Church People are Hypocrites! Right?

Have you been one who is apprehensive about the local church?  So often this topic comes up with people I talk with or hear, and someone will say, they’re all just a bunch of hypocrites..  I don’t always say it, but I feel like saying, come on over!  You’ll fit right in! 

You’ve really gotta be careful about this, because the term “Church” is not a building; it’s a people.  And it’s Christ’s people - it’s his bride.  And Christ died to save his bride.  If you’re a believer, you’re part of God’s upper-case “C” Church; you are bought with an indescribable blood sacrifice.  Paul says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” - Romans 12:1 KJV

After a person commits his life to Christ,  s/he is a disciple. The term “disciple” μαθητής in Greek, carries with it the notion of being a student, as well as a follower. Becoming a born-again Christian is just the beginning - learning about Christ and growing in Him is where it’s at.

Your local attorney and your local physician refer to their work as a “practice.” Why?  Because they’re working out their craft every day to become better at it.  But even these gifted men and women, by inference, admit that they are imperfect at what they do and are learning as they go.  

But why do we expect Christians, in their day-to-day lives, to live lives free from sin the moment they accept Christ? 

I’m not writing this to give Christians license to sin. God forbid. What I’m trying to express, imperfectly, is that becoming a Christian doesn’t make you perfect. And people who would have you believe they haven’t sinned in months or years (they’re out there!) are liars from the devil’s own Hell, and are deceiving themselves according to God’s own Word:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. - I John 1:8 KJV

But really, Christianity isn't about what you CAN'T do - a religion of laws and customs and checking off boxes.  Christianity is a personal relationship with a Father who says, "come to me and I want to give you freedom to do all you ever wanted, but I also want to protect you because I love you!"  And the Christian life isn't easy, and Christian people still make mistakes and still do sin.  But God calls Believers to come together and worship:  NOT to be saved, get saved or “keep” your salvation. 

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 -

Going to church has NO relationship whatever with salvation.  There’s a person close to me who has the mistaken belief (I think subconsciously) that church attendance is somehow tied to salvation, and it just isn’t true!  As much as I’ve tried to convince him that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ’s work on the cross, I just can’t seem to get him to understand that church attendance, while something that every believer should want to do, has NOTHING to do with SALVATION!  Would somebody shout from the top of their lungs, “AMEN!!”?    So, by all means, go to church because:

* you love your brothers and sisters in Christ and you want to support them and RECEIVE their love and support
* to worship Jesus (despite the fact that we can and should worship Jesus outside of a church building in everyday acts)
* to learn more about the God we worship
* provides corporate venues and forums for service
* the Bible tells us to!

And as a caveat, I'm one who has some deep problems with the lower case c church - the building - the way things get done.  For example, I can't stand the word and idea of church "membership."  I love the idea of commitment, but membership implies exclusivity, and so I've just long held a real problem with that.  I also can't stand denominations.  When Jesus was on this earth, there was only denomination:  Jesus.  So if I had my way, there'd be only one denomination and his name would be Jesus.  So I understand how those couple things could be distracting to some. 

Tragically, there are millions of people who line the pews of American churches week by week and they have no clue what's awaiting them.  They've attended Sunday services across this land faithfully and they think they're going to Heaven perhaps because they're good people, because they've generally never done anyone any harm.  Many are faithful about putting some money into special church projects or sponsoring missionaries.  Those are all worthwhile endeavors and we should do them.  But God calls us to a relationship with Him!  

I was listening to the Al Smith Charity dinner recently as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton roasted each other.  Al Smith had been elected Governor of New York four times and was a noted Catholic.  The 2016 Al Smith dinner raised some $6 million for Catholic charities.  But during her speech, Hillary Clinton noted, "I believe the way we treat others is the highest expression of faith and of service. I am not Catholic, I'm a Methodist, but one of the things we share is a belief that in order to achieve salvation, we need both faith and good works."  

Now I never intend to make these blogs political, and I don't intend to make this one political.  I'm not picking on Mrs. Clinton because of her politics or for any reason.  In fact, I know for a fact that her line of thinking is NOT abnormal.  But her words stuck out at me:  "in order to achieve salvation."  You see, achievement implies merit.  But there really isn't any implication involved in this particular equation because she goes on to mention "good works."  Salvation isn't deserved and can't be earned.  The Bible says,

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9 KJV

What God wants is for you to recognize the depth of His son's sacrifice for you - not to try to trump it with some tythe or missionary trip.  God says all of our righteousness is as filthy rags.  Isaiah 64:6.  So we shouldn't try.  If you haven't accepted Christ, come to Him as you are and receive Him into your life without condition.  Do you have issues?  Don't worry, we all do.  He'll take care of them.  God Bless You.  Reach out if you need help. 

Betrayed By a Friend

Betrayed By a Friend

The Bible has a great deal to say about friendship.  Proverbs 18:24 reads thusly:  "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  I've often thought to myself that I had many acquaintances, but how many real friends do I have? - the kind of people who would pick up my phone call without hesitation if I phoned in the middle of the night - I call those the "3 A.M. friends"..   How many 3 A.M. friends do you have?  Not acquaintances, but friends who would unequivocally stand by you if you were charged unreasonably with a crime you didn't commit, or come to your side while you were enduring chemo treatments when everyone else seemed too busy?  I tell you, if there is one, you're blessed, indeed.  

King David had such a friend - and his name was Ahitophel.  He was entrusted with a most important position in the King's court.  In mob circles, it would be called consigliere, or counselor, a position which implies counsel, trust and advice.  During the reign of King David, the position dealt especially with counsel of the military type.  If Ahitophel lived today, he might be a Secretary or Minister of Defense.  God gifted Ahitophel with special prophetic powers, but Ahitophel became jealous of David's power.   To make a much longer story short, Ahitophel betrayed the King and took part in a coup to overthrow the King.  King David was devastated.  

 "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. 
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
¹³ But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.  (Psalms 55: 6-7,12-14)

Notice that David thought of Ahitophel as his equal.  Ahitophel truly had no reason to be jealous, for David loved him and would doubtless have given him anything.  

Has there ever been a friend in your life that you thought would be there for you - that would be your friend for life?  But something happened..  The road split.  Your interests changed.  Perhaps you had an argument you couldn't get through.  Here's a more modern spin:

"We'll always be best of friends, won't we, Copper?"  But it wasn't to be.  Copper's interests changed.  The Lord experienced this, too, on far more than one occasion.  Peter denied that he knew the Lord and cursed his very name.  Judas sold the Lord out for thirty pieces of silver.  It hurts to have a friend leave or betray you and Jesus, although God, experienced emotions as every human does, yet fully without sin..  

But the Lord never, ever will betray you or leave your side if you've committed to following Him. The Bible says 

²³ The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.  (Psalms 37:23-24 KJV)

Have you ever thought about that?  The Lord is holding you in his hand.  Not metaphorically - in a most literal way.  If you and I awoke this morning (and we both did, because I'm typing and you're reading), the Lord sustained us.  He has purpose for you and for me. 

I care for you and love you in the Lord.  If you have a friend you have lost touch with for silly reasons, perhaps you will take the first step in forgiving and reaching out.  That's a place to start.  

(P.S. Sorry for the lull in activity - I needed five years to think of some new material...)

The Sin of Partiality (alternatively, "The Sin of Favortism")

So what does “partiality” mean?  To be “partial”, according to Webster’s, means a person is “inclined to favor one party more than the other”:

This is such a serious issue because, when one really digs down to consider all that is implicated in the study of this issue, the way we are about this is a direct reflection of the nature of our hearts.  Let that sink in a second.  Favortism is really quite vile in the eyes of God. 

James 2:1-13 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favortism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor.  It is not the rich who are exploiting you?  Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?  If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  But if you show favortism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

There is a serious sin problem with favortism and it is this:  in God’s eyes, there is immeasurable value in the soul of every human born (and the souls of the unborn, I might add..) since the beginning of creation.  The scriptures tell us that.  We are God’s crowning creation achievement!

There is no scripture in the Bible - so far as I can tell - that supports the notion that God places a higher value on the souls of some men than He does others.  To the contrary, the Bible says in Acts 10:34 that “God is no respecter of persons”. 

Here are three reasons that favoritism is wrong and does immeasurable harm to the Church of God:

1.   It shows the greed and arrogance of our own heart.  After all, why do we show favoritism?  Don’t we place one person in an exalted position in our outlook because we may (even subconsciously) be considering what they could do for us – or how we could benefit by being in their favor?

2.  It flies in the face of God’s Gospel, which places an immeasurable value on every human soul.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Whosoever means anyone. There is no room for favoritism in God’s Gospel.

3.  It shatters our testimony and grieves the Holy Spirit.  How could we ever be used as a tool in leading anyone to Christ if we would walk past a person the world would see as insignificant to “minister” to another?  God would never bless a person’s ministry if their heart was geared this way.

 How many people have abandoned the faith because they were victim to the evils of favoritism? They might have tattoos, body piercings, they didn’t have nice clothes, perhaps their shoes weren’t shined bright enough, their vocabulary wasn’t polished and they didn’t have a formal education.  They went home lost and confused because the Gospel they heard from the pulpit didn’t align with the gospel they experienced. 

  

Please forgive ME if I have ever treated you in a way that caused you to think I valued you or loved you less than I did someone else.  You are so valuable to the God of this universe.  If you’re already trusting in Jesus for salvation, I pray hard that you might self-assess in this area.  If you’ve ever been guilty of favoritism, ask for forgiveness and ask God to help you, by the work of the Holy Spirit, to approach every person with the love of God.  If you’ve never asked Jesus to come into your life and save you, I plead with you to do that today.  Click here to learn how you can give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Isn't it time?  http://www.theencouragingword.org/discover-jesus

Rudy

What is repentance?

My friend, repentance is imperative for salvation. 

In short, it means to change your mind.  Billy Graham has described it this way:  you’re driving down the road of life going your own direction - and you do a flat out U-turn.  You’re willing to turn around, go the opposite direction - God’s direction. 

Repentance means you agree with God that His way is the way you’re willing to go with God’s help.  Any many people may say, "well I’ve got this sin problem.  I’m addicted to alcohol.  There’s no way I could just quit drinking like that.  My language is awful.  How can God change me?"

That last question may be key.  God does the changing.  One of the most powerful and well-known hymns in the world is called “Just As I Am”.  And that’s exactly how God wants you to come to him:  Just as you are.  God does the changing.  If you will trust that He is able, you just say to him, “Lord, I can’t change on my own, I need you to do this for me.”  He is able - and He is willing. 

II Corinthians 7:9-10 is perhaps one of the most important scripture passages in the whole Bible dealing with the subject of repentance.  The Apostle Paul speaks in a letter to the Church at Corinth: 

“yet now I (Paul) am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

So then, what is the difference between a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance and a worldly sorrow that leads to death?  Please take a quick read of this story I found on CNN.com recently:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/28/travel/russian-photographer-apology/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

_________________________________________________________________________

“Photographer sorry for climbing pyramid”

Russian photographer apologizes for pyramid photos

(CNN) -- Was it the ultimate adventure or an audacious act of disrespect that should be punished by law?

An Internet sensation was touched off this week by Russian photographer Vadim Makhorov and a group of his friends -- the group ignored regulations prohibiting the public from climbing on the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt, and came away with spectacular photos.

The images from Makhorov and another photographer, Vitaliy Raskalov, were taken on top of the Pyramids from positions that avoided detection by guards. The photos have incited reactions ranging from envy and awe to indignation and concern for the preservation of the ancient wonders.

In an email to CNN, Makhorov now explains his reasons for flaunting the regulations, and issues an apology to Egypt and the world.

Vadim Makhorov's email to CNN

"I've always been drawn to Egypt. For as long as I can remember my dream was to get to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

"When my friends and I arrived in Cairo the first thing we decided to do was to go and see the pyramids. We got there in the evening, just in time to witness the laser show.

"No words can express the fascination I felt when seeing my childhood dream come alive. Probably this very feeling made us climb onto the top of the Pyramid and see the the panorama of the whole complex, the desert and Cairo itself.

"It was already pitch black and nobody paid us any attention. We started climbing as fast and as soundless as we could. You have to be quite strong and agile to climb onto a meter-high block covered with dust.

"The thought that we were going to witness something spectacular pushed us forward."
"It was exhausting, but the thought that we were going to witness something spectacular pushed us forward.

"It took us around 20 minutes to get to the top. We were taken breathless by the view.
"What we saw from up there was the seventh wonder of the world. We tried to capture the beauty of the scenery in the photos, so that the others could also see this magnificent panorama.

"We, of course, were not the first who dared to climb the pyramid.

"The pyramid's peak was filled with different inscriptions in many languages, some of them being hundreds years old.

"After enjoying the view for some time we started the descent. It turned out to be harder then climbing up. We were very lucky not to get [caught]. We would have been in serious trouble if we did.

"That's why I would like to apologize for this ascension. We didn't want to insult anyone. We were just following the dream."
_________________________________________________________________________

This is just an illustration.. As you read that article, did you sense that this fellow was sorry for what he did?  I sure didn't.  How do I know that?  He apologizes.  It’s obvious that he wishes he hadn’t been caught.  And the statements he makes are filled with justifications for his actions.  It appears the only thing he’s sorry about is that he got caught.  If we asked this man “if you had it to do all over again, would you still do it?”, I think his answer would be affirmative, especially since getting “caught” didn’t result in any legal repercussions or trouble. 

Peter denied the Lord on three different occasions.  But Peter is with the Lord even now in Heaven.  Judas sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver.  The Bible says this concerning Judas in  

Matthew 27:3: 

“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.”

Both men betrayed Jesus in one way or another.  Both were sorry.  But the difference between the two men was a heart matter that only God could see.  Judas took his own life afterward.  And Peter’s repentance led him to continue in the ministry, boldly preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Esau, too, from the Old Testament was sorry for selling his birthright for a morsel. 

(side note:  I never refer to people from the Bible as “characters”..  That word carries with it the idea that they are somehow fictional.  We would never refer to Thomas Jefferson or Napoleon Bonaparte as ‘characters’.  They’re real people.  They lived a long time ago, but their stories are real.)

But the Old Testament tells us that he (Esau) was unable (or unwilling, rather) to come to a place of repentance. 

Hebrews 12:17

“For ye know how that afterward, when he (Esau) would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

That's a scary thought to me.  He sought repentance with tears.  He wanted desperately to be sorry for what he had done.  You might ask that, too:  what if I just honestly don't feel sorry for what I've done or for the route I'm traveling?  PRAY!  Ask God to give you a spirit of repentance! 

Understand this, too.  Jesus Christ invites everyone to a relationship with him.  And He is not willing that any should perish as a result of an unrepentant spirit:

II Peter 3:9 -

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Have you changed your mind?  Have you arrived at a place where you no longer are travelling your own road, but you’ve sort of metaphorically turned the car ‘round and you’re letting God do the driving down the path He designed for you? 

Let me tell you something, my friend.  Life is hard.  There’s no doubt about it.  We all carry sin problems and we have relational and financial and health problems.  Giving one’s heart to Jesus Christ does not ensure that life’s problems will go away.  But walking with Jesus ensures you this:  He will never leave you, nor forsake you.  Even as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with you.  Even if every friend you have on this earth turns on you, He will be constant. 

Four Facts About Sin

1. We Have All Sinned  

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23   "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” Romans 3:10  This is an interesting thing.  I've never done a survey and I don't plan on doing one anytime soon.  But fifty years ago, I almost believe by far and away the majority of people if asked, "are you a sinner?", would respond affirmatively.  Today, I don't think as many people are willing to make that concession.  Friend, if you aren't willing to admit that you've sinned against God, you have no place to start.  You have sinned.  And so have I.  And if we can come to grips with that fact, we're just the kind of candidate God is looking for to give his Gift of Salvation.
 
2. The Penalty For Sin Is Death (not just physical death, but Death of the Soul).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”  Romans 6:23
 
3. Sin Costs..  in this life, and in the life to come. 

For the non-Christian, Sin ultimately costs the Soul.  God requires sinlessness (yes, perfection!).  You and I are sinners both by birth (because we were born with what theologians would call the “Adamic nature”) and by choice.  When Adam and Eve sinned, that sin nature fell upon all of their descendants.  We are born with a tendency toward evil.  We don’t have to “try” even, it comes naturally..

And then we’re sinners by choice.  We have all sinned deliberately.  We sin when we lie, when we carry hate in our hearts and in all sorts of other ways. 

The Bible tells us in I Peter 5:8 to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  Isn’t that a startling word picture?  As a lion prowls through a thicket looking for its prey, Satan prowls about the earth looking for a person (that’s you - - that’s me!) to devour.. that is to consume.. to kill.. He's looking for the death of the soul. 

As the late, great Dr. Adrian Rogers said (and I don’t know if he coined the expression), “Sin will always take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay and cost you more than you wanted to pay...”

Christian beware, there's a price for you, too.  Born-Again Believers are not exempt from sin.  There is a price to be paid by the Believer, too.  We pay for sin in this life in all kinds of ways.  But sin also has a pricetag in the life to come.
 
4. Sin Can Be Forgiven

Before our sins can be forgiven, we must acknowledge that we are, indeed, Sinners - that we have broken God’s laws.  If we'll do that, the scripture says God will forgive us:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

Pay close attention to the words of this song to sum up this short lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8RfKNC0f4w&safe=active


In holy pages this truth can be found
A promise to stand on when darkness abounds
Oh, right never loses and wrong never wins
And grace will always be greater than sin


Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin
 
Broken and bruised from the choices you’ve made
Sin has a price and so often you’ve paid
Oh, but Jesus is waiting
New hope is in Him
And grace will always be greater than sin 

Grace will always be greater than sin
Calvary has proven it time and again
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin   

Grace, grace God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all my sin
Whatever you’ve done
Wherever you’ve been
God’s grace will always be greater than sin



Rudy

The Saddest Words in the Bible

Have you ever thought about that? - the saddest words in all of the Bible? 

One of my favorite preachers, Don Wilton of First Baptist Spartanburg, SC, was preaching recently about “The Roaring Lion”.  It was a message that has really resonated in my heart.  Don talked about how Cain devised evil in his heart and tried to please God with vegetables (literally AND figuratively).  God wasn’t having it.  He was not interested in Cain’s vegetables (again, in his literal vegetables OR in Cain’s desperate attempts to live by the Law).  God was interested in a blood sacrifice - but really he wanted Cain’s heart. 

What’s most amazing about that section of Genesis dealing with Cain is this:  when questioned by the most High God himself, Cain lied in the face of God.  Isn’t that amazing?  After all, doesn’t anyone who knows anything about God’s nature know that God is omniscient? - that he can see easily through ANY lie? 

Dr. Wilton reckoned that the “saddest verse” in all of the Bible is Genesis 4:16(a) -

“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” 

Understand that and let it sink in:  he went out from the presence of the Lord.

That got me to thinking about some of the other very sad passages of the Bible - and I want to share a few with you - and then share the commonality in these instances. 

Shortly after Pentecost and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul was imprisoned by Antonius Felix (commonly known as “Felix”), Roman procurator - much like a secretary of the treasury.  He was in charge of financial affairs and answered to the Emperor (presumably to both Emperors Claudius and Nero).  Felix called for Paul on more than one occasion “and heard him concerning the faith in Christ” (Acts 25:24b) 
 
Felix hadn’t any genuine interest in the Gospel, but rather he asked to hear him thinking that Paul might pay for his own release (Acts 25:26).  Furthermore, it is commonly held that Felix thought he would glean some entertainment from Paul’s testimony (as if a circus clown were performing).  What Felix didn’t know is that God can use anything and anyone to prick a person’s heart concerning the Gospel.  And it’s clear the Holy Spirit was working on Felix.  The scripture says: 

“And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”  (Acts 24:25)

When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee..  In today’s parlance, “Go for now, let me get back to you on that..”  And the Bible says he trembled. 

Friends, he trembled.  That’s what happens when people hear the Gospel and understand that they are sinners.  He heard the truth and he trembled in fear.  And then he made a fatal mistake.  He said “no”.  And you might be thinking “no, he didn’t..  he just said ‘not now’!” 

Incorrect.  As I have written before, a vote of neutrality is the same as saying “no” in God's economy.

And his intentions may well have been pure - that he would deal with it (just not now)..  Don’t we put things off?  How many people have heard this gospel in their teen years and said to themselves “I’m having fun.  I don’t feel like being bothered with stuff that serious.  I’ll deal with it when I get older.” 

And then they get into their early adult years and get married and reason that life is just too busy for “church stuff”.  And then along comes mid-life.  Kids are growing up and life is still too busy!  By the time one becomes a senior citizen, wouldn’t it be easy to say “well, I’ve gotten by this long without such childish things as religion, why do I need it now!?”

Go for now, I’ll think about it again when it’s convenient for me..

What a sad, sad statement. 

And then lastly, I want to share with  you from just two chapters later.  Paul, once again under constant ridicule and persecution for evangelizing to people, was imprisoned.  This time, he was summoned to answer to King Agrippa (this encounter is documented in Acts 26, and I encourage you to read it).  At the end of Paul’s testimony, Agrippa uttered these sad words:  “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)   

Almost...  

To be "almost persuaded" is to be totally lost.
 
The country music artist Josh Turner popularized a song written in 1890 by Philip Bliss.  I hope you’ll take two minutes to listen to “Almost Persuaded”, performed by Turner, who played the role of George Beverly Shea in the recent movie “Billy:  The Early Years”.  Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frKneDcUVtU

My friends, you might be able to think of other sad, sad verses in the Bible.  I wonder if the ones that come to your mind would match the theme of the three I’ve shared.  All three of these verses have one thing in common:  they all deal with people who rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When Jesus preached and ministered to crowds and individuals, he always exhorted them to repent NOW.  That’s in the present continuing tense. The hour of salvation is now.  No man can come to Christ of his own choosing in his own time, because the Lord Jesus chooses such times as his grace dictates.  Say “Yes” to Christ today.  

As always, I welcome your questions and comments.  May God bless you richly.

- Rudy

Generational Sin

I have a friend in Memphis, Tennessee who is one of the dearest men I’ve ever known - a Christian man with a fine wife and family.  Unfortunately, life hasn’t always been “easy” for him.. For the purpose of the story - and to protect his confidentiality, I’ll call him “Steve”.  Steve’s father was a professing believer with an addiction problem.  

As you probably know, this is not altogether uncommon. 
Christians are subject to the same temptations as non-believers and Satan loves nothing more than ruining the life and testimony of God’s children.  

We would be shocked to know how many of our Christian brothers and sisters are in bondage to one type of sin pattern or another - whether chemical addiction, pornography or some other type of sexual sin, or something altogether different like fits of anger or something else. 
 
For Steve’s father, the problem was alcohol.  He was deeply trapped in the grip of alcohol.  His life was tragically cut short in a bar room argument that turned violent.  He got into an argument with another man and was the victim of homicide right there in that bar.  Steve, a teenager who had given his heart to Jesus, made a decision that the sin of alcohol would die with his beloved father. 
 
The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 5:8-10:
 
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
 
Here are the key words:  “visiting the iniquity (or sin) of the fathers on the children, and on the third and fourth generations”..
 
Many people wrongly believe that their sin is just their sin..  It won’t affect anybody else.  Wrong.  Wrong.  A thousand times wrong.  What we often fail to think about is that others are watching us.  Friend, there are people who admire you and watch how you live and you don’t even know about it.  This is especially true of your children.  They observe you every single day and listen to what comes out of your mouth.  They see and imitate your actions.  We wonder why children can use the most obscene, horrific language..  Do you think for a minute that they learn that foulness out of thin air?  Of course not.  They repeat it from what comes out of our mouths, or what we allow them to hear through the media they watch, listen to and read. 
 
And many children have parents who use drugs or alcohol.  And perhaps most dangerous of all is the situation created by parents who are so-called “social drinkers”.  These are people who have one or two alcoholic beverages with dinner and control this with ease.  How many children have been led down the path of abuse because their parents introduced them to this powerful drug? 
 
The Apostle Paul warns us in Romans 14 vv 13-20:
 
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.  19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
 
God tells us it is wrong for a believer to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  Sure, you can have a drink and control it.  But what about your friends and acquaintances?  And what about your children? 
 
Do you think Steve’s dad ever considered the dangers he was imposing upon his children?
 
Thankfully, God was good to Steve.  God, through His Holy Spirit, impressed upon Steve this truth:  GET IT STOPPED.  So Steve made this commitment to God:  The sin of alcohol will stop with my dad’s generation.  And my friend has never consumed alcohol.  God is good, my friends. 
 
Examine yourself.  If your parents lived in a way that didn’t always honor God, I implore you to forgive them as God would.  Be that as it may, realize that you and I will be accountable to the Living God for being a stumbling block to anyone.  Get the cycle stopped so that the previous generation would be the last and that God would be honored by it.
 
God Bless You, my friend.