ORLANDO

Repent or die? Changer de comportement ou mourir?

A wide variety of opinions concerning the horrible Orlando shooting will be expressed and aired in the coming days. It might range from, “This is God’s judgement upon the abominable gay lifestyle”, to “Here we have a clear confirmation of the intolerance caused by the teachings of Islam.” And others would say that this incident is just a further proof that religion itself is at the root of all calamity and strife on earth.

What is the truth? How should Christians view these all too frequent massacres? Is God in this and if in which sense?

Let’s be clear, the living and holy God who used the evil idol worshipping Babylonians to punish his disobedient people of Israel can use the evil Islamic ISIS to punish the wicked and immoral Western world.

Indeed, the gay lifestyle is part of this immorality and an abomination in God’s eyes, but be careful of what we say and let’s be brutally honest with ourselves. God also hates racism, abuse of foreigners, all kinds of idolatry (like greed!)… And most subtle of all, pride! Keep this in mind and let us humble ourselves before Him.

It’s not a time to judge others, but a time for repentance!

Jesus Himself (in Luke 13) clearly taught us how to interpret disasters and criminal events like these in Orlando or the Bataclan shootings. All these tragic criminal actions are indeed warnings of God’s coming judgement, but it is a warning to all of us. It’s a call to repentance to each and every one of us! We still have time to heed his call! There is still an opportunity to trust Jesus for salvation. God in his mercy has spared us, not to judge others but to bear the fruits of holiness and obedience to his glory! 

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” 

1En ce temps-là, quelques personnes vinrent raconter à Jésus comment Pilate avait fait tuer des Galiléens au moment où ils offraient des sacrifices à Dieu. 2Jésus leur répondit : « Pensez-vous que si ces Galiléens ont été ainsi massacrés, cela signifie qu'ils étaient de plus grands pécheurs que tous les autres Galiléens ? 3Non, vous dis-je ; mais si vous ne changez pas de comportement, vous mourrez tous comme eux. 4Et ces dix-huit personnes que la tour de Siloé a écrasées en s'écroulant, pensez-vous qu'elles étaient plus coupables que tous les autres habitants de Jérusalem ? 5Non, vous dis-je ; mais si vous ne changez pas de comportement, vous mourrez tous comme eux. »

6Puis Jésus leur dit cette parabole : « Un homme avait un figuier planté dans sa vigne. Il vint y chercher des figues, mais n'en trouva pas. 7Il dit alors au vigneron : “Regarde : depuis trois ans je viens chercher des figues sur ce figuier et je n'en trouve pas. Coupe-le donc ! Pourquoi occupe-t-il du terrain inutilement ? ” 8Mais le vigneron lui répondit : “Maître, laisse-le cette année encore ; je vais creuser la terre tout autour et j'y mettrai du fumier. 9Ainsi, il donnera peut-être des figues l'année prochaine ; sinon, tu le feras couper.” »

MUHAMMAD ALI

- BOXING AND GOOD WORKS?

The world is mourning one of its "greatest". Muhammad Ali, famous as well as notorious for his extraordinary boxing skills and political statements (he was opposed to America's involvement in Vietnam) has died.

Ali did a lot of good things. He used his notoriety for charity work, helping raise millions of dollars for food and medical relief around the world. In 1998, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

His good works should be appreciated by all, but what disturbs me intensely, is the following said by Lonnie Ali :

"Muhammad feels that everything he did prior to now was to prepare him for where he is now in life. He is very much more a spiritual being. He is very aware of his time here on Earth. And he has sort of planned the rest of his life to do things so that he is assured a place in heaven." 

This is the typical thinking of Ali as a Muslim. Islam is a man made religion based on the principle of human achievement. (unfortunately many so called Christians think along the same lines.)

Let's be clear, according to God's work, doing good things can never guarantee us a place in heaven. Salvation and eternal reward can only be found by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who took the punishment for our sins on the cross! Indeed, as Christians we need to do good works, not as a way to earn grace and acceptance with God, but as a way to thank God for His grace in Jesus.

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

8 Car c'est par la grâce de Dieu que vous avez été sauvés, au moyen de la foi. Ce salut ne vient pas de vous, il est un don de Dieu ; 9 il n'est pas le résultat de vos efforts, et ainsi personne ne peut se vanter. 10 En effet, c'est Dieu qui nous a formés ; il nous a créés, dans notre union avec Jésus-Christ, pour que nous menions une vie riche en actions bonnes, celles qu'il a préparées d'avance afin que nous les pratiquions.

SEXUAL MINORITIES?

- Are there such people and what should we say to them?

Claiming to be part of a minority carries a suggestion of being oppressed, marginalised, rejected and even seriously threatened. The struggles of minority groups (races) in the USA like Afro Americans and Hispanics are continuously kept in our eyesight by the media. (I myself as a white Afrikaner living in Africa am by the way also part of a minority ethnic group!) The serious plight of religious minorities for example in the Middle East is also well known. 

What concerns me is that the term “minority” as in “sexual minority” has become in some circles a preferred way of referring to the LGBT community for obvious reasons. And one might have some sympathy or at least some understanding of that if those speaking in this way do not know our Saviour. Non Christians, ignorant of the Creator’s values and will might be excused for thinking that their ways of living out their sexual desires are justified and is only different in the sense that it is practised by a minority in comparison to the majority heterosexual people. 

Appalling however is the fact that some Christians have recently adopted the concept of "sexual minorities," despite the fact that the benign, given biological condition of race is very different from unnatural sexual desires to do what God clearly forbids in his Word.* One is also tempted to wonder where the boundaries of this broad categorisation would eventually be drawn? Who would qualify being called part of a sexual minority group and thus be entitled to unqualified acceptance and protection? Paedophiles, necrophiles? And what about those who are practising incest or bestiality? Aren’t all “minorities” supposed to be treated equally? 

No, there is not such a category as "sexual minorities" and the Bible has nothing to say about them, there are however sexually broken people (and all of us are in some way or other part of this group, because all of us are born sinners) and for these the Gospel promises forgiveness, redemption and renewal! The duty of the church (and yes she has failed in many ways) is to proclaim the Gospel of deliverance in love and patience (not treating them in harsh ways) to all sinners whether perceived “minority sinners” (such as the LGBT community?) or “majority sinners” (the rest) who are just as broken because of the destroying power of sin and Satan.

*Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon referring to a former employee of Wheaton College

#STOP ISLAM

After yet another massacre by radical Islamic terrorists (in Belguim) calls are heard for the banning or destroying of Islam. #Stop Islam How? By war, laws...? I don't know how these people think. All I know is that this is not the way Christians should think. Jesus made it clear that we are not supposed to propagate His Kingdom by the sword, but by the preaching (and living) of the Gospel. The Gospel is the Good News that Jesus took on Himself our sins, paid the punishment (by his death on the cross) so that everyone who believes in Him would receive eternal life.

We can only show this way to people when we love them, and therefore Christians, while we condemn all terrorism and violence should love all Muslims. (even members of ISIS) That was in fact the clear message of our Lord Jesus Himself. "Love your enemies!"

"...but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;" (Matthew 5:44)