Condemnation or Love
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
Look around us at everything we are hearing and seeing in the media, in our churches,
from our leaders and many other places that impact our lives each day.
The Christian message these days is one of condemnation and exclusivity.
We appear to be extremely worried about a cartoon character,
Sponge Bob, being gay because he at some point in a cartoon held hands
with another male character. Yet we send our youngest children to school
where when they walk through the halls or go on field trips, or other occasions
holding hands with the other students (male to male and female to female).
I have to ask why a cartoon character doing the very thing we teach our children
to do each day is gay?
If you are a homosexual person in this country your automatically condemned to hell.
According to the most public views it is impossible to be gay and christian at
the same time.
Our right to life message is one of pure condemnation. If you have an abortion your
condemned to hell. If your involved at all with stem cell research your
condemned to hell. Most recently the case of this wonderful lady in
Florida is the prominent cause for the right to life, yet many of
these same folks have living wills stating the very same thing that
is the issue with her. Do not provide artificial means of continuing
life under various circumstances.
According to publicized campaigns and information from many of our religious
leaders you are going to hell if your a Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist,
or any other religion than the Christian religion. Even within this religion we
often find ourselves condemned if we are not of the same denomination, or of the
same church or have not been baptized in the church we want to join, or so many
other rules and interpretations.
Where are you in your life today?
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say,
I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Let me ask you to give some serious thought to some things.
If you are a member of another religion who has built a trusting, constant,
loving relationship with God as you have been taught from your family and many
generations before you, and someone stands in front of you and tells you that
you are condemned and going to hell unless you believe in God only as they
believe how are you going to feel? What if that person sat down with you
and simply shared their beliefs and the reasons why the believe like they
do, and spent time and listened to you as well would you be more able to
hear what they are saying? Ladies and gentlemen it is not up to us, it is
up to God. We are simply His tools. Our purpose is to share His love and
the message resulting from that love at each opportunity He gives us. We
have a beautiful, wonderful message from God Himself to share, and that
message is one of love for each and everyone of us without qualifications
or restrictions of any kind. You can not share that message if the only
thing out of your mouth is hate, condemnation, finger pointing and all the
other messages we are seeing today.
Lets take abortion for must a moment. This is not about your position
on the subject so much as what is the best approach. Let's face it folks
if a woman chooses to get an abortion, then that is what is going to take
place, whether it is in a safe controlled clinical environment or in a
back alley coat hanger house that she has been driven to by public outcry.
Is it better, at this point in time, to stand on our pulpits, in our houses
of Congress, and other places yelling at the top of our lungs that this person
is a killer, a murderer, and should be sent to jail and receive the punishment
any other convicted killer or should we work with law makers to modify the laws
that are in place to provide guidance and every opportunity for that individual
to make a choice based on facts and information along with the emotional reasons
that have led to this point in her life. Let's find ways to be sure they can
spend time with the folks that can be sure she has all the information she
needs including a responsible length of time with a religious leader in the
faith of her choice. The law as it stands today allows for choice. If you
don't approve of the law, then work within the rights we have with the members
of government to change that law. In the meantime, lets do everything in our
abilities to support those who provide assistance, information, sharing,
and guidance to anyone in this place in their lives.
Jesus Christ did not come to this earth to condemn so why should we think
it is our duty.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone , but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast
sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and
that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou
hast loved me.
If a member of another denomination, a person of a different skin color or from a
different country, a gay person or any other person was standing beside you in
worship to God, praying and giving praise to Him would you join them or walk away?
What has God through Jesus Christ taught us?
Psa 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from
those that condemn his soul.
Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not
be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Isa 50:9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me?
lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto
them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Psa 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from
those that condemn his soul.
I offer that each of us must work every day, every hour, every minute to build a
wonderful and loving relationship with our God, then take that beautiful love
and let the world see it. Instead of shouting from the mountain tops that your
way is the only way and that anyone not just like you is condemned to hell,
shout louder that God loves everyone and then sit and share that love every
chance you get.
You don't have to walk through your office saying I'm a Christian with every
step you take, let God's love fill you and build your relationship with Him,
and then that will shine through with you just being yourself. You will be
the lighthouse that He wants you to be. Ask God everyday how you can do better,
then work at it.
Job 10:2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore thou
contendest with me.
Psa 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him
from those that condemn his soul.
Remember Jesus came as salvation to all, not just some.
For those of you who are reading this and feel that you have no hope
because of something that you have done or that is a part of your life,
remember and understand that God loves you completely, right now, without
qualifications or hesitation.
God is watching and waiting right now, with His hand reaching out to take
yours and bring you into His life that you may never be alone again. He will
fill you with the Holy Spirit, guide you, and walk with you through every
part of your life. He will never leave you alone, and He will never allow
you to have more than you can handle.
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and
to him that knocketh it shall be opened
Do you want a life that is full of contentment, peace, and happiness? Do
you want to know that from this day forward you will be filled with love,
friendship, no matter who you are, or where you are?
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost , whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Then reach up your hand, take the hand of God, and ask Him into your life
through your acceptance of and belief by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
I pray that your hand will find and clasp the hand of God that is so very
close to you, and that He will fill your life with the companionship,
contentment and fantastic blessings as He has mine.
God be with you my friend.