FREEDOM: REALLY?
As Americans celebrate Independence Day, it would be appropriate
for a serious introspection of the freedom we boast about to the world. This is a hollow boast if you are a Christian, because our leaders, including the church, are violating the very teaching and words of Jesus Christ. I said "leaders," because many people are placing the blame on certain individuals instead of the many individuals actually creating the chaos. Let's look at scripture for our stating point.
Turn to Matt. 10:8-15, but as you study these verses, transfer the
directions of Christ to today's people rather than the Hebrews of that
day. Christ was sending them out to His own people first, before Gentiles were added by the Apostle Paul and his brethren. Today, we as Christians are responsible for completing His final direction, the Great Commission (all four gospels). This includes all people, every country, all nationalities, all colors, and believers of other faiths. Not one person should be excluded from His message and the opportunity for eternal life. Events over the past two years in America clearly illustrate that we, as a people, are seriously lacking. Now we go to that scripture in Matt. 10.
"But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (America is the house of Christianity). And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received , freely give." Why do I see and hear people claiming to be Christians trying to deny Christ's free gift to others? On America's Independence Day, why is our flag replaced by the symbol of a flag directly opposing the words of the Savior they claim to be "their's?". Seventy years ago, these people would be on trial for treason. July Fourth should be a day of mourning for the loss of freedom now being denied to segments of our population. Read our Constitution: it guarantees freedom and justice for all. Christ did not set apart the political parties of Israel, nor the color of a person. Didn't know that? Better spend some time in research.
Before continuing with the quotes from Matthew, I'm going to do some preaching about the fake, phony big mouthed people who claim to be Christians. They are destroying our "faith" by their ridiculous example of Christianity. They are supporting laws that take away freedoms and oppress the very citizens who are the foundation of our country. Corporations do not resemble Christ in any way. Any Christian should know that by reading scripture. Yet Christians in our Supreme Court have ruled corporations have all the privileges of a person, EXCEPT they don't have to experience war and return home in body bags. Most wealthy people did not earn their billions, they inherited the foundation money and built their wealth on investments. They do not and did not earn their money by sweat and blood. There is nothing wrong about wealth except
when greed overcomes Christ's directions, and these Christians do exactly the opposite of His teaching. Further, they seem to have the ability to smell money, and like rats drawn to cheese, make haste to get there first.
Hate is not part of Christianity, and it is difficult to maintain a level of dislike for these leader phonies when I see or read what they say and do in the name of our Savior. Take a good look at the verse in Matthew and see that Christ directed them to assist people through the power of the Holy Spirit. He wanted sick people to be healed, not left destitute and suffering. He wanted them to cleanse lepers. That is a disease in the category of today's cancer. He did not tell them to force anyone to accept His offer of salvation. He did not make any attempt to force or disenfranchise any person who had a different lifestyle. He told them, after healing or counseling them, to go forth and sin no more. He didn't try to have them arrested or declared unfit for the human race. Christ was the God-man of love.
The phony Christians claim we must have laws and rules to punish
wrong-doers. They are correct. However, they wring their hands over the Roman justice system that ACCEPTED the religious rulers' demand that Christ die. The judge wanted to free Him, but church leaders didn't want His competition. The American justice system needs to take a hard look at this. Christ recognized the role government must play in establishment of law by paying His taxes. The government built the road, provided law enforcement and constructed infrastructure. Things may be more modern, but they haven't changed that much.
Now we go to verse 9. "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, (V10) nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food." Faith Walk Ministry was founded on this verse, and we have been in business for over 30 years. We have no congregational support and no pressure from any organization. Sometimes the Lord takes us right to man's deadline, like this year's taxes---over $6,000. They were due June 30, and we paid them June 26. He delivers, but you must have real faith, not that phony line you hear every day.
When entering a town, the disciples were directed to take specific
action. "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire in it who is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. Verse 13 explains exactly what to do when you determine worthiness. "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you." If you harbor hate, you will not have peace. If you harbor love, you will have peace. God knows best, and wants you to have peace and joy.
Verse 14 tells you exactly what to do if the household or person is not worthy. "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet." Christ closes with a warning for those who listen to the phony charges of pretending Christians in verse 15. "Assuredly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city." Of course Sodom and Gomorrah were completely destroyed, as were the residents. If Americans listen to and follow the divisive leaders now amidst us, the judgment is crystal clear. You are directly responsible to Christ for your actions. You better be sure of your support, because the judgment of America as well as yourself depends on your obedience to His teaching in the gospels.
Your guideline as a Christian is found in 1 Sam. 15:22 (in part), "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Verse 23 tells Saul that God has rejected him from the kingship of Israel because of disobedience and his sin. When friends and other professing Christians speak and support people who are breaking Christ's directives, you are guilty of the identical sin if you agree with them or further their claims. We only go around once in this world, so we'd better get it right. I hear all kinds of lies and excuses for hatred and see daily atrocities committed in the name of their sham savior.
If you want to be proud of Independence Day, the United States and our Constitution, you'd better think about the Civil War that isn't over. The slave states and later sympathetic added states are foaming a confrontation between a coalition consisting of real Christians, people of other faiths and no faith versus a revival of the states' rights Confederation. These phony agitators, including some pastors and much of the news media, are leading America to judgment, and it won't be pretty. Scripture must be studied just as any other subject. If you don't know the material, you won't pass. Christianity isn't civics, social study or entertainment. The subject is Eternal Life. You'd better hit the Good Book and pay strict attention to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. America's future depends on you!
Rev. Walbear
No comments:
Post a Comment