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''T
H E PRESIDENT
walks
around calling him–
self a good Chris-
tian," Mrs. Ferraro
declared during last year's
election campaign. "I don't
for one minute believe it,
because his policies are so
terribly unfair."
Meanwhile, we have been
reading for years abou t the
Christian militiamen in Leba–
non fighting the i r Moslem
adversaries, and vice versa.
Then there are the sickening
sagas of murders in Northern l re–
land and Central America.
And today even practicing
homosexuals claim to be Christian.
Several Protestant denominations
are seriously considering the issue
of ordaining homosexuals into the
ministry!
Think about it.
Is it merely left to
each individual to
decide for himself or
herself what the
term
Christian
means?
J esus stated: "Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven" (Matt.
7:21) .
What BIBLE Says About
"Christianity"
But how many so-called Christians
ever really study the Bible to find
out what God's will is? It may be
shocking to realize, but religious
surveys have repeatedly found that
most Americans and Britons are
not even able to name the four gos–
pels-let alone have any idea what
is in them!
Jesus challenges us, "Why call
ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the
things which 1 say?" (Luke
6:46).
According to Jesus himself, to be
bis real
followers-genuine
Chris–
tians-we must learn to do what
never commit adultery, but, Jesus
said: "I say unto you, That who–
soever Iooketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery
with her already in bis heart"
(Matt. 5:28) .
Later in this same passage,
J esus said: "LovE your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you" (verse
44).
The unvarnished words of Jesus
of Nazareth are
POWERFUL.
How
difficult it is to make these
inspired. words of Christ "accept–
able" to mainstream Christianity
today!
For what would happen if they
were · obeyed literally as the
inspired teachings of the Son of
God ? If everyone truly loved his
enemies, there would be no more
wars and no more murders–
none!
Under J esus'
teachings, there
would be no more
adultery- none!
And the divorce
rate would quickly
come screeching to
a halt. For regard–
~
ing marriage, Jesus
God - the
ulti–
mate authority-de–
cides! And he does
not whisper in our
ears about who is
and who is not a
Christian. Or about
anything else. How,
Is it merely left to each individual to
decide for himself or herself what the term
said: "Wherefore
they are no more
twain , but one
flesh. What there–
fore God hath
then, does the God
of creation commu-
nicate to us his will?
God's will is found revealed in
the inspired book we call the Holy
Bible. Jesus himself said, "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word of God" (Luke 4:4).
Jesus also stated, "The scripture
cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
The apostle Paul wrote: "All
scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness" (11
Tim. 3: 16).
Are we willing to be taught and
corrected by the very inspired
words of God? Are we willing to let
the Bible tell us- in plain lan–
guage-what is "Christian" and
what is not?
April 1985
Christian
means?
Jesus taught! The key is not merely
believing
on
Jesus Christ, but
believing him and doing what he
says!
A young man carne asking Jesus
what to do to have eternal Iife.
What was Jesus' answer?
"If
thou
wilt enter into life, keep
the
com–
mandments"
(Matt. 19: 17). Tben
J esus proceeded to name sorne of
the Ten Commandments.
Jesus magnified the Ten Com–
mandments and made them even
more binding on bis followers. He
said that we are not only not to kili,
but are to avoid the kind of anger
which is, in fact, the spirit of mur–
der (Matt. 5:21-22) .
Christians are not only to
remain faithful to their mates and
joined together, Iet
not man put asun–
der" (Matt. 19:6).
The Key of OBEDIENCE
John was the apostle whom J esus
loved. He wrote about the deepest
meanings of Christianity and about
how we are to have fellowship with
God and with Christ.
He wrote: " And hereby we do
know that we know him, ifwe
KEEP
HIS COMMANDMENTS.
He that saith,
1 know him, and keepeth not bis
commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him" (1 J ohn 2:3-
4).
The apostle John plainly indicted
those who say they are Christians
and yet do not keep God's com–
mandments!
Why?
Because to " know" God and
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