Harold Camping, the longtime owner of Christian Family Life Radio, announced several months ago that the world was going to end on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  Mr. Camping based his announcement on some very interesting mathematical formulas he believed were found in the Bible.  Like most false prophets speaking doom upon the world, he will naturally re-calculate and set another date for a gullible group to follow.  How sad! 

 It is sad because another claimed follower of Christ has confused the average man or woman in thinking that Christianity is only for the losers of life, the mean-spirited, the unintelligent, the power hungry, the rumor monger, and the psychologically challenged.  I know many who intentionally distance themselves from the Christian camp solely because they have experienced leaders (both lay and clergy) within churches who have:

• Lied, slandered, and destroyed people all in the name of God
• Pronounced ego-driven and pride-obsessed statements and lifestyles, justified in the name of God
• Been small-minded, hate-driven, and power-infatuated, all justified in the name of God

These folks use the Bible or their clerical collars as a concealed weapon, misusing Scripture, ignoring Tradition, and mocking Reason, to justify their “ungodly” views and misrepresent Jesus.  It is sad because they think they are not evil, but unfortunately, they are as they destroy lives with slandering shadows under the guise of a self-righteous niceness.

So what can we do about it?  In one sense, nothing!  These folks have existed since the beginning of time, and they will pass their demonic poison to future generations.  We are powerless to change them, but they all will be accountable for their thoughts, words, and actions to the King of kings someday in the future. 

However, there are some things we can do about it!  Let me suggest two ways to walk in THE WAY of Jesus:

One: Learn to love like Jesus.  Read chapters thirteen to seventeen in the Gospel of John to see that love is the ONLY defining mark for the world to see Christ in us.  Take a coffee break and open up a postcard of a message by the Apostle in I John and see the importance of love in action.  Turn to Micah 6:8 and see the importance of kindness, mercy, and humility.  Love is intentionally seeking the greater good of another.  Read I Corinthians 13 and see how love is expressed. 

Two: Live to the Applause of One.  Being a social creature created by God, I have a natural tendency to want people to like me.  But because of their wound-infected sins, people misunderstand my heartfelt intentions, my purity of motives, and my actions.  And because of my sins, I often misunderstand the intention, internal motives, and their outward actions.  And when misunderstanding happens, hurt begets more hurt.  Even if I seek everyone’s applause, it will not happen.  Never did, never will.  We know this truth in sports, and we know it in life. So stop seeking the applause of the many and start seeking the applause of one. Reflect on Matthew 6:33, or better yet, memorize Matthew 22:37-38.  It will change the way you live!

I understand that some of the websites that have proclaimed the end of the world are now selling T-shirts that say, “I have survived the end of the world!”  If Jesus did not know while He was on earth, no one else has a clue to the end of the world!  It probably won’t happen in our lifetime . . . but then again, the Chicago Cubs could win the World Series!  If that happens, all bets are off!

With love and peace,

Fr. Tony

The world sees Christians as fools, as weak.  They love to mock those who follow Jesus.  Persecution is to be expected, but how do we as Christians deal with it?

Peter in this chapter is addressing the Christians in the Roman Province (modern day Turkey) as they were beginning to be persecuted for their faith.  He seeks to encourage them to hold steadfast to the example that Jesus gave them: hope in the midst of suffering.

1 Corinthians 1:18  “For the message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

1. Benefits of persecution
   1. Produces endurance
   2. Persecution further grows the church.
   3. Gives us life

To really live, one must find something worth dying for.

1. Our Reaction.  How do we endure?
   1. Obey God and leave the consequences to Him
   2. Good Pain/Bad Pain
   3. See Him in the mirror
   4. Never let them see you sweat

Personal Application/Reflection

Questions to ask yourself in your time with the Lord

1. Do I share my faith regardless of what people’s reaction might be?
2. Who might the Lord be leading you to speak with despite your fear of persecution or of being mocked?  Begin to pray for that person, pray that the Lord would open a door for you to speak to him/her about Jesus, boldly.

Table Talk

1. Have you ever been persecuted or mocked for your faith in Jesus?  How did you react?  How did it make you feel?
2. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “to this you were called”.  What is your reaction to this verse?
3. Why do you think the world looks at Christians as fools?
4. Have you ever hesitated to share your faith for fear of what someone might think, say or do?
5. How can Jesus’ example (vs 21-23) help you when you are being mistreated?
6. Reflect on the following quotation: “To everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable life free from danger, stay away from Jesus.  The danger in our lives will always increase in proportion to the depth of our relationship with Christ.”    –David Platt, Radical

April 10, 2011 * The Way Christian Fellowship * Steve Matson, Teaching Pastor