Why Christianity Matters

As fish aren't conscious that they're in water, we followers of Christ take Christianity for granted. Unless we spent time in a pagan culture, we aren't aware of how special our faith is and how it benefits all people.

We read in Galatians 3:8 (BBE) how the world would be blessed through Christ, Abraham's descendent. "And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, 'In you will all the nations have a blessing.'"

The gospel is that blessing. As Christ commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19 (BBE), "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:"

And since Christianity is a personal belief system and not a political or national one, it improves the lot of even its enemies. That's why Christ said in Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE), "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

Imagine how violent this world would be if Christians didn't love their enemies but sought to get revenge. Like a certain Chinese proverb says, "he who seeks revenge must dig two graves."

Even in the Old Testament, we read that God is the only one who can repay evil. Deuteronomy 32:35 (BBE) quotes him as saying, "Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate."

In a way, Christianity spawned hospitals. Christ told a parable of a man badly beaten and a Samaritan who had compassion on him. Luke 10:34 (BBE)shows how this caring gentleman made sure the beaten-up stranger had a safe place to recover. "And came to him and put clean linen round his wounds, with oil and wine; and he put him on his beast and took him to a house and took care of him." The Samaritan even gave money to the Innkeeper to pay for the man's extended stay.

But imagine if we lived in a non Christian world where vengeance reigned and violence was praised. This is what our western lands are becoming. Since governments have abandoned God, so god has abandoned our countries.

I hope to put my next book together and title it, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Just knowing that there are eternal consequences for wickedness has tempered our collective behaviour.

On Saturday, I hope to publish a post about a great song by The Hollies and how it relates to us believers in Christ.

Saturday Song: depeché Mode, The Meaning of Love, live.txt

This British synthesizer band had a number of hits in the early nineteen eighties. Though they weren't popular in North America, they were huge in the UK.

This song didn't define the meaning of love but it's a perky number none the less. Listen to it here:

People have a variety of ideas of what love is but here's what the Bible has to say about it. When Jesus was giving his disciples their final instructions before he was arrested, he said this to them in John 15:13 and 14  (BBE). "Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I give you orders to do."

Love is also others-centred. The Ten Commandments were filled with mostly negatives. But Christ turned those into positive actions. As Paul noted in Romans 13:8 and 9 (BBE), 8 "Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law. And this, 'Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's,' and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, 'Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.'"

Furthermore, Christian love extends even to those who hate us. Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE)  teaches us, "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

And lest you think this is only a New Testament command, Leviticus 19:18 (BBE)admonishes, "Do not make attempts to get equal with one who has done you wrong, or keep hard feelings against the children of your people, but have love for your neighbour as for yourself: I am the Lord."

On Monday, I hope to post on the subject of who Christ meant by his little ones.

Saturday Song: Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, "Tell it All"

Those who hadn't lived through the late sixties missed a lot of thought-provoking music. I remember how this song convicted me when I heard it, though I had done none of the things mentioned in it. It's far too easy to excuse our bad behaviour while criticizing others of the same thing.

Listen to this meaningful song here.

The Apostle Paul summed up our proper attitude toward our faith in Romans 13:9 (KJV). "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

It's easy to love nice people but what about the nasty ones? Christ extended love to even the hateful folks. Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV) says, "  Ye have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.' 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."

Since we call Christ our Lord and king, his sayings are our orders. James 2:8 (KJV)  "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:"

But our Lord doesn't leave us defenseless against those who might oppress us. Jesus told his disciples in John 14:16 (KJV), "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"

Sadly, there are those calling themselves Christians but who don't obey Christ. Paul wrote of them in 2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV) saying, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."

How wonderful that Jesus told us how to recognize false believers. Matthew 7:16 (KJV) reads, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

What a wonderful truth this is. The world is watching to see if we truly believe what we teach. May we all be found to be true disciples of Christ.