Spiritual Hamburger

Your company of colleagues affects you. Weather morally, spiritually or even socially. When you are surrounded by intelligent people, your level of intelligence escalates. When you surround yourself with spiritual people, your spirituality grows.

When you avail yourself as that spiritual, moral and social standard and model, not only others would benefit from you, but also you develop a community of growing models as well where you would dwell.

This is for me as well as you. What did each individual do for his/ her welfare that others would benefit from in return? Are we complaining about a spiritual emptiness? Have you tried filling this emptiness; at least yours?

Because, if you are not keen on your spirituality, you would be like Judas Iscariot who was just accompanying Jesus everywhere, yet remained empty and ended hanging himself after betraying him.

I can see that image of the obese guy who complains about his body weight while having a Large combo burger. Though he doesn't need a nutrition consultant to let go JUNK, he may procrastinate by expressing his need for a nutritionist!

We don’t need a spiritual guru to let go our spiritual junk?! Right? I believe letting go the burger and coke (spiritually) would get you in a better shape and health (spiritually).

On the other side, make sure to have a good balanced Spiritual Diet; and fit it in your lifestyle.

Andy.

JUDGE or judge NOT?

Judgment! Are we supposed to judge? Yes or No?? Where in the bible does it say so either ways?

In Matthew 7:1, Jesus says “Do not judge” Yet, in 1 Timothy 1:3 St. Paul tells us “command men not to teach false doctrines”. So, how can we speak against a doctrine without first JUDGING it to be FALSE? Jesus says not to judge BUT, He also said in John 7:24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a RIGHT judgment.”

The word "judging" has been wrongly understood by many believers and followers of Christ. If by judgment you mean to accuse someone of wrongdoing, then follow Jesus' example and do not judge until you are certain that you are perfectly pure.

1 King 3:9 - Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad.

Job 34:4 - Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

1 Corinthians 2:15 - The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.

Seems obvious that there are 2 different types of judgment:

1- Personal Judgment

2- Righteous  Judgment

Personal judgment is when you judge someone’s personal motives when only God knows what is in their hearts. It comes with gossiping, malicious thoughts and misunderstanding the others.

Righteous judgment is judgment according to God’s righteousness in both what we do and teach.

Examples of Righteous Judgment:

Example 1- A man was leading an immoral and unrepentant lifestyle was judged and removed from church.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

¹It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.  ²And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

Example 2- False teaching confrontation, when St. Paul confronted St. Peter about circumcision.

Galatian 2:11-21

 ¹¹ But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed.

 ¹² For before certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they had come, he withdrew and separated himself from them, fearing those who were of the Circumcision.

And many other examples would follow…

So, it is obvious why the church confronted sin and false doctrines. It leads people to hell, as in 1 Timothy 1:3-5.

⁵ Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.

In the anecdote of the woman who was taken in adultery and was about to be stoned, Jesus told her: “Go, from now on sin no more.” John 8:11

God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Be aware that the woman's sin was forgiven yet, it was not EXCUSED. Jesus did not say “Girls are girls, this is how today’s girls behave. I know how it is tempting. I know it’s unrealistic to live a pure life in a society full of all the bla bla bla that we see today.”

Through misunderstanding of such verse teaching, you cannot call what is wrong “Wrong”.

Jesus told here “Then neither do I condemn you.” But then, he told her “SIN NO MORE.” Jesus never told her “I forgive you. Go and sin some more.” The verse does not teach that you cannot call what is wrong “wrong” and what is a sin “Sin”. It does not teach that you cannot judge the sinful actions and behaviors of other people.

Jesus never said that there are sinless people, even if their lives were one day on earth. He did not say only sinless people – if provided - can judge other people’s actions, while there are no perfect judges, there are no sinless judges.

Every one of us, not only has to say that something wrong is “wrong”, but we have the responsibility to call something wrong is “wrong”. Because you do not judge the thief, but Stealing. Not to judge the liar yet, judge the lie. And it all shall be for the love of fellow man, in a humble and compassionate spirit.

God loves us just the way we are but, he loves us too much to let us stay that way. - James Merritt

Some say “We don’t judge. Let us keep the unity.” While souls are being led to hell day after day. If you were in error, wouldn’t you want someone to go against the TREND and WARN you? So, for the love do it for your neighbor.  As mentioned by James 4:17 “So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Failing to judge righteously and warn about false teachers is terribly coldhearted as it will leave a sinner on the broad road to hell. It will bit by bit turn the holiest group of believers (Church) into more of a SOCIAL CLUB.

May the Lord give us understanding heart to judge, that we may discern between good and bad.

Blessings,

Andy.

Thoughts on a prayer... 'Wandering Soul'

Christian,… Yet,.. I wrote my own bible.. Followed my own christ.. Taught my own teachings,.. Lived my own life, did whatever made me feel fine, satisfied and accepted by others and by myself. In short, I did what I wanted anyway… Regardless,.. Anyway, it is all about me, myself and I.... I was nothing different to this world. I was supposed to be light in the dark,... The salt that gives flavor to life and stimulate buds to a better taste of a better life... Who am I now? What am I? What am I supposed to be??

I sought my selfishness and greediness... My wants and desires overwhelmed my being. My evil deeds created the barrier between me and the creator. Left lonely, on a highway of crossed roads. Blocked are all my U-turns... Now I am tired of walking on my own. So thirsty and dizzy. I am begging for a ride in the opposite direction... No friend or a mate to tell. Everyone is going on his own…. No one to talk to, nobody to complain to... Coz nobody listens any more… I wish I consumed my bare feet on a right direction. Maybe I could have found my destination earlier, before my knees met the sand and my sweat fed the desert out of my fatigue... My burdens over my back grew me older everyday.. My tears drilled down my cheeks and hurt my eyes. The scars on my eyelids are much bearable than those in my heart….

No way there is no way... right..?? .... Is anybody out there to shout to?? Or all my friends are gone?? Were they all fake?? ... Is there a refuge to knock on its doors?? Is there a reason to hang on to life….?? Where is the life in my life??....

O’ Lord!! Are you still there?? Do you still value me like before?? Will you listen to my voice and mind my numb throat?? Or have you forsaken your once beloved child?? If like a rude kid, I raised my voice in Your face.. If I refused Your blessings… and let down Your kind hands… If I forgot how you used to carry me over the hills and calm the storms in me.. Yet do not turn your face away from me Lord. You are my only winning chance… You are the Father.. You are the Friend.. You are my God.. You are the King.

I trust your ways.. I believe in your mercy... I will hold on to you… Coz it is you and only you who can make the change in me. You are the reason that I am here… I am turning back to You…


Dear Lord, if you still find any good in me, please don’t let go.
I am shouting my ever remaining breaths out to You… Amen.

Andy...

A Letter to Church Leaders

Dears, so called “Leaders by God's will”,

Heavenly Father’s peace be with you.

Never thought that a sinner like me would have written such words to you. But, it hurts to see Lord’s children divided, paving their own life according to their longings and yearnings.

I am writing these words to WHOEVER considers himself/ herself a responsible for members of Christ’s body, to all leaders of all churches and communities… Please read and listen.

As said by St. Paul to Galatians, chapter 5 verse 20, that work of the flesh is manifested in Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. The following verse (verse 21) testifies how those who act like wise will be rewarded. “As I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

In the following words, I want to urge you, like St. Paul did before with Ephesians, to do everything possible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I urge you to work, hard as you can, for the unity of the church of Lord Jesus Christ. Not only the unity within your community or denomination but, within the whole body of Christ that was torn more than once since long time ago. It is your responsibility and you will be asked for it in the Day of Lord’s return.

It is the very wish of the Lord to be one in him. As it was his prayer in gospel of John chapter 17:


John 17
²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

I am the least and the smallest, to be writing those words to you. But, I consider myself a member in the body of Christ, which I can not help seeing it torn into pieces day after day.

I am dreaming, hoping and praying for a true unity in Jesus Christ the Lord, all over the world. I am hoping for the day, when all are truly ONE. I’m hoping for the day where churches are not called after denominations but, after Christ the Lord. Hoping for unity of worship, in the Spirit and in truth. Hoping for the day when we all will crush the idols of pride and jealousy. In fact, our pride shall be in ONE that is Jesus Christ the Lord, and Jesus Christ alone.

I pray for that day… You pray too...

Andrew Nazih.

28/9/2011