Who may receive Christian
love, the celebration of holidays/holy days, and more on the burden believers
accept as followers of Jesus Christ are topics, today. A “Yahoo! Answers”
writer using the ID “lazybones” (Level 6 with 35,427 points, a member since July
27, 2006) posted the following:
Is the 'love' of Christians reserved
for other Christians only?
THE BATTLE AXE:
His Burden is Light? (12/10/2012)—Maturing as a Christian believer also includes
going through moments of uncertainty, and overcoming every crisis of faith. In
addition to the difficulty that comes in having to learn the details of sacred
doctrine and teachings, every believer must endure encounters with themselves,
with others, and with GOD in prayer that challenge them to realize their
personal understanding of the Gospel message. Before one reaches the point
where they can speak with authority and insight to share spiritual truth that
will minister to the specific needs of others, a believer must have partnership
with the imparted, indwelling spirit of GOD. A believer must master walking in
humility and without lies as though constantly under the gaze of GOD. It is
sure knowledge of the holy writings, and the presence of the Holy Spirit that
makes the burden “light”. Christian soul-winners all will meet opposition from
believers “in name only,” heretics, hypocrites, and misguided persons within the
church; coworkers, family and neighbors; jokers, mockers, scoffers, and
slackers; those rooted in other belief systems (e.g., astrophysics, atheism,
Buddhism, Islam, LGBT) as well as criminals, infidels, popular culture, unclean
spirits, and unrepentant sinners. See 2nd Timothy
2: 3-4, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW:
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about
to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth. (Romans 10: 1-4, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Love
in Christ (10/23/2012); Escape from Racism (10/24/2012); Why Did The Judges
Fight? (10/19/2012); The Spirit is Willing (10/20/2012); Still The “Chosen”?
(03/19/2012); The Cause Of Unrest (01/30/2012); The Need For GOD (01/31/2012); A
Fig Tree Cursed? (10/02/2010)
When I saw that the first candle of Hanukah was
about to be lit, I decided I would not send greetings to my brothers in faith,
this year; and I began to wonder if I really ever have had any. It occurred to
me, they do not “share” Hanukah (or anything else), because their holidays/holy
days are gatherings for family only, or require being separate and apart. When
I spoke to GOD in prayer about it, I mentioned some of the folk who were special
to me, confessed feeling betrayed, and wondered whether they believed in GOD at
all. How could they ever have been in covenant with my Father in heaven, when
so much of what they’ve shown me now seems hateful? Surely there will be
judgment against them in spite of our love. I began to ask whether GOD has been
able to establish a true bond of respect and trust among us.
As one who continues to acknowledge the Holy One of
Israel by observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, and who honors the Most High
GOD through the Mosaic covenant as configured by Jesus as Messiah and Christ, I
also acknowledge many of the customs, gifts and traditions documented as given
by GOD that were comforts and terms of earlier covenants. In most cases,
believers in Jesus do not receive identity as “cultural Jews,” however, once
born-again, still developing believers are new creatures, and spiritual
Jews.
Rightly understood, “Christian love” derives from
ones endowment of divine substance that comes from the being and person of
Christ. As such, the believer is merely a vessel wherein GOD has deposited a
measure of himself. As the children of GOD, in service to the Father, believers
manifest (i.e., make visible) the divine presence, and fulfill his commitment to
sacred process (e.g., Creation, judgment, redemption, salvation,
sanctification). Believers love by spreading the gospel, encouraging salvation
through Jesus Christ, and maintaining lifestyles centered in prayer, sacred
studies, unselfish service, and worship.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied,
and spiritually apprehended. (For example, the Holy Spirit establishes a
peculiar awareness of Jewish culture that centers in a sacred history unknown to
many contemporary Jews. Through sin that dominates self-will in created beings
and living creatures, many Jews, Islamic believers, and others are plagued by
cultural arrogance, ethnic separatism, and racism. Unlike those in Christ, they
often acknowledge no divinely given answer to the seminal issues of death, duty,
hope, joy, love, resurrection, righteousness, sacred judgment, trust, wisdom and
eternal life.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you
according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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