Are You a Phony Christian?

“If one claims to be a Christian,

the evidence will be demonstrated through loving his neighbor.”

Once while traveling internationally a young woman caught my eye in the airport. She was with an older man, who did not seem to be her husband or father. Her face looked filled with despair. Something was not right. I prayed, wondering if she was in some type of danger. As the couple was getting their luggage, the man stepped away, leaving the woman sitting alone. I felt compelled to do something, so I asked a young woman in our group to come with me. Together we went to the woman while the man was gone. I introduced ourselves and shared, “I saw you sitting there and wanted to let you know, I’m praying for you. If you need help with anything, let me know.” Then soon afterward the man came back, and the two left the airport. (Photo by Pexels from Pixabay.)

Despite some minimal risk, why did I do that? Because my walk with God urged me to. Jesus once said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) The Golden Rule is based on this, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” (Matt. 7:12)

What I was practicing was basic Christianity. If one claims to be a Christian, the evidence will be demonstrated through loving his neighbor. The Scripture declare, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21) If one says their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life but treats some people unjustly, or deliberately turns away from helping the needs of others, their profession of faith is a lie.

How so? Because God has made all people in His image. Therefore, how we treat others is how we treat Him. So if we say we love Jesus but mistreat someone who is made in His image - we are liars.

Jesus once spoke about a future judgement all humanity will face before Him. And He predicted that He would say to some, “…as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt. 25:40)

What does love for others look like? It is forgiving someone despite the horrible things they did, and their refusal to admit wrongdoing. It is one man treating another man with dignity although they are a different race or ethnicity. It is a husband laying down his own wants and needs in sacrificial love for his wife, and she doing the same for him. It is visiting the widow, providing a home to the orphan, caring for the sick. It is defending the weak and being a voice for the voiceless.

Do you talk of yourself being a Christian? Do you share how you prayed to receive Christ. Yet, you curse at your wife. You deceive others when it is to your advantage. You say evil things of other church members. You deliberately remain silent in the face of another’s injustice. You spend your earnings on your own wants and needs, refusing to help the needy. If this is you, then your profession of faith is nothing more than that – a profession.    

Before Jesus ever said to love our neighbor, He said this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37-38) How can you learn to love, as God wants you to? Simple. By loving Him. When you love God with all your being, He will then transform your heart through the death and resurrection of Christ. You will then be able to love others by the power of God and for the glory of God.

A prayer for you – Lord God, help us to love our neighbors, as we love ourselves. Help us to love those who are hard to love. Bring us to put the needs of others above our own. Change our hearts to do for us, what we cannot do for ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

A Deal with The Devil

“Taking drugs is a deal with the devil and he wins every time.”

According to a global report on illicit drug use, the United States has the highest death rate from drugs in the world. When I sat down to ask some law enforcement what the greatest problem was in their area, guess what they told me? “Drugs!” Across America and worldwide drug use is destroying lives. Cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, heroin, opioids, methamphetamine are just a few of the drugs of choice for many, along with alcohol, nicotine and others. Since the beginning, the human race has continually battled with drugs.

In the Bible, there is a shocking account about a father and his two daughters that captures the influence drugs have had on humanity for thousands of years.

The family fled from their home just before their town was suddenly destroyed by fire in an unusual supernatural event. The father (Lot) had lost everything but his two adult daughters. And their new home they escaped to was a lonely dark cave. No doubt they were all discouraged, grief-stricken, overwhelmed, and unsure what the next steps were. Though they were a religious family, there is no account of them taking their questions to God, lifting their burdens before Him or seeking His counsel for where to go or what to do. They appeared to be relying on their own wisdom.

Eventually, Lot’s daughters felt desperate to have children and reasoned between themselves that there was no option for them outside of their father. They conspired to have a one-time incestual relationship with him, and do so with the help of alcohol. For the sisters said, “…let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” (Genesis 19:32) Lot was unaware of his daughters’ plans, but knew he was drinking alcohol and refused to stop. When he became drunk, one daughter laid down with him. After Lot woke up from his hangover, he did not remember anything. The next night the same thing happened with the other daughter. Lot never realized the implications of his drinking until he learned that both his daughters were pregnant.

The sisters wanted something for themselves, and rationalized the need to drug their dad to get it. As for Lot, rather than going to God in the face of discouragement, he became deceived by alcohol and lost his moral compass at a great cost.

No matter the drug, why do people do it? Because they believe the lie. The lie that has been continually sold to humans for thousands of years. That drugs can help them escape and get relief from whatever overwhelming situation they are facing. Drugs and their pushers offer grand promises using demonic lies. “Take this for the pain.” “This will help you have a good time.” “It will calm you down.” And the users believe the promises, treating them like a god, as if they have the power to give them what they are searching for. These false gods have a high price though. They can take your money, family, job, possessions, reputation and perhaps even your very life and eternal soul. Taking drugs is a deal with the devil and he wins every time.

What is the answer? Freedom through Jesus Christ.

Jesus died and rose again to defeat the power of sin, so that men and women might be set free from its strangle hold. Many are like powerless slaves to drugs, following them like a sheep to slaughter. But the cross of Jesus came to break people free from its chains. Turn from your drugs. Get ride of them today! Flush them down the toilet. Burn them up. Leave them behind and run to Jesus! Freedom is waiting for you!

A prayer for you. Lord God, I pray for the drug pushers and users. Open their eyes to the lies they are believing. Let them see what their drugs are taking from them. Let them no longer be deceived. Draw them to you. Help them to see the cross, call out to you and be gloriously set free! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Surviving A World in Crisis

“Jesus knew times of crisis would come upon our world, so in a spirit of wisdom He sought to prepare people for what was ahead.”

Hardly a week goes by without some national or worldwide crisis leading the news headlines. And too often fear and anxiousness grip our hearts as we watch the news or are directly affected by the events ourselves.

Near the end of Jesus’ ministry, His disciples asked some questions about the future. In response, Jesus spoke of troubling conditions that would descend upon the world. However, He wove into His message words of assurance, saying, “See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6)

Jesus’ prediction of the future included disturbing events like wars, famines, persecution, increased crime, disease, natural disasters, as well as the degradation of the hearts of men and women, becoming more calloused and ruthless toward one another.

Jesus knew times like these would cause people to be greatly disturbed, to the point of being captured by worry and fear. Therefore, in a spirit of wisdom He sought to prepare them for what was coming. He also knew that when future events unfold, it will appear chaotic, giving the appearance that evil is triumphing, while God is seemingly nowhere to be found. His teachings were to assure people that God is present and in charge, so their hearts can abound with peace. For Jesus not only predicted what will be taking place, but that He will be working in the midst of it all to achieve His purposes.

We live in a chaotic world where sometimes there is the sense of organized chaos, where godless influencers plot evil together at national and international levels. Daily the truth is attacked and lies rewarded. Immorality is glorified. Wars and rumors of wars persist. It is easy to be disturbed at all we see and wonder where the world is headed, becoming worried for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. Jesus knows the evil one will take advantage of such times. He will attempt to deceive people in the church, within families and throughout society. Jesus keenly understood this was a spiritual battle between good and evil. For the Scripture says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

He told His disciples how the light of the gospel will bring hope into the world in such times and push back against the forces of darkness. He taught how the good news will be proclaimed throughout all the earth and rescue the souls of men and women who are enslaved by the deceptive promises of their generation.

The disciples were told they will need to endure to the end, during this time of global trial. He did not say they will escape from it but will need to persevere through it. And how could they do that when the pressure will be so immense? The Scripture says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) They will do it, not in their strength, but through the power of their resurrected Lord.

Let us not be filled with alarm at the troubling events swarming around us. Rather, read God’s Word and see how times like these were predicted to come. Respond by being vigilant to protect yourself from deception. Pray at all times. Take up the gospel and share it with someone who is trapped in sin. Love one another. Do not be anxious. Flee from immorality. Persevere. Keep pressing forward. And lastly, be filled with optimism and hope, by placing your full faith in Jesus, who is the King of kings and overseeing it all.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray that people will not be alarmed when seeing what is happening in the world. Instead, bring them to turn from fear and worry and place their trust in you alone. Lift their eyes above the chaos to see you high and lifted up above it all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Should Pastors Speak on Social Issues?

“When we choose silence because of fear, apathy or busyness, we unknowingly become a partner in the advancement of evil.”

Abortion. Homosexuality. Gay marriage. Transgenderism. Sex before marriage. Regardless of one’s position on these, they are all hot topics and often labeled as social, cultural or political issues.

What is the role of the church with these, and should pastors address them? Some respond by telling church leaders to “stay out of politics and keep their eyes on Jesus,” or “Keep the main thing, the main thing,” while others strongly advise “Do not get sidetracked from the gospel.”

Many church leaders are affected by these deep sentiments. According to one religious study, over 50% of pastors surveyed admitted they were hesitant to speak on moral issues, because of how it may offend some in their congregation.

Cleary, this is a very complex and sensitive topic. So where do we go for guidance? The Bible. And specifically, John the Baptist.

John lived in Israel during the rule of King Herod, who was appointed to that role by the occupying Roman Empire. When John began his ministry, he quickly became the most influential religious figure throughout Israel. His phenomenal ministry rocketed upward. Herod had taken interest in John’s rising popularity, and conversely, John had taken notice of Herod’s immoral choices. In particular, John was deeply troubled by Herod’s recent marriage. For John boldly stepped into a cultural issue and took on adultery, divorce and remarriage, in the personal life of King Herod.

When Herod was previously married, he went to visit his brother and had an affair with his sister-in-law (who was also his niece). Consequently, she divorced his brother and Herod’s wife divorced him. Then Herod and his sister-in-law married, and none of this was done in secret. The whole nation, including all the religious leaders, knew what happened. Yet, because Herod was a ruthless leader -- punishing, even killing, anyone who opposed him; no one spoke up. That is, except for one man. John.

On occasions, as John preached to the people of the nation, he addressed Herod’s moral failure. He pointed out how it was lawless, having violated God’s standard. Herod and his wife became aware of the influential preacher publicly condemning their immoral behavior. This especially angered Herod’s wife, which led her to conspire for John’s eventual arrest, imprisonment and execution.

Why did John speak up when he could have kept silent? Because he had to. He was driven by God and His Word, which denounced what Herod did. John knew that unless Herod submitted to God’s ways, he would come under divine judgment. He addressed the issue out of love for God, love for Herod and love of the people of his nation, who were influenced by the King. John felt he had no choice but to speak up. The Word of God burned in his bones with great conviction.

However, when he addressed the issue, he understood the potential consequences. John was aware of Herod’s brutality, but even so, he knew he had to do what was right. John understood he was ultimately accountable to only One. And what did his Lord say about him? Jesus said, “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” (Luke 7:28)

The Scripture says, “…try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:10-11) This is exactly what John did. Whether you are a pastor or parent, young or old, you must not be silent in the face of sin. When we choose silence because of fear, apathy or busyness, we unknowingly become a partner in the advancement of evil. Let us never be guilty of such a thing! With wisdom, love and humility, courageously speak up. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus, John the Baptist and other great Christian leaders in church history. Dare to be different. Do what is right, not what is safe and comfortable.

A prayer for you - Lord God, raise up men and women like John the Baptist, people that have your Word burning in their bones. Bring them to speak your truth no matter the consequences. Let them speak for an audience of one and for the love of their neighbor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.