Greetings to all my readers, in the name of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As you all know, “Truth versus Tradition”, is just another segment that I’ve created, where I explain the Traditions/Beliefs and the Truth (with respect to the Bible, without twisting the scripture).
I was working on another topic, in this same segment, but recently I came across a hot topic, which I would like to call – “Christian Folly”, because it was the center of discussion of almost every Christian, mainly in India. So, I decided, to write about it and clear your questions, doubts and put away foolish beliefs and thoughts from among the church of this age!
Since you would need a context, let me brief you. This past year (2018), Kerala was hit by floods, which is said to be the worst in the history of the state!
More than 1 million people displaced, 3,000+ relief camps, Lost crop in 54000 hectacres, 300,000+ farmers affected, 500+ landslides, 200+ bridges damaged, Loss of more than 20,000 crores (3 Billion USD), 10,000 kms of roads damaged, Plus the cost of the lives lost (which is incalculable).
Amidst of such a big miserable event, there are preachers, teachers and believers who are stuck with some questions.
Now the questions that they should be bothered about, being a responsible christians are – What should be done? / How can we help? / How can we serve? But instead, the questions that they were so obsessed with – Was this from God? Was this a natural calamity? Was this a punishment?
Told you – Christian Folly!
Actually I should’ve come up with a better name, but as I am addressing my people and their foolishness, let’s just call this Christian Folly for now.
So, I am going to do three things here-
1). Address the situation.
2). Answer your questions.
3). Remind you of your “Responsibility” – which you clearly seem to have forgotten.
Situation
It was a disastrous situation. One that we pray, must never happen again! Though it happened in kerala, one of the smallest states in India, it did affect people’s lives globally in different ways.
Two of the key reasons behind this miserable event was ‘Excess rainfall’ and ‘Deforestation’. Kerala received around 30% more rainfall than usual and that made a huge difference! One of the news that was being circulated was something related to building blocks by cutting a huge number of trees which is said to be the “man-made” cause behind the floods! We are disturbing the nature, creating an imbalance, and then paying a price for it. So it can be said that, the flood was a mix of natural and man-made disaster.
Christian Folly
People crying their hearts out, old aged men and women, pregnant women and children spending nights in the waters, rooftops, local relief camps, while some helplessly looked at the rising water level and saw death approaching them and slowly drowning to death, animals with no escape tasted horrible death too – And while all this was happening, we got some people, said to be, saved by grace, redeemed by the only living God there is, questioning and reasoning, instead of stepping forward and helping!
It will be a pure ignorance and blatant lie if I am to say that nobody cared! Almost every church stepped forward and send human-help and resources to help and did show the true instinct of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, but this article is not for them but for some so-called “Over-Saved Hypocrites” who jump higher in worship, speak in tongues which they probably memorised and mastered, use a spiritual cloak to hide their wolf behavior!
So, what is it? Kerala floods – God’s wrath and punishment / A natural disaster?
My answer is a question – How does it matter?
Whether it was God’s wrath or a natural disaster, we are earthly ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven, which means, being Christians, we are representatives of Jesus’ kingdom, which simply means we are called and chosen to serve and spread the unconditional love of Jesus, even to those who persecute us, suffer with those who suffer, rejoice with those who rejoice, all in truth!
But you are A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession , so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people , but now you are the people of God ; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy .
1 Peter 2:9-10
We just have two commandments from Jesus, just two! Is it too hard to even keep up with two commands?
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, ” ‘ you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind .’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘ you shall love your neighbor as yourself .’
Matthew 22:36-39
One of the important things that we must remember is that we represent God and God is not representing us! So stop reasoning about things. So if God punishes somebody, Its between them and God, If God blesses somebody, its between them and God -Who are you to get in between? We are called and chosen and adopted as sons and daughters of God by the precious blood of Jesus which was poured at the cross! Love God, Love People – Why is it too difficult for you to understand? Hypocrites! If you cannot help, do not harm!
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
It was said well and true, about people like you, in the scriptures, hundreds of years ago –
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:1-7
So church, avoid such hypocrites, pray for them that they may repent and also pray that you may not fall under various trails become one, like them.
And to those who see, hear and understand that the passage describes some of your actions, do not hardened your hearts – Confess and Repent before God and come back home – God is gracious enough to forgive and gift your the promise of the Holy Spirit who will guide from the spirit of error!
But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:17-25
Jesus says – “I tell you, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:5
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.Galatians 5:16-26
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Christian Conduct
Instead of giving a speech of how you ought to be as a Christian, it is better for me to just show and remind you of your responsibilities using the scripture (with context).
Here’s an important passage that you are supposed to reflect in your daily life –
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ” vengeance is mine , I will repay ,” says the Lord. ” but if your enemy is hungry , feed him , and if he is thirsty , give him a drink ; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head .” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”.
Romans 12:1-21
Remember who you are,
Know your purpose,
Be a living definition of the title you wear, i.e., “Christian”,
Pray and heed and be led by the Spirit of God and not the spirit of god!
God bless you all, Peace.
YEHOSHUA 
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