don’t seem to like you, who you don’t really get along with, or who just always seem to have something snarky to say to or about you.
Be Relational. When you are asked, or ordered, to do something that causes turbulence in your Christian conscience, ask questions.
Be Genuine. People of faith are pure in their motives and dealings with others. They don’t put on airs or sniff the air for hints of sinful behavior.
Be Businesslike, But Not All Business. Have a laugh. Not only does laughing relieve stress, but it improves teamwork. Laughing on the job is not wasting time. It’s keeping work in its proper perspective and treating colleagues like human beings instead of tools.
Be a Risk Taker. I realise this somewhat contradicts some of the last points, but the Christian life rests in that tension between risk and prudence. Here’s a hint, safe will always be boring, risks will always be exciting, and closets will always be dark.
Never Forget Who You’re Really Working For Ultimately. Jesus Christ is our boss, and all our actions on the job should bring glory and honor to Him. God planted us in our current job for a particular reason. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

April 20, 2018January 15, 2024

Are You the Sheep of God’s Pasture?

The beautiful parable that Christ gave of the one lost sheep, of the shepherd that left the ninety and nine to go in search of that which was lost, illustrates the care of the great Shepherd.

He did not look carelessly over the sheep of the fold, and say, “I have ninety and nine, and it will cost me too much trouble to go in search of the straying one; let him come back, and I will open the door of the sheepfold and let him in, but I cannot go after him.” No… He counts and recounts the flock, and when he is certain that one sheep is lost, he leaves the ninety and nine within the fold; however dark the night, however perilous and unpleasant the way, however long and tedious the search, he does not weary, he does not falter, until the lost sheep is found.

But when it is found, does he act indifferently? Does he call the sheep, and command the straying one to follow him? Does he threaten and beat it, or drive it before him, recounting the bitterness and anxiety that he felt on its account? No; he lays the weary, exhausted, wandering sheep on his shoulder, and … returns it to the fold.

The shepherd’s gratitude finds expression in melodious songs of rejoicing, and heavenly choirs respond to the shepherd’s note of joy…

For “joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.”

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).

Just as a shepherd of the earth knows his sheep, so does the God know His flock that is scattered throughout the whole world…

“And ye, my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God” (Ezekiel 34:31).

However low, however, elevated we may be, whether we are going through adversity or in the sunshine of prosperity, we are God’s sheep, the flock of His pasture, and under the care of the chief Shepherd.

April 20, 2018July 22, 2020

I’m an Atheist and I Feel Like I’m Smarter Than Religious People

It used to be that teens and young adults would say, “Yeah I’m an atheist, I’m all about facts and science, my parents hate it, but they’ll just have to get over it. This is who I am.”

Now tell me, how in the world are people not finding any facts within a book that’s sixty-six chapters long? Not to mention study Bibles, have you seen those things? They are humongous and full of extra historical context and Biblical meaning. Young people (myself included) once claimed atheism because we were trying to seem dark or edgy, we really didn’t actually think we were atheists, we just stopped paying attention to God!

Our God is not social media, our God is not whatever is trending on Netflix, our God is, well, God.

Now that we have grown out of that phase, not caring what people think of us, we see more and more people millennial age or younger that are labeled as the new “kings of cool” because they profess Jesus as their savior. Our God is not social media, our God is not whatever is trending on Netflix, our God is, well, God. People on social media platforms have started arguments in which they claim “God is not real,” only to have Christians boldly proclaim the opposite. Despite either getting shunned or ganged up on by trolls, those sticking to their guns are seen as the rebels to those lurking and watching the back and forth action.

Hollywood knows where this is going too; with big films like I Can Only Imagine and Paul Apostle Of Christ making waves in the movie business, it’s only a matter of time before the mainstream media hypes up its popularity. Or, they might just try and ignore how much people like these movies and do their best to cover it up with something worldly, you really never know with them.

It’s trendy right now to be politically incorrect and against the current culture because people are sick of doing what they always have done; it’s not working for them anymore. The vast majority who are sticking to the norm, are seen as “sleeping sheep that just need to be red pilled.” The same goes with following God; people want more out of their lives than just the day to day, they want a life with purpose and meaning. They know God can give them that.

So if you see a bunch of people saying they’re “atheists” just to be cool, tell them that they need to check out social media more often, the rebels are the Christians.

April 17, 2018July 22, 2020

Biblical Quotes and Ways to help you Overcome Rejection

We all at some point in our lives get to deal with the spirit of rejection. When the feeling of loneliness and rejection creeps in we tend to roll back into our cocoons and hide from the outside world. The Bible states that “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. “John 15:18.When you are on the verge of giving up, the word of God tells you to cast all your worries and cares to God for he cares about you. Rejection crushes your self-esteem and fights your life’s purpose and this can deprive you the chance to enjoy the Love of God. There are several signs of rejection to look out for.

1. Trying to fit in the society

Have you at some point tried to fit in or have had the urge to be accepted by friends, peers, and family? When the contrary happens you can get bruised psychologically and your spirit gets crushed in the process. The word of God which is a healing balm tells us that the He is close to the brokenhearted. Seek Him wholeheartedly for you can never drift away from his love.

2. Finding fault with God

Does your physical appearance or social status lead you to blame God? You were created in His likeness and you’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Deuteronomy 14:2 says “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure. “What an assurance that the Lord treasures you! Start loving and appreciating yourself and you’ll find every reason to thank God for you’re an awesome creation.

3. Living in isolation

The tendency to isolate yourself from the outside world is a red flag that something is wrong or things aren’t heading at the right direction. Isolation may lead to suicidal thoughts and to harbor them in your mind gives the enemy an opportunity to manipulate you. Isolation can also lead to anxiety and the Bible tells us that we should not be anxious about anything. Make a habit of reading the word of God for the renewal of your mind.

Rebellion

The book of 1Sam15:23 states that, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. When you fail to submit to authority it will always land you in trouble. Align yourself with Gods will and learn to submit to the Holy Spirit. He’s your helper and you should allow him to guide you into the ways of righteousness.

Where do you derive your identity from? Is it from your job, family, and friends? Your identity should always come from the Lord. Read the word of God to get a clear direction on what the Bible says about you. The word says that we are made joint heirs with Christ. Isn’t this confirmation great? Yes, it is.

All in all, the greatest way to overcome the demon of rejection is to solve your identity crisis. Let your identity come from the Lord alone. He calls us His sons and heirs and we should always rejoice in his presence. The minute you will identify who you are and allow the Holy Spirit to take full control, your life will make a turnaround, your self-esteem will move a notch higher and you’ll align with your purpose in life.

Draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you. Meditate on His word day and night and set time to pray. Be happy, feel loved and appreciated God loves you.

April 6, 2018April 25, 2021

Should I Do Yoga if I am a Christian?

Recently I’ve been on a spiritual journey that includes deep prayer, meditation, and mindfulness to help me to connect with God. At the same time, I’ve also been on the hunt for some low-impact stretching that could potentially help with chronic pain in a natural way.

Meditation and stretching. Put those two together and what do you get?

Yoga.

So, I’ve said I need to stretch. And I find that meditation brings me closer to God. These all naturally come together in the form of yoga. But, as a Christian, should I do yoga? Am I allowed? Will Jesus love me less?

Well, first, let’s see”¦what does the Bible say about the word “yoga”? Nothing. Zero. There’s no record of that word being used.

So now what do I do? Since the Bible doesn’t talk about yoga specifically, I have to use the brains God gave me to dig a bit deeper. Then I can determine how best to deal with this current cultural trend.

Let’s start with a few of the basics:

Yoga began as a spiritual disciple in Hindu which includes breath control, meditation, and static postures of the body. Some people who practice yoga are active Hindus or Buddhists. Many are not.
In the western world, yoga is a broad term that is often descriptive of people engaging in the physical body postures that encourage strength and stamina. Sometimes this is combined with meditation for mental strength, but not exclusively. Some yoga classes used sacred words such as “Om”, “Namaste”, and certain chants that hint to Buddhism and Hinduism. Other classes make no reference to the spiritual world at all and are simply a form of physical exercise. Yoga potures have Sanskrit names that have spiritual meanings. Many times these are replaced with English names that simply describe the form the body is taking. (For instance, “lotus” has become “criss-cross applesauce”.)

The word “yoga” in Sanskrit means “yoke” or “union with God”. God tells me to not worship another god, and I must obey.

So I know that yoga started as an ancient spiritual practice of another religion which should lead me to move forward with caution. But I also know that Jesus came to redeem all things.

Is it possible to engage in a moderated form of yoga that feeds our Christian souls, or should we avoid it altogether? Can we be aware of the potential pitfalls and dangers of the spiritual side of yoga and then practice it in a meaningful way with a Christian bent and attitude?

The famous American minister John Piper seems to think that we can’t. He says we should avoid yoga completely, citing it as antithetical to Christianity.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Piper has some good things to offer. But in this situation I tend to think that maybe he’s throwing the proverbial “baby out with the bathwater”.

Christians have often taken “secular” symbols or practices and re-stored them into something that is healthy and even God-glorifying. Take Christmas, for example. December 25, the day on which we now celebrate Jesus’ birth, was reclaimed from the pagans. That date was redeemed from a pagan holiday to a Christian celebration.

Jesus has come to redeem all things. Even pagan holidays. Possibly even stretching and meditation and breathing?

Over the ages, Christians have used wisdom and the discernment to choose what is right for them as individuals and as a Body of believers. To apply Jesus’ redemption to various non-Christian things.

“Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.” 1 Corinthians 10:23

So I need to decide if yoga could be beneficial (or detrimental) to me. In my case, I truly believe God has given me the wisdom and discernment to be able to stretch and strengthen my body without accidentally worshipping a false god. I even believe that I can meditate and breathe while I simultaneously reflect and contemplate how incredible God is. All without slipping into the devil’s snare.

But I am aware that this may not be the case for all people.

Personally, think that I can apply the idea of a “yoke” or “union with God” in yoga to my relationship with Christ. But that doesn’t mean I’ll just sign up for any yoga class that is offered. I need to be wise and first ask questions about how spiritual a class is before taking it. For my own purposes, I tend to learn at home with videos, so there’s not much of a risk of me getting caught in an awkward situation. If something gets a little weird, I can just turn it off.

Holy Yoga is a practice that is gaining traction, offering the grounding of the Gospel while reframing the positive aspects of yoga in a Christian way.

“Holy Yoga embraces the essential elements of yoga: breath work, meditation and physical postures. In all of these elements, Christ is the focus of our intention and worship.”

So as I‘m making a decision about yoga (or anything in my life!), I need to ask if it creates a risk of becoming a detriment to my walk with Jesus. If so, then I absolutely shouldn’t do it! But if yoga can be practiced in a way that is healthy to my body and mind, while drawing me closer to Christ with mindfulness and meditation, then is it possible that even John Piper can’t argue with that?

April 1, 2018March 18, 2019

In Uncertain Times Christ’s Death and Resurrection Offer Comfort and Hope

Understanding what the resurrection of Christ means for us as Christians is key to living a vibrant life in this trouble-laden world. Believers are not meant to just get by with living. Jesus says He had come so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

The Resurrection Saint may not always be aware of powerful declarations that hold true in his life. Whatever the circumstance, these remain true:

“I am an overcomer.”

An overcomer is someone who prevails over opposition or debility.

An overcomer surmounts.

Christ did not say we would never fail. He did not promise that we would never face hardships. In fact, Scriptures assure us that in this world, we will have tribulation. We are also warned that those who pursue godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. From Paul’s life we know that there will be weaknesses we will keep struggling with. But Scriptures did say, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith”¦ because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Jesus allowed himself to taste death for every man’s redemption but he did not stay dead. He resurrected his body as a sign of His sovereignty and superiority over all. This same Jesus is the author of our faith and He is power at work in our lives, bringing us to betterment and maturity day after day. (Philippians 4:13)

“I am becoming new.”

Some oppose the idea of adopting the symbolism of the Easter Egg into the Christian celebration of Resurrection Sunday. However, it is interesting to note that the Easter Egg can be an appropriate symbol for new life. We see a freshly hatched egg and we see hope birthed. We see fresh life coming into this world. We see an egg and we understand that we don’t see a finished product before us, rather, we see all the great prospects of what that life can be.

That is the very description of our new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that “anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old has gone and all things are becoming new.” This is tremendous truth and hope to you, the child of God. You are never stuck. You are never a hopeless cause. Things can always get better and they will. You are Spirit-empowered with great capacities for growth and this power is accessible to you at all times (Acts 1:8). You can’t undo the past but you can live a better life from today.

A song rendered by Sandy Patty, “In Heaven’s Eyes” is a wonderful reflection of how God looks upon us and see who we can be through His eyes of grace. The lyrics of the chorus go like these:

“In heaven’s eyes, there are no losers,

In heaven’s eyes, no hopeless cause.

Only people like you, with feelings like me,

Amazed by the grace we can find,

In Heaven’s Eyes.”

Are you losing hope today? Are you out of wind? Ponder the meaning of all that Christ has accomplished for you that Resurrection Sunday and stay encouraged in this life. Each time the enemy comes to steal your joy and your drive, just look back on the resurrection of Christ and let its significance lift your spirits. Remember your declarations and know that no lies of the enemy can change the fact that these declarations are forever true in Christ.

March 24, 2018January 15, 2024

24 of Bonhoeffer’s Most Challenging Quotes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, spy, anti-Nazi dissident, key founding member of the Confessing Church as well as one of the most influential spiritual voices across the globe for decades. It’s a good thing for the modern Church that Bonhoeffer was determined in his course.

Bonhoeffer grew up amid the academic circles of the University of Berlin, where his father, Karl Bonhoeffer, was a professor of psychiatry and neurology and was awarded a doctorate in 1927 at the age of only 21. He also studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York from 1930–1931. During that time he attended Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and became deeply interested in the issue of racial injustice.

Bonhoeffer’s involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution on the 9th April 1945.

More than seventy years after his death, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings on faith, the Church, ethics and the nature of God serve as a touchstone for all of us who seek to understand a Christian’s responsibility in the face of injustice and have gone on to have a profound influence on Western Culture and the legions of Christian thinkers who’ve encountered them ever since. He also remains an important symbol of opposition to Hitler.

Here’s a look back at some of Bonhoeffer’s most powerful quotes.

ON GRACE

“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

ON JUDGING OTHERS

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”

ON LIFE

“Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.”

ON SIN

“May we be enabled to say ‘No’ to sin and ‘Yes’ to the sinner.”

ON JUDGING

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”

ON SERVING GOD

“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”

ON GOD’S LOVE

“God does not love some ideal person, but rather human beings just as we are, not some ideal world, but rather the real world.”

ON GOD’S WILL

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”

ON SERVING OTHERS

“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.”

ON OBEDIENCE

“One act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons.”

ON EVIL

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

ON STANDING UP FOR INJUSTICE

“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders, I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”

ON GRATITUDE

“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.”

ON FOLLOWING CHRIST

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

ON INJUSTICE

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

ON PEACE

“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.”

ON ‘DEFENDING’ THE BIBLE

“Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God’s word, but testify to it. Trust to the Word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity.”

ON REAL MORALITY

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”

ON PEOPLE

“We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”

ON SPIRITUALITY

“When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.”

ON FELLOWSHIP

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”

ON PROOF OF GOD

“A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol.”

ON THE FUTURE

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”

March 17, 2018March 18, 2018

Let’s Talk About Grace

Grace is a beautiful word. It is one of the best words you can name your child with. The meaning is profound. The Hebrew word for it is “chen”(pronounced khane) which signifies a stooping down in kindness like that of a superior to the inferior. The Greek word for it is “charis” (pronounced khar’-ece) and denotes graciousness in manner and action.

God and Grace

In learning these, we can better understand God and His grace. God’s attitude and action of grace (unmerited favour) is God stooping down to us, reaching us in our need, and conveying upon us a benefit we never earned nor deserved. To name the benefit, there are actually so many.

Salvation

Ephesians 2:8,9 explains that salvation is ever only by grace. We can never make a way to save ourselves. We can never assist God in making a way for us to be saved. We are dependent upon Him for life. It is God who graces us with the power to be quickened and live free from the penalty of sin and from the power of sin. Through the atoning work of Christ, we can spend eternity with God in His presence. Through Christ at work in our lives by the Holy Spirit, we can spend an overcoming and abundant life on earth now. The only thing we can ever do is respond to Him in gratefulness and demonstrative love.

Blessedness

Merriam-Webster defines blessedness as “a feeling or state of well-being and contentment.” Psalm 68:19 assures that the redeemed will be blessed. It is God who loads us with benefits. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that it is God who has given us the very abilities we have in order to gain wealth, to earn a living. Philippians 4:13 says that it is Christ in us “Who” causes us to be someone who accomplishes anything. There can be no room for pride. There can be no cause for self-exaltation and no cause for self-reliance.

It is foolish for a Christian to forget God in times of success and to wander away in times of prosperity for he cannot sustain anything for long apart from God. In John 15:5 Christ tells us that without Him, we can do nothing. This means that the only way to a satisfying marriage is to abide in Christ. The only way to right parenting is to depend on Christ. The only way to keep working on what you love and to keep loving your work is to be focused on Christ. In God is blessedness. You can never find it anywhere else.

In 1 Corinthians 15:10 the apostle Paul’s realization hits home. He says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”

Indeed, by the grace of God, we are what we are, saved and blessed. And as we keep leaning into His grace, it will never be without effect.

March 16, 2018January 15, 2024

What Should Be Different about a Christian Marriage?

You get a lot of advice before you get married.

“Never go to bed angry.”

“Keep dating.”

“Make your partner your first priority.”

“Don’t walk out during an argument.”

“It’s all about communication.”

So why on earth do so many marriages fail?

Reasons Why Couples Break Up

Marriage has gotten quite a bad reputation over the years. The butt of a seemingly infinite number of jokes, matrimony is a source of endless social commentary, gender politics, and governmental debate.

According to recent University of Maryland divorce research, you’ve got about a 50/50 chance of growing old with your spouse. If the statistic did not shock you, the reasons many couples decide to separate will not either.

“The relationship was built more on lust than a true partnership.”

“I wasn’t present.”

“We were together 15 years, I was unhappy for 11 of them.”

“We were co-parents, not lovers.”

“We didn’t choose to work on the marriage, day in and day out.”

“It was like we were on opposite teams.”

“Married too fast”

“Bedroom boredom”

I was a full-time manager in the marriage.

“There was no respect.”

“There was no real intimacy.”

Many people mistakenly believe that most marriages end almost exclusively because of infidelity, however, while this certainly is a major factor, the decision to terminate a marriage is much more complicated.

“Conventional wisdom tells us that those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

A marriage is a lot like buying a new car. Driving it out of the showroom is bliss. As you cruise off you can hardly believe your luck. Everything feels, sounds, smells and looks perfect. You coast through many months—sometimes even years— of happy driving before the car needs an MOT or service. But like a car, when a relationship eventually breaks down, it’s flabbergasting; you’re left stuck on the side of the road trying to figure out what on earth went wrong and realise that no car or relationship comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Christ-centred Marriage

“Our culture still shapes our thinking and conduct regarding marriage to an incredible degree.”

It’s easy to think that only “other people” get divorced. That your own marriage is somehow immune to heartache, infidelity and fights over who gets the house, car and dog. After all, how many of us would walk down the aisle if we knew for sure that our relationships would end up in divorce court.

Viewing Marriage Realistically

Christian or not, marriage is difficult for any couple to sustain over a lifetime. Life’s trials—the pressure of making a living, of parenting, of resisting temptations to unfaithfulness or selfishness. But Christian marriage offers hope.

“We have to stop asking of marriage what God never designed it to give — perfect happiness, conflict-free living, and idolatrous obsession.”

Christians marriages should be shaped by the cross of Christ, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.

“Above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’ ” (1 Peter 4:8).

“Her husband ”¦ praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).

“She who is married cares ”¦ how she may please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:34).

“Be kindly affectionate to one another ”¦ in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).

“Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Successful marriages don’t just happen; they must be developed.

Serving Our Spouse

Another key component in a Christian marriage is selflessness, as described in Philippians 2:3-4. The principle of humility outlined in these verses is crucial to a strong Christian marriage. If happiness is our primary goal, we’ll get a divorce as soon as happiness seems to wane. With greater awareness of the principle of thought, many marriages can be saved and even strengthened.

Becoming “one” is about more than sex. It requires a level of vulnerability that opens the door for deep hurt. Both husband and wife must consider their partner’s needs before their own, which requires a selflessness that is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells them.

“Focus on your spouse’s strengths rather than their weaknesses.”

“Encourage rather than criticize.”

“Pray for your spouse instead of gossiping about them.”

“Learn and live what Christ teaches about relating to and loving others.”

It is a partnership of love, made richer and deeper through sex. Continue—or revive—your courtship into your married life.

Marriage isn’t always easy and the sad reality is that not all “I dos” end with a happily ever after. However, the primary difference between a Christian marriage and a non-Christian marriage should be that Christ is the centre of the marriage. With a Christ-centered relationship, an other-centered attitude and an unwavering commitment to making it work, your marriage can flourish — just as God designed.

Which of these reasons is most true in your marriage? Please share with me below.

February 11, 2018May 26, 2018

Can A Christian Be Angry and Not Sin?

Jesus said, â€œIf you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). And one of his Scriptural commands is, â€œBe angry, and do not sin."

To get angry is normal. Like love, it is a human emotion. Like love, it is an emotion that God also feels. Scriptures share instances where God Himself got angry. Yes, God who cannot sin got angry. That means anger is not inherently wrong. That means that God’s anger is always rightly caused and rightly managed. God became angry with Solomon because his heart turned away from God. God got angry with Moses in the wilderness because he took the glory away from God.

A Christian can get angry for the right reasons.

It is normal to get angry when an offense is committed when boundaries are overstepped, and when principles are violated. It’s right to be angry when there’s disobedience or a breaking of trust. These are all valid reasons.

Scriptures tell us that getting angry easily and at the slightest of reasons is wrong. Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us not to be eager in our heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. Patience must be afforded when needed. Rebellion or repetitive abuse towards you rightly causes anger but first-time offenses may be unintentional and need only your loving rebuke and redirection.

You should also be careful not to get angry when your expectations aren’t met. There are reasonable expectations and there are unreasonable ones. Just because somebody doesn’t measure up to your standards doesn’t mean they are deserving of your anger.

Our Father is angry when we sin and do wrong because no good thing ever comes from a life of sin. But God never gets angry about our weakness or shortcomings. He never chides us or belittles us for our failings. No. He encourages us and empowers us towards betterment.

Right Anger is Anger Managed Rightly

Throughout Scriptures, we see a God who deals with sin yet loves the sinning. We see consequences but we also see mercy. We see broken fellowship but we also see restoration.

The Bible coaches us on how to rightly manage anger:

Do not prolong your anger.

Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” We should never let our anger turn into something else. If we are able to deal with the issue then confront it. If there is no way to directly settle the problem, then we prayerfully wait and seek God’s help for an opportunity to right the wrong that has been committed against us.

let anger control you.

Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end”. No matter how valid your reason for anger is you must not allow it to dominate you and steer you into an uncontrollable outburst. Even if the hurt is too much, remember that a Spirit yielded life will exercise control.

Do not let anger drive you to unwholesome talk.

In our anger, we must keep in mind the purpose of our rebuke; to point out wrong and to warn the offender not to repeat the same mistake again. Ephesians 4:29 tells us not to allow foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk to come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful. The world lashes out in anger. The world curses belittle and shames. But we are not the world. We are the church. While some may even say it feels better to speak out like that, in the end, what profit does corrupt talk really bring? Does it better how people look at you? Does it solve your problem? Does it help the offender?

Do not let anger make you bitter and vengeful.

Ephesians 4:27 warns us that prolonged anger gives the enemy a foothold. It gives him an opening for manipulating us into thinking and doing the wrong things. Anger is often prolonged when it remains unexpressed and undealt with. It is actually healthier to express and explain your anger early on. When matters are dealt with, resentment and bitterness will not creep in.

Some offenders may refuse to change. When someone hurts us repeatedly, anger may build up. So if we are able, we should remove ourselves from any situation that will allow the offender to do us wrong again. We should not allow wrong to continue.

Some offenses may be overwhelmingly hurtful and tragic and thus have no remedy. While a desire to hurt back may arise, settle your heart and mind onto praying for and seeking justice. Romans 12:19 reminds us not to take revenge but to allow God to work out justice for us. Wait on God to move and allow Him to heal you as you wait on Him.

Do not let anger make you unforgiving.

In Matthew 18:21,22 Jesus tells us to forgive without taking count. Colossians 3:13 tells us to exercise a forgiving spirit just as we have been recipients of God’s forgiveness. Forgiving is not always easy, it is a supernatural act. It is something we allow the Holy Spirit to prepare and empower us for. We may not immediately be ready to forgive, but if we are willing; the readiness will always come.

January 28, 2018January 15, 2024

The Key to Breaking Habitual Sin

It is impossible for any human mind to exhaust one truth or promise of the Bible. One catches the glory from one point of view, another from another point; yet we can discern only gleamings. The full radiance is beyond our vision. As we contemplate the great things of God’s Word, we look into a fountain that broadens and deepens beneath our gaze. Its breadth and depth pass our knowledge. As we gaze, the vision widens; stretched out before us, we behold a boundless, shoreless sea. Such study has vivifying power.

The mind and heart acquire new strength and new life.

This experience is the highest evidence of the divine authorship of the Bible. We receive God’s Word as food for the soul through the same evidence by which we receive bread as food for the body. Bread supplies the need of our nature; we know by experience that it produces blood, bone, and brain.

Apply the same test to the Bible; when its principles have actually become the elements of character, what has been the result? what changes have been made in the life? —

“Old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

In its power men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have been transformed into the image of God. The change is itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word.

We cannot understand it; we can only believe, that, as declared by the Scriptures, it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.

As we pursue freedom from the entanglements of sin, here are a few practical, plain-folk strategies that can help us get there.

1. Be willing to take radical steps.

Maybe you’re not as free as you thought. Recognise the behaviour as a problem that needs to be dealt with.

2. Recognize your triggers.

There are particular life events and circumstances that trigger your problem. The time, the way and the place are all to be cautiously considered and avoided if they lead to sinning. State the behaviour as wrong. Consciously label it “wrong” in your mind

3. Believe you can change. We mean, really believe.

This is probably the most important point. If you don’t believe you are capable of change, you won’t change. Refuse to entertain – consciously decide not to give it any room in your thoughts any longer.

4. Take care of your body.

Stop watching Netflix until 2 am in the morning. It’s remarkable how much exercising, sleeping, and eating right affect your perception of the world. Fasting and abstinence are also important disciplines that train the will to say no to the body and yes to God.

Take care of your body. You will need it to break your habit.

5. Re-define normal”¦right now.

“I must re-define normal.” The word “sin” is out of fashion these days. However, realise how this behaviour makes the heart of God sad and furious. That’s powerful. Bad habits, just like good ones, enjoy normalcy. Your ultimate goal is to stop dipping out of the same toxic well.

We love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

January 26, 2018January 15, 2024

Who’s Pimping Who…?

A man and a woman coo over each other. A bystander turns to another and says, “What does she see in him?” Or, conversely, “What does he see in her?”

She’s tall, he’s short, shes from the city, his from the country, she talks a lot, he’s quiet, he likes Australia, but she likes New York, he’s a Hill-song gospel music fan, she’s a Marilyn Manson fan. She also loves the bright lights and big options, shes unholy, she’s not righteous, she’s impure, she’s been around the block. People know her by what she does, not by her name. There the ‘odd couple’.

Now it’s been said that “Men marry women with the hope they will never change. but that “Women marry men with the hope they will change.”

But not in this case. God has told this holy man to marry an unholy woman, a woman which will not be faithful, a woman by her wicked nature is sure to commit adultery, a woman that will cause endless frustration and monumental grief. Hosea is a prophet, his wife is a prostitute. He’s a man of God, she’s a woman of the night, he is faithful, she is unfaithful, he peaches the power of the living God, she provides ungodly considerations for cash. The story of Hosea puzzles even the devout and zealous Christian. There an ‘odd couple’.

Why did God ask his own prophet to marry a prostitute?

An immense allegory can be interpreted from the depths of Hosea’s life. The prophet Hosea was commanded to marry an unfaithful wife, and this set up a model of our broken relationship with God.

Hosea’s wife: an allegory of God’s undying love

The LORD is the husband of Israel, and Israel’s passionate, chronic attraction for idols was like the lust of an adulterer. His people were as unfaithful as a prostitute. For the land had committed great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.

Could you imagine Hosea’s, groomsman – you’re respected, a wise man, but your decision making is in question? Your wife is a disgrace. Why on earth are you married to a woman like that?

The reply, why on earth is such an awesome, good and powerful God married to a people like you?

Young people and self-esteem

Self-respect is perhaps the most essential quality for young women, especially in our generation.

We live in an era where girls as young as middle school are posting provocative things online. It’s a cry for attention being sought from boys or anyone else who will listen. The story is told of a young girl who had a male friend who came to her with an article in the classified section of a newspaper. The proposal was, if you have sexual relations with a stranger for 1 million dollars there are three things you are guaranteed:

Nobody will ever know
No disease
No baby

1 million dollars, no questions asked, out the door, he asked her, would you do it? She thought about it, like some people reading this article.

The girl the said, are you kidding me, nobody will ever know, no disease, no baby, sure i’ll do it. Well then he said, would you do the same for $10?

She replied, “What, do you think I’m a prostitute?” To which he replies, “We’ve already established that — I’m just haggling over the price.”

However, young ladies, you don’t have to lower your standards or provide ungodly considerations for cash. Tell that young man, I’m not for sale and because you’re not for sale, take off all those for sale and on sale signs. Hug appropriately, speak appropriately. Text appropriately, stop posting barely-clothed photos, sexual innuendos, and explicit language. Be honest in your motivations for being in a relationship.

Young ladies, if he can’t take care of himself now, how is he going to take care of you later.

So the question today is who’s Pimping you?

Sorry boo-boo”¦ hate to burst your bubble, but you have been bamboozled, conned, led astray , run amok, dupe, tricked, fooled, swindle, hoodwink; you have been deceived”¦

You see, Satan has been pimping from the third chapter of the Bible onward and is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. The pimp of all pimps and you want to hang out with him!

But he has no power in the life of a believer unless we give it to him. That’s right! Regardless of how you’ve been thrown out to the trash, we want you to know that Jesus loves you. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal. 5:1) Refuse to make deals with Satan, no matter how attractive the trinkets. Refuse to be a commodity that is for sale to the highest bidder.

January 8, 2018January 15, 2024

44 Billy Graham Quotes That Still Ring True

William Franklin Graham Jr. KBE (born November 7, 1918), known as Billy Graham, is an American evangelical Christian evangelist, ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who rose to celebrity status in 1949.

A lot has been written about Billy Graham’s legacy. Known for his combination of wit and wisdom, Billy Graham has been one of the most influential spiritual voices across the globe for decades reaching over 200 million people in more than 185 countries.

(Born November 7, 1918) Billy Graham is now 99 years of age, and while he is doing well, he does have the physical challenges that come with age.

He said;

“Over the years, I’ve had a number of illnesses and surgeries ”¦ Often they came just as we were about to embark on a Crusade or other project, and I could not help but wonder whether Satan was using them to attack our work in some way (and I suspect that was true). At the same time, though, God used them to teach me patience and to give me time that I might otherwise not have taken to read and contemplate.”

One fascinating part of Graham’s life is that he has personally met with 13 of the nation’s 45 presidents dating back to 1950.

Billy Graham still lives at his Montreat, North Carolina home.

It’s a good thing for the modern Church that Billy Graham was determined in his course as the truth he has preached for years still transcends all barriers of denominational differences, age, nationality, and culture, pointing millions to Christ.

Here are a few of his most memorable quotes:

“I feel sorry for the man who has never known the bracing thrill of taking a stand and sticking to it fearlessly. Moral courage has rewards that timidity can never imagine. Like a shot of adrenaline, it floods the spirit with vitality” ’- Billy Graham
“Self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.” ’- Billy Graham
“I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out all right.”’- Billy Graham
“When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”’- Billy Graham
“Jesus was not a white man; He was not a black man. He came from that part of the world that touches Africa and Asia and Europe. Christianity is not a white man’s religion and don’t let anybody ever tell you that it’s white or black. Christ belongs to all people; He belongs to the whole world”’- Billy Graham
“Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone – except God.”’- Billy Graham
“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”’- Billy Graham
“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.”’- Billy Graham
“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”’- Billy Graham
“Without the resurrection, the cross is meaningless.”’- Billy Graham
“Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.”’- Billy Graham
“Quit beating yourself up. We all live under grace and do the best we can.”’- Billy Graham
“God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.”’- Billy Graham
“If you know Christ, you don’t need to beg for the Holy Spirit to come into your life; He is already there— whether you “feel” His presence or not. Don’t confuse the Holy Spirit with an emotional feeling or a particular type of spiritual experience.”’- Billy Graham
“We say to our children, ‘Act like grown-ups,’ but Jesus said to the grown-ups, ‘Be like children.”’- Billy Graham
“Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.”’- Billy Graham
“Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater—the love of God.”’- Billy Graham
“Knowing we will be with Christ forever far outweighs our burdens today! Keep your eyes on eternity!”’- Billy Graham
“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”’- Billy Graham
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”’- Billy Graham
“We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.”’- Billy Graham
The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not, `What a lovely sermon!` but `I will do something.”’- Billy Graham
“Millions of angels are at God’s command. “’- Billy Graham
“World events are moving very rapidly now. I pick up the Bible in one hand, and I pick up the newspaper in the other. And I read almost the same words in the newspaper as I read in the Bible. It’s being fulfilled every day round about us.”’- Billy Graham
“My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.”’- Billy Graham
“God proved his love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.”’- Billy Graham
“Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world and lost your soul. Was it worth it?”
“There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.”’- Billy Graham
“The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.”’- Billy Graham
“A real Christian is the one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.”’- Billy Graham
“I have never known anyone to accept Christ’s redemption and later regret it.”’- Billy Graham
“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”’- Billy Graham
“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”’- Billy Graham
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”’- Billy Graham
“Joy cannot be pursued. It comes from within. It is a state of being. It does not depend on circumstances, but triumphs over circumstances. It produces a gentleness of spirit and a magnetic personality.”’- Billy Graham
“Reading God’s Word and meditating on its truth will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart, and will be demonstrated in your life. Let nothing take the place of this daily privilege.”’- Billy Graham
“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.”’- Billy Graham
“Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.”’- Billy Graham
“The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.”’- Billy Graham
“Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”’- Billy Graham
“The message I preach hasn’t changed. Circumstances have changed. Problems have changed, but deep inside man has not changed, and the gospel hasn’t changed.”’- Billy Graham
“The only hope for enduring peace is Jesus Christ.”’- Billy Graham
“The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven.”’- Billy Graham
“Someone asked me recently if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s and other medical problems when I have tried to serve him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to him in trust and confidence.”’- Billy Graham

The following is a photograph of Graham with each president.

#1. HARRY TRUMAN (1884–1972) | DEMOCRAT | 1945–1953

Graham later met Truman in 1967:

#2. DWIGHT EISENHOWER (1890–1969) | REPUBLICAN | 1953–1961

#3. JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917–1963) | DEMOCRAT | 1961–1963

#4. LYNDON JOHNSON (1908–1973) | DEMOCRAT | 1963–1969

#5. RICHARD NIXON (1913–1994) | REPUBLICAN | 1969–1974

#6. GERALD FORD (1913–2006) | REPUBLICAN | 1974–1977

#7. JIMMY CARTER (1924– ) | DEMOCRAT | 1977–1981

#8. RONALD REAGAN (1911–2004) | REPUBLICAN | 1981–1989

#9. GEORGE H. W. BUSH (1924– ) | REPUBLICAN | 1989–1993

#10. BILL CLINTON (1946– ) | DEMOCRAT | 1993–2001

#11. GEORGE W. BUSH (1946– ) | REPUBLICAN | 2001–2009

#12. BARACK OBAMA (1961– ) | DEMOCRAT | 2009–2017

#13. DONALD TRUMP (1946– ) | REPUBLICAN | 2017–

December 15, 2017January 15, 2024

50 Profound Martin Luther Quotes About Faith

A lot has been written about Martin Luther’s legacy and even though he was born in 1546, the legacy of the reformer is still felt today.

Though he was a student of Scripture, Martin is probably best known for defying the Catholic Church of his day, laying some of the groundwork for protestant theology, forming the Lutheran tradition. He was both a complex, influential ”ž and controversial ”ž.

In today’s hectic world, there is much we can learn from Martin’s commitment to simple living, good stewardship and value of nature.

He had much wisdom to share, here are some of his most influential and controversial ”ž quotes that are sure to give you some food for thought:

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” – Martin Luther
“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” – Martin Luther
“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship” – Martin Luther
“Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.” – Martin Luther
“A person who…does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs.” – Martin Luther
“The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God….Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and makes people cheerful. Then one forgets all wrath, impurity, and other devices.” – Martin Luther
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.“ – Martin Luther
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” – Martin Luther
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.” – Martin Luther
“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.“ – Martin Luther
“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” – Martin Luther
“Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ.” – Martin Luther
“If you want to interpret well and confidently, set Christ before you, for He is the man to whom it all applies, every bit of it.” – Martin Luther
“The Gospel cannot be truly preached without offense and tumult.” – Martin Luther
“Therefore we conclude that all law, divine and human, treating of outward conduct, should not bind any further than love goes. Love is to be the interpreter of law.” – Martin Luther
“We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us.” – Martin Luther
“Those speak foolishly who ascribe their anger or their impatience to such as offend them or to tribulation. Tribulation does not make people impatient, but proves that they are impatient. So everyone may learn from tribulation how his heart is constituted.” – Martin Luther
“My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.” – Martin Luther
“True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.” – Martin Luther
“Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly.” – Martin Luther
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” – Martin Luther
“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!” – Martin Luther
“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.” – Martin Luther
“To find Christ in such poverty, and what his swaddling clothes and manger signify, are explained ”¦ that his poverty teaches how we should find him in our neighbors, the lowliest and the most needy; and his swaddling clothes are the holy Scriptures; that in actual life we should incline to the needy; and in our studies and contemplative life only to the Scriptures; in order that Christ alone may become the man of both lives and that he may everywhere stand before us.” – Martin Luther
“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.” – Martin Luther
“I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.” – Martin Luther
“Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.” – Martin Luther
“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” – Martin Luther
“I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.” – Martin Luther
“You have as much laughter as you have faith.” – Martin Luther
“There never yet have been, nor are there now, too many good books.” – Martin Luther
“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” – Martin Luther
“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” – Martin Luther
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” – Martin Luther
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” – Martin Luther
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.” – Martin Luther

December 6, 2017May 26, 2018

If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

17 Aspects of Discipleship Beyond Just Reading the Bible

I recently noticed some Christian songs that were encouraging listeners with the refrain “God is not against you,” and “God is for you.” I know that some famous preachers also seem to make this their regular mantra when they appear before their congregations.

Whenever I hear such encouragement, however, I wonder how someone can make such a blanket statement to all people who might be listening.

I think of stories like the Exodus where God was clearly for the Israelites as God led them out of bondage, whereas God was against their Egyptian captors (Psalm 81:5).

Sometimes people have a fairy tale image of God. We can be prone to think of God as there for our well being, as existing to grant our wishes (at least sometimes), and as one who is always nice to us, whose prime goal is to make us comfortable in life, and who would never think of disciplining us.

The fact is, though, that God does discipline. And our sin does affect our relationship with God in this life. It is even possible that God can be against you.

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6).
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).
“Now the hand of the Lord is against you” (Acts 13:11).

Even though God can be against people, there is still a sense that God is for everyone, if by this we mean that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). We can even say that God wants what is best for us.

At the same time though, sometimes God gives us “tough love” to help us straighten up. For example, Paul warned the Corinthians that if we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner we might be “judged . . . by the Lord” and “disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).

I cannot tell everyone that God is not against them. I don’t know about you, but knowing this gives me strong impetus to repent of my sin and ensure that I stay in a good relationship with God.

The good news is, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Praise the Lord!

November 29, 2017January 15, 2024

The Church, a Wolf, and Little Red Riding Hood

Most of us have grown up with many popular fairy tales told to us as children. The legendary story “Little Red Riding Hood” In most versions (although definitely not all of them) there is one common theme: a wolf attacks a young woman through deception. Like parables, such stories are never intended to convey meaning in every detail. Yet, much of it may draw, even in unsuspecting ways, the reader to precepts or principles pertinent to circumstances behind the story. Such is the following on Little Red Riding Hood.

There is actually a lesson in that theme for God’s people today.

1. The Church. Satan’s wolves do more than disguise themselves as Granny. As Paul warned, they often present themselves as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

“That’s a lie!” said the wolf. “You won’t die!”

2. The Law. One of the most common deceptions by these types of wolves is the claim that the law was done away with. Using selective sections of the apostle Paul’s writings, these wolves deceive people into crying, “Oh, what freedom you have!”

This was the very same tactic that Satan employed in the Garden of Eden.

3. False prophets. While these people appear to be godly—they come in sheep’s clothing—Christ said that inwardly they were “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). These are people who claim to be children of God—but who don’t teach and live the word.

Another Fake Jesus Christ was recently arrested and remanded in Uganda on Thursday, November 9th, for belonging and managing an unlawful society by the Magistrate’s court. According to a report by Uganda’s Newspaper, Daily Monitor, the accused claimed not to be under any authority including the police, local council administration or the president of Uganda. The man purporting to be Jesus was arraigned in court alongside his three followers who preferred to be identified with their alias names.

“Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?”

4. The world. Wake up from your Slumber. Frequently in Scripture believers are exhorted to wake up, to be revived, and they are warned of the dangers of spiritual sleep. Christ warned us “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3). The world is under the sway of Satan.

As a believer in Jesus, we are promised a new life covered under the protection of God in which NOTHING can separate us from His love. Rest knowing that no matter what hardship you face, God is your provider and protector! Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of the wolf, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

5. Wealth. These wolves say, “all this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” Christ warned of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). Your response should be “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“There was something wolfish about them?”

6. Marriage How many times have we heard the story of the little red riding hood (aka Christian Sister or Brother) who fell in love with a big bad Wolf? ‘It wasn’t beauty, it was the beast, she or he says in regret. Being equally yoked is not meant to inhibit our dating lives. Rather, it is a command designed for protection and honor. Being unequally yoked is more dangerous than you think – and waiting for someone with whom you share the same spiritual heritage is far more rewarding than many believe.

Hey, Little Red Riding Hood, where are you going, so alone, so”¦ alone?

7. Relationship. Without Jesus, you can do nothing. An intimate relationship with God is required. That means fellowship with God daily. The big bad wolf was disguised to trick little red riding hood, but the wolf could not mislead her because Little red riding hood knew her grandmother intimately. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27”

“You can huff and puff but I will not worship you!”

8. Worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question. If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face turned red and he ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than normal. However, God commissions His angels to save His chosen ones from calamity, to guard them against “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” and “the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

These eight types (or packs, if you will) of “wolves” have plagued Christ’s followers throughout history.

These are just a few of the tricks and deceptions that are used by Satan and his wolves. Some wolves are masters of deception and disguise. They talk like Christians. They use the Bible. They seem like nice people. They are so loving! But they will draw you in to eat you for dinner!

God’s people must learn the lesson of Little Red Riding Hood. Let’s never allow ourselves to fall prey to the Satan’s deceptions.