Category: Love Your neighbor

  • Clash of Values

    Jesus didn’t come to change our value system.

    Can we talk?  

    There is plenty of hot and heavy debate and venting going on concerning issues such as gender identity and its many related issues, prayer in school, abortion, etc.  That’s not even considering the political falderal that seems to have been going on forever.

    There’s a wide diversity of opinion on these and many other issues. Public policy in these areas in North America often opposes what orthodox, historical, evangelical Christianity holds as truth.

    It shouldn’t surprise us when our beliefs clash with the world’s. When that happens, we need to remember that the world isn’t Christian, so we shouldn’t expect them to act as if they were. That doesn’t mean it won’t break our hearts, but it shouldn’t be a big surprise. Even as believers, we often behave in ways that contradict our beliefs.

    The whole concept of “Judeo-Christian values,” which seems to be increasingly slipping from the system, was based on a misunderstanding.

    Jesus didn’t come to change our value system. That truth is so important and overlooked it is worth repeating. “Jesus didn’t come to change our value system.” He came to change our hearts and make us pure and holy. The result of that heart change is the change in our value systems. It’s a consequence, not the goal.

    It’s a mistake to expect those with unredeemed hearts to hold the same values as a believer.

    The time for us to worry is not when we’re at odds with the culture around us. The time for us to worry is when we’re in sync with the culture. Sometimes, that happens because there are some universal truths that even the world gets right now and then. More often, it’s because somewhere along the line, we’ve compromised our own beliefs.

    If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  John 15:18-19 

    We belong to the kingdom of Light. The world is under the authority of the Prince of Darkness. The two are seldom going to agree. That should neither surprise nor discourage us. The victory is ours, even when we feel like we’re losing a battle.

    Knowing the truth doesn’t give us the right to be unloving or bigoted. We hold fast to that truth, but we speak the truth in love.

    Part of having a transformed heart is learning to love others. We need to practice grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We set aside our judgmental natures. We share the love of Jesus and let the Spirit transform the hearts and values of others. Only God can do that.

    Until next time, take heart … I’ve read the book.  We win.

    Kevin

    Some posts to consider

    Called to be bridge builders

    The gospel – the best news ever

    Tribulation produces perseverance

    Herded – an old border collie reminds me of the truth

  • Ed and Ned talk about God, injustice and suffering.

    group of senior men having coffee at loacl restaurant

    A group of old farmers and retirees sat around the table at the local restaurant in their usual chairs. They were solving all the problems of the world as older men often do. And some of us not-so-old types, too!

    I sat with them next to two fellows I knew well. Let’s call them Ned and Ed. The conversation got past politics, and that took a while. 

    Ned and Ed pontificated about the latest agricultural developments and lamented agribusiness’s rise over farming. Being true farmers, they also complained about the price of gas and the weather. 

    As the morning wore on, the subject drifted to religion and faith.

    Old Ned said to Ed, “If there is a God, why isn’t He doing more about the poverty, suffering, and injustice in the world? Surely He could easily do more than He seems to be doing now.”

    Ed replied, “You know Ned, that’s an excellent question, but I’m afraid that one of these days, God will ask me the same thing.”

    If we are honest, that comment should cause us to say “ouch” at least a little.

    What do we do about all the suffering, poverty, and injustice? Those are huge problems, and we are unlikely to solve them all, but we can make a difference. How should we live as Christians?

    We need to walk in keeping with the Royal Law.

    If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. James 2:8 ESV

    Complaining about the winter weather, injustice, and poverty will not make it go away, nor will waiting for “the government” to fix it.

    We cannot solve all the world’s problems, but if we committed to loving our neighbor as ourselves, we could make a difference one person at a time. Loving your neighbor is a huge step toward eliminating those problems.

    One moment at a time and one step at a time. Let’s love others as Christ loves us.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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