Render To God and Caesar?

Matthew 22:15-22 KJV; 21st Sunday after Pentecost; Matthew 22:35-40; Should Christians serve in public office? Should they be allowed to speak what is on their mind and in their hearts? Just because there are those in the world who would refuse us, we ought to speak out for what is just; what is right.

Labor Day 2023

Proverbs 21:25-26 KJV; The way in which we labor ought to glorify the Lord.

Put Not Your Trust In Princes

Psalm 146:1-10 KJV; Put not your trust in leaders who claim to want to help the world; yet, only help themselves. Put your trust in the Lord and know that many who say that they are oppressed have actually become the oppressor and in the end the Lord will turn their ways upside down.

Welcome The Children

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

                                                (Mark 9:36-37 KJV)

Make no mistake. The person, man or woman, who would reject a child for any reason rejects Jesus and the one who rejects our Savior also rejects the Creator; the God and Father of all.

Usually (but, not always) those who would neglect or destroy children because they have other priorities will in fact admit that they do not accept Jesus as the Christ. They do no accept that it was God who created the heavens and the earth. They simply do not believe. That is the way it is. The only thing we can do about it is to pray and proclaim the Good News that Jesus died for all people no matter what we may have done. He died that we might be forgiven our sins and reconciled to God and to one another; even reconciled to the children that we have forsaken.

Children are not given to us to used as pawns. They are not given to us to be used for political purposes. They are not given to us to use and and abuse. Children are a gift from God. 

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

                                       Psalm 127 (NASB)

God help us to appreciate and love the gift of children that God has given us. Help us to protect and care for them. Help us to welcome them even as we would welcome our Lord Jesus.

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.

Haman's Ego Was The Death Of Him

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

                                                                                     (Esther 5:7-13 KJV)

Oh my... Haman has some serious ego issues. Invited to eat with the King Xerxes at Queen Esther's table, he is so excited, he's running about bragging how important he is. He does not even suspect that Queen Esther is very dear and related to the man at the gate, Mordecai, whom Haman desires to have destroyed. He does not suspect that he is walking into a trap. 

Deluded! Haman is quite delusional. His ego has gotten the better of him. He has been blinded by his own glory! Haman thinks he can manipulate people for his own purposes (personal and political) and get away with it. He will not. The tables are turning and Esther is playing the game. She will use his ego to save her people. Haman will end up on the gallows that he is preparing for Mordecai.

Ego will blind us to reality. Ego will be our destruction and possibly the destruction of the people around us. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

                                                                                              (Phil 2:3-8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lobbyists In The Church!

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:35-37 KJV)

On trial, Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. Jesus did not fight political battles. His message was about the Kingdom of God. 

A decade ago, I left my former denomination. A decade prior to that I had begun to speak openly regarding their mission priority being one of political lobbyists in this world rather than sharers of the Good News of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus. 

I am not against individuals speaking regarding their political beliefs, no matter what party they belongs to. In fact, I think they should speak up as individuals. But, they should speak with tolerance and as individuals and not as representatives of the church. 

I find it abhorrent that an entire denomination would decide via delegates what the politics of every member of the denomination should be. It causes division. It makes those who disagree with any new resolutions of the church on earth like they are being told their political belief system is wrong and that they are not a part of the church unless they agree with the resolutions and the actions of church lobbyist. It takes away from the true mission of the church. It will destroy the church on earth. It will destroy congregations and denominations.

Yes, indeed we are to speak up and defend the helpless. But, who the helpless actually are can be a matter of differing opinions even within the church. For example there are those who defend the woman's right to abort a child. They consider themselves to be defending the helpless woman. But, there are also many of us who choose to speak up and defend the helpless child who can now in some states be aborted at birth. 

My husband is a retired U.S. Marine. Many years ago, a member of my denomination; but, not of my congregation, confronted me over the U.S. Marine and the Tanker stickers we had in the back window of our 4-wheel drive pick-up as this Christian did not support the military in any way, shape, or form. He also wanted to know if my congregation approved of me using the salary they paid me to purchase and drive such a gas guzzler. The truth is that on my salary as a female pastor, I could not have afforded the truck. It was my husband who paid for the truck. Without that 4-wheel drive truck, I could also not visit some of the people I had to visit as their pastor, especially in the spring when some of the back roads I drove on had mud that was knee-deep. 

Over the years, I have been careful not to espouse my politics from the pulpit. That is not the place for it. Political lobbyists do not belong in the church. In fact, many church constitutions (agreements with the state) have some restrictions on it, which are often ignored.

I am retired and not leading any congregation now and do not have to worry about dividing a congregation over my political opinions. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God who lives in this world, I feel much more freedom to express my worldly opinions which I believe are based mostly on my faith. I have the right, as an individual, to speak up for what I believe is right. I do not believe that any congregation or denomination has a right to tell the whole flock what they must believe politically. Every member of the church on earth has the inalienable right to voice their opinions whether on politics or anything else. As Christians, we do not have the right to bully others into thinking like we do. We, as individuals can choose to protest. But, the church on earth; no Bishop, no pastor, should consider that they can tell us that we must.

Jesus spoke the truth. He called sin a sin; the disciples didn't get to vote on it. But, the Good News, at least for us, is that he willingly died to take upon himself those sins. His disciples didn't get to vote on that either. What he taught affected the world and although he was not political; what he taught does and will affect what we believe politically. He was not engaged in overthrowing Caesar or any of his cohorts. His Kingdom, he said, is not of this world. 

May God help us to live in peace with one another no matter what our political persuasion happens to be. May God help the church on earth as a whole to focus more on sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ than on lobbying for special interests in the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love Him; Worship Him

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut 6:4-5 NRSV)

What brings you to worship and serve the Lord? Is it tradition; the fear of death; or love for the Lord? 

There are many reasons to show up at a worship service. Sometimes, it is just because that is the way you were brought up. It is what you must do. But; once you get there, your ears and heart and mind are closed to the love that God has for you. Or, maybe it is the fear of death and you figure that just in case their really is a heaven and hell you're going to be buying a guarantee by making your presence known? Neither of those things will save you. Only, faith in Jesus, the one who lived and died and lives for you, saves you. That faith in him, itself, is a gift from God. 

There are various reasons for people to attend worship services. They sometimes show up to have their children baptized and then we never see them until confirmation, a wedding, a funeral or maybe Christmas Eve. I've known people who attend worship services to get political votes. I've also known people who attend worship in order to promote their businesses. There are many reasons people show up to worship at churches. Hopefully, it is the love of God that stirs them. But; if not, all people are welcome; both believers and unbelievers. Faith comes by hearing the word and if we hear it enough, even if we try not to listen, the Holy Spirit will work in us all the awesome gift of faith and love for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Whether one believes or not; the Lord is our God. Welcome all people so that they might come to know Him and love him with all their hearts, and souls, and might.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live In Peace With One Another

      

         Live In Peace With One Another!

Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
“He won’t call me to account”?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.
The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.
(Psalm 10 NIV)

Today is a day of national mourning as we grieve the tragedy of September 11, 2001. We continue to suffer and grieve as we continue to struggle to comprehend the inhumanity of humankind. It is difficult, if not impossible, to understand how or why anyone would kill so many people in the name of God.

But, 9-11 was not the first time nor the last. History is replete with religious fanatics; religious wars. The Christian church on earth is not without its own guilt. As there are Muslim extremists so there are and have been Christian extremists who destroy the lives of others for what their egos tell them is the thing to do. I often consider the damage that Christian have done even to Christians over the centuries; particularly, as the hierarchies have striven for political power. Those are some serious "shake my head" moments as I wonder how humanity can be so inhumane.

It is not just religious fanatics who strive for power to gratify their own egos, either. Consider how many people die daily because of being terrorized not just by strangers; but, often by friends and even family. It seriously grieves me when I consider Chicago's crime rate alone and Chicago is just one of example among many; albeit one of the worst. How much more inhumane can humanity become than to put one's own desire for power above the lives of others? 

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; encourage them, and listen to their cry, defend the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

God's Peace be with you all - Pr. J

Deserting Jesus

  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)  and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.  He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

  (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

  “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

    “‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’

  and,

    “‘May another take his place of leadership.’

  Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

  So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.                                       (Acts 1:15-26 NIV)

It is a sad thing when one would turn their back on Jesus. But, that is what his friend and follower, Judas, did. There was nothing left to do for the disciples after his death, but to replace him so that there would be the twelve to witness to what they had seen of Jesus' life; from his baptism to his ascension. Two men were nominated; Matthias was elected by casting lots. Casting of lots helped avoid biases and divisions among the people. There were no great debates as to who the better candidate was. There were no expensive campaigns. There were no recounts. They simply trusted that God would guide the results of the lots; whatever those lots might be.

Even today, we encounter those who would turn their backs on Jesus; betraying him; deserting him and his church. Sometimes, they will choose to stay within the church as they don't even realize that they have turned their backs on Christ, simply because they happen to like the ritual of being there or they like serving to serve their own egos or maybe they have a more secular political purpose in mind.

Some find themselves disillusioned because the church is not what they want it to be for them as individuals. They cannot comprehend they mystery of the kingdom of God. When they choose to leave, like Judas, they also find themselves without hope.

Our hope is found in Jesus Christ. Without him, we can do nothing. It is a sad thing for all involved when we lose a brother and sister in Christ to worldly desires. Hear the witness of the many generations that speaks of Jesus' gift of life and salvation for you. Receive it and live life in the Kingdom of God, in the Body of Christ, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Who Is The Anti-Christ

  Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

  As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

  I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. 

                                                                                                            1 John 2:18-27 NIV

So, exactly who is the antichrist? According to St. John the antichrist is anyone who would deny
that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Son also denies the Father. Whoever denies either is a liar and the antichrist.

                                       

Next question: How does one deny that Jesus is the Christ? Response: By trusting in our own good works for our salvation. When we trust the world, ourselves, anything or anyone before Jesus the Christ we are denying him; we are denying his power and authority to save us.

The antichrist is not some mythical being. Generations have looked for this one and pointed their fingers at various political or religious leaders saying, "he is the antichrist; these are the last days." Pointing the finger at one person only distracts us from looking within ourselves to see who it is that actually abides in us. Is it Jesus the Christ or the antichrist?

May the Word of God abide in us and we in him. May God help us to trust Him above all others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shall We Desert Him?

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”    (John 23:12-13 NIV)

Oh, what a glorious day it was. Jesus, the prophesied King of the Jews was coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The people went out to meet him waving palm branches in celebration. But, this was not to last and he was not the kind of king that they were hoping for. He would be lording it over no one. When he came into his kingdom it would be a kingdom of peace. It would be a kingdom of love; not of political agendas and maneuvers for any particular people. He came so that through him, all people might live in his Kingdom.

But, the people did not understand. The disciples did not understand. By the end of the week, even  friends would betray and desert him. Between two criminals he would be executed on a cross.

Today is Palm and/or Passion Sunday depending on how congregations around the world decide to celebrate it. I have always celebrated both. The proclamation of the Gospel will begin with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and it will not be finished until we see Jesus buried in the tomb. It will not be abbreviated in any way because we need to hear it. I anticipate there will be about the average number of people at worship today to wave the palms. On Easter Sunday, there will be even more to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. But what of the days between Sundays? It has been my experience that the observance of the night in which he was betrayed, when he gave to the disciples the bread and wine, declaring that they were his body and blood given for us and the day of his execution will not see so many at worship. Many followers will stay away. Just as many of his followers stayed away from Calvary so shall many of his followers today stay away from the observance of this fateful week; for they are not days of celebration; but, of grief as we are hit with the stark reality that in order for us to live; Jesus had to die.

Today, we will hear the entire story from the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem to the tomb because if it were not told today, many would not hear of the events between the Sunday celebrations. Without Good Friday; there would be no resurrection; there would be no Easter Sunday.

Please, join your local congregation at every opportunity this week so that you might hear the whole story of Jesus' passion for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J