This week’s advice is going to be short and to the point.
This week’s advice is simply this: “take care of your own and mind your own affairs” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). There are way too many people nosing into the affairs of others, knowing all the details about the affairs of others and not a ounce of their own responsibilities. A lot of people go to church every Sunday and listen to sermons made of junk. The preacher talks about Democrats and Republicans, how to fix the school system, the holidays, talent shows, money, etc.
Such might be alright in other circles, but it is not alright when it comes from the pulpit. The sermon is to be a message from God’s word (2 Timothy 4:2, 3:14-17). The Bible is filled with information designed to save man’s soul and to educate on the history of God’s dealings with man (1 Tim. 4:16). This is what people ought to be listening to (Jeremiah 23:22; Ezekiel 44:23). But that doesn’t happen because many preachers don’t know the Bible, and their congregations also don’t know the Bible, and they are just playing church. This is a tragic example of the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:13-14; Isaiah 9:16). When a person listens to a sermon, they should hear the preacher encouraging everyone to pick up their Bibles and follow him—not sit in their seats and just accept what he claims, but the listeners should see and read what he is saying from the Bible itself (Acts 17:11). Many church people have never heard of the phrase, “book, chapter and verse.” Or the phrase, “speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. To do things in bible ways and call things by bible names” (1 Peter 4:11; 2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:8-9). Ask yourself this question: Have I been listening to a sermon or a guy just talking? Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. By now we all have heard of the couple who shot and killed 14 people in San Bernadino and wounded others as well. These two decided to kill anyone who doesn’t share their position on Islam because, according to them, such is the fate of unbelievers. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the message saints carry into the world with the hope of saving souls (Romans 1:15-16; 1 Corinthians 1:20-31, 9:16; 2 Cor. 2:12; 2 Timothy 1:8-11).
There are many who don’t accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:17; Galatians 1:6-7). When that happens, our next move isn’t murdering them, but leaving them alone and taking the gospel to someone else who will appreciate it (Acts 19:8-10, 18:5-11; Matthew 15:13-14, 10:11-15). Christians don’t have the right to declare war on the whole world if the message of Jesus Christ is rejected by man. Instead, allow the day of Judgment to deal with those who reject the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; John 12:48; Matt. 13:24-30; Jude 14-16; 2 Cor. 5:10). So shooting up a place or blowing up a place, is murder and it is to be condemned (Matt. 5:21). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. By now we all have heard of the guy who shot up the planned family center in Colorado. This man decided to kill those who didn’t share his position on abortion and for that reason he is wrong (Matthew 5:21).
No matter what one believes, that doesn’t create the right to kill those who don’t agree. This church doesn’t endorse abortion because we see that the word of God teaches that life begins at conception (Jeremiah 1:4-5). So we would never murder an infant in the womb or a person who is pro choice (Roman 13:9). But we will teach what the word of God reveals and allow the listener to either accept or reject it. Because at the end of time all will answer for their attitude toward God (John 12:47-48). |