Just a thought about our Christian obligation to love and to forgive

http://www.crossmovementrecords.com/articles_view.asp?articleid=57169&columnid=1089

If you don't know, Ambassador is a Christian rapper with the group Cross Movement. They are a bunch of urban ministers that preach, teach and rap and very uncompromised Gospel to reach the youth. I saw this article on their site and it disturbed me on a few levels, but I dont know all of the details so i keep my mouth shut and dont judge things before i know all of the facts. In the meantime, my job isnt to condemn the brother, nor is it to make excuses for adultery; my job is to believe my brother gets back on the right path, restore the marriage, etc and keep preachin. Yet, people are kickin a man while he is down as they are doing with Michael Vick.

i guess because i have been forgiven of much, today, i am much more apt to forgive. people sin. we have to remember that Jesus is in Heaven, and we are the fallible creatures that seek Him for strength and guidance. Sometimes people fall and that is why we shouldnt put people on pedestals and exalt them to superstar status. look at all of the celebrities on drugs and alcoholics. WE ARE HUMANS!!!!!! We mess up, it isnt an excuse, its just reality!!!!!! and if each of us was to be honest, we all have sinned. maybe we didnt commit adultery, but we didnt walk in love with our nieighbor. maybe we didnt kill someone, but we were a lil bit haughty. maybe we didnt practice withcraft, but maybe we shut up our bowels of compassion to a genuinely needy person. anyway you slice it, its sin. PERIOD!!!!!! But I dont have time to walk out anyone elses salvation, im busy dealing with my own. So if I am busy looking at you, Im taking time any from my own walk. not productive!!!!!!

peter sinned and repented but Jesus didnt sit him down for a period of time.

david had a man killed, sexed a mans wife and lied about the issue, yet he repented and God said he was still a man after God's heart.

who has the right to determine whose struggle is fit to be accepted as a struggle and whose struggle isnt. i do agree that adultery is unacceptable 100% of the time, but so is lying, so is being mean to people, so is pride, so is racism, so is arrogance, etc.............if a preacher thinks of himself higher than he should, should we demand that he be seated? if so, i know a bunch of people who need to take a breather.

Again, I am not an apologist for sin, but Jesus told the woman who was caught in adultery (in the act) to go and sin no more. the people wanted blood, but Jesus forgave her and sent her on her way. Could Jesus be telling us and teaching us something by this and other lessons?

People will know us by our love walk, thats what Christ said, but what do i know? Love and forgiveness arent weak or soft, they are powerful. However, there are times when alienating ourselves away from sin is appropriate: Didn't God have satan kicked out of Heaven? Didnt God have Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden? Didnt Jesus whip the moneychangers out of the temple? Didnt Ananias and Saphira drop dead when they lied to the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts? Didnt Paul smite the heckler of the Gospel with blindness in the book of Acts? Didnt Jesus say that if someone offends you to go to that person, then take elders, and as the last resort kick the unrepentant out? Didnt Paul tell the Romans to Mark those that cause division among you and have no company with them? YES to ALL!!!!!!!!! But we must understand the character of Love. God is Love and Jesus came to show us the Father. It's simple.........but we have to view the entirety of the character of love, because while love is always loving, forgiving and caring, love will bump you out of its presence. Sounds like im out of line with Scripture, but im not

I think that the Body of Christ needs a lesson in love. What many of us are calling love, is actually just being a nice person, it isnt really the love of God. Never fear, Piecing the Puzzle Together will break down Christ's message and give those who have ears to hear and eyes to see a Scriptural and Jesus based lesson in love. Love is the new commandment that Christ gave us in john 13 and it is the means by which the world would recognize us. If we dont know and understand what love really is then we, in essence, dont know God's character.

Bits and pieces from my book..............stay tuned

Doing Right in the Midst of Wrong: Obeying God Rather than Man

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. —Acts 5:25-27

Chaos occurs when there is the absence of order. Order is established by implementing the timeless principles of God’s Word to a situation. Kingdoms have come and gone. But the Word of God shall remain forever (Matthew 5:18). How can we institute the inerrant truths of the Word of God to the governance of our societies in order to produce the types of results that would produce the results that the Bible promises? Do we pick and choose the laws we want to use? How should we respond? This leads us to the age old question: What do we do if the laws of the land are contrary to the Word of God? How do we reconcile this situation? There is a very simple answer to this, but it will take courage and integrity to sort it all out and implement the changes necessary to transition our society to a more freedom-based and Biblical standard.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.-- 1 Corinthians 11:1

We are never to forget that we must obey those that are in authority over us, i.e., parents, teachers, police officers, community leaders, etc (Hebrews 13:17). However, it is important to note that the authority that they have been given to rule over us ultimately comes from God. Do we ever have the right to circumvent that line of authority if those that rule over us abuse their God-given authority? The above-mentioned Scripture gives us a clear answer: we are only obligated to follow Christ; so those leaders that are following Christ can expect those that he/she is leading to follow him/her.

I had some discussions with some people recently and I questioned them about some historical people and events. There have been people in history that broke the law of the land, but these people were catalysts for positive change, and were fighting for a morally good cause. The question is: Were these people wrong for what they did, since they broke the law of the land? The following is a small list of people and events to which I was referring:

• Slavery was legal in the USA. But was Harriett Tubman wrong for freeing the slaves via the Underground Railroad?

• God is a God of love and compassion. Was Jesus wrong for whipping the moneychangers and throwing them out of the Temple?
• God's people are supposed to obey civil authority. Were the three Hebrew boys wrong for disobeying the King and not worshipping the idol?
• It was against the law to speak out against the king. Was John the Baptist wrong for publicly declaring that Herod shouldn’t be involved in immoral sexual acts?
• It was once illegal for an African-American person to sit in the front seat of a public bus. Was Rosa Parks wrong for refusing to move to the back of the bus?
• It was against the law for anyone to disobey the laws of the British king. Were the Colonists wrong for fighting back against the British Crown in order to win their independence?
• Jesus broke the law by healing someone on the Sabbath. Was Jesus wrong?
• The Nazis were exterminating millions of Jewish people. Should the German people have obeyed the Nazis and turned in the Jewish people to the Nazi regime?
• Were the Jews wrong for not telling King Herod where the baby Jesus lived?
• Finding answers in science is a good thing. But should we let the Government do whatever it wants? Were the Willowbrook State School and the Tuskegee experiments moral?
• If unjust laws exist, should we exercise or surrender our right to protest/petition our government for a redress of our grievances?

Abe Lincoln declared “government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” The US Declaration of Independence states: whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. See, it is up to us (the common citizens)! We can’t just rollover, play dead and accept whatever is given to us. The Law of God has been established, and if our elected officials don’t want to line up with the true principles of Law, then the Declaration of Independence has given us the recourse to abolish and re-establish Government as we see fit. The Laws of God trump all laws of man.

As I stated in the opening portion of this writing, we ARE NOT obligated to follow unlawful laws. Unlawful laws are in effective, not even laws at all. They must not be allowed to be implemented as law, and any unlawful law on the books-SHAME ON US!!!!! Again, we are only obligated to follow laws that come from God and in line with what He has already said. It doesn’t matter who the authority is, we are only obligated to follow God’s Word/Authority. There might be some natural consequences to bear for not obeying man’s laws, i.e., jail time or death. But we (as a nation of people) have let things gone too far the wrong way, and it’s time for things to be corrected. We need to stand up and stop pretending that we are accomplishing the Will of God. Today, when someone stands up for the truth, that person was either ostracized or looked upon as some strange voice in the land. Well, a voice that stands for truth was commonplace when this nation was established. Over time, however, we have slowly let the moral fiber of this nation erode under the guise of tolerance and social acceptance. What a cop out! We are not called to compromise our faith, convictions and standards; we are called to be the standard bearers.

People who blindly obey are like sheep being led to the slaughter. We should be obedient and honor God’s Word (which is a good thing). But we honor the authority set above us, by doing so in line with the Word of God. What many people don’t realize is that authority is not a Carte Blanche blanket privilege to invade my privacy and be a dictator in our personal life. A pastor has authority over the congregation at the church; the police have authority to enforce the civil laws if people break them; parents have authority over their children until they are adults; teachers have authority over their students at school, and that’s as far as it should go. We are sovereign individuals, but if we don’t know that, then we must take what those who rule over us give us. Folks, please don't be reactive to tyranny, be proactive to liberty. Live well!

How to Stay in Faith When Bad Things Happen to You

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (sin); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:38-39

Often times, God is blamed for the calamity that exists in the world and in our individual lives. Miscarriages, accidents, financial loss, health concerns, weather catastrophes and more have been attributed to the handiwork of the Creator. But in reality, God is a good God, regardless of your circumstances, what you think or what you have been taught. "God is a good God" isn’t just the common church lingo, it is actually the Gospel truth (Matthew 19:17). He loves us (John 3:16). How can a loving God justify His love for us if He does bad things to us? If your natural parents/guardians did bad things to you would you think that was good and acceptable? No. The Scriptures are clear and they give us some relevant and insightful principles about how to properly relate to Our Heavenly Father in trying times.

Here are some things to remember concerning your trials and tribulations.

• If you are in a bad situation, and you can't get out of it; it’s like being lost in the forest. You’re lost, but you eventually find your way out somehow. According to 2 Corinthians 4:18, our current circumstances are temporary and are subject to change. Everything changes: kids outgrow diapers, the sun eventually rises, the season changes, and the traffic light turns green a few minutes later.
• You are not alone in your suffering. Your suffering might be different from another person’s pain, and you may think that no one understands your struggle; but we all have and will continue to experience trying times. Even Jesus suffered in the flesh (John 15:18-16:6). Trying times can make you stronger. What happens when you bring two metal edges together? Proverbs 27:7 says that iron sharpens iron. That circumstance can make you better if you work your iron.
• You will never go through anything that you cannot bear [handle] (1 Corinthians 10:13). The path that you are on is specifically designed for you. That doesn’t mean that God designed those problems for you, it simply means that if you are going through it, then God knows that you can handle it. The door unlocked and opened because you had the key. Once the beast is loosed, God has already given you the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) to gain victory over the situation (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17).
• Know that Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. The things that we go through are just apart of a bigger picture. Let things come together and get worked out.
• Know that God is a deliverer. How can you know that God is a delivering and saving God if He never delivered and saved you from anything? Reading about examples of how God delivered people in the past is one thing, but personally experiencing His delivering power is something entirely different. If good things are always given to you, then how can you appreciate what you have? You will more than likely treasure something for which you physically worked, struggled and sacrificed. It will become apart of you and will be dear to your heart. That is precisely how our faith and the love of God in our hearts grow; we exercise it like a muscle (Romans 5:3-4).
• God never uses bad things to punish us or to teach us a lesson. All bad things come from the enemy of our souls (John 10:10), and God always uses the Holy Spirit to teach us (John 16:13). Sickness, lack and calamity are all apart of the Deuteronomy 28 curse from which Jesus redeemed us (Galatians 3:13-14). Always remember that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:16-17). If sickness, lack and all of the bad stuff that we go through comes from God, then shouldn’t we want what God has for us? Our good God never gives people bad things. He is pure, holy and righteous.
• Exercise faith and patience when going through your situation (Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2-4). Your problem is not going to disappear because you pray a few times; use your faith in the Word of God and patience, and let the situation run its course. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
• Remember that when you are going through a test, trial, persecution, etc. you should go through it and don’t stop, complain and be whiner. If you’re being tested, it means that you are a threat to the enemy and his kingdom. This is a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12) that can manifest in the natural. Accept the challenge! For example, someone might crash into your car, and the insurance company may refuse to pay for the damages. Are you going to be moved by the situation with tears and frustration, or are you going to confess God’s Word and stand on His promise that “No weapon that’s formed against you will prosper,” and that “He’ll take the bad and turn it into your good,” and that “you have favor with God and man,” and that “He’ll cause people to bless you.” Take Satan’s attack as a compliment. He is only bothering people who are causing him problems. If he wants to start a fight with you, then you need to end it by standing on the promises of God and enforcing his defeat that Jesus won for us.
• Sometimes we omit things and sometimes we do the wrong thing. Both of these things open the door to problems. For example, people take family members for granted, and when the family member dies, people feel guilty and regretful about past situations. Guilt and condemnation are not from God, but all of this could have been avoided with a little bit of communication; but it was omitted, and people have to deal with the consequences. In terms of committing the wrong act, everything that we suffer is not an attack of the enemy. If you get liver disease after drinking whiskey for 30 years, there’s no need for you to try to cast the devil out of anyone; he isn’t in people’s liver. Omitting the right thing and committing the wrong acts open the door to bad things in our lives. The devil isn’t omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) but many times he sets failure traps for us, and progressively we dig ourselves into a hole.
• Always be thankful. Someone’s situation is always worse than your’s. If you are reading this, it means that you aren’t in Hell, so your situation could be worse than it is right now.

Take a few moments and think about these insights. They are simple, yet profound, and they will help you to stay focused, grounded and unwavering in turbulent times. Go enforce the victory that Christ has already won for us. Don’t let the enemy’s smokescreen throw your perspective off. You are always a victor in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57), so go win. Live well!

The Basics of Prayer

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.-- Philippians 4:6

Prayer is an act that has occurred since the creation of humanity. Whichever religious belief people had or have doesn’t negate the fact that some sort of prayer is still an integral part of their lives. We see examples of prayer throughout the Bible and in secular history, as well. Some of us were taught to pray for our food, to say our prayers at night, to pray for other people, etc. But prayer is described differently by different people. Is there a specific way that we need to pray, or is everyone’s style of praying correct? I don’t like wasting my time doing things the wrong way, and I am certain that most reasonable people would agree with that. So since prayer is not a new thing, and it is still a popular practice today, let’s make sure that we are praying, not according to the traditions of man, but according to God’s instructions. Does that sound reasonable? OK, let’s search the Scriptures. One last thing, I typically like to remind the readers to not hold too dearly to your current belief system. If your and my belief system is sound and founded upon the Rock (Jesus Christ), then we can build upon it. If not, then we can make some simple adjustments and move forward in love. OK? Don’t shoot the messenger, and please don’t have an attitude with me if this article isn’t how your favorite preacher teaches it.

People have been writing books on prayer for years, so I won’t follow along that vein. I will simply share my perspective on the matter, give you some examples of prayer, and then I’m kicking you out of the nest after you read this article. Go Fly! Prayer is a very comprehensive topic, like faith, so to cover every aspect would be very exhaustive and cumbersome. But you will leave with the mechanics and the understanding of New Testament Biblical prayer that will set you on the proper course. From there, God will shed light on you, give you insights and your own revelation of prayer and whatever else He wants to reveal to you. An article such as this will help you go from dependence (other people always praying for you) to independence (praying for yourself). Now please don’t misunderstand, corporate praying (group prayers) and the prayer of agreement are good and Scriptural. But what are you going to do if your favorite prayer partner can’t be reached immediately? Folks, you’re going to be just fine, just follow along and be open to the Word of God.

Let’s go over several Scriptures and see how we can extract the principles of prayer and transpose them to our daily life in the 21st century.

Ask (demand of something that is due), and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:11-16

Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. John 9:31

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:21-23

And whatever you ask in My name (authority), that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name (authority), I will do it. John 14:13-14

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name (authority) He may give you. John 15:16

All of these Scriptures support that we must go through Jesus to God; we must petition Him according to His Will; He will manifest Himself to us if we keep His commandments (the Word); and we can come boldly to Him when we need help. It’s pretty straight forward. The problem that many people have with prayer is that they try to do it their own way, and not according to Scripture. They try to avoid Jesus (the Word) many times, and the Scriptures conclusively support that a positive relationship with God outside of Jesus Christ cannot exist. Jesus said I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me (the Word). John 14:6

The other item that people fail to realize is that the vehicle of prayer and answers to those prayers are covenant rights. They are not rights for everyone, even though everyone is eligible to receive the covenant benefits; but only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). In short, the covenant of the New Testament was established between God and Jesus Christ; remember, Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Testament (Hebrews 7:22; 9:15; 12:24). With whom is He a mediator? Who else has the authority to create and to establish spiritual laws? Who else is of the same perfection as Christ from the beginning? God the Father. So the covenant is between God the Father and Jesus. Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah). Galatians 3:16 (Amplified Bible) To further prove the point, remember in the Old Testament when God established covenants with men, like: Noah (Genesis 9) and Abraham (Genesis 15). God established covenants in the earth with human beings, and since Jesus came in the flesh and was anointed to be the Messiah, He was/is the only one eligible to be the testator. The final proof of His grandeur is that Jesus now sits at God’s right hand, which is symbolic of honor and sovereign power (Hebrews 1:3).

So when we accept Christ, God honors us because He sees Christ (the Anointed One) in us, the hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27). Hence, we are called Christians (Acts 11:26), i.e., little Christs or little anointed ones. This is where people miss it; NO ONE has the authority to approach God without His Word (Jesus). Now that we have established that Christ or the Word is a prerequisite for prayer, allow me to help you jump start your prayer life with God with strong, personalized Bible-based prayers. There’s no need in people saying long, drawn out and religious sounding prayers. In the New Testament, we live out of our hearts, so let’s not waste time being religious, and let’s fire for effect and get some results. Agreed?

Prayers to confess before God

For confidence:

Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him that loves me. Romans 8:37

For Healing:

By Christ’s stripes [wounds] I am healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me and sickness is under the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13-14

For Protection:

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: and I am saved from my enemies. Psalms 18:1-3

The angel of the LORD encamps round about me [because I fear Him], and He delivers me.
Psalms 34:7

Walking in Love:

I forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], and my Heavenly Father also forgives me. I seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these [natural, earthly] things taken together will be given me besides. Matthew 6:14, 33

I don't pick on people, jump on their failures, and criticize their faults because I do not want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide my behavior: I ask myself what I want people to do for me, then I grab the initiative and do it for them. If I add up God's Law and Prophets, this is what I get. Matthew 7:1, 2, 12

I am a follower of God, as a dear child; and I walk in love, as Christ also has loved me, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. I am not unwise, but I understand what the will of the Lord is. I give thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2, 17, 20

I endure long, am patient and kind; I never am envious nor boil over with jealousy, am not boastful or vainglorious, I do not display myself haughtily. I am not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); I am not rude (unmannerly) and do not act unbecomingly. I (God's love in me) do not insist on my own rights or own way, for I am not self-seeking; I am not touchy or fretful or resentful; I take no account of the evil done to me [I pay no attention to a suffered wrong]. I do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but I rejoice when right and truth prevail. I bear up under anything and everything that comes, I believe the best of every person, my hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and I endure everything [without weakening]. I never fail [never fade out or become obsolete or come to an end]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When you need peace:

My heart rejoices, and my joy no man takes from me. Whatsoever I ask my Father in the name of Jesus, He [God] gives it to me. I ask, and I receive, and my joy is full. I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Christ has spoken to me, that in Him, I have peace. In the world there is tribulation: but I rejoice; because Christ overcame the world. John 16:22-24, 32-33

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. And whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, I think on these things. Philippians 4:7

For Financial Prosperity:

I am not weary in well doing: for in due season I reap, because I do not faint. As I have opportunity, I do well to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

I prosper, and I am in health, even as my soul prospers. 3 John 2

I know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for my sake He became poor, that through His poverty I am made rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

I sow bountifully and I reap also bountifully, as I purpose in my heart, I give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God makes all grace abound towards me; that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, abound to every good work: God ministers seed to me [the sower] and bread for my food, and multiplies my seed sown, and increases the fruits of my righteousness; I am enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through me thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

Christ’s grace is sufficient for me: for His strength is made perfect in my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

God gives me the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, so that all people know [and have as a sign] that He, the LORD, has called me by His name. Isaiah 45:3

The LORD my God teaches me to profit, and leads me by the way that I should go. Isaiah 48:17

In conclusion, I hope that you understand the principles of prayer. I could’ve added more information and said many more things, and perhaps written a book like so many have. But I just wanted to give you a quick insight and some perspective to how simple it is to communicate with God according to His Word. Anytime that you need God, He is right there. Just find out what God says about your situation, confess what God says, and stand upon that truth as if you have the manifestation of the thing desired in your possession. Follow the model of these Scriptural prayers for every area of your life and you will grow by leaps and bounds in your prayer life. A great complement to this article is another one of my articles called Listen to and Follow Your Heart. Live well!

Division: How We Play the Enemy's Game

I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

For thousands of years, division and rivalry have been a constant nibble at the heels of society: good vs. evil; white vs. black; male vs. female; Philadelphia vs. Boston; the Hatfield’s vs. the McCoy’s; Republicans vs. Democrats, and so on. What is the problem? Division is so prevalent in our society to the point where people will disown family members in order to hold true to their beliefs. This is diametrically opposed to reason, truth and common sense. So let’s see what history and the Word of God can teach us about division and its ramifications. In order to really get to the substantive and crucial matters at hand, we must delve into the root causes of division; otherwise we will continue to cut off a limb and it’ll grow back; or we’ll put a band-aid on something that needs stitches. So let’s get to the real problem and get some real solutions, because in actuality, this idea of division or a “divide and conquer” strategy is a very old concept repackaged. But as George Santayana coined the phrase: ''Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.''

Hutus and the Tutsis

Germany and Belgium both ruled African countries Rwanda and Burundi in a colonial capacity. Germany used the strategy of "divide and conquer" by placing members of the Tutsi minority in positions of power. When Belgium took over in 1916, the Tutsi and Hutu groups were rearranged according to race rather than by occupation. Belgium defined "Tutsi" as anyone with more than ten cows or a long nose, while "Hutu" meant someone with less than ten cows and a broad nose. The socioeconomic divide between Tutsis and Hutus continued after independence and was a major factor in the Rwandan Genocide.

In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and the former Zaire. (Author’s thought: A family was broken up by outsiders. This isn’t the first and it certainly won’t be the last time this happens. Remember the words of Jesus in Mark 3:26-27 and if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. Jesus taught us about the “divide and conquer” strategy 2,000 years ago. It still goes on today; however, it maybe packaged in a pretty box with a bow on it. Remember, if you dress a pig in a suit, he’ll still run back to and play in the mud. This example of division resulted in the death of nearly 1,000,000 people in less than six months. )

The Balkans: the Break up of Yugoslavia

In order to avoid a long and drawn out history lesson, the countries commonly included in the Balkan region are:

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, but only the European section of it (traditionally called Rumelia or Eastern Thrace).

Some other countries are sometimes included in the list as well:

Moldova, Romania, and Slovenia

In short, sovereign countries have always been the target of imperialistic control freaks for as long as the borders of nations have existed. The 20th century for the former Yugoslavia is no different. There are many theories for why the nation was broken up. Some claim that false media propaganda, hostile nationalist sentiment, and fear of security were all manipulated to breed distrust among neighbors of the former Yugoslavia. Whatever reason or reasons are accurate for explaining this dismantling, we must remember this simple Scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:12 and if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Whenever there is unity, there is strength, Remember that! It’s much easier to manage a few puppies on a leash than it is to control and tame a lion. Division weakens you and your unit, but it strengthens your enemy. Remember that!

Politics

Many people view the increasing polarization of voting blocs by wedge issues as being an example of "Divide and Rule." Examples include abortion, gun control, and gay marriage. The key idea is that these issues prevent the public from thinking about, let alone addressing, potentially more objectively important issues, such as global warming, the erosion of civil liberties under the Patriot Act, and the negative effects of lobbying on issues such as campaign finance reform and corruption. Let’s look at a current example: the political debates. All of the candidates of both parties are fighting each other trying to catch up to the party frontrunners. The frontrunners are the punching bags for the other candidates who are lagging behind them in the polls, but next year all of the candidates will suddenly support the candidates they are currently bashing. What do you think would happen if some of the candidates conceded early and put their strength and support behind the strongest candidate a year before the elections? Do you think that would generate some positive momentum for the party of choice? As long as you’re divided you’ll be as strong as a watered-down drink. Remember that!

The Church

The Church is the most divided and segregated place on Sunday morning. We have denominations or sects that won’t fellowship with one another or claim any sort of solidarity in Christ because one Church believes that you must fully submerse in water to baptize believers and another Church believes that it is sufficient to sprinkle people with water. This is absurd! What happened when the church got on one accord in the book of Acts chapter 2? The Spirit of the Lord fell and a great move of God occurred. But that only happened because they were on ONE ACCORD. If someone has a dissenting view, we should at least be able to reasonably communicate with one another to find out where we can agree. All Christians have the spirit of the Lord living on the inside, so if we are living by that Spirit then we should be able to hear the Lord’s voice in a genuine and Scripturally accurate brother or sister. Humility and pride are also two compatible partners with division; it is a recipe for disaster, so don’t fall victim to its seductive demeanor.

Jena, Louisiana

Quite simply, this situation is not unique to this little town; in fact, it is a common thing all around the world. It was a school fight that started from a racial spark. This is nothing new! People continue to instigate, to agitate and to continually foster ill-will amongst the races. The youngster should be punished for fighting, but the main item of interest in this event is that the law of the land was not followed. We are ALL guaranteed to have a fair and speedy trial, and having the punishment fit the crime committed. Amendment VI and VIII of the US Constitution respectively state:

• In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.


• Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

We must understand that we cannot make it illegal for hate to exist. But we can protect the rights of all people and that is what wasn’t done in this case. Racial incidents happen everyday. These types of news stories continually reopen the wounds of the Jim Crow south. But if YOU (the reader) wouldn’t feed into the frenzy, then Al, Jesse and the media propagandists would have to go get a real 9-5 job like you and me. Stirring up news, especially black vs. white crimes, is a big windfall for the news media; they thrive on this. Anytime there is controversy, chaos, and dispute, the media is in the middle of it because they know that the average person will give attention to it; and if people are watching, then advertisers will pay more money to make sure that their product is in your face during the commercials. Simple, isn’t it? It’s all done to hype you up. They create or use a catalyst to make YOU react in a calculated manner every time; then they reward Jesse and Al with free air time and interviews for rallying up the troops for a few more weeks. These people (the media) study human behavior, marketing and psychology and they know how to “push your buttons.” Jena is not about racism, folks. Racism isn’t going anywhere, and the way most people deal with it is not going to solve anything.

Let’s look quickly at one example of how an analysis of human behavior has conditioned Americans to think a certain way via the media for the past few decades. Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud, was a master at turning public opinion at his whim. Adam Curtis's award-winning 2002 documentary for the BBC, The Century of the Self, pinpoints Bernays as the originator of modern public relations. He is popularly credited with techniques for manipulating public opinion, such as indirect use of "third party authorities" to plead his clients' causes. "If you can influence the leaders, either with or without their conscious cooperation, you automatically influence the group which they sway," he said. In order to promote sales of bacon, for example, he conducted a survey of physicians and reported their recommendation that people eat hearty breakfasts. He sent the results of the survey to 5,000 physicians, along with publicity touting bacon and eggs as a hearty breakfast. {Author's thought: I remember daydreaming while driving down the highway a few years ago. I saw the image of a man in the sky with strings on his fingers, as if he was moving a puppet or puppets. What I realized was that humanity was the puppet. The man [who had an evil looking smirk and a sinister laugh] represented the devil and humanity was dancing to his tune. People were working like slaves, hating one another, and doing all sorts of bad things. This just let me know that we act out of our influences: good or evil. We can choose: to be reactive or proactive; to divide or unite; to love or hate. It is totally up to us!}.

People will continue to march, protest and boycott. But until people realize who the enemy is, then these demonstrations will continue to be fruitless exercises for which sensationalists (like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson) can profit for their own selfish aggrandizement. However, there is nothing wrong with letting your issues be made known. The first Amendment of the Constitution says that we have the right to petition the government (or whomever) for a redress of grievances. But let’s not put our faith, confidence and hope in our “so-called” leaders, and let’s pay more attention to the solutions that we will learn from Jesus in the next and final example.

Jesus Christ

The best example of dealing with the root cause of this dilemma (division) can be found in none other than Jesus Christ. He dealt with racism, classicism and religious persecution; he was unjustly judged and condemned by these natural factors, but he dealt with them at the root of the matter--spiritually. Throughout Scripture Jesus told his opponents and naysayers: John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do; John 8:23 Ye are from beneath, I am from above; John 15:21 they know not Him that sent me. {Author's thought: Do you see the common denominator here? He didn’t address the people with whom He was conversing; He addressed the spiritual influence that was influencing his enemies. Let’s look at a few more.}

Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” {Author’s thought: Again, Jesus is not rebuking Peter (the person who verbalized the comment), but he addressed the influencing factor behind the verbalization.}

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (humans or humanity), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {Author’s thought: Folks, against whom are we fighting? Take your fight to the root of the problem and stop fighting against people. People are influenced by good or evil, discern which is operating in your situation and deal with it accordingly.}

The truth will divide between right and wrong.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Matthew 10:34-35 Jesus said “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

John 7:43 “So there was a division among the people because of Him.”

John 10:19 “Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.”

Tribal wars, divide and conquer strategies, church splits and racial discourse can all be solved by following the example of Jesus: deal with the (spiritual) root problem first. That doesn’t mean that these problems won’t exist anymore, it just means that you can neutralize its power over you. You can take the proverbial stinger out of the wasp. It won’t be able to hurt you and bring division in your camp. If someone calls you an ugly name, ridicules or insults you, and you react because it offends you, just remember that you can’t make people respect you or be nice to you. You can, however, repay evil with good (Romans 12:17-21); you can “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). Economically, you can boycott a rude establishment; politically you can protest or vote for another candidate; socially, you can choose not to fellowship with certain people; mentally, you can choose to think another thought. But remember that the root of the issue must be addressed and that you have to be the insightful and proactive person in the situation to overcome that adversity. Don’t let the incident dictate how you are going to react, the Word of God has already told you how to react. So remember to be proactive and stay in the Spirit and don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Confront the devil head on, like Jesus did in Matthew 4. If he’s looking for a fight, then give him one! Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil in the Spirit and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Psalm 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is. For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing- Life forevermore.

Live well!

Why Tithe?

For the love of money people will steal from their mother. For the love of money people will rob their own brother. For the love of money people can't even walk the street because they never know who in the world they're gonna beat. For that lean, mean, mean green Almighty dollar, money. For the love of money people will lie, Lord, they will cheat. For the love of money people don't care who they hurt or beat. For the love of money a woman will sell her precious body For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight. Call it lean, mean, mean green—“For The Love Of Money” by the O’Jays, Album: Ship Ahoy 1973

Money, Money, Money, Money, MONEY! Do you remember that song from back in the 1970’s by the O’Jays? A song whose foundation was 1 Timothy 6:10 and is the motto for much of the secular world. But in recent history and in current circles, we hear stories of similar motivations in the church to increase giving in the church offerings by nefarious purposes. The church building (assembly) is supposed to be a gathering place for worship, learning doctrine, prayer and Christian fellowship. But many negative connotations are associated with many of today’s churches. Some thoughts I have heard from the secular people and from Christians concerning the Church include:

• The preachers are just trying to take people’s money.
• The church members are continually living at a lower standard of living than the preachers.
• Mommy, why do some preachers go to church in a limousine, and we have to walk every Sunday?
• Preachers beg and talk too much about getting people to give money to the church.
• Should I pay my rent, light bill, etc. or should I give this as an offering to the Church, and believe God for a blessing?
• Some preachers manipulate the congregation to tithe and give money with scare tactics of going to Hell for robbing God.
• It is our duty to help get the Gospel out to the world, so that poor people in India can hear about Jesus.
  
  

Maybe you have heard some of these claims, or perhaps others. Well, I am here to set the record straight concerning the tithe. Yes, the Bible does mention tithing. But what does it say? Follow along, be a student and not a drone. Get ready to search the Scriptures as the Bereans did to see if I am presenting the truth in context (Acts 17:11). I ask that you please be objective and not to hold too dearly to your current belief system. Let’s test what you believe (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and test what I believe, as well. The Holy Spirit will give light, so let’s be open to Him. This subject is a “sacred cow” for many people, in other words there is a stronghold belief system and/or influence over some people concerning giving. You’ll see why, so continue reading in faith and be open minded to the Spirit of God. Let’s go!

The most popular Scriptures that I know concerning the tithe are in the Old Testament (OT); however, there are a few references to the tithe in the New Testament (NT), as well. The most famous verse I believe is found in Malachi 3:8-12: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

So from this verse the major ideas to note are:

• Not tithing and not giving offerings denotes robbing God. Stealing is a sin (Exodus 20:15), and we know that all sinners will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
• God will bless you if you tithe and give offerings.
• God will rebuke the bad things from happening to you.
• Other people are going to recognize you as fortunate and good in the sight of God.
  
  

It appears from this very popular verse that tithing is a very beneficial practice. But what is tithing? What does the contextual application of Scripture teach us about tithing?

• Tithing was instituted before the law with Abraham (Genesis 14; Hebrews 7) and was adopted into the Levitical law (Leviticus 27:30-31).
• Jesus was born under the law (Galatians 4:4), came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) so that He could give us power to live above the law (Galatians 3:13-14).
• Tithing was the people bringing 1/10 of their increase to be given to God via the children of Levi for their service in the tabernacle of the congregation (Numbers 18:21), and in obedience to God the Levitical Priesthood was to offer up a heave offering (1/10 of the tenth) to the Lord (Number 18:26).
• Reserving the first tenth for God is actually the tither acknowledging God as having complete ownership (so to speak) over his/her life. Let’s look at things in natural terms: at a birthday party, who gets the first piece of cake? The person whose birthday it is. When your girlfriend gets a new outfit that you really like, don’t you at least let her wear it first before you ask to borrow it? When the guest of honor enters the room, doesn’t everyone stand up and let him/her sit down first? It’s a respect that we give to people on the earth. How much more respect should we give to the King of Glory?
• The OT believers didn’t belong to God in their hearts; remember sin came in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14-24), and put a spiritual barrier between God and man. So God created covenants with mankind (Genesis 9:11-13; Genesis 15), and later the Law was instituted (Exodus 20) so that mankind could walk in God’s ways and atone for sin.
• The purpose for the law was to distinguish between right and wrong, as well as differentiating between God’s people and the heathen (Galatians 3:21-25; 1 Timothy 1:9).
• The OT was a temporary fix for the mistakes of Adam and Eve, a detour so to speak. Jesus Christ is the eternal sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14; Hebrews 10:7-10), and the mediator of a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).
• There are no New Testament (NT) instructions for us to tithe. Tithing is mentioned in the NT, but only as references under the law. God used Paul and the other Apostles to teach the Church everything that we need to know for living a fulfilled Christian life before God and man; 27 books to be exact. Why are there no instructions, teachings, examples of tithing in or for the NT Church? Could it be that tithing is not a NT practice? Let's keep studying.
• In the NT, the true believers in God belong to God exclusively (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23). He purchased us with His own Blood (Acts 20:28); therefore He owns us, and there is no reason for us to sacrificially give Him 10% of what is 100% His. Do you understand that? That wouldn’t make sense. We are His property in no uncertain terms; however, we do NOT serve a dictator, nor are we robots. He expects us to submit ourselves to Him (James 4:7-10; Isaiah 1:19-20).
• We are instructed in the NT to give offerings (sowing and reaping). We also see examples of Paul and the Church giving alms and offerings but never a tithe (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25-28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 2 Corinthians 9:1-15) Why is this significant? Am I playing with semantics? No, I am setting you free by the Word of God and I am taking the power away from the enemy of our soul who uses certain preachers to use the Word of God to manipulate you and to bring you into bondage.
• Do you remember earlier I said that tithing is under the law? It was by compulsion, and you had no choice in the matter. However, in the NT, we defer to our hearts concerning our giving. It’s a personal act between the believer and God. The problem arises when preachers impose their will on us, play on our emotions and try to put guilt trips on us. These people may have a sincere heart, but they are sincerely wrong. These type of people do NOT have our best interest at heart. They may mean well, but aiming at the target is not the same as hitting the target. No one has the right or the authority to coerce you to give any amount of money, and then lie to you and manipulate you by suggesting that you are robbing God and going to Hell. That is heresy! What I have found is that if you take the OT away from many preachers, you take away much of their belief system. It’s sad because grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:14), not OT law.
  
  

Again, we live in a better covenant established upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6), and this present-day dispensation is called the New Testament (NT). We have been redeemed from the curse of the law by Jesus’ blood and solely belong to Him (Galatians 3:13-14). The Law of God is not being carried around in the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:26) as it was in the Old Testament (OT), but it now resides in the hearts of the true believers of Jesus (Hebrews 10:16). Therefore, we can safely, without guilt and/or condemnation follow our hearts in peace (Colossians 3:15). With that said, no one can control our giving: how much or how little we give. We must follow the peace of God in our hearts. From our hearts proceed our motivations, and from there we receive our reward. No longer can preachers hold people hostage, make you stand up and wave your tithe before the congregation that is seated watching you. No longer can preachers embarrass you because 20 people aren’t standing in the $100.00 line. No longer can preachers call you out and “prophe-lie” to you and say that “God told me to tell you to give $100.00 in the offering today, and your blessing will be released.” That is just plain error. These people aren't even Scriptural. But these types of preachers prey upon unsuspecting people, who mean well. But don’t worry folks, God is not afraid of you, He won’t give you personal instructions through a third party; God will tell you what He wants you to know, and/or witness what is said to you in your heart if what you’re hearing is from Him. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT; IT IS PARAMOUNT FOR YOU TO KNOW THIS!

Whenever you are giving money, you are not tithing; you are following the principles of seedtime and harvest (Genesis 8:22), giving/sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7). If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) and your sufficiency is of God. Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” It’s an offering, not a tithe. I NEVER tell anyone to stop giving 10% of their income. So why am I making a big deal and writing this article? Because the 10% that you bring to the church in this dispensation is not a tithe. The tithe is the 10% that the OT believers gave by compulsion of the Law of the OT, but what we give in this dispensation of grace is a free will offering from the heart. Give whatever amount is in your heart to give. Give 50%, 60%, or 100% of your income if it’s in your heart to do. But don’t let someone get you all emotional and get you out of your peaceful heart of giving to God. God will touch you and lead you in giving. Just follow your heart! Only you and God know your faith level, so obey the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of you. Remember that you are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). He knows your heart and won’t steer you wrong, He will lead and guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

I don’t know how many preachers are genuine in their hearts about tithing and giving, and how many are just interested in making the church budget for the week. But I do know that some preachers will not admit that my article is Biblically correct because they think that people will stop giving if the congregation finds out that they are not obligated to tithe. NO! Only an insecure preacher will think that. God will always touch people’s hearts to give. It’s just that people would start giving in faith instead of fear; without faith we can’t please God (Hebrews 11:6), and we are delivered from fear which is not of God (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18). If you remember this and live out of your heart, you will be set free, 2 Corinthians 3:6 says “The letter of the law killeth, but the spirit gives life.” In other words, the letter stands for the whole Mosaic Law, and if you break one commandment you were guilty of breaking all of the law (James 2:10-13). The Law kills because it cannot give life (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20). The purpose of the law was to make humanity conscious of sin and to be able to distinguish right from wrong (Galatians 3:21-25; 1 Timothy 1:9). Ladies and Gentlemen, your freedom is in the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:17), and if you can take hold to this message, pray about it and ask God to reveal the true intent of this message to you, then you will begin living a life that is pleasing to God in Spirit and in truth, and before humanity as well. Live free! Live well!

Judging (scrutiny or distinguishing right from wrong) Vs. Passing Judgment (condemning and issuing a penalty or sentence)

Matthew 7:1-6 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

(Author thought: This article has been inspired by some events that I have encountered over the past several years. It appears as though there are some people who don’t know that there is a difference between judging (distinguishing between right and wrong) and passing judgment (sentencing people for a crime). For years, I have been telling people about the Gospel, on the political campaign trail, and trying to educate people on other issues. In that time, I have encountered some people who have accused me of judging them and saying that I’m not their boss. My intentions have never been to be anyone's "boss," to harm, to damage or to belittle anyone. I probably did hurt some people's feeling with my delivery or choice of words in the past, but that was not my heartfelt intention. Sometimes, youth, unbridled zeal, and growth can be out of control if not harnessed properly; so if anyone reading this article has been offended by my verbal delivery, I apologize if it wasn’t done in love.

I eventually learned to not address the person per se, but the underlying force influencing him/her (i.e. belief system, habit, addiction, etc.). But actually, this type of accusation [“You’re judging!”] is generally an old psychology defense mechanism trick to play on people’s emotions and turn the situation in their favor. It is also an attempt to make the person, who being accused as “the judge,” feel guilty. Well, the root of these types of mind games is the “enemy,” because the Spirit of God won’t despise the truth. So we have to remember with whom we are ultimately dealing. But some people are sensitive, and some are even extra sensitive when discussing certain issues, so now I know to have a genuine heart when dealing with people on specific topics. I tend to get very passionate about topics that are dear top me, and we all must remember that everyone may not see things as we do. However, the Word of God is still true, whether you are in America, Japan, or if your head is buried in the sand. Plugging up your ears and shouting LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA as loud as you can doesn’t negate the Word of God. I have been dealing with the general public about issues such as: politics and religion for over 10 years, and it doesn’t matter in what part of the country I am, people seem to always have a sensitive spot that they don’t want touched [a sacred cow]. Well I am writing this article to set the record straight, and to encourage people to stop using these “cop out” excuses for why they are involved in a sin, wrongdoing, habit or addiction, or why they have a Non-Biblical viewpoint on the issue[s]. Let’s remove our blinders, prejudices, and assumptions so that we can move forward, get on one accord and we can all be successful.)

The age old “stop judging,” "you are too judgmental" and “you can’t judge me” cries are very popular defense mechanisms that are employed when one’s actions, motives or thoughts are called into question. Is judging wrong? Should we or should we not pass judgment on people? What does the Bible have to say? That’s all that we are interested here at B.G. Street: the Bible is our reference point; it is our benchmark so to speak. So whatever it says in context, and in line with other Bible references is to what we must adhere. It is my Biblical and contextual contention that judging (scrutinizing and distinguishing right from wrong) is not wrong. I have studied the issue thoroughly and have drawn a very sound and reasonable conclusion. After reading this article, it will therefore be your job to search the Scriptures to see if my points are valid and sound doctrine. So let’s go to class, students. OK? Let’s go!

The Law was given from God through Moses to the Children of Israel so that they and we could distinguish between: right and wrong; good and evil; God’s ways and the enemy’s ways. Today, naturally-speaking, we have laws and statutes (i.e. speed limit signs) that tell us what is right or wrong. If the sign says 55 and we are going 60, then the sign is an indicator that we are doing wrong. Law (God’s way) is a good thing! Remember that! It brings order to society. But laws aren’t vocal, they are written, so when we are told that we did or are doing wrong then it is a warning or a punishment for the wrongdoing. Warning people, speaking out against a wrongdoing, and defending what is right are basically answering in the affirmative the Bible question: Am I my brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9)? That’s what the Great Commission is all about: sounding the alarm, being a watchman on the wall, being a weathervane or a beacon. When a person states that homosexuality is wrong; is it wrong to say that? No! The Bible states that. But this doesn’t mean that the person is bad or condemned to Hell. People can change and be delivered, but that is God’s job to deliver. Our job is to be available vessels to minister compassion and the truth of Scripture in love. But three things must seriously be taken into account when judging/scrutinizing a situation:

· What is the motive of the heart when we judge (scrutinize)?
· How do we vocalize our judgment (scrutiny)? Is it offensive?
· Are you attacking the person or the act?

If you attack the act that a person is committing, then your defense can be that naturally-speaking this practice is harmful and spiritually-speaking this practice alienates you from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). We shouldn’t be so fearful of people or their feelings that we are afraid to address issues; nor on the other hand should we be so sensitive that we miss a helpful warning or correction. If we all just do things with a genuine and pure heart, on the giving and receiving end, I am certain that we can be more effective.

What happens many times in these situations is that Person A will see Person B involved with a sin, wrongdoing, wrong belief, addiction or habit. Person A may say what Person B is doing is wrong. Person B might be offended because Person B may or may not think it’s wrong to do. Person B might also believe that it is wrong to do, but may feel that it isn’t Person A’s place to tell Person B that. Well this scenario is very common and we should always be very prayerful and cautious when dealing with people and their “sacred cows,” so to speak. We have to remember that there are over 7 billion people with many personalities with which to deal. We have to always remember a few things when dealing with people (Christian or not) who are struggling with a sin, wrongdoing, wrong belief, addiction or habit.

*God is not mad at anyone who is sinning and He loves us all (Romans 5:8).
*God is more concerned about that person’s salvation/deliverance than we are. God sacrificed His Son for that person. We gave up nothing on this person’s behalf. So God definitely has a vested interest in the person. (John 3:16)
*God can reach anyone on their level in a way that they can receive God’s message and He never condones the sin (Isaiah 59:1-2)
*God has a plan for everyone’s life (Jeremiah 29:11)
*God just wants us to be an available vessel through which He can work (2 Corinthians 4:7)
*God is able to prick people’s hearts (Acts 2:37)
*God can break up the fallow ground of people’s hearts (Hosea 10:12)
*God can reveal the truth to people (Ephesians 1:17)
*God can open the eyes of their understanding (Ephesians 1:18)
*God can cause them to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

We should never assume that anyone is beyond God’s saving grace and delivering power. Look at Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul. If a man who prided himself on killing Christians can be redeemed and do great things for God, then any of us can. Nobody is perfect and not everyone has the same zeal and passion for God. We all blossom and bloom differently and things that excite one person about God may not excite the next person. Let’s remember to deal with people as Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Notwithstanding, those of us who need to be instructed on matters that maybe sensitive, should always keep in mind the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). All of the seeds that were sown were good, but only 25% of them brought forth fruit. Jesus said that the seeds that brought forth fruit did so 100-fold, 60-fold and 30-fold. In other words, how you open yourself to receive the word of God, cultivate the seed, and let it germinate in you will determine the yield of that seed: 100-fold, 60-fold or 30-fold. Be open to receive from the word of God! Even if the person doesn’t use the most effective delivery method, ask God if there are insights, wisdom, concepts or ideas that you can glean from what was spoken. Always try to take the high road and look for the best in the situation. If the person was totally off in what he/she said to you, then shake the dust off of your feet and keep walking in faith.

Here are a few Bible texts for us to consider for this topic:

*Matthew 7:1-6 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

(Author’s thought: Jesus is talking about passing judgment and condemning people. We have no right to do this, because none of us are perfect, nor has God commissioned us to be judges. Only the standard of the Word of God can judge us (John 12:48). This is different than having a genuine heart of compassion to help, to encourage or to correct someone. Remember, if they don’t have the heart to receive from you, then don’t cast your pearls before swine [Matthew 7:6])

*1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural (unsaved) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth (scrutinizes) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

(Author’s thought: the Apostle Paul is talking about spiritual people having the ability and the insight to discern matters spiritually. When a person is living/walking in the Spirit [Galatians 5:25] he/she is above any ridicule or earthly judgment because he/she is walking in the fruits that the Spirit of God is manifesting through them, and “against which there is no law” [Galatians 5:22-23]. Who can judge the Word? No one. So as we walkin it, we are free from judgment.)

*1 Thessalonians 5:21 But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.

(Author’s thought: this is quite simply instructing us to discern the motives, reasoning, attitudes, origins, etc. of everything that we encounter. We are not to take anything for granted. If you have a genuine heart to known the truth, or if you need wisdom or insight on a matter, ask God [James 1:5])

*John 20:21-23 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.

(Author’s thought: I can imagine people asking the disciples in a nasty tone, “who gave you the right to say whether I’m saved or not, my relationship with the Lord is between Him and me, and I don’t have to explain anything to you?” Well what most people don’t realize is that if you don’t do things for God by His Word, then you are out of order. A person is not saved just because he/she says they are saved, or because they go to church or because they have a dusty family Bible in the living room. A person gets saved because, according to the Word, they accept and confess Jesus Christ [Romans 10:9-10, 13]. Jesus giving the disciples this authority to confirm or refute salvation makes perfect sense. There were no Bibles at the time, Jesus was the Word/God manifested in the flesh [1 Timothy 3:16], and delegating this authority allowed the message to get out to more people quicker. )

*John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

(Author’s thought: This is another example of Jesus teaching us about discernment and distinguishing good from bad, and truth from error.)

None of these Scriptures gave authority to any person to judge, to condemn or to sentence anyone for any reason. Again, this is different from discerning a situation and/or distinguishing right from wrong in a situation. Even if a person is doing wrong, we can’t sentence them. We can only tell them the truth, invite them to accept the Word and pray. Only God can deal with people’s heart.

(Author’s thought: Because of judging (passing judgment), some people are ashamed to be themselves in front of certain people. Some people are afraid that some people will think that they are weak or inadequate (for a lack of a better term, they are insecure). But people aren’t afraid to be weak, broken or inadequate before God, because they know that God will still accept them and help them. We need to be like God and treat people likewise.)

QUOTES

Be knowledgeable and pass along sound information. A library without readers is a useless building.

Let people (in their personalities) be themselves, and don’t try to twist them into your own image. If you change them to look like you, then it’s the reflection of you that you like in them, not the uniqueness of them.