I saw an ad on TV yester this commercial of one politician blasting another politician during the current voting spree. What was the one blasting the other for? For not supporting protection of the gopher! Growing up in the Midwest I know a thing or two about gophers. First, they are not very good for anyone who is a farmer, trying to maintain lawns, and are avid gardeners. Gophers, moles, rats and other below surface critters are plentiful here in Washington. For that matter, they are plentiful most everywhere except the Artic and the Antarctica. Don't politicians have things more important than gophers to discuss? How about they talk about the demise of the dandelion. Yep, there's a group here in our fair state that has as their agenda to protect the precious yellow dandelion. What have happened to our common sense. Why aren't they protecting the 1.6 million babies that are aborted every year just in the United States of America. Why are they intent on protecting whether or not a personal pronoun you want to use for yourself when there are thousands of homeless veteran's needing medical care and housing? Why aren't these same politicians intent on helping others help themselves instead of loading the rest of society with what they should be responsible for? It's no different for the Christian both inside and outside the church.
How you might ask. There is more than enough differences between us that distract us from the real issues. Paul takes great length in his writings to talk about this in Romans. Jesus stood for something and never wavered from that focus. Paul too had that focus and urged the church to put aside pettiness. He urged the believers to have a oneness of mind. That one mind is the core of the church (not a building) of Christ. Fixating on whether someone is good enough, whether or not they have the right conversion and such things are worthless. The Baptist denomination has 200 different kinds of Baptist groups. The Assemblies of God either believes you need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and speak with tongues in order to be called a believer. Some sections of that group don't believe that way. The Church of Christ doesn't believe in musical instruments and that confession of faith without being dunked in baptism will still render you unsaved. Yes, even if you are killed on the way to be baptized. We could go on and on with differences. Yet, the Gospel and our Lord Jesus tells us there are only two important focuses for the Christian. The first is and will always be loving the Lord our God with all our heart soul and mind. The second is like unto the first in that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Do you know where we can find this kind of living?
There is one name by which all may be saved. His name is Jesus. There are no arbitrary paths we can take and be saved. It's one way and one way only. There is a real heaven and he's prepared us a place for us forever. There is a hell for those who don't choose to love Jesus for loving them. It's all a choice. The Christian life isn't about tithing because when you love Jesus everything you have is His for Him to do with as he wishes. You are a tenant entrusted with your blessings and in loving God and others you don't have the time or need to hold onto those blessings. Loving your neighbor is found in giving like Jesus has given to us. It kills me that some people tithe to the Lord and then write that tithe off on their taxes. Sure the law allows us. However, when you take back in the form of write off on your taxes you do just that. It's no longer your if you give as required by God. He said to render to Caesar that which is Caesars and to give to God what is God's. Pettiness and infighting is NOT of God. Loving others because Jesus loved us IS of God. Give away that which God has given to you. Remember, it's always your choice.
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