Monthly Archive: August 2009

Most of us have probably heard the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger.”   It is usually spoken when we have some bad news to tell someone that didn’t originate with us. 

Often the message of Christ gets a bad wrap because of those who claim to believe in and even bring the message.  Many of us have lamented about it before.  How we live our lives impacts the effectiveness of our message.  Certainly throughout history imperfect, even corrupt Christians have done harm to the message of Christ.  But we must understand that a corrupt Christian does not equate to a corrupt or even non-existent God.

Yes, organized religion, like every other organization that has ever existed has some corrupt people in it.  Does that make the entire organization corrupt?   More importantly does it change in any way the truthfulness of the foundation upon which the organization is built?  Does it mean the message itself is corrupt?  I think the words of Jesus himself say it and ask the question best:
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me,… (snip)
… but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father.   For which of these do you stone me?”(consider ‘condemn me’ or ‘reject me’ in place of ‘stone me’). John 10:25,32

Our lives here on earth will last for a generation.  Our legacy and memory can last much longer.

There is a line in the movie “Gladiator”, spoken by General Maximus that states, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”  This is true on a couple of levels.  How will you be remembered?  What will people think of when they remember you.  More importantly, what footsteps will you leave behind that others can follow?  You could change the course of someones life.

This statement is also true in regard to how we will spend eternity.  We are created as eternal beings.   What we do in life will not only determine our legacy, but will also determine how we spend our eternity.   The grace of God through Jesus Christ provides for an eternity spent with God in His wondrous glory, but you must accept it.  You must surrender yourself to it.  

How will you be thought of here on earth after you are gone?  How will you be known in eternity once you move on?  “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

Credit to:

Gladiator, written by David Franzoni

I’ve heard this statement more times than I care to remember, “Religion is a very personal subject and is best left for the privacy of your home.”   Why? Jefferson didn’t leave it at home.   Washington didn’t leave it at home. Madison didn’t leave it at home.   Lincoln didn’t leave it at home.  Isaac Newton didn’t leave it at home.  

If religion is a personal thing that means it is a part of who we are as a person.  How then can we leave it at home?  It goes with us wherever we are.  It is who we are.   If we practice faith that means the One in which we have faith in guides all of our decisions.  

If we believe our religion is a good thing then how can we remain sincere and keep it private.  Would we not then be selfish by keeping it to ourselves?  Our very act and attitude of selfishness then goes against what we say we believe.  So we cannot practice our belief, which teaches and guides us to not be self-centered, and keep our religion to ourselves.   Love not shared is not really love.  Faith not shared is not really faith.

I do not believe we need to force our belief on someone.  Actually I don’t believe we can.  Rather than force our belief we demonstrate our belief and thereby offer it up to any and all that would wish to share it.

 Some argue that we should not offend others by sharing or practicing our faith.  Why have we promoted offending someone to the level of ‘high crimes’.  Believe me, Christians have been offended plenty of times. We get over it.  I don’t promote offending someone for the sake of offending them, but we could all be a little more thick-skinned.

Would you not be much more offended if I had just been given more brownies than I could eat but I didn’t offer any to you?  We have been given more love from God than we could ever consume – offer it up.