More about gambling

Gambling is a tricky word because many of us put our funds in stocks for investment and that is considered alittle bit gambling. The key is "how you are using God's money?" Many denominations have a problem with gambling. Greed and covetousness are sin (Ex. 20:18; I Tim. 6:9; Heb 13:5), and these are motives in most gambling. Proverbs warns of disaster for people who want to get rich quickly (28:20,22). Gambling can be addictive, and even if you don't fall prey to it as a compulsive habit, your example may cause others to be enslaved by it (I Cor. 8:9, 13). Why no boycott or at least better legistlation? Gambling bring in big bucks for local communities. Most states even have their own "lottery system". Some churches even sponsor "Bingo Nights". Over the years, Christians have decided not to fight gambling that they know they are not going to win. There are some Christians that tend to focus on how to prosper rather than spiritual stewardship. Spiritual stewardship is looking at their financial situation and to look at their life spiritually in from God's perspectives. Jesus warned about greed (see Luke 12). Proverbs 22:26 (The Message) Don't gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. (NIV) Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts. (NKJV) Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts. Now... I am not against gambling. I am against the greed of gambling. I do admit that I have played the football and basketball pools. I do this for fun rather than greed. My motive have to be determined why I am playing (gambling). I like to have fun so I do put in a few bucks in football or basketball pools and lottery once in awhile. It is important that we look from God's perspective in our stewardship so that we are not pursuing desires against God's will and purpose. Because if we are pursuing our selfish desires rather than God's will and purpose, then our motives are wrong. Christians' view of money and material possessions is an effective barometer of our spirituality. This is between you and God. Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Politics: Rights and Lefts

Any drastic attempts to influence the government and citizens along with Christianity would force unbelievers and believers to be more divided than ever. Spreading the Gospel will be lost because Christianity rules rather than preaches. I don't think that is what Jesus would want. In our culture today that everything must be tolerated since there is no absolute truth. Painful and uncomfortable as it is, we Christians must stand up for Jesus Christ. Christians who tolerates things that are opposed to the will of God, and if the matter is pointed out to its leaders, they will defend its unscriptural practices just to maintain peace. Peace is often ignored for the sake of political correctionness. Politics and ideology have come in the form of the separation in our minds of "sacred vs. secular". The Bible calls upon the rulers to create "a just society". I am the type of person who steers away from Christians' views are so far right (extremists) that they are blinded and not seeing the bigger picture as I am with Christians who are in the far left (liberalism) who are also blinded and not seeing the bigger picture. Many of the views are so narrow and very dividing. What do you think would bridge the gap between the rights and the lefts? What would be the solutions between believers and unbelievers? I am reminded that even Jesus submitted to Roman's government without over-throwing it. Remember Jesus' main mission is to spread the Gospel, not running the governments.

Spiritual Gift

I found it over the years it is helpful if we allow the Spirit to lead us rather than paper. Let the Holy Spirit do what He will through you and see what He does with you. Just allow the Holy Spirit plant the desires to serve the spiritual gift or gifts and watch fellow members affirm your spritual gifts. The Spiritual Gifts you will use are going to be something that causes fellow members of the local church to respond, because it is for them. 1 Corinthians 14:12 "So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." The idea of the spiritual gifts is simply that the Lord uses that gift in a unity, in a unifying way. God will use our spiritual gifts by His Spirit as He wills. This is not quick and easy answer but I think it is the only way we can truly know our spiritual gifts by allowing God to supply the gifts as He pleases. 1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Government: How far should we obey?

I think we should be patriotic in the right way. We ought to look at God's providential care in the life of our nation according to Romans 14:1-7. We just need to look at the whole picture. God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels". God commanded to Christians to spread the Gospels. The Gospel is for "spiritual society" while the Governments are for "human society". Every Christian should be loyal to their own country whether its USA, Canada, Scotland, China and etc. I have read many great Christians persecuted under hardship of so called "godless government". The Bible did SAY that God did appointed all rulers ESPECIALLY Egypt and Rome. Even Jesus submitted to the Roman Government. It is an easy topic but NOT easy to accept the fact. Therefore, God allowed fallible man to run for government such as Hitler, Stalin, Rwanda and others. God is the one who began the process of government. Some of the examples that I listed them as part of my personal "Hall of Faith". 1. Corrie ten Boom was born in Holland into a Christian family who loved the Word of God. This upbringing, with the focus on Jesus, meant that Corrie behaved as she did when the world, in the form of German troops, invaded Holland in 1940. The Germans despised the Jew and were persecuting them with great savageness. Their property was being possessed and Jewish families were being split up with men, women and children being shipped to work camps and concentration camps. Throughout Europe over five million Jews were murdered by the Germans, all of this within the lifetime of many people alive today! Christians stand up to what is good and publicly decry what is evil and Corrie was no exception. She opposed this evil and joined the underground movement in an attempt to hide Jews from the Germans and to smuggle them to safety. She and her family were eventually betrayed and imprisoned. Corrie and her sister were shipped to various concentration camps where they continued to teach fellow prisoners about Jesus Christ. Her sister died whilst they were imprisoned. Corrie was eventually released through a clerical error and during the week following her release all of the women of her age were gassed. Following the war Corrie helped in rehabilitation camps and she travelled all over the world telling people of her experiences and of how faithful and loving God is. Her story was written down in the best-selling book The Hiding Place and a film, based on the book, was made by the film company established by Billy Graham. 2. "Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) German theologian and activist Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Theologian, spiritual writer, author of fiction and poetry, central figure in the Protestant church struggle against Nazism. He was hanged in the Nazi concentration camp at Flossenbürg on April 9, 1945. Sometimes it is really hard to figure out what to do. To many people, Hitler was probably the most evil government leader this world ever had. Peter and the apostles had opportunities to say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The only time Christians can violate God's government is when a Christian is asked to disobey God. You can read many Bible characters including Daniel disobey the Government out of principle rather than simple disobience. During the time of Hitler, Bonhoeffer was being force to sign with Hitler's view of Christian church which of course he refused which lead to Bonhoeffer's plan to disobey Hitler and eventually that disobedient got himself hanged. Reading history of great Christians who died in the hands of the government is a good learning history. We need to discern and figure out how FAR should we obey the Government before we decide to disobey as Daniel and Bonhoeffer did.

Thoughts and Attitude

Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Heart and Action

In Galatians 6:3 says "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." And in James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." In Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Confession itself is deceiving because the Bible clearly teaches that our heart is the source that looks at more than our mouth. Confession is more of an outward expression to seperate self from unbelievers. Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I will stick with God examine my heart more than my mouth of confession. Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Views

Regarding people responding to my views, their views are more child-like by attacking like a child as Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 14:20 "Brethren, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." In 1 Corinthians 13:5 says "Love does not act unbecomingly"; which means a Christian should demonstrate godly love and have real credibility. 1 John 4:21 (The Message) The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. Sometimes we see the Bible as very "blunt" because many of the statements made by Jesus, the prophets, apostles and others that were very, very blunt. Mark 10:27 Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it." We are to discuss doctrines but when someone gets personal on a person's spiritual being, that causes strife. But..... lack of self-control in expressing personal attack is a sign of spiritual weakness. James 3:5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. In other words, we are to look at our words. And apply ourself to control our hearts because in Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." and another in Proverbs 16:23 "A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." God always unites and the devil always divides. It should be easy to find our way around in this confused and confusing world but sin has brought confusion. We need to focus on our spiritual warfare as Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." We need to realize where is our spiritual battle is. Its not the person but the spiritual forces that are twisting words around. A true Christian can be zealous but it is also possible to be zealous and not behave like a Christian. If zeal indicates godliness, then Christian virtues should be used. Becoming engrossed in spiritual debates which lead spiritual distractions. As long as we remain in this twisted world, the Church will have her own problems and in reality as history shows, we cannot escape them. God would rather see us accept the problems as opportunities to exercise our spiritual virtues. The cross is a symbol of the selfless, others-centered life of Christ. Love alone can make my conduct acceptable to God. My Christian testimonies (action, words and motives) are important to God because it is motive that gives to every holy act that Glorifies God. I need to "take delight in the Lord, and He will give me my heart's desires" (Psalm 37:4). 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." Now we come to the part about "confession".