MINISTRY NOTES

Hi Everyone,

500 years ago this week a man was born, who became a major theologian and had influence on many Christian denominations. When I was in school 20 years ago, I used to quote him in papers from his famous multi volume work, where he wrote, "I know it is not in the Bible, but it seems good to me that …". Then I would write how we need to follow God and Jesus' teachings and not what "seems good" to us. Had I lived 500 years earlier I might have had to experience his method of dealing with people that disagreed with him, which was burning them at the stake. Today we live in a country with more freedom of speech. The nonbelievers and nominal Christians are not as dangerous as the "Christians" and the ardent followers of false religions. Jesus tells us in John 16:2 that people will kill you, thinking they are "serving God". We need to reexamine all Christian teachings and doctrines and only follow those that line up with what God and Jesus teach.

Message Notes:

People have varying thoughts about telling the truth, but most people would be horrified if someone told children it is safe to take candy from a stranger or if someone told an elderly woman who lives alone that it is okay hire a handyman who knocks on her door as long as he says he is offering a senior discount. A common practice in our country is when someone dies, to imply they are going to heaven. We hear statements like "he went home to Jesus" or "she is in a better place now" or "God took her home", etc. Many may say they are telling the truth because they have beliefs that reflect what they are saying. When you make a statement like that, you are making a judgment call and Jesus said that God gave Him the authority to judge1. To assume an attribute that is distinct to Jesus or God is risky behavior. Many, many years ago, there was a person who was very faithful in church attendance and talked like a real solid Christian. A few years after I lost contact with that person, I saw the persons name listed in the city that the person lived, as a registered sex offender. Yes, when I saw that, many other details I knew about the person fell into place.

Jesus states, "Don't judge other people…"2. Judging can be both good and bad. Jesus also tells us that most people are going to hell3 and when we suggest anything different we are lying in a way that can have more serious repercussions than telling a kid it is ok to take candy from a stranger. It would be better if every person reading this went to heaven. Yes, we just celebrated our freedom last weekend and part of that is freedom of speech. Even with this freedom, there are penalties for lying in some instances. A more serious concern than our earthly governments is that God ranks lying as worthy of the most serious punishment4. It is wonderful to have a memorial service when someone dies and remember all the good they did in their life but be careful about getting carried away and making judgment calls about where they will spend eternity. What is required to go to heaven? Jesus makes it very clear that the main requirement is obedience to God5. Obviously, that statement leads to many things. A good place to start obeying God is to read what He says to do in the Bible, including what He told Jesus to say and do6. A word of caution, be careful because people have made up teachings and doctrines that try to encourage you to read the Bible to fit their doctrines.

Just simply read and believe it the way it was written.

1. John 5:26-27

2. Matthew 7:1 (ICB)

3. Matthew 7:13-14

4. Revelations 21:8

5. Matthew 7:21

6. John 12:49; 14:31