...And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “ It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Mark 2:17
A couple days before I started working with college students I asked God to give me a few guys I could get fired up to really know Jesus and have a strong passion to get out there and spread the Gospel. Not long after God answered that prayer and I met a bunch of them who wanted to have a weekly Bible study. However over the next week or so I started to notice a lot of issues that I didn't like. Some of them had some spiritual ideas that were just odd and not at all Biblical. Some of them had no people skills or self confidence. Some just didn't strike me as being dedicated. So I started to doubt I had the right group and asked God if there was another set of people he had for me to focus on, after all this couldn't be it right? So I prayed about it and God said to me...
"Jim, this is who I've given you to work with."
So I worked with them. They started to grow in faith and maturity. But before I saw a lot of major results It took longer than a few hours. It didn't even take weeks or months but rather it took years!
Going back about six years ago when I was still in Iraq. I remember rushing over to the combat support hospital to see some people I knew who just got blown up by a car bomb. If you have ever been inside a combat support hospital you know what I mean when I say it looks a bit like a butcher shop for humans. There were guys with shrapnel in their eyes and face. Guys with third degree burns all over their bodies. Guys with there insides on the outside. Now just imagine for a second that the medics in this place had prayed something like "Lord these casualties are just too much for me and this couldn't possible be who you want me to work with. Could I leave this place right now to go treat people with head aches and sore throats instead?"
When Matthew 9:36 says, "Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." It means Jesus saw a spiritual battlefield full of people who were going to die and go to hell without being treated by receiving eternal life through him. He saw people whose lives had been torn apart by satan and needed help!
In Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20 when Jesus says "makes disciples" and "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" he really meant to get waist deep down in the crap and get your hands dirty.
There is no rock star status in doing the Lords work.
If you are looking for people who are already "up to standard" you are missing the point and really you may just be coping out of doing the Lords work. If you want God to use you to change the world then focus on where the change is needed. Ministry is not about taking already perfect people and transferring them from one Bible study to another or from one church to another but rather bringing life and hope to the dead.
Do you dislike where God has you? Pray about it. God may want to keep you there for a while!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
"Who is this in the picture?"
This last weekend my friend Fernando showed some of his art work he has done while working on his art degree at Manchester Community college. Its always great to fellowship with him because Fernando is not only very talented but he also loves the Lord.
He did this one picture of Jesus' face on pieces of cardboard which his teacher liked so much that it was entered into several different art shows. At each art show one thing Fernando tells me people kept asking him was "Who is this in the picture?" Which led to many chances for my friend to tell people about the Lord!
What a great way to use his talents to bring glory to God.
Awesome!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Living water.
"Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”" -John 7:37-38
Earlier this month I spent a week with my father and my friend Isaiah hiking and camping at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. It was a great time of enjoying the beautiful stuff that God created.
On the last day when we were hiking down from the mountain about a mile from the bottom we passed a large group of people none of who had any water with them. They had only been hiking up the mountain for only a mile and already they looked worn out and faint. I would be surprised if they made it to the top without anyone passing out if they made it at all to the top of this large mountain. If by some chance they did made it to the top and back with no water they would have been sick for days with the worst of all smashing head aches. But worst of all with out proper hydration you can die!
When Jesus talks about this living water he is referring to his spirit which gives us eternal life. We just can't make it without it. If we don't go to Jesus to drink we will eventually dry up and suffer an eternal spiritual death. Jesus said "...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
Don't neglect so great a well of eternal life!
Earlier this month I spent a week with my father and my friend Isaiah hiking and camping at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. It was a great time of enjoying the beautiful stuff that God created.
On the last day when we were hiking down from the mountain about a mile from the bottom we passed a large group of people none of who had any water with them. They had only been hiking up the mountain for only a mile and already they looked worn out and faint. I would be surprised if they made it to the top without anyone passing out if they made it at all to the top of this large mountain. If by some chance they did made it to the top and back with no water they would have been sick for days with the worst of all smashing head aches. But worst of all with out proper hydration you can die!
When Jesus talks about this living water he is referring to his spirit which gives us eternal life. We just can't make it without it. If we don't go to Jesus to drink we will eventually dry up and suffer an eternal spiritual death. Jesus said "...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
Don't neglect so great a well of eternal life!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What we need the most.
I was at the Christian book store not too long ago and decided to take a look at some of the newer discipleship Bible studies that have been coming out. As I flipped through the pages I noticed lots of quotes by various Christian musicians or motivational speakers but hardly any Bible verses at all. Have we come to the point that the trend is too put more focus on Christian culture rather than the word of God itself?
I've been to Bible studies where people sat around a table having all a Bible of their own present but never opening it. The discussion would go as "What do you think of this idea or that situation..." But never going to Gods word to see what the Lord had to say about the subject. Each time I quoted or read a scripture their eyes bugged out with shock. Not that they were angry or upset but they seemed as if they never thought to just open the Bible and read from it. Don't bring your Bible to something just for the sake of having it with you but use it!
...OK so maybe you and some friends want to have a Bible study and just don't know where to go in scriptures or how to do it. Well just pick any book of the Bible start at chapter 1 verse 1 and read though as a group. Every few verses stop and ask the questions as a group, What did we just read? What does this say about God? What does this mean to us? You do not have to be an expert on the Bible. Anyone can do this!
Through years of reading the Bible I've come more and more to the conclusion that the thing we need more than anything else is Gods word. Any other book you can pick up is really for the most part just someone Else's opinion on the matter. I'm not saying there are not any good opinions or books on the Bible but if you are not going to the Word of God itself first for your foundation before anything else be weary! You may be thinking something like "Oh but I feel edified and built up already from the Christian music or speakers I listen too. Surely they are enough..."
Let me ask are you married? Than why not just let someone else always tell you about the things your spouse says instead of ever listening to what they say directly? If they are actually important to you this should sound ridiculous! Lets apply the same logic to opening up the Bible in order to sit at the feet of Jesus himself and listen to him directly. In the church these we have two things, Gods word and spiritual ideas. At the end of Matthew chapter 7 in the sermon on the mount Jesus said it was the house built on his word that stood. Everything else just crumbled away. What is your foundation?
Don't let your walk with Christ become some thing were its the coolest fad to know about and talk about the Bible without actually ever knowing or using the Bible.
I've been to Bible studies where people sat around a table having all a Bible of their own present but never opening it. The discussion would go as "What do you think of this idea or that situation..." But never going to Gods word to see what the Lord had to say about the subject. Each time I quoted or read a scripture their eyes bugged out with shock. Not that they were angry or upset but they seemed as if they never thought to just open the Bible and read from it. Don't bring your Bible to something just for the sake of having it with you but use it!
...OK so maybe you and some friends want to have a Bible study and just don't know where to go in scriptures or how to do it. Well just pick any book of the Bible start at chapter 1 verse 1 and read though as a group. Every few verses stop and ask the questions as a group, What did we just read? What does this say about God? What does this mean to us? You do not have to be an expert on the Bible. Anyone can do this!
Through years of reading the Bible I've come more and more to the conclusion that the thing we need more than anything else is Gods word. Any other book you can pick up is really for the most part just someone Else's opinion on the matter. I'm not saying there are not any good opinions or books on the Bible but if you are not going to the Word of God itself first for your foundation before anything else be weary! You may be thinking something like "Oh but I feel edified and built up already from the Christian music or speakers I listen too. Surely they are enough..."
Let me ask are you married? Than why not just let someone else always tell you about the things your spouse says instead of ever listening to what they say directly? If they are actually important to you this should sound ridiculous! Lets apply the same logic to opening up the Bible in order to sit at the feet of Jesus himself and listen to him directly. In the church these we have two things, Gods word and spiritual ideas. At the end of Matthew chapter 7 in the sermon on the mount Jesus said it was the house built on his word that stood. Everything else just crumbled away. What is your foundation?
Don't let your walk with Christ become some thing were its the coolest fad to know about and talk about the Bible without actually ever knowing or using the Bible.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Psychological tactics cults will use to pull you in.
There are a few tactics I've seen repeated in churches that teach false doctrine and or cults that are used psychologically to deceive and pull people in that I would like to point out. While I lived in Washington state I spent six months living in a town that was about 50 percent Mormon. It is not my aim to make them look like worse sinners than any other lost soul or stir up hatred towards them but after spending hundreds of hours of sharing the gospel with these people and observing what they teach I will use them to point out some specifics which I have seen repeated in other groups as well.
1. When first meeting the Mormons they will tell you that if you sincerely read the book of Mormon and pray and ask God to tell you if its true that you will feel a "burning in the bosom" which is the holy spirit testifying to you that it is true.
To put it bluntly you can easily want something to be true so badly that you allow your emotions to override reason therefore mistaking them for the actual voice of God. I have no doubt that some of the people who prayed this really felt a "burning of the bosom." But that does not mean it in fact has come from God. The same feelings of excitement I've felt from a great night of praise and worship I've also experienced from doing non-spiritual related things while in the army such as going on a 5 mile run or flying over the mountains in northern Iraq in a helicopter. I'm not saying the Holy spirit can not or does not speak to us, however do not mistake emotion for the voice of God.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" -Jeremiah 17:9
2. In Mormon Circles you will often hear the phrase repeated "I know my church is true." Every time they come together as a group you will hear this repeated. It is something that is expected by the church.
Joseph Goebbels (Hitlers propaganda guy) once said ... "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
In many cults things that don't always even make sense are often strongly emphasized to the point that nobody will dare question them. When exposed to such a group it is good to ask "What are the things strongly pointed out by them that everyone agrees to without question?"
3. You will be told "The Bible had been corrupted but Gods true word was restored by Joseph smith." In order to establish their own agenda and teachings they must first discredit Gods true word (The Bible.)
When in fact the Bible teaches clearly that God does not lie, change or contradict himself.
It is also extremely important to know that a word from God will never contradict a previous word from God. Right down to even the smallest point Gods word does not change. For example...
Ephesians 2:8-9 says... "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The Book of Mormon says... "We know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23)
God is not a God of disorder therefore both statements can not and do not coexist. We must ask the questions "What does this group do with Gods written word? Do they believe it is what it is backed by Gods authority or do they amend or nullify it?"
4. There are also two methods of appeasement that I've seen commonly used. First they may something like "You believe in the Bible? That's great! We do too! Did you know there is more?"
To a bran knew Christian who is hungry to learn as much about God as possible this may sound great. Don't fall for it. The Bible is sufficient in itself. There is no additional add on book (See the warning in Proverbs 30:5-6.)
Second if they see you are already grounded in the word of God they may pull up Acts 28:24-26 Where Paul meets a man named Apollos who is a man that is "mighty in the scriptures" but Paul had to explain to him "the way of God more accurately." This is simply their way of saying you are on the right track but you still need to fall in line with their teachings.
Not only is this taking the story of Apollos out of context but is just another ploy to pull you in.
Finally, there are many other points beyond this I could bring up. But these are the main four I will point out for now. Feel free to e-mail me if you are struggling in any of these areas and need help or have questions. My e-mail address is jim.kaminski2@gmail.com
1. When first meeting the Mormons they will tell you that if you sincerely read the book of Mormon and pray and ask God to tell you if its true that you will feel a "burning in the bosom" which is the holy spirit testifying to you that it is true.
To put it bluntly you can easily want something to be true so badly that you allow your emotions to override reason therefore mistaking them for the actual voice of God. I have no doubt that some of the people who prayed this really felt a "burning of the bosom." But that does not mean it in fact has come from God. The same feelings of excitement I've felt from a great night of praise and worship I've also experienced from doing non-spiritual related things while in the army such as going on a 5 mile run or flying over the mountains in northern Iraq in a helicopter. I'm not saying the Holy spirit can not or does not speak to us, however do not mistake emotion for the voice of God.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" -Jeremiah 17:9
2. In Mormon Circles you will often hear the phrase repeated "I know my church is true." Every time they come together as a group you will hear this repeated. It is something that is expected by the church.
Joseph Goebbels (Hitlers propaganda guy) once said ... "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
In many cults things that don't always even make sense are often strongly emphasized to the point that nobody will dare question them. When exposed to such a group it is good to ask "What are the things strongly pointed out by them that everyone agrees to without question?"
3. You will be told "The Bible had been corrupted but Gods true word was restored by Joseph smith." In order to establish their own agenda and teachings they must first discredit Gods true word (The Bible.)
When in fact the Bible teaches clearly that God does not lie, change or contradict himself.
It is also extremely important to know that a word from God will never contradict a previous word from God. Right down to even the smallest point Gods word does not change. For example...
Ephesians 2:8-9 says... "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The Book of Mormon says... "We know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23)
God is not a God of disorder therefore both statements can not and do not coexist. We must ask the questions "What does this group do with Gods written word? Do they believe it is what it is backed by Gods authority or do they amend or nullify it?"
4. There are also two methods of appeasement that I've seen commonly used. First they may something like "You believe in the Bible? That's great! We do too! Did you know there is more?"
To a bran knew Christian who is hungry to learn as much about God as possible this may sound great. Don't fall for it. The Bible is sufficient in itself. There is no additional add on book (See the warning in Proverbs 30:5-6.)
Second if they see you are already grounded in the word of God they may pull up Acts 28:24-26 Where Paul meets a man named Apollos who is a man that is "mighty in the scriptures" but Paul had to explain to him "the way of God more accurately." This is simply their way of saying you are on the right track but you still need to fall in line with their teachings.
Not only is this taking the story of Apollos out of context but is just another ploy to pull you in.
Finally, there are many other points beyond this I could bring up. But these are the main four I will point out for now. Feel free to e-mail me if you are struggling in any of these areas and need help or have questions. My e-mail address is jim.kaminski2@gmail.com
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Remember me, O my God, for good.
"...Remember me, O my God, for good." -Nehemiah 13:31
I've been reflecting on the book of Nehemiah the past couple days. If you take the time to read the whole book it's really something to see how many times Nehemiah uses the phrases "and so I prayed" and "Remember me, O my God, for good."
Every time he was faced with a challenge small or big he would turn to God in prayer before doing anything else!
Each time the enemy would speak evil of him or he would accomplish something big with the Lords help. He would ask God to remember him for good. When we come to God in prayer we often remember to ask forgiveness for our sins which we should. Sometimes we can even spend excessive time dwelling on our short comings but do we often ask God to think good of us!?
Did you ever think about the fact that God delights himself in his people and it is a pleasure for him to think well of us? In the same way that you would want your spouse or your best friend to think good of you it would certainly make sense to want an all powerful God to do the same. After all isn't this key to a healthy relationship?
You may be thinking to yourself "Can I ask God such a thing?" Well, take a second and just do it! You may find the result is you have a better sense of his presence and a deeper thirst to know him.
I've been reflecting on the book of Nehemiah the past couple days. If you take the time to read the whole book it's really something to see how many times Nehemiah uses the phrases "and so I prayed" and "Remember me, O my God, for good."
Every time he was faced with a challenge small or big he would turn to God in prayer before doing anything else!
Each time the enemy would speak evil of him or he would accomplish something big with the Lords help. He would ask God to remember him for good. When we come to God in prayer we often remember to ask forgiveness for our sins which we should. Sometimes we can even spend excessive time dwelling on our short comings but do we often ask God to think good of us!?
Did you ever think about the fact that God delights himself in his people and it is a pleasure for him to think well of us? In the same way that you would want your spouse or your best friend to think good of you it would certainly make sense to want an all powerful God to do the same. After all isn't this key to a healthy relationship?
You may be thinking to yourself "Can I ask God such a thing?" Well, take a second and just do it! You may find the result is you have a better sense of his presence and a deeper thirst to know him.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Piles of sin.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. -Ecclesiastes 7:20
I've often times heard new Christians say things like "I feel as if something is wrong with me." Or I've known another person who has been saved a little longer say something like "I feel like I'm just not doing good enough."
It really does seem at times that the deeper I go into Gods word I realize just how far from meeting Gods standards I really am.
An interesting analogy came to mind the other week while I was going for a walk in the park after work one day. As I was walking along I noticed a coffee cup laying on the ground so I picked it up. Walked a little further and saw a soda bottle so I picked that up as well. After that a candy wrapper. Before long I had picked up so much trash I could no longer hold it all in my hands. Funny, I thought. I often come to this park and I've never noticed all this trash before. Where did so much of it come from all of a sudden? Well, the trash had always been there- I just had never tried to pick it up before.
Same thing with our sinfulness. The more we get into Gods word the more the Lord will expose it. All of a sudden satan will make you think that this is a problem unique only to you and you're just too sinful to be called a Christian. While all along the sin had always been there. You just hadn't asked Jesus to help you clean it up yet.
Do you see an area you've fallen short? Pick it up and bring it to the foot of the Cross. Keep pushing on for the Lord and don't despair! God is molding you into the image of his son!
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. -Ecclesiastes 7:20
I've often times heard new Christians say things like "I feel as if something is wrong with me." Or I've known another person who has been saved a little longer say something like "I feel like I'm just not doing good enough."
It really does seem at times that the deeper I go into Gods word I realize just how far from meeting Gods standards I really am.
An interesting analogy came to mind the other week while I was going for a walk in the park after work one day. As I was walking along I noticed a coffee cup laying on the ground so I picked it up. Walked a little further and saw a soda bottle so I picked that up as well. After that a candy wrapper. Before long I had picked up so much trash I could no longer hold it all in my hands. Funny, I thought. I often come to this park and I've never noticed all this trash before. Where did so much of it come from all of a sudden? Well, the trash had always been there- I just had never tried to pick it up before.
Same thing with our sinfulness. The more we get into Gods word the more the Lord will expose it. All of a sudden satan will make you think that this is a problem unique only to you and you're just too sinful to be called a Christian. While all along the sin had always been there. You just hadn't asked Jesus to help you clean it up yet.
Do you see an area you've fallen short? Pick it up and bring it to the foot of the Cross. Keep pushing on for the Lord and don't despair! God is molding you into the image of his son!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Don't take my word for it, check the word of God for yourself!
When I met him at Bible study three years ago he was very eager to talk about the Lord but some of his ideas seemed to be well, out there... "So where did you learn that?" I would ask. "It's what they teach at the church I visit." He responded.
"How would you like to meet up just the two of us later on and spend some time in the word of God together?" I asked. "That would be great!" He said.
So from that point on once, twice, sometimes even three times a week I would meet with him. It wasn't always easy and it took time but he began to grow! I encouraged him to read the Bible for himself rather than going for a second hand opinion, and he did! About six months ago he said to me, "You know Jim, I used to believe anything I heard about God but now that I've been reading the scriptures for myself God has been opening my eyes more and more to his reality and my relationship with Jesus Christ has come more alive than ever!"
But not only this he is also now himself helping others to get into the word of God!
For those of you who have a good Bible reading plan and are already grounded in the scriptures you understand the depth and the value of having the knowledge of Gods word in your heart. For those of you who don't I want to give you a sobering thought to think about. I personally have enough knowledge of the Bible that if I were to take all the right verses, put them in just the right order and maybe take a few here and there out of context I could make you think the Bible says whatever I want! How would you ever know either? Unless of course you see for yourself what God has to say. Does that scare you a little? I hope so because this sort of thing really happens.
Now of course it's not my intention to mislead you, BUT even then I'm still human and make mistakes. Don't just take my word for for I have to say about God buts check it with the Bible. That goes for anyone weather they may be a Pastor, priest, pope, parent, or someone you just met on the streets. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins." -Ecclesiastes 7:20
Now lets think about helping other people get into the Bible for themselves such as my friend I mentioned at the beginning.
In Acts chapter 8 we have an amazing account where Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the scriptures. He asks him if he understands what he is reading and the eunuch's response is... "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31)
Next Philip beginning from the scripture the eunuch was reading preached Jesus to him(Acts 8:35)! And because of this the eunuch believed that Jesus was the son of God!
One thing we can see from this passage in Acts is that just because someone has a Bible and maybe even opens it once in a while dose not mean they understand it or know where to look in the scriptures. So why not help them? (Never just assume someone is mature in Christ simply because they may appear that way.) Show them all through out the Bible the things of Christ such as Phillip did and Jesus also did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27.) Show them in the Bible how to know God and walk with him. Show them the promises in scripture God makes to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Set them up on a personal reading plan and keep them accountable!
Do this and stick with it! You'll find you yourself will also grow and be blessed!
"How would you like to meet up just the two of us later on and spend some time in the word of God together?" I asked. "That would be great!" He said.
So from that point on once, twice, sometimes even three times a week I would meet with him. It wasn't always easy and it took time but he began to grow! I encouraged him to read the Bible for himself rather than going for a second hand opinion, and he did! About six months ago he said to me, "You know Jim, I used to believe anything I heard about God but now that I've been reading the scriptures for myself God has been opening my eyes more and more to his reality and my relationship with Jesus Christ has come more alive than ever!"
But not only this he is also now himself helping others to get into the word of God!
For those of you who have a good Bible reading plan and are already grounded in the scriptures you understand the depth and the value of having the knowledge of Gods word in your heart. For those of you who don't I want to give you a sobering thought to think about. I personally have enough knowledge of the Bible that if I were to take all the right verses, put them in just the right order and maybe take a few here and there out of context I could make you think the Bible says whatever I want! How would you ever know either? Unless of course you see for yourself what God has to say. Does that scare you a little? I hope so because this sort of thing really happens.
Now of course it's not my intention to mislead you, BUT even then I'm still human and make mistakes. Don't just take my word for for I have to say about God buts check it with the Bible. That goes for anyone weather they may be a Pastor, priest, pope, parent, or someone you just met on the streets. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins." -Ecclesiastes 7:20
Now lets think about helping other people get into the Bible for themselves such as my friend I mentioned at the beginning.
In Acts chapter 8 we have an amazing account where Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the scriptures. He asks him if he understands what he is reading and the eunuch's response is... "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31)
Next Philip beginning from the scripture the eunuch was reading preached Jesus to him(Acts 8:35)! And because of this the eunuch believed that Jesus was the son of God!
One thing we can see from this passage in Acts is that just because someone has a Bible and maybe even opens it once in a while dose not mean they understand it or know where to look in the scriptures. So why not help them? (Never just assume someone is mature in Christ simply because they may appear that way.) Show them all through out the Bible the things of Christ such as Phillip did and Jesus also did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27.) Show them in the Bible how to know God and walk with him. Show them the promises in scripture God makes to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Set them up on a personal reading plan and keep them accountable!
Do this and stick with it! You'll find you yourself will also grow and be blessed!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sharing the love of Jesus with the Muslim people.
And they sang a new song, saying, " Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. -Revelation 5:9
"I've never read anything like this before." Said Whalid as he looked up from the Arabic New Testament. He continued "It says to love your enemies and pray for those who hate you."
Only a couple months earlier while working for us as an interpreter he started attending our chapel services when time allowed. He grew up in an Islamic country with Muslim parents but no body told him to read the Bible or go to chapel he just did it on his own. Praise God!
It seems often times in the United states when people hear the word "Arab" or "Muslim" they automatically associate it with the word "terrorist." Which clearly not all Muslims are terrorists such as my friend Whalid.
But lets think for a second about the ones who are terrorists or have radical Islamic ideas. Is that any reason not to share the Gospel with them? Are they beyond the reach of Gods power? NO! It is no harder for God to change the heart of an Islamic Militant than it was for God to change Saul while on the road to Damascus.
You may be thinking "But what about 9/11? What about the killing still being done by them? Shouldn't we just wipe them out?" I'm not suggesting that we should be anymore diplomatic with terrorists than we were with Hitler ( I am not writing this to debate politics or the role of our military in the middle east.) However let me tell you that I personally have been shot at by Islamic combatants, I've seen American soldiers die, I've seen the horror on the faces of the wounded but I know Jesus said to "love your enemies" and that is what I stand by. Unless the attitude of fear and hatred of these people is removed you will never reach them.
Again, not all Muslims are your enemy or have radical Islamic views. Since returning from the war and leaving the military I have sat down in homes of different Muslims from around the world for meals and open discussion on Jesus Christ. When I see them in the store or maybe out for a walk I greet them and normally get a pleasant response. Have you thought about doing the same?
Don't be afraid to get to know these people and build friendships with them. Think about how you can even serve them. Anything thing from helping them shovel out their driveway if you live in a snowy climate to inviting them into your home for a meal (its very important to research "Halal" cooking first if you do so.)
Have you prayed for God to use you in any of these ways? Do you pray for the missionaries working in Muslim countries to advance the gospel? I would encourage you to do so! Never forget the Muslims are also people created in the image of God and are in need of Jesus just like us.
"I've never read anything like this before." Said Whalid as he looked up from the Arabic New Testament. He continued "It says to love your enemies and pray for those who hate you."
Only a couple months earlier while working for us as an interpreter he started attending our chapel services when time allowed. He grew up in an Islamic country with Muslim parents but no body told him to read the Bible or go to chapel he just did it on his own. Praise God!
It seems often times in the United states when people hear the word "Arab" or "Muslim" they automatically associate it with the word "terrorist." Which clearly not all Muslims are terrorists such as my friend Whalid.
But lets think for a second about the ones who are terrorists or have radical Islamic ideas. Is that any reason not to share the Gospel with them? Are they beyond the reach of Gods power? NO! It is no harder for God to change the heart of an Islamic Militant than it was for God to change Saul while on the road to Damascus.
You may be thinking "But what about 9/11? What about the killing still being done by them? Shouldn't we just wipe them out?" I'm not suggesting that we should be anymore diplomatic with terrorists than we were with Hitler ( I am not writing this to debate politics or the role of our military in the middle east.) However let me tell you that I personally have been shot at by Islamic combatants, I've seen American soldiers die, I've seen the horror on the faces of the wounded but I know Jesus said to "love your enemies" and that is what I stand by. Unless the attitude of fear and hatred of these people is removed you will never reach them.
Again, not all Muslims are your enemy or have radical Islamic views. Since returning from the war and leaving the military I have sat down in homes of different Muslims from around the world for meals and open discussion on Jesus Christ. When I see them in the store or maybe out for a walk I greet them and normally get a pleasant response. Have you thought about doing the same?
Don't be afraid to get to know these people and build friendships with them. Think about how you can even serve them. Anything thing from helping them shovel out their driveway if you live in a snowy climate to inviting them into your home for a meal (its very important to research "Halal" cooking first if you do so.)
Have you prayed for God to use you in any of these ways? Do you pray for the missionaries working in Muslim countries to advance the gospel? I would encourage you to do so! Never forget the Muslims are also people created in the image of God and are in need of Jesus just like us.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
What about their souls? Replacing Jesus with the Pied Piper.
"...they preach about virtually everything, only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life." -Dietrich Bonhoffer.
"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
-1 Corinthians 2:2
"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
-1 Corinthians 2:2
She had invited her pastor to attend Bible study that afternoon. He looked across the table and said to one student "God is telling me one day you're gonna be a millionaire!" I had heard about things like this happening in his church often. I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. All types of religious flattery but no mention of the Cross not even the need to be born again.(See John 3:3 & John 3:7.)
In a video of Joel Osteen I had seen while back he said "If you're a Christian you are wealthy! You are disease free! Just be encouraged!"
And again nothing said about being born spiritually dead and already under a sentence of judgment. But what about their souls? It's as if they are following after the Pied Piper playing a beautiful song which in the end will lead them over a ledge of eternal destruction. Many of which have no understanding of their need for a savior. No concept of sin and the need to repent.
Jeremiah 5:31 says..."The prophets prophesy falsely,And the priests rule on their own authority;And My people love it so!But what will you do at the end of it?"
You can feed and cloth the poor. You can encouraged the depressed. You can help teach someone to be a kind person. These are all good things and we should do them but without the Gospel of Jesus Christ they will not go to heaven!
Jesus again and again taught his disciples that he must be betrayed, crucified and on the third day rise from the dead. If the Lord took such great care to make this known we must do the same (See Mark 8:31,Mark 9:30-31,Mark 10:32-34 & Matthew 20:17-19.)
We must not loose focus on the Cross or we miss the point entirely.
Is our focus getting souls into Heaven for the Glory of God or just trying to numb the pain of a lost world for the point of feeling good about ourselves while they inch their way closer every day to the pits of hell?
This is a sad reality of whats going on with the so called church today. Coming back to Jeremiah 5:31 "...But what will you do at the end of it?"
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