I’ve seen a disturbing trend lately in the news and on the blogs.  Christians are arguing amongst themselves and drawing dividing lines.  Christ intended us to be one body.  My favorite prayer in the Bible is in the Book of John.  Jesus prayed for all believers right before His arrest and Crucifixion.  In this prayer He said “ May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  Christ wanted us to be united in His love for the Father and For us.  I see this means many things to many.  True Christianity is based on love, love given us by Christ so that we may be with Him and see His glory, the glory the Father gave him.

Christ indeed said that all the law rested on the commandment love your neighbor as yourself.  And as Christians we do that.   But why attack each other, why accuse others of hatred, and sin, for speaking out against what appears to be evil?  Are we just suppose to sit and allow false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing to prevail and lead many astray?

If you are chastising, and criticising others for speaking out against these things, and touting the love of Christ as the only way, then I think you are very misguided.  If you think that all you have to do to get to heaven is exhibit love, teach love, and be charitable than you are wrong.  You can’t get to Jesus without Love, but Love alone is not going to get you there either.  Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Build your foundation on the Love of Christ.  Teach others to do the same, but you have to warn also that works alone will not get you into Heaven.  Jesus also said “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, Lore, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles:  Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you, Away from me, you evil doers.”

We are to embrace the Love of Christ and teach it, because the world is full of hatred, and wickedness.  If we didn’t love our brother as ourselves, the first time they did something we didn’t like, we’d probably pull out the sword like other religions do today, or stone them.  I mean think about it. 

All the controversy lately is over the gun control issue.  Christians are arguing among themselves, some say we shouldn’t concern ourselves with this, it isn’t love, they are all quoting all sorts of Bible verses to prove their points.  This is just what the enemy (satan) wants.  He wants us divided on all manner of evil, like guns, abortion, freedom of religion or speech.  The truth is we need to stop it, and unite as the body of Christ.  I cling to my faith that God will take care of me, and provide protection.  But what if that protection was a gun?  I hope I’m never faced with the decision to take a life.  I was raised and brought up to respect weapons, and taught to never, ever, point one, unless I had the intention to kill.  Again, I pray I’m never faced with that decision.  But I think it’s sticking your head in the sand to criticise others for their right to own a gun.  Because if they take away that right, others will follow.  And keep in mind that during WW2 the reason the Japanese didn’t launch a full out ground assault on our coast is the fact that our citizens are armed.  So in that instance, owning weapons actually detered death.

I do agree that this world is not my home, and we’re commanded not to be a part of the world.  Coveting after things of this world is a sin. Jesus did send us into the world with the commandment go and make disciples of all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He also said, when asked about tax’s and government, “Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s and give to God what is God’s.  That is simple, it’s not as hard as some make it out to be.  Too often the words of Christ instead of simply taking them, are twisted into another meaning.   And yes, when they came for Jesus, He didn’t resist, when they came for Peter, he didn’t resist, when they came for Paul he didn’t resist, when they stoned Stephen he didn’t resist.  And I agree we as Christians are actually commanded to be ready to die for our faith.  Jesus himself said that some will be destined for prison, some will be destined for death.  He also said to not fear the man that could take our life, but fear the man who could take your life and your soul.   Does this mean that we shouldn’t speak out for our rights, or for others rights?  Like the right to own a weapon?  How about the right denied to many women in the middle east, they can’t even go to the store, without covering up under a blanket and having a male escort from their family, they are raped, tortured, burned to death all in the name of honor.  Honor to who?  Are we suppose to sit back and bask in our love for Christ, and say oh that doesn’t concern me, I love everybody?  Are we suppose to sit and bask in our love while we watch Children being tortured, raped, and used as bombs?  And say oh, feel the love, I can’t worry about that.  I pray God to give me strength if ever I’m confronted with that kind of hatred.  Strength to witness and go willingly to my death for Christ.  But in the meantime, we have to carry on, carry on in the spirit of Christ.  We need to unite, otherwise we will not win this spiritual battle!  We will fail Christ. Jude gives us great advice and I’ll end with that.  Jude 8:22  “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.  To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be Glory, Majesty, Power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

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