Give Their Lives For Others

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

                                                                         (John 15:12-13 KJV)

Veteran's Day is set aside to remember the many who have fallen in support of this country and for the freedom of others around the world. 

Last summer my husband and I visited the Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington is such a quiet and peaceful place unlike it's neighbor next door, Washington, DC. It was a time of reflection as well as awe at the reminder of how many have been willing to give their lives for the sake of others.

As I remember the fallen, I am pained also by the knowledge of why so many died to protect others; why so many wars were fought in the first place. If it had not been for so many greedy and power hungry rulers and people; who were willing to persecute; to destroy people who did not agree with them or follow and worship them there would have been no reason to have to defend others by giving their lives. In other words if there were no sin; there would be no wars.

This past year due to Covid-19 I have watched a lot of television. Most of the shows were either documentaries or fictional stories based on history. It has been gut-wrenching at times to recognize the atrocities that humankind would inflict upon one another. I have had to walk out of the room many times to avoid watching or hearing about the most grievous atrocities. It grieves me to know that so much, if not most, of the violence was brought on by either political or religious beliefs or both. Over the years I have been questioned by some as as to why I believe so strongly in separation of church and state. It is because history tells me that when they get together really bad things happen to people who don't agree with the decision makers and rulers. Wars happen! Persecution and even murder continue to happen all over the world even today as countries decide one religion must dictate the law or when the governments say that there can be no religion at all.

The loss of lives over the centuries; from the beginning of time, due to wars is astronomical. We grieve those losses. We remember today and are most grateful for those who were willing and continue to be willing to give their lives in the hope of giving others better lives.

It is way past time to stop persecuting others for either their political or their religious beliefs. I am not saying stop evangelizing. We can continue evangelizing with peaceful and loving hearts. I am saying stop destroying people just because they don't believe what you believe. Don't persecute them. Pray for them.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" (Matt 5:44)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Church and State

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

                                                                                     (Matt 7:15-21 KJV)

I have been spending a lot of time outside during the "stay home, stay safe" guidelines. My husband, who had open heart surgery last month, is still spending a lot of time inside in his chair watching television. I try to spend time watching with him so that we can be together. We are almost to the sixth wife of "The Tudors." I have had to leave the room often! I leave the room for beheadings, dis-embowlments, adultery and other activity that clearly is going to be too sexual in nature. A central theme of this historical fiction is religious persecution from all all sides. It is about the church and state in such a close relationship that evil has become most rampant in the church and in the state. I have missed a whole lot of this series due to having to leave the room; but, I have not missed much because as someone who enjoys history I know what's coming next and I can leave the room before the really disgusting stuff happens.

This past week, my husband also watched a documentary on the government forced assimilation of Native children into boarding schools. Children in North America were forcibly taken out of their homes and away from their parents to live in these orphanage type homes; most of which were run by churches. Many of these children were horribly abused while in the care of the government and the church. My husband was stunned at the extent of the abuse that had gone on. I am not sure why he was as we have friends who were subjected to these abuses at the hands of the government and the church. But, then again, it is shocking to be reminded of the atrocities that have been committed that were (are) supposedly for the good of people.

The list of atrocities that have occurred over the many generation when the church and state have acted together is too long to list. I do not write this blog today to condemn the church on earth as a whole or the government overall or even Christians who hold government posts. I write it to remind us that there will be false prophets who are like ravening wolves within the church and the governments. Those false prophets will work to divide the church and the state as they seek to satisfy their own political  and secular and even personal religious agendas. 

May God help us to discern what is good and right; what is His will. May God give us the courage and strength to do His will in spite of the direction our secular leaders might steer us in. May God help us to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus the Christ that we might not do harm to those who do not think or worship or live as we do.

God's Peace - Pr. J.