COEXIST

Coexist

A popular bumper sticker reflects a growing trend for religious and social tolerance combining symbols of Islam, Judaism and Christianity with variations suggesting tolerance of paganism, sexual equality, Eastern religions and homosexuality. COEXIST has become a mantra of equality for all systems of belief and the acceptance of any lifestyle. The meaning of “coexist” is to live in harmony with or alongside of others disregarding differences in the basic tenets of faith and any condemnation of a sexual preference. Is it possible to ‘coexist’ with other faiths based upon the teachings of Islam, Judaism, Christianity or other Eastern religions? At least one of these systems of faith denies the possibility of coexisting in harmony without regard to differences in faith.

Jesus Christ taught His disciples in John 14:6-7, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” The Son of God taught the only way to God is through Him. Christ Jesus affirmed the only truth that would save a man was Himself. Jesus denies eternal life to anyone apart from Him. In a very clear and demonstrative manner the Lord Jesus Christ removed all other avenues to the Father except through Him. Just on face value the reader of John’s gospel will realize that Jesus removes the possibility of being saved by Mohammed or Islam and to a Jewish audience foretells the removal of Moses and the Law as a means of salvation.

The foundation of Jesus’ teaching was to prove that He (and only He) was the true Son of God. Later the apostle John writes, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). The signs and wonders performed by Jesus prove that He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Mohammed cannot claim this, nor Moses, Buddha, Confucius, the Pope or Joseph Smith. The Bible teaches the impossibility of coexisting in accepting all faiths as valid. Paul the apostle affirmed to the pagans of Athens there was only one God and “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). The “Man” Paul spoke of was only Jesus Christ.

Is it possible to “coexist” with homosexuality as an accepted lifestyle? For the believer of Jesus Christ this is an impossibility as the Lord condemned sexual immorality from the beginning of time (Romans 1:18-32). Other systems of faith and churches can embrace homosexuality and attempt to paint a picture of acceptance but this does not change the mind of God who in love condemns those who serve their own vile passions and deny the knowledge of God.

COEXIST is a fraud attempting to dissuade the minds of people to accept anything based upon the personal belief of man. This error leads to a false religion of hope where everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).  Jehovah God said, “You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you” (Psalms 50:21).

The Kingdom Of God Is Poverty

The Kingdom Of God Is Poverty 

No man seeks to be poor. Sustaining life is a constant challenge man has faced since creation. Through blessings and circumstances, many have reached great levels of comfort and wealth while others continually struggle with maintaining the basic needs. Man never desires poverty. Jesus uses the idea of poverty to declare the nature of His kingdom. To the multitude gathered on the mountain He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The kind of poverty used by Jesus does not suggest one who is so poor he must struggle to exist but rather the poverty that declares a dependency upon others for support. The kingdom of God is about man having reliance upon the Creator.

Wealth has a way of making man believe more in himself than in God. This wealth can come from the material gain or from ones on pride. Regardless, to be part of the kingdom of God, man must empty himself and depend upon God for everything. To be “poor in spirit” requires the emptying of self for the acceptance of the Father. Later in the sermon on the mount, Jesus exhorts the multitude to lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), serve only God (Matthew 6:24) and learn poverty of spirit by giving the heart solely to seeking the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:25-34).

To be poor in spirit is to have the heart of a child. Matthew 18:1-4 records, “The disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” Children understand the nature of spiritual poverty. They have hearts pure and innocent that depends upon others to take care of their needs. When we enter the kingdom of God, we are to empty our hearts of our pride and dependence of self to a willingness to accept the will of God in every way.

Those who submit themselves to the Father characterize the kingdom of God. Paul reminded the church at Corinth, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). The church is not about the wisdom of man. The kingdom of God will not be for the glory of man. God has always required those who follow Him to submit their wills completely to Him and to Him alone. Poverty of spirit recognizes that without God, nothing can be done in life.

To be “poor in spirit” is to know that by God’s grace we have the blessings of this world. Whether great or small, all that we have is dependant upon God. Our hearts are not lifted up in pride but filled with the humility of trust we have in God. Paul writes of his own poverty: “Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13). His poverty of spirit allowed him to sing in prison (Acts 16:25), declare righteousness and truth before kings (Acts 26) and have confidence in the crown of life that awaited him in death (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Our thanksgiving should abound for the blessings we enjoy. The opportunity to labor with our hands, enjoy a portion of health, find comfort in our homes and look to a bright future can only be measured by the poverty of spirit we find in the kingdom of God. The wise man said, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). May God enrich our lives with poverty of spirit. “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).

Keep Advancing

Keep Advancing 

Augustine wrote, “If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.” For the child of God growth is a constant pattern of life. As in the physical life, the body is designed to grow year by year from infancy to adulthood. When the body is sick and ill the body will not grow in proportion to its design. A lack of growth will bring about early death. So in the spiritual world the need for growth is a manifest desire to live each day growing in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Jesus told Nicodemus entrance into the kingdom of God is likened to a birth. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). As a newborn baby we enter the spiritual world of God’s family through the water and the spirit (John 3:5-6; Romans 6:3-4). Peter used this illustration to exhort the pilgrims in 1 Peter 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3). Newborn babies long for sustenance to fill their needs of hunger. As newborn children of God we should always have the yearning desire for the “milk of the word” so that we can grow up in Christ (Ephesians 4:15). The reason we stop growing is because we have lost our taste for the Lord. We must guard against this disease.

Growth is a process that takes time and effort. We continue to seek avenues to learn more about the Lord and His will. Paul reminded the Philippians that growth is pressing on and reaching for a higher calling (Philippians 3:12-16). Can we ever be pleased with where we find ourselves in our faith? If we decide we know all we need to know about the will of God we begin to die.

The other important part of this growth process is leaving the milk for ‘meatier’ matters. The Jewish Christians of the New Testament had a great struggle in their faith. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). A time comes in the life of God’s people to move beyond the first principles and seek a higher plane of learning. This does not suggest a scholarly approach to the word of God but a clearer meaning of the will of God.

Paul reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) and our faith will be dependent upon our growth in the word of God. Knowledge is power and the knowledge of the word of God will empower us to grow beyond our struggles to trust in the Lord and follow His guidance. It is written of Jesus that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). If Jesus is put forth as an example of growth then we must realize the need for our own growth. Keep advancing: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you” (Philippians 3:14-15).

Speak Out! How Much? by Paul R. Blake

Speak Out! How Much?

By Paul R. Blake

             To what extent do I need to be vocal about an issue? I am not certain that question can be answered in a single article or even a single book. There are so many variables involved. Is the issue spiritual or social? Is it an authorized matter or an individual scruple? Does it impact multitudes or just me? Do I have enough information, resources, and wisdom to handle the matter in a way that pleases God and influences others for good? But in spite of all of these factors, it is possible to offer a reasonable, responsible, right-minded answer to the question.

            I hear this question even more frequently of late. With the advent of the Internet, it became possible for everyone with access to a computer to become a global advocate for their favorite cause. This increased exponentially with the development of social media. Not only is the issue promoted, but the identity of the person speaking out on the issue is permanently attached to the advocacy. In view of this, it is even more important that Christians are careful to avoid speaking out in such a manner as to harm their influence for the Lord or cross the line of good taste.

            It has become quite fashionable for Christians to use the social media to express views about which they are passionate. There is nothing wrong with that per se; however, passion can move one to say more than he should or to say it in such a way that he shouldn’t. It is just as important to weigh our words when we post as it is when speaking face to face with another person, perhaps even more so as many more people will potentially see the post than will hear your voice.

            Just because it is acceptable for Christians to speak out on serious issues doesn’t necessarily mean that we all should. A young sister recently asked, “Am I a poor Christian if I do not post my views on social media? How much is too much or not enough?” Apparently, there is some pressure to post on every issue simply because so many others are doing it. If the standard is such that all good Christians post their views on contemporary issues on the social media, then I am at risk of being labeled a poor Christian. I waste precious little time reading the “forwards” or visiting the links sent to me in emails by friends and fellow Christians, and I certainly do NOT forward them to others. I do not use my Facebook page to promote a cause, and I do not visit the pages of those who do. I use it to keep up with friends. And that doesn’t make me a weak or fearful Christian.

            If there are posting Christians treating non-posting Christians as weaker brethren because they are not speaking out on Facebook on the flavor-of-the-month issue or the latest political cause, then I will liken them to the Pharisees who judged Jesus’ disciples for not doing the ritual washings (Mark 7:1-4). There are other means of standing up for truth and right, and it is not mandated in scripture that one must use the social media to do so.

            While we are on the subject, I have noticed some misuse of the social media by some professed Christians. As I read the Bible, I note that railing (reviling) is still a sin. “Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1Peter 3:9). “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). And a few of the messages I have read taste like railing. I have read posts that are best described as dishonest, at the very least deliberately uninformed. Many of them are exaggerated, speculative, or filled with flawed and paranoid reasoning.

            Is the current Presidential administration misguided? Without doubt, much of this leadership has seriously damaged the overall moral atmosphere, the economic stability, and international influence of this great nation. Can a Christian say this? Not only is it acceptable to say this, but we had better be praying about it. But posting that the President is not a citizen? Dishonest. Posting that he is a closet communist? Exaggeration. Posting that he has plans to make Islam the official religion of the USA? Ignorance. Do not say more than what is true and proven.

            When people post recycled paranoid mongering, they discredit well informed and respectable conservative messages and damage the overall cause of the moral right. But when Christians post those kind of messages, they hurt more than social efforts; they hurt the name of Christ that they wear, and damage the work of the church as the pillar and ground of truth.

            Guard your words carefully; do not repeat the words of fools; speak words that build up, not tear down. Remember, you will change this world more profoundly with the Gospel than you will with the social protest.

            “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Prov. 29:20) “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).