Love's lifestyle

I once read where a gangster in America’s prohibition era inquired about becoming a Christian. When challenged to renounce his criminal lifestyle he baulked at such a thing. His reply, as I recall, was that he wanted to be known a Christian gangster.

In the mind of some is a similar misunderstanding of God’s grace in Christ. When Jesus summarised His lifestyle requirements as love for God and love for others. This seemed to be a charter for self-determination and indulgence. They could ‘love’ and God’s grace would still cover them. The mind of men and women is twisted, corrupt and seeks to be a god unto itself. To read the New Testament is to grasp the battles those responsible for discipleship faced. Writing to the church at Ephesus Paul called upon them to remember that to walk with the Lord required a walk different to the walk of the unconverted. For the unsaved have their understanding darkened and are alienated from the life of God within because of heart blindness (Ephesians 4:18). This form of living meant no boundaries, no moral code and a hardening of their sensitivities towards others. Then the apostle declares “You have not so learned [about] Christ [and His call on your life] Ephesians 4:20.

If there was ever an abused word in any language it must be ‘love!’ It is used to influence Christians into accepting such things as same-sex marriage, euthanasia and sexual practices specifically denounced in Scripture. For the proponents of such behaviours ‘love’ is the guidelines and the over-arching battering ram to make Christians agree - or else! Fortunately, God’s word cannot be changed! Fortunately, there are those who stand tall in defending it even at great personal cost. Fortunately, the majority of Bible reading and believing Christians decry the abuse of the word love and Scripture. Who knows how long before all followers of Christ will endure the ‘love’ of those who have darkened understanding, ignorant minds and blind hearts.

No one can say they love God and trample on His lifestyle calling. True, when we first turn to Him and enter into His grace and salvation there are many things of which we are unaware. He is very patient with us. However, God’s Holy Spirit will lead you out of ignorance into knowledge and then you become accountable. You cannot worship God and play in the Devil’s yard. You cannot say “I love Jesus” and commit murder. A person cannot bully or defame or hate then imagine God is pleased when that person takes the Lord's Supper. No-one can be a paedophile and kneel before God’s throne and talk about loving God. No one will be able to say “I love God” and yet rob Him of His glory, shred His word and cripple His Church’s testimony through immorality. No one! No one! No one!

A follower of Christ, whatever his or her status in life, has to come to grips with Christ’s definition of love. It is vastly different to that of the World’s religions or those without religion. New believers need to realise while we are free from the Mosaic Laws, Judgements and Statutes, we are actually under a higher calling. The Law of Christ, Love for His Father and for others, liberates the spirit and reigns in the soul. Sure there are times when we trip up and fall short. Yes, there are times when ignorance gives grief. Undoubtedly, the World, the Carnal nature and the Devil entice us into error. BUT! Love for the Christ of Calvary who gave His life on our behalf to redeem us won’t allow us to continue in that arena. His love for us has provided a way for our love of Him to escape the muck and murk of mistake, ignorance and stupidity. It is called repentance! It leads to a deeper gratitude. This in turn leads to a stronger devotion. This is fed by a craving to honour the Lord. When this envelopes us we want to understand and live out His Word. As that knowledge permeates then liberates, cleanses and dictates our lifestyle. In the midst of all this there is a realisation that love of God protects, enriches, empowers and propels the believer into a deep appreciation of His grace.

Lord, may my love for you colour my love for others according to your word. May I reach out to your love when I crash in my Christian life and grasp it through repentance! In the arena of my life when there is a cost to pay because of obedience to Christ’s word, please, let your l0ve to me shrink the cost into nothing but a nuisance and an opportunity to  share your love. Amen!

©Ray Hawkins April 2^nd 2017.

Bullying's Antidote

Bullying has taken on new dimensions through Social Media. Some of the results have been deadly especially to the young and vulnerable. Reports indicate that this attitude has increased substantially in recent years. At the moment Governments are establishing commissions and committees to see why it is increasing and what can be done.

However in the context of global conflicts and the loss of a moral compass about what is right and what is wrong, should we be surprised? With young and old captured by the electronic world of violent games why be surprised by similar behaviour. When children are spectators to their mother being assaulted by her husband what lessons are being taught? Even those who have a religious tendency don’t seem immune from perpetrating acts of violence, deceit and oppression.

In Australia the Islamists appear on the news insisting their religion is one of peace. With the backdrop of Syria and a host of other countries such words are a sad and unfunny joke. Some like the Buddhists try and sidestep violence by renouncing desire. The problem is passion and pain are on the ‘doorstep’ when they come out of yoga or meditation. Christians cannot claim any moral high ground. Church history can be a record of Denominational blood letting. Is there any hope for our world of violence?

In essence the problem is personal. When there isn’t any inner peace there will always be relational turmoil. In the bible book of James is the following quote. ‘Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts.’ (James 4:1–2) Multiply this by what ever number add into the mix national vested interests and racial divides and we soon enter various ‘war zones.’

There isn’t any doubt individuals and nations want peace. However they want it their way. The Lord has given Governments authority to rule according to law. Unfortunately the human heart is devious and seeks to circumvent or overthrow such well intentioned laws. The bible says there will be peace talks and calls for peace, but sudden destruction always crashes the ‘peace party.’ Because the human heart is so devious and corrupt before peace can reign the heart must experience a great big makeover. How can this take place. In reality there are two options. One is highlighted by Islam, especially by the extreme expressions of Islam such as Hezbollah. Imposing Sharia law, restricting the rights of women and adhering to the teachings of Imans from the Koran is their solution. All right if you are a male without any emotional capacity for the well being and education of your wife and daughters.

The other option is promoted by the Christian Faith. It seeks to work from within the mind and heart of a person. The teachings of Jesus Christ are designed to dominate the human nature with His love, grace and mercy. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and offers this quality of life to His disciples. Notice, Jesus is not a pacifist! His peace comes at the point of the sword, not to the body but to the heart. His sword is actually the cut and thrust of His teaching which aims to cut away ungodliness and replace it with righteousness. It is when a person is at peace with God through yielding to His Son, Jesus, that the person is able to control his or her tendencies for bullying and abuse.



The bible is God's directory to peace.



For inner peace to penetrate a believer’s realm of influence the Lord has supplied His Holy Spirit and the holy scriptures. Neglect these and peace is squashed by selfish obsessions. Walk in step with Christ’s gifts and you will bless others with peace. There is much, much more on this subject from Christ’s perspective. Secure a bible and a concordance and go on a journey of discovering the peace which passes all our understanding.

The Bullies against Christmas

Christmas Bullies

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. It use to be mostly boys but now girls have joined the ranks. Such creatures usually cannot hold their own in debate and discussion so seek to win by muscle power or verbal humiliation. Their effect on some has been devastating.

History has thrown up untold numbers of national bullies in the form of dictators. Such men are usually in Government, tribal or religious areas. Dominating women of history are much more subtle and seductive. Both have their power for a while but death always takes them from the scene. Whether they believe in God or not, they will have to stand in judgment before Him.

Onto the 21st century a new and more corrosive form of bullying has developed. It is religious in nature but seductive in its approach. Through the abuse of anti-discrimination laws and political correctness these bullies seek to destroy Christmas. They want the holiday but they want to remove the Christian reason undergirding it. What is it? Christ’s birth at Bethlehem. In its Christless place they want innocuous terms such as vacation or recreation day.

Who are at the head of the ‘Bully Boys Brigade’? Islam and Atheists. Who are their compliant assistants? Government and local councils. Such countries with a previously Christian history and majority, such as Norway, are buckling under the fear of offending non Christians. It doesn’t seem to matter that Christians and their faith and holy days are violated and other faiths are left untouched.

Why is there such hostility to Christmas and Easter and of course, the Bible? Could it be due to what they declare? That is the promised one of the Tanak (Jewish scriptures) is declared to have come in the Gospels. In them we read that the promised one is the Messiah who came as the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. That pointed to the Jewish Passover being fulfilled in the Messiah’s crucifixion. If this promised one we know as Jesus was still dead no one would celebrate Christmas or Easter. The section of the Bible called the New Testament declares Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to His Father’s realm. Jesus in now Lord and Saviour! He waits the right moment when the rest of Scripture is fulfilled to return as ruler and judge.

That is what the bully boys don’t want to happen (not that they can stop it). As they don’t like to be reminded of their fate and as they don’t want to change their mind, they endeavour to remove that which offends their belief system. No tolerance there. No sound argument can destroy the Christmas event, so be a bully and crush your opponent. ‘Hide incompetence and lack of argument behind well meaning laws that can be twisted to one’s own advantage’ is their mantra.

The bullies can not prevail. Caesar tried it with the lions in the arena. He failed. Christmas will be celebrated and its message will shine out more brightly than ever. The meek may pay a price but they are on the winning side, just read what Jesus said in Matthew 5:5.

Whether you like or dislike Christmas, whether you believe December 25 is the right date, ultimately doesn’t matter. What matters is its testimony. That is ‘He who was long promised came in the fullness of time.’ You can follow His story in the Gospels. How do we know Jesus came? Because of the

cross and resurrection! Without that event we wouldn’t be having this celebration. Then we wouldn’t have bullies trying to prove Christmas didn’t happen.
But it did.
Its meaning prevails.
Its promise endures.
So put your trust in Jesus the Messiah and have a happy Christmas.

The Battle of the gods

The Lord God and the gods

The claim of the atheists that all the wars have been religious ones has a ring of truth about it. They could have used the term political wars as well. They may not agree with the assessment that even Atheism is a religious belief yet as it requires faith it qualifies.

Perplexed people ponder why is it that nations and individuals find it hard, indeed impossible to get along. Is there an answer? The Bible says ‘yes’ in words plain and clear. Why then do men and women find it hard to accept? I think it is due to the fact the Bible makes us realise that all of us are part of the problem.

What does the Bible reveal as the basic cause of strife, wars and various other aggressive facets of our human nature? Genesis chapter three paints the picture. Satan leads Eve and Adam into an act of rebellion against the Creator God. This fallen angel tempts them with the notion that by taking of the fruit forbidden by Yahweh they will become gods. I think Satan believed their treason would make them slaves in his realm. The unexpected happened and it has infected all their descendents ever since. Humans came to believe they are gods.

The most striking examples of this are the Pharaohs, Caesars and current North Korean leaders. What we fail to appreciate is that each of us possesses this spiritual and moral disease. Within individuals this legacy of Adam’s disobedience will express itself in various ways. From the dominating bullying ego centric despot to the servile, cringing and manipulating weakling. What is the outcome in real life of people? Quarrels and arguments as we seek to assert our rights, our will, our wisdom, even our dislikes and revenge! The human heart wants to rule. It craves sovereignty and the obedience of others. Consider that in the light of James 4:1-3. It is a battle of a ‘god’ seeking lordship over others who think they are ‘god’.

When Adam and Eve took the fruit Satan must have been dismayed, frustrated and angered. Why? Because they didn’t succumb to being his slaves in his kingdom of darkness. Ever since this angel of evil has sought to seduce Humankind to accept his sovereignty. He has done this through the occult, magical arts and the promise of power.

Where has the Lord God almighty, the Creator been in this conflict? He too has been endeavouring to bring the descendents of the first couple back into His Kingdom of Light. He continues to do this before the declaration that time is up. There can only be one Sovereign. Only One who is to worshipped. Only One whose will is to be obeyed.

Therefore as you read the Bible it becomes clear the Lord embarked on a reconquest of His creation and the children of Adam and Eve. His call to them to bow to His sovereignty embraced a number of issues. Love motivated Him for He knows that Judgement awaits those who refuse His offer. Forgiveness has been made possible as the basis for re-entry into His presence. How, for treason is a capital offence? Here is the wonder and the power behind the events we call Christmas, the Cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has dealt with the moral and spiritual expressions of the conflict and consequences of the battle of the gods with the one and only God.

What now is the issue? Individuals can hang onto their ‘god-ness’ or join with the powers of darkness. Or they can realise the unwiseness of fighting against Yahweh and rejecting His right to their allegiance Such recognition by you, by me, means we reject our claims to personal sovereignty, we acknowledge our rebellion and delusion, we accept His amnesty offered to us in Christ Jesus. It means we bow the knee in surrender and worship.

When we yield up the rights to ourselves to the Lord God Almighty we discover many wonderful truths. We know peace, we have hope and there is no fear in meeting the God before whom all must stand. Sure each of us will face many conflicts and issues which challenge our allegiance to Christ Jesus but we know He stands with us in the fight. We know we have the victory for all eternity. It isn’t ours but Christ Jesus’ and He has given it to us. Our faith commitment to Him is a declaration that for us the battle of the gods against the Lord God has been won by Him. That is a most wonderful defeat and glorious surrender.

Ray (who surrendered and won) Hawkins