If We Are The Body…

This is the title of a wonderful song by Casting Crowns. It is also the idea behind a question that I want to pose to all believers. What should the body of Christ look like? Of course, there is the follow up question; what does the body of Christ look like?

Love

Jesus said, “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.” (John 13:34-35) “Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do.” (John 15:12) “Love each other. This is what I’m commanding you to do.” (John 15:17) The apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, continued this theme. “However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses’ Teachings.” (Romans 13.8)  “We also pray that the Lord will greatly increase your love for each other and for everyone else, just as we love you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

The writer of Hebrews and, Peter and John also were inspired to stress that we are to love our fellow believers. By looking at this I get the impression that God is serious about this issue. Doing a search of the New Testament I found twenty-two separate verses that contain the phrase “love each other”. Is this why I see church groups suing each other over property ownership? Is this why I see churches saying that if you don’t use their favorite translation of the Bible you are “going to hell”? As Christians we need to remember Jesus’ words about love.

Devotion to God

The apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” (Philippians 4:8) While we certainly live in a corrupt world with all sorts of evil around us, this in no what means that we have to take part in this corruption. I see believers who are very familiar with the latest episodes from some very questionable TV shows. They can tell who is sleeping with whom, who “came out of the closet” and all sorts of other things that the Bible discourages. I have been told that I can be too critical of these things, and maybe I am to a certain degree. Jesus said “you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you” (John 15.19) I believe that He was telling us that we should avoid these kinds of things. He also said that it’s what comes out of our hearts that makes us unclean. Things like “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, other sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing” (Matthew 15.19) are symptoms of a defiled heart, a heart that is not focused on God. Paul knew that we, even as believers, could get in this condition. That’s why he told the Philippian believers to keep their thoughts on things that are right or pure. What we feed our hearts is what are hearts will become.

Jesus said to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Are we? Or are we putting other things above God? Or trying to share are hearts with other things. Make no mistake; anything that you try to place above or beside God becomes a god.

Purity

Acts 15.20, 29, 1 Thessalonians 4.3 and 1 Peter 2.11 tells us that we are to abstain from sexual immorality. Jesus tells us that we are involved in immorality if we look at what we shouldn’t with lust. (Matthew 5.28) Peter said that the unrighteous “can’t stop looking for sin” and they are “cursed”. (2Peter 2.14) Being a Christian is like a marriage; we are to remain pure for our Husband. In fact, we are called “the Bride of Christ.” This is not a physical relationship, so why are we so quick to say that if we are not cheating “in the flesh” then it’s all right? The marriage union between a man and a woman is sacred and should not be defiled. Christians will readily agree to this. How about the relationship between the believer and Christ? Is this, somehow, less important? Absolutely not! It is infinitely more important. Anything that strains or tears at this spiritual relationship must be avoided. Jesus will not share you with any other. If you are His, you have been bought with a very high price. Can say that you are not into witchcraft if you can’t wait until the next Harry Potter book or movie comes out? Or that you keep up with every episode of Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place? Jesus will not share you with any one or any thing. Can you say that you are pure when you give in to peer pressure on issues that the Bible clearly calls sin?

One final thought: The apostle Paul said that we are to “avoid the appearance of evil” (1Thessalonians 5.22). Maybe a particular thing isn’t wrong. You know that you are right with God and it’s not a big deal. But how does it look to others? Paul said that he would stop eating meat if it caused his brothers to stumble. God is working with me on some things in my life. Is there anything that He wants to talk about with you?

© 2009 Rev. Tim Lehmann – 21st Century Christian Ministries

http://21stCenturyCristian.org

mailto:info@21stCenturyChristian

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references are made using GOD’S WORD® translation of the Bible. GOD’S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

I am disappointed that you signed SB 572 into law. This bill says it is appropriate for schools to have “exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to this state.” Since Mr. Milk was a known adult-child homosexual sex advocate and, according to his biographer, ‘had a penchant for young waifs with substance abuse problems,” I wonder how the schools are going to present this. Unless, of course, they chop history to only present the side they see as attractive.

Maybe they should point out that he was a long time advocate for polygamous homosexual relationships and continually justified lying as a means to get ahead. Or maybe the California school children would be interested in knowing that Mr. Milk abused his political office by aiding and abetting Jim Jones’s kidnapping, and subsequent murder, of a six-year-old boy. He then purportedly staged a hate crime to enhance his victim status in the eyes of San Francisco voters. He also routinely called political opponents “Nazis”.

Harvey Milk may have made strides as a “gay” rights activist, but there is so much more to this man’s life that truly disqualifies him as deserving special recognition. My position on the homosexual behavior is that of the Bible and can be found on line. (Facebook, WordPress or 21^st Century Christian Ministries) My opposition to this bill goes deeper than Mr. Milk’s openly homosexuality. Mr. Milk simply did not deserve a day in his honor. That is unless you are saying that we are to engage in adult-child sex, take advantage of children with drug issues, lie to get ahead ands use our positions to promote kidnapping and murder. Unfortunately, calling our opponents “Nazis” and other more unprintable name has become a common practice with the gay pride movement. I guess they are just following their leader.

In His service,

Rev. Tim Lehmann

Folsom, CA

21st Century Christian Ministries

The Value of life – Some food for thought

How much is one human life worth? Does it matter if you know the person in question? Is the life of a family member more valuable than a stranger’s life? I have listed some questions and information below in an effort to get us to think about life, and death. While I expect that there are some who will rail against me for posting this, my purpose is not to set down a doctrine; I just want to get people thinking. (Scripture quotes are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.)

Interesting questions.

Recently Dr. George Tiller, the famous (or infamous) abortion doctor, was murdered. I read a number of comments, by people claiming to be Christians, praising the fact of his death. Most went along the lines that “he got what he deserved.” Dr. Tiller was responsible for performing an unknown number of abortions including controversial “late-term” abortions. Was Dr. Tiller’s death warranted? Was Dr. Tiller’s life valuable?

Soldiers go to war and, under the direction of their governments people get killed. David, in the Bible, was known for being a “man after God’s own heart”. David was also a warrior. A quick cross reference of the key words “David” and “slew” in the Old Testament drew 19 separate verses. 1 Chronicles 18.5 details one time when “David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.” (1 Chronicles 18:5) David, was a man after God’s own heart. The apostle Paul said, “for he [the king or government] beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:4) So it seems that there are times when killing is accepted.

Whose life is of more value, a stranger’s or a family member’s? If someone was breaking into your house, by law in most places you are allowed to defend your self. Yet if this same person were seen walking down the street you certainly would not be allowed to harm him. So it seems that it is okay to defend family and property. Are we, biblically, allowed to place someone else’s life above that of our family, or even our own?

Whose life is more valuable?

Mary (of Nazareth) had a son. He was a wonderful child, and grew to be a teacher and miracle worker. This Son was, in fact, God “manifest in the flesh”, come to dwell with man. (Timothy 3.16) He hurt no one and committed no crime. It is recorded that He healed, cleansed and taught righteousness to every one. He fed the hungry and even raised the dead. How valuable was His life?

Conclusions

I can’t say how I would react if forced to choose between my life and that of someone else. I would like to say that I would willingly lay down my life to save another, but if put in that position, would I? I don’t know. I can’t say how I would react if forced to choose between family, friends and strangers. I pray that I will never be forced to make these choices. I don’t have any answers for most of the questions I’ve posed. But there is one answer that I do have. Jesus’ life was the most valuable of all lives. He was perfect, without even the inherited sin of Adam that we all share. Jesus should have never died. Yet He willingly gave up that perfect life. Jesus knew the value of human life. As God, He created life. Why did He give up His life?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave [the life of] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus died on that cross so that our life would never have to end. Jesus was raised from the dead to show that He has overcome death. You and I can live forever, with God, because the most valuable life ever to be born was freely laid down in death.

It is my hope that someone reading this will see that there is more to life than the few years we live on earth. It is my hope that you have been stimulated to look deeper into this subject. I can’t answer questions about capitol punishment or self-defense. But I can say that Jesus’ death was our life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave [the life of] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  He did this for George Tiller, Billy Graham and even Adolph Hitler. He did this for you and for me. Not everyone accepts what Jesus did for them, and in not accepting, they miss out on the promise of everlasting life. Think about it, please.

The Bible speaks on homosexual relationships

I want to say first and foremost; God loves every human. There is no exception to this. Jesus died so that “who ever believes in Him might be saved”. Jesus died so that we could be set free from sin. Not set free TO sin, but set free FROM sin. So the question is, “What is sin?”

To answer this I will give God’s answer from the Bible. There are plenty of scriptures that deal with sin, but we are talking about one specific sin here. The answers will be plain and obvious to anyone who believes God’s Word is alive and relevant for today. This is a message to Christians about what behavior God expects from us, as His children. If you do not believe that the Bible is the answer to questions about morality and behavior than you might as well stop reading now.

Point 1:

Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1Corinthians 6. 9 – 10)

The apostle Paul was speaking about people who “continue to commit” these sins. The original word that he used is often translated as either heathen or treacherous. He then said, “That’s what some of you were.”  He reminds the Corinthians that they have been bought (Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross) and that they are not their own. He spends some time talking about sexual sins because it is an important point. Christians are part of the body of Christ. When a Christian commits a sin with his or her body they are causing Christ to participate in their sin. The implication is that someone who willingly persists in these sins never actually gave his life to Jesus. If you are truly a born again, regenerated believer you have Jesus living in your heart and you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. You would not willingly participate in these sins.

Point 2:

The people who lived in Sodom were very wicked. They committed terrible sins against the LORD. … Before they had gone to bed, all the young and old male citizens of Sodom surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to stay with you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” …Then they struck all the men who were in the doorway of the house, young and old alike, with blindness so that they gave up trying to find the door. Then the men asked Lot, “Do you have anyone else here-any in-laws, sons, daughters, or any other relatives in the city? Get them out of here because we’re going to destroy this place. The complaints to the LORD against its people are so loud that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” …Then the LORD made burning sulfur and fire rain out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. He destroyed those cities, the whole plain, all who lived in the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.(Genesis 13:13, 19:4-5, 19:11-13, 19:24-25)

God saw the sin in these two cities and we see the results.  These two cities are located next to and underneath the Dead Sea. (Of course the Dead Sea was not there when the destruction occurred.) Archeologists, both religious and secular, have discovered an extremely large number of sulfur balls in and around the area. Most of these have been partially burned. Each of the cities of the plain contains evidence of brimstone that God rained down upon the cities to destroy them.  The brimstone is composed of 96-98 percent sulfur; with trace amounts of magnesium, which create an extremely high temperature burn.  This is the only place on earth where you can find 96 percent pure monoclinic sulfur in a round ball.  This brimstone is NOT from any type of geo-thermal activity as there is no evidence of such in the area, and geo-thermal sulfur nodules are only 40 percent pure sulfur and are of the rhombic type. This is how God punished the sins of these people.

Point 3:

Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning and that he said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one’? (Matthew 19:4-5)  The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She will be named woman because she was taken from man.” That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:23-24)

Homosexual relationships are not normal. God created male and female with the intent that they reproduce. A sexual relationship brings the two together both physically and spiritually. An unnatural relationship is contrary to God’s purpose.

Conclusion:

It is not a question of whether you are a “liberated Christian”: rather it is “are you a Christian”. Being Christian means being a follower of Christ.  Jesus said that His followers are those who obey His commands (Luke 11.28) and that if we love Him that we would obey His commands (John 14.15). Being a Christian means loving and obeying Jesus. A true Christian cannot continue to live in a willfully sinful lifestyle.  Jesus died on the cross so that you could be set free from the bondage of sin. Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your heart as your Savior and as your Lord. He wants to set you free. What Jesus said to the thief on the cross next to Him as He was dying “This day you will be with me in paradise” can be His words to you too.

Good Sense

I love the Proverbs. They are so self-explanatory. Like this one. ” Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19.11) There’s no need to say much about it. There is one question. Where does one get “good sense”? It seems so many people today lack in this area. Good sense can also be called wisdom. I believe that wisdom comes from knowing God. David said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Good sense is shown by everyone who follows God’s guiding principles.” (Psalm 111.10) Since Jesus said that peacemaker would be called the “sons of God” this certainly makes sense. David’s son, Solomon, also said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline… The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1.7, 9.10) I pray that I will not be among the ones that are “stubborn fools” when God calls us to account for our life’s actions. Cultivate wisdom and good sense. Read His Word daily.

George Tiller

Well, I am saddened at the death of Dr. Tiller. I do not think that vigilantism and violence are ever the answer. Christians are supposed to be followers of Christ and I can’t recall reading in the Bible anywhere that Jesus murdered someone because He disagreed with that person’s actions. In fact, I read the opposite. Jesus had compassion on those who struggled (and even reveled) in sin.  The person who shot Dr. Tiller did not act in the name of Jesus.  I am pro-life. That means more then being anti-abortion. I believe that abortion is murder and is wrong. I also believe that shooting someone is murder and is wrong.

Rightwing Extremism

Are you pro-life? Do you have anti-immigration views? Do you believe in (and teach) end-time prophecies? If you can answer yes to any of these questions you may be considered a “threat” by the United States government. Yes, the very same government that just took your 2008 tax return has issued a statement that warns law enforcement officials that “right-wing extremists” are a potential threat.

Not too much to worry about, right? After all you don’t interact with DHS very often. This report was issued to law enforcement agencies all across the nation. How these local and state agencies interpret this document is up to them. The report (as issued by DHS) says that right-wing extremism “may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as abortion or immigration or gender-identity issues.” It also says that many extremists are upset with and/or antagonistic toward the new administration.

The DHS report says factors which enhance the movement are opposition to things such as abortion and same-sex “marriage.” It also says “anti-government conspiracy theories and ‘end times’ prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.”

I find it interesting that I am hearing from a number of respected Christians that we should consider maintaining a 30 – 60 day supply of non-perishables for our family to live on in the event of a disaster. Respected Christian leaders are being given prophecies of disaster for parts of the United States and now the government issues this report. Nowhere does the report identify “Christians” by name, only by ideology.

View DHS report pdf format. The report is labeled “UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY” and intended for distribution to law enforcement organizations.

More than hurt feelings

WorldNetDaily reported on a US Supreme Court case that the mainstream media “failed to notice” regarding a group of lesbians that are suing the Boy Scouts of America because the Scout code calls for a member “to do [his] duty to God and [his] country … and to keep [himself] morally straight.”

If I have this right, they claim that they were offended that some Scouts were allowed to use certain public facilities in exchange for millions of dollars of improvements that the Scouts made. This group of offended lesbians had never even been to the facilities, was not involved with the Scouts and had not been exposed to the work.

Well, I’m sorry they were offended. I think I will start suing gay and lesbian groups. I am more than offended. I have actual physical distress every time I hear about things like Perez Hilton’s explosive vitriol against Miss California. I’m not getting any younger and these offensive attacks against innocent people who are simply standing up for what they believe makes me ill to my stomach, raises my heart rate and could cause serious damage. I believe that is a much stronger ground for litigation than having some hurt feelings.

Any legitimate lawyer or public interest law firm that would like to take this up for me? I’m sick and tired of the gay and lesbian community screaming their heads off about how straights and Christians are violating their rights when they are the ones who are doing all of the screaming and litigating and pressuring and scamming and hiding. (See news article links to back up this claim link1 link2 link3 link 4)

Bashing Carrie Prejean

Okay. Enough is enough. I have been as polite as possible in my previous posts, but now the line has been crossed.  In a recent news report I have discovered that a politician has actually made a death threat against Miss Prejean.  This is not just some guy off the street and it is totally unacceptable. I know that there are many homosexuals in the world who understand that not everyone shares their views. There are only a few (although the number seems to be growing) who are radical.

These few have forcefully pushed legislation through congress and pushed the courts to make laws that are in direct opposition to the stated will of the majority of the population. Time after time, when given a chance to vote, the public has rejected homosexual marriage so the radical gay movements have convinced the courts to take up what should be left to the voters. (Are we still a democracy?)

Now a homosexual British politician has said that he would kill Carrie Prejean. Excuse me! This is illegal even in England. It is not acceptable.  Perez Hilton has said some hateful things, but even he hasn’t crossed this line.

I think that all British citizens should be calling for, not only the resignation of Alan Duncan, but they should be demanding that he be prosecuted to the fullest extent of British law. I know that if a prominent so-called Christian had said that he would kill someone because of their belief that Christian would be in jail this very moment. (Actually a true follower of Christ would not call for a person’s death.)

Let the law stand just for both sides of the debate; otherwise it becomes a tool for injustice and discrimination.

Righteousness Needed No Defense

A recent story in the Persecution Blog caught my attention. Stacey Harp wrote about a Christian who knew where he stood and continued to stand there. It cost him three years in a communist prison. Even in prison he continued to spread the gospel.  (Reminds me of the apostle Paul.)

As I read this I thought about Christians in America. We love to complain about everything while sitting in our comfortable air-conditioned churches waiting for the lost to come to us. We have the freedom to preach the gospel without fear that we will get sent to jail. (Yes I know there are exceptions. They are exceptions, not the rule See the Persecution News page of my web site.) Christians in some countries are actually being killed because they are being Christians rather than just born-again to get to heaven believers. We have these freedoms and mostly we ignore them.

Preaching the gospel is not a job for pastors and clergy. It is the command of Jesus to ALL who would claim that they are following Him.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:15-18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:18-19) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)

This is what we are told to do by none other than Jesus Himself. First in our hometowns, counties and states, then to all of the world. It’s a shame that nations evangelized by American missionaries are now sending missionaries to America. Not for training, but to win the lost because America has become a field ripe for harvest, but there are no willing workers.

My point is that we need to remember the example of Miss California who, despite knowing that she would lose the crown, had her eyes on a better crown. Knowing that she would be reviled here, she knew that righteousness needs no defense. The time has arrived when it is not popular to be a Christian. If you stand firm on Biblical principles you will be ridiculed and mocked. Remember that brothers and sisters in other countries stand at the risk of their lives. If we fail to stand now our nation may be the next to have martyrs listed in the Persecution Blog.