It seems like Christianity and Jesus are increasingly under attack. What's going on? What we'll be looking at is what happens when Christians use human wisdom to interpret the Bible, twisting scripture away from its intended message. This blog is dedicated to using Scripture itself to interpret and help us understand Scripture. You are welcome to add your comments and thoughts. Other viewpoints are welcome. Disagreements are welcome.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Marine On Trial For Evangelism
An organization is taking up a battle in favor of a U.S. Marine who was sent home from an assignment in Iraq because he handed out coins with a Christian message to Muslims in Iraq.
The organization is Christian Freedom International whose president, Jim Jacobson, says the Marine distributed coins with the words of John 3:16 on one side. The other side asked, in Arabic, the question: “Where will you spend eternity?” The soldier is now on home turf awaiting further word on possible punishment. Read the rest here from OneNewsNow.
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An organization is taking up a battle in favor of a U.S. Marine who was sent home from an assignment in Iraq because he handed out coins with a Christian message to Muslims in Iraq.
The organization is Christian Freedom International whose president, Jim Jacobson, says the Marine distributed coins with the words of John 3:16 on one side. The other side asked, in Arabic, the question: “Where will you spend eternity?” The soldier is now on home turf awaiting further word on possible punishment.
“The fact is that this incident in Fallujah did not involve harassment or coercion of any kind by the soldier,” Jacobson explains. “It did not seek to disrespect Islam as a religion, and it did not cause harm to anyone who received the coins — and it certainly doesn’t warrant the harsh punishment being carried out against this U.S. Marine by his own government,” he contends.
Local leaders demanded the harshest possible punishment, but Jacobsen believes it is unfair for a Marine to surrender constitutional rights while fighting for the freedom of Iraqis. He asks others to support the Marine.
“If [you] want to go to our web site at ChristianFreedom.org, you can read about this incident, find out about it, and then send a letter to your senators and your representatives in Washington and speak out on behalf of this U.S. Marine who is being punished for practicing the Christian faith,” Jacobson explains.
He believes members of the American military should have the freedom to express their faith, and that the U.S. government ought to back them up.
A blog post brings to light a newspaper article about Christians who were handing out tracts being arrested for a hate crime. The newspaper article was in the Birmigham Telegraph. The article states:
"A police community support officer ordered two Christian preachers to stop handing out gospel leaflets in a predominantly Muslim area of Birmingham. The evangelists say they were threatened with arrest for committing a "hate crime" and were told they risked being beaten up if they returned. The incident will fuel fears that "no-go areas" for Christians are emerging in British towns and cities, as the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, claimed in The Sunday Telegraph this year."
God talks about marriage and what He expects from marriage in Malachi 2:14-15.
"The LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her, though she remained your faithful companion. Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard yourself; remain loyal to the wife of your youth."
Homosexual marriage does not fit into this picture of marriage at all. It is a picture of one man, one woman, remaining loyal to each other and doing what God wants... making Godly children.
Marriage is also a picture of God's relationship with Israel, and a picture of God's relationship with His church. In every case we are to reproduce... the church is to be involved in evangelism, leading people to Christ so that they become children of God.
It's the Christmas season and a common theme is peace on earth. What does the Bible mean when it talks about peace?
For a long time I found this to be a confusing question. On the one hand, peace... the end of all war... seemed like a good thing. Yet Jesus said: "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
We think of Jesus as being all about peace and love, but that does not appear to be true.
In Luke 22:36 Jesus tells his followers that to have a sword is so important that they should sell their clothes to buy one. The Book of Revelation describes a future time filled with war and death. Romans 13 tells us one purpose of government is to oppose evil with the sword (war). This all seems at odds with our general understanding that Jesus brings peace. Yet, the truth is Jesus does bring peace. We're just not thinking about the right war.
What is the greatest war? What war has been going on continuously for 6,000 years? Romans 5:10 tells us that before we are saved we are enemies of God. The greatest war is our opposition to God. That is the war Jesus came to end. Jesus came to bring peace between us and God. Through His death on the cross He brings peace between us and God, for all those who accept this gift He has given us.
This is what the Bible means by peace on earth. It is peace between mankind and God. This is the peace we are to work for, by our sharing the gospel with others. Until there is peace between mankind and God, there can be no peace among mankind... in fact Jesus makes it clear that as He brings peace between man and God, He brings war even within families.
What can you do to help bring peace on earth? The Bible tells us what we are supposed to do.
Go out and share the gospel. Tell people about their need for a savior. Share the good news that Jesus died to pay the penalty they owe for disobeying God. Tell them how on the third day He rose from the dead, showing us that we too will live. That is the way, the only way to true peace.
Ten Shekels and a Shirt - by Paris Reidhead. This could be the most eye-opening message about evangelism you've heard. The challenge and blessings of this message from Judges 17 illustrates the ever-present danger of "evangelical" humanism. The longer you listen, the better it gets.
This is a must listen to message. Use the link above and go to the bottom of the page.
Today is Thanksgiving Day. We are thankful to the Lord that today we have opened our FREE Online Witnessing School.
The MTA Online Gospel Witnessing School provides video lessons to help you learn about share the gospel and to fill your witnessing toolbox. It features video lessons, commentary, music and links to books that will help to build your witnessing skills.
God has commanded us to share the gospel. Sharing is a skill you can learn and continue to improve. The MTA Online Gospel Witnessing School helps you to do that.
It's the Thanksgiving weekend and that means it is time for football. But football skills have a use outside the stadium. Watch this video to learn about the Evangelism Linebacker and see how football skills can be used to increase the desire to evangelize.
The word MOST is a Cezch word that means "The Bridge". MOST the Movie is the story of a bridge tender and his son.
It is a story many Christianians are familiar with. A bridge tender takes his son to work with him. The son falls into the gears that lower the draw bridge. A train is coming. The father must decide between saving his son or saving everyone on the train.
The film company sells MOST the Movie DVDs for $19.95. Some internet retailers sell it for $24.95. You can get your copy for a donation of $10 or more to Mission to America. Donate $75 and we'll send you a copy and be able to give away 10 copies free to pastors, missionaries and others who can use this video for evangelism.
MOST the Movie has won numerous awards. The cinamatography is stunning. The story well told. The acting is supurb. And the gospel message is woven into the story throughout the entire film. You'll watch this DVD over and over, and MOST the Movie is a video that is easy to invite family and friends to see.
We've been making significant additions to our web site this past week. The one that I've found most encouraging is a video we've added to our home page. It is called George Street.
The George Street video is about eight minutes in length. It's about evangelism and doing something as simple as handing out tracts on George Street in Sydney, Australia. I highly recommend it.
I find this to be a very interesting verse. It says:
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."
The words to notice are, "AND SPEED ITS COMING".
How we live our lives has a direct effect on how soon Jesus returns. YOU are very important. We are looking forward to the day that Jesus returns, and how we live our lives will effect how soon that will be.
Are you desiring to live a holy and Godly life? Do you love God and your neighbor? If you love your neighbor have you told them about the gospel? We are here on earth for only a brief moment, and in that brief moment your neighbors, your family and your eternal destiny will be determined. How can we not warn people that they are heading for hell unless they repent and trust in Jesus? How can we say we love our neighbor, when we haven't told our neighbor the most important thing they need to know?
"'...You are my witnesses', declares the LORD 'that I am God...'"
We are called by God to be His witnesses.
In the past hour over 7,000 people who did not trust Jesus as their Savior went to hell.
Carl F. H. Henry said, "The gospel is only good news it it arrives in time."
Mark 16:15 says, "Go into ALL the world and preach the good news to all creation."
What are you doing to bring the good news of the gospel to the world? The great missionary William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God."
The pioneering missionary to China, J. Hudson Taylor, said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed."
You don't think you can bring the good news of the gospel to others? You don't think there is anything you can do to support others who are bringing the gospel to others? Keep this thought in mind:
"You do not test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible." - F. B. Meyer
