Treasure In Clay Jars

I find the political and regulatory demand that churches must refrain from supporting political candidates to be an interesting study in how self avowed Christians worship God. By regulatory law, Churches cannot openly support one candidate in a political race or else risk their tax-exempt status. By cultural “law” Christians are told that their Christianity should be private. It should not be part of their political thinking. Of course that demand is typically made by people who are not informed about the true tenets of Christianity –a Christian is WHO you are, NOT what you do. You should behave as a Christian in your home watching TV, in your car driving around, in the mall shopping and YES in the voting booth voting for a political candidate. People who are not truly submitted to God’s complete leading can easily, and subconsciously, turn on and turn off their being led by the Word of God. “My Christianity is private” (or the more sanitized) “my religion is private” is what you will...

This post is an open letter to James Carroll (Op-Ed writer for the Boston Globe) on his article which appeared previously on the Globe's website. Mr. Carroll...I admire your piece as ostensibly a Christmas Day tribute to Jesus Christ, however as I see it, yours is an example of the misunderstanding (or understatement) of the true message left by Jesus and now carried out today by His Holy Spirit in the lives of common people. To illustrate my point, I have taken the liberty to excerpt a few points taken directly from quotes throughout your piece. My point here is not to deride for the sake of being contrarian or argumentative, but to perhaps provide some sharper points of clarity on the Jesus about which you write. Your quotes are in bold below: "Those who in the first place had come to love him did not give up their affection for him." It was in that "not giving up affection" for the dead Jesus that the Jesus movement was born. Jesus' followers do ...

I am writing this post in November as we (in the Western world) prepare to start the season of giving. The season of Christmas. Gifts will be given in accordance with the Christian tradition started when the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus on the morning of His birth. The giving season about which I am writing is however something slightly different. It too is drawing near (it my be nearer than the upcoming Christmas season). What I am writing about is the gifts (or rewards) Jesus promises His believers in the Biblical Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 3: If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. ...

I just finished reading an article on Foxnews.com about the struggle of prison ministries to remain active because of lawsuits being brought by organizations who ultimately want no part of God being presented to people anywhere. These organizations maintain opinions like the following: “…that state funds were used for religious indoctrination. It alleges that cooperative inmates received preferential treatment, while some Roman Catholic inmates — not embracing the evangelical approach — were denigrated”. So far according to the article, a federal judge has already ordered a prison ministry program in Iowa to be shut down: A federal judge agreed with Americans United. He ordered the program be shut down, and said InnerChange must reimburse its $1.5 million (euro1 million) payment from the state. The case could have ramifications for faith-based programs across the United States . It's now under appeal, and the program has been allowed to continue temporarily using only private fund...

I was listening the other day to a Christian commentator whom I have listened to infrequently for the last year or two. This gentleman who shall remain nameless in this post, generally provides sound biblical principles, delivers his remarks with apparent humility and comes across as an earnest representative for the furthering of Jesus Christ. I preface my remarks in this way, because I do think such a description is a necessary part of presenting God’s Word in a matter that is consistent with biblical direction: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16-18 NIV) I must say then that it was with dismay when I heard this same commentator “attack” fellow Christians who happen to differ philo...

I’m am one of several thousand people who recently saw the ABC News Nightline debate between Christian evangelists Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort and two avowed Atheists (who shall remain nameless on this blog). Please click here to view the debate. I really commend both Kirk and Ray based on their revelation that they both came from backgrounds that has a vested interest in the denial of Jesus as God's Messiah. Kirk was himself an Atheist and Ray is Jewish. During the debate, both Kirk and Ray presented their cases with humility, earnestness and respect for everyone present including their Atheist counterparts. As one might expect, you could not say the same for the Atheist presenters. Say what you will about their positions on God, their demeanor and countenance was decidedly arrogant, sarcastic and lacking in a similar respect for their colleagues on the stage. If a person had come into the auditorium or tuned into the broadcast and knew nothing about the subject matter, it is hi...

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom ; So says the Bible in the first chapter of the Wisdom Book of Proverbs. As with many things in the Bible, it is simplistically stated, in other words, placed on the easily reached ledge of human understanding so that the “common man” may reach it and understand. But there too is the rub: from the beginning of time right through to the current day, the societal elites would rather move the wisdom ledge up a few notches so that they become the gatekeepers of “knowledge and wisdom”. Into this battle steps the endearing simplicity of God’s scripture. God is saying, “Fear Me”. Fear Me as an ant should fear a giant human being as they co-exist in the nature of life. Not because the human being has any natural predisposition to destroy the ant but because he has the capacity to do so. It is the Fear of the Lord that spurs Christians to live in awe of Him. God is an awesome being. Just stop for a minute and consider the natural world. You know,...