Shhhh...

 

People are discussing, and living, their 'religion' (path of belief, or personal belief system) every day on a public forum.  Even in silence beliefs are betrayed by action (the fruit of a life).  The term 'religion', however, has taken on a very narrow and formal meaning, directed at very specific groups.  Belief is the broader meaning of 'religion'.  Jesus said, in Matthew 7:16, "You will know them by their fruits."  Fruits are evidence of belief as much as, if not more than, words.

Jesus Christ is a historical Person - Son of Man; Son of God.  Historical and present day testimonials support His existence.  There is physical evidence to support His existence.  Rather than being a religion, Jesus Christ is a Person.  The most divisive individual in History... 

There is an account in the book of Luke regarding the birth of Jesus - Luke 2:8-15: [8] In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. [10] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; [11] for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." [15] When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

This peace the angels told of to the shepherds, which Jesus came to give, is peace men can now freely have with the God of all Creation.  This peace is not a peace of person with person; nation with nation.  Jesus said, in Matthew 10:34, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Ever notice that when people are swearing they say G_dd_mmit, or Jes_s Chr_st?  Why not Buddha, or Krishna, or Allah, Odin, Horus, Thor, etc.?  This is because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  Jesus Christ is a real historical Person.  There is a real place we call Heaven, and a real place called Hell.  There is a real devil, and he is a thief and a liar, set out to kill and destroy.  The names of the gods of the religions I mentioned above are not a concern of the devil.  Unless the believers of these turn to Jesus Christ (repent) the devil already has these souls.  It is the Name of Jesus Christ that the devil seeks to twist and malign.  

One can communicate the philosophies mentioned above all day long, but speak of Jesus and people want to silence you.  They tell you that religion (in the more formal, narrow, meaning of the word) is a personal and private matter that should not be discussed publicly lest we offend and lose relationships.  This is because the Person of Jesus Christ is a divisive influence between good and evil, light and dark.  Add to this, NO ONE APPRECIATES THEIR IDOLS BEING TRAMPLED AND TRASHED - as they perceive it.  Confront pet ideologies (idolatries) and now you're meddling.

I see people speak love and spew hate all day long, every day, on my social media feeds.  I have made it a practice to look away and scroll on by, and have not politely told anyone to keep silence about their 'religion'.  Rather, I post (nearly exclusively) scriptures and some commentary on their meaning and how it applies to the world.  Some of my posts confront the world's corporate lies of the evil one - lies which may sound enlightened, yet are sending the believers in those lies to Hell in literal droves.  I also have contended for the true Gospel of Jesus Christ among His Believers and those who profess His Name.  Yet, who am I?  I am no one, except a Child of God.  I boast only in Him!  Do not consider my words, ever, except to be challenged against the scripture of the Holy Bible.  Be a Berean!  (Look it up.)

Matthew 7:13-14 says, "[13] Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. [14] For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

My motive is love for God, and love for others.  My motive is not to be appreciated, popular, or loved in return.  Not at all.  John 15:18 says, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you."

Know this, I will be judged by my words, and even by my silence if I fail to warn.  I have had to repent of my words more times than not!  And, Lord please forgive me if I have errantly kept silent about Jesus in cowardice.  Lord, forgive me for my complete unworthiness and incompetence in sharing your Gospel.  In spite of this, may Your Light shine through and may Your Name be glorified!  Amen.

Stephen was a Martyr spoken of in the Books of Acts.  He was the first Martyr of the Disciples following Jesus' death. He was killed for his words.  The listeners were so offended and cut by Stephen's words that they gnashed their teeth at him, took him outside the city, and stoned him with rocks until he was dead.  That is one way to say, "Shut up!"

Here is the account of Stephen's murder, in Acts 7:54-60: "[54] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. [55] But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; [56] and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." [57] But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. [58] When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" [60] Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep."

BEING DEEPLY GRIEVED

Matthew 26:20-22:  [20] Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. [21] As they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." [22] Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Today much is made of joy and peace within the congregation of Believers in Christ Jesus – those who make a profession of faith.  Yet, all throughout the scriptures of the Holy Bible we read a testimony of personal struggles, griefs, and emotional traumas and devastations of God's people.  We read of offense after offense taken by the words spoken by God, the Prophets, Disciples, etc.  Jesus’ life was not sweet and trouble free.  Nor has been the life of any of God’s people.  The peace Jesus gives is not a peace with the world around us.  Jesus gives us peace with God.  In the world Jesus said He not come to bring peace, but a sword.

That said, who among God’s children has not been deeply grieved not by an outside influence, but at their own personal betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Oh such disappointment and sorrow wells up within the Child who has fearfully betrayed His Savior, whom he/she loves!  Our peace departs.  Even the thought of the possibility deeply grieves the One who loves Jesus.  It is so bitter an event we do not want to experience in relationship to our Lord!  Yet, who of God’s Children has not been guilty?

The night of Jesus’ betrayal not only was He famously betrayed by Judas, He was also famously betrayed by Peter – not once, but three times.  

Both Judas and Peter witnessed the consequences of the betrayal of Jesus.  Judas, and Peter, witnessed an innocent man condemned.  After Jesus was condemned they witnessed this: “Then they spat in His (Jesus) face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"  Matthew 26:67-68

…And, that was just the beginning of the abuses inflicted on Jesus in His betrayal and death.

Both Judas and Peter experienced deep remorse.  Judas responded to the grave horror and grief of his betrayal of Jesus by throwing the blood money into the Temple Sanctuary, and then hanging himself from a tree.  Peter responded by leaving the Courtyard where he had three times denied Jesus.  He went outside the Courtyard weeping bitterly.  Peter bore this deep guilt, regret, shame, and sorrow for days, until after the Resurrection of Jesus…

“…when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep. He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.”  John 21:15-17

Three times Peter had betrayed Jesus before His crucifixion.  Three times Jesus mercifully gave to Peter to declare His love for Jesus after His resurrection.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

“…if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."  1 John 1:7-10

May the Reader find peace with God, through the gift of His only Begotten Son.  As long as we are breathing there is opportunity in Christ Jesus for repentance and peaceful reconciliation with God.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  John 3:16-18