Believer vs. Non-Believer

Greetings this Monday. I am going to try to be more efficient at making my weekly posts. This past week has been a blessing. Our scripture reading was Ephesians 6:10-17. Yes, we have read this scripture before but this sermon was on a different note. The battle between "non-religious" people and Christians is heating up. We have to defend our faith and we have been given the tools to do so. Here is a short summary as to what was discussed. Many people do not believe in or understand the truth of God. Why? “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Rom. 3:23). Romans 1:28-31 tells us why they think the way they do. He gave them over to a "depraved mind", they are evil, greedy, depraved, envious, murderous, cause strife, deceitful, malicious, gossipers, slanders, God haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Sound like anyone you know or have come across? The typical view of a non-believer is that we are "ignorant, stupid, or brainwashed". Most non-believers have no personal reason to disagree, they assume what they have heard must be true.
The Battle: Our Flesh, not living in the Spirit. This is ammunition for the enemy. “So-called Christians”, because they say they are a Christian, doesn’t mean they are (Mat. 7:16). Actions speak louder than words, we need to ACT like Christians. Be kind, compassionate, and humble. Discuss don’t argue. Be accurate, don’t “make things up”. Knowledge is a weapon when we let God direct our conversations.
Our Defense: Knowledge in His Word. Live according to His Word (Mat. 5:16),“let your light shine before men”. Arm yourself with knowledge of His Word and the world around us (Eph. 6:10-17 & 1Pet. 3:15). Always be prepared, “with gentleness and respect”. No one will believe anything they don’t want to (Luk 12:54-56) This is true for both believers and non-believers.. Anti-Christians are some of the least tolerant types around. We choose whether or not to believe. When you believe, use Kindness, Compassion, Humility, be Christ Like. Discuss, Debate or Debunk “Accurately”.
Most atheists read the Bible from front to back looking for ammunition to throw at us. Have you read it front to back? Our only Offensive weapon in our defense is God's Word. Read the arguments of the secular world, search for answers. Politely, with kindness, compassion, and humility point out their flaws. Knowledge is a powerful weapon, it is invincible when we let Christ direct us on how to use it.

The Importance Of Family

Greetings. Sorry for the late post but I'm still in Vacation Mode. We had a wonderful trip to D.C. as we attended "Rolling Thunder". Back home now, and almost a week after Sunday's service, I am making this post. Our scripture reading was a short one, Genesis 1:28. From one verse, we can see, that from the beginning God wanted us to be a family. Throughout scripture we see reference to family, both in the physical sense, and in the Theological sense. Man and woman would marry, become one flesh (Gen. 2:24), have children, and become a family. This is the building block for human society. What should a family be like? We are to look after one another. We see our first example of this in Genesis 4:9 when God asks Cain "Where is your brother Abel?". Cain's response, "I don't know, Am I my brother's keeper?". The implication here is YES. We are to look after one another. Our Western civilization has strayed from "family" and gravitated toward "individualism". Unlike the Middle East and even more so, the Far East. The Bible has a communal sense of people and family. When God saved Noah from the flood it wasn't an individual salvation, it was his family that was spared (Gen. 6:18). When God called Abraham out of Haran, He called him and his family (Gen. 12:4-5). God's covenant with Abraham (circumcision) was to be applied to every male in the house (Gen. 17:12-13). One of the ten commandments preserve the authority of parents (Exd. 20:12), and another protects the sanctity of marriage (Exd. 20:14). The sense of family was not limited to the old testament. Jesus spoke of divorce and the sanctity of marriage in Matthew 19:1-12. Paul explains what a Christian family should be like in (Eph. 6:1-4 & Col. 3:20-21). We are to obey our parents, honor them, and our parents are not to exasperate their children. In the theological sense there is a misconception in Matthew 12:46-50. Many will tell you that Jesus thought that the biological family was not important. Wrong... Jesus was making a clear theological point. The Kingdom of Heaven, is the most important family connection, the spiritual connection not the physical. More scriptures concerning this are (Jn. 1:12-13, Rom. 8:15, & Gal. 3:26-29). Our spiritual family, not the physical. One created by God through Jesus Christ. A family from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Rev. 7:9). The defining characteristic of this wonderful family, "Our Love for one another." (Jn. 13:34-35). If you have Jesus Christ in your heart you have the best family God has to offer. Next week we will be taking about our expectations. Till then, God Bless and have a wonderful week.