FAITH IN THE AGE OF TERRORISM

                                                            SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

FAITH IN THE AGE OF TERRORISM

(Luke 18:8) … when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 

Truly we live in a time of terrorism.  We hear of horrible atrocities overseas and we have faced them even on our own shores.  What is going on with our world?  Why are things so out of control?  Why can’t the world get a hold of this problem?  How can a small group of people do so much devastation around the world?  Let’s take a look at terrorism from a Bible perspective:

GOD PROMISED THERE WOULD BE TERROR IN THE LAND AS A PUNISHMENT FOR TURNING AWAY FROM HIM.  (Lev 26:15-17) and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you…17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you.  God created this world and gave us His laws.  If we violate those precepts then He said He would judge us.  God warned Israel not to turn away from Him but they did and they suffered severely for it.  What an example this is to any nation that leaves God out of its national life. (Read Lev 26; Deu 28)

WHAT CAN CHRISTIANS DO TO COMBAT TERRORISM?  We are to pray!  (1 Tim 2:1-2) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  (Jer 29:7) And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

WE ARE TO BE FAITH-FULL AND NOT FEARFULL.  (Psa 91:5) You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day.  (Pro 3:25-26) Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.  (Isa 54:14) In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.  (John 14:1) “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  

THERE WILL BE UNIVERSAL TERROR ON THE EARTH DURING THE TRIBULATION.  (Isa 2:19) They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.  The world hasn’t seen anything yet!  Read the book of Revelation where terror will cover the earth after the church is taken up in the rapture and deposited safely into the presence of the Lord forever.  

Let us live confidently and avoid fear.  God is in control and His peace can reign in our hearts so we can do His will in simple trust (Isa 26:3; Phil 4:6-7; Col 3:15; 2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:18)

Louie

THE IMMIGRANT

                                                            SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THE IMMIGRANT

The topic of immigration is without doubt a controversial issue facing our nation today.  On the one hand we have the group that says we should receive and provide for all who come in to our borders.  On the other we have those who draw the line and build the walls and say it’s too much for our society to handle.  So let’s take a look at what the Bible says about the immigrant:

AVOID ILL-TREATMENT AND BE UNDERSTANDING:  (Exo 22:21) “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  (Acts 28:2) And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

PROVIDE FOR AS ABLE:  (Lev 19:10) And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God…(Mat 25:35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.  

BE AN ADVOCATE FOR: (Deu 10:18) He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.

SEE THEM AS AN OPPRESSED CLASS THAT GOD HAS A HEART FOR: (Psa 146:9) The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow…

SEE THEM AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD FOR US: (Heb 13:2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels (messengers).

RECOGNIZE PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO WERE STRANGERS IN A FOREIGN LAND:  (1 Pet 2:11) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. (I.e. Abraham, Joseph, Israel in Egypt, Ruth, Judah in Babylon, etc.)

It is quite obvious from these verses that God has a heart for the immigrant, and that we should follow in kind.  But that doesn’t negate the initiative that might be needed to bring about reform and regulation in the area of immigration.  That needs to be worked out by a society with just laws that benefit all (Acts 19:38; Rom 13:1-7, etc.).  But the Bible emphasizes an individual response and not just a legal response.  The forming of law and policy can coexist with a compassionate response to personal need. 

I remember how even subtle discrimination felt when we were living overseas as missionaries.  And to see how tough it was (and still is) for my son-in-law to immigrate to the U.S.  Let’s try to be like God who balances His justice and love in a world of constant collision of ideals.  

Louie

WHO IS JESUS?

                                                            SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

WHO IS JESUS?

When you poll people today and ask them who Jesus is you will get varied answers.  And that’s no surprise because it goes back to the time of Jesus Himself:  (Mat 16:13-14) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Here’s what some groups believe about Jesus:

JEHOVAH WITNESS: Created being. Michael the archangel who became a man. 

MORMONS (LATTER DAY SAINTS): Jesus is the spiritual & physical offspring of God by procreation. Had a preexistence as God's spirit child and brother of Lucifer.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE: A man in tune with the Divine Consciousness, not the Christ. 

UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY: Jesus was a way-shower whose crucifixion was not sacrificial, but released grace (inspiration).

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY: A great teacher who fully realized his personal divinity as a "clear."JUDAISM: An important prophet, but not a divine Person. He did good things & taught the Golden Rule.

UNIFICATION CHURCH: He was to restore original relationship between God & humanity by marriage. His mission was incomplete because he was crucified before marriage. He is a spiritual, not physical savior. 

HINDUISM: One of many incarnations, or avatars, of Vishnu.

BUDDHISM: A good teacher.  One among many, not unique. Less important than Buddha. 

ISLAM: Only a man, a prophet below Mohammed in importance. Did not die for man’s sins.

SIKHISM: Taught humans the Golden Rule; His death was not vicarious.

SECULAR HUMANISM: Secular Humanists view Jesus as just another human teacher. They deny that Jesus is divine.

NEW AGE MOVEMENT: Jesus was one of many appearances of God throughout the ages, one of many people who were fully aware of their true divinity.

PERSON ON THE STREET TODAY: A good teacher. One of many ways. Did good. A good example.  

(Mat 16:15-17) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

WHO IS JESUS?  God.  Second member of the Trinity.  Savior of all humanity.  Jesus died and rose from the dead.  Ascended to the Father.  Soon coming King.  Rules in the hearts of men.  Jesus is the only way to God:  (John 14:6) said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  Is Jesus your personal Lord and Savior?  May the Father open your eyes and heart to believe and receive the love of Jesus today!  

Louie