Jesus raised people from the dead; yet in John 14:12, He says:
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
because I go to the Father.
~ New American Standard Bible
Jesus wanted people to be compassionate. So what greater works can He
be referring to than those of unlimited love, kindness, and compassion
for all His creation?
As I’m writing this, I remember the cruelty expressed from the pulpit
by “Christian” pastors. Years ago, Frank and I were enthusiastically
looking forward to learning and growing in the Christian faith. We
thought that we would find all the unconditional love and compassion
that Jesus exemplified. We were sadly disappointed.
I’ll never forget the time when, in one of his sermons, one pastor
told his listeners not to feel sorry for the poor, starving children of
India! On another Sunday, this same man described with very obvious
pleasure how good it felt to put his hands into the warm, bloody, opened
carcass of a deer he had killed. Another hunter was so appalled by
watching this pastor’s cruel method of killing turkeys, that it wasn’t
long before he and his family left and joined another church.
Isn’t it time for many of those professing to be Christians to stop
lying to themselves, face the truth, and clean up their act? How do they
justify the blood-thirsty mindset that is spread from many pulpits? When
they promote war, aren’t they stooping to the level of the enemy?
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had this to say about the enemy:
(Matthew 5:43 and 44)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor,
and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you….”
Perhaps they should take the Beatitudes of Jesus to heart (Matthew
5). There is nothing there promoting the “macho” religion of so many who
blaspheme His Name by claiming to be Christians.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Could this be the reason why these destroyers are trashing the earth
while awaiting the “rapture” that they hope will whisk them away to
eternal gloryJ?
Less for the gentle to inherit! (A little curmudgeonly humor here!)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons [and
daughters] of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
~ New American Standard Bible
Christians always want the blessings of God, but many fail to live in
the mindset and lifestyle that bring about these blessings. In this way
they unwittingly become their own and their families’ worst enemies,
bringing upon themselves the very woes they fear.
And speaking of fear (the opposite of love, according to the Bible)
have you noticed how fearful so many of them are? Their leaders use fear
tactics to keep their “flocks” from straying and hearing the truth and,
to their own detriment, the “flocks” support these leaders. Have you
noticed how certain well-known preachers use scare tactics to predict
scenarios that never materialize (false prophecy)? And every time, I say
to myself, surely the followers see through this leader now and won’t
fall for his fear mongering again! But they do; all over again!
Y2K was a well-publicized doomsday prediction promoted by well-known
televangelists. And after the fearful followers spent their hard earned
money on stockpiles of goods, did they learn their lesson? No; they keep
falling for the same old ploys from their shameless, manipulating
leaders. And if anyone attempts to tell them the truth, who do you think
they’ll defend, and who will they attack? That’s right; kill the
messenger!
