* There was a first picture showing someone praying- This may signify a person being holy
*The second picture shows a hand reaching out
*So the question was: Which picture represents Christianity most?
*To be a church that shows compassion
*Isaiah 58:2-11:
For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please, and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today.
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords o the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear ground.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well- watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
*Rather go without food than not respond to God's calling
v4-5: If you want God to break in history, you have to obey
v6-7: If you want to seek ME, you do not fast (or follow religious acts) alone but care for the poor as well
*There is a huge difference between human morality and justice
*God cares but his religious acts is not the point
*The most important thing is to be people of justice
1. Perception of the Church
*The perception of the church is getting worse
*They love Jesus but not the church
*The best perception is just to go to work and not swear. No?
*One of the problems with Christianity is that we are more against something (eg: Swearing, sex outside marriage) compared to what we are for
*We are suppose to be for the poor, to sacrifice so that people can have water (or any form of necessities) In that way, more people can be drawn more to the church.
*Romans, Greeks, Jews had to take care of their own poor.
*The Christians had to take care not only for their own poor but to all poor people.
eg: Salvation army : They are known for what their for (eg: Door knocking) and not against.
2. Politics
*There is no such thing as a Christian nation
*A lot of it is fear of having no rights as Christians
*We are to lay down our life for Christians, we have no right as Christians, we are not suppose to
*We cannot legislate morality
*We cannot expect non-believers to act like believers
1 Corinthians 5:12-13: What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
*Our goal is not to get people to behave better but to meet with our father
*When Christians vote, our job is to care for the community, to care for the common good of people.
3. Our relationship with God
*Struggle with anger, lust
*We confess sins of our personal, when was the last time you confessed for the sins of the oppressed?
*The Bible talks about sins of commission but the bible speaks much about sins of omission as well.
*Omission- not do what is wrong but fail to do what is right
*When was the last time we repent for sins of omission?
*When the Holy Spirit comes to us to transform, God will let us do good works to respond to Jesus
*James 2:14-17: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
*Eventually, the Holy Spirit will come and transform you but
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Jesus tells a justice story not of personal morality
(eg: The parable of the Good Samaritan)
*Neither of the snapshots (described earlier) show Christianity
*The real picture of Christianity is Jesus dieing on the cross
*Not about what we do but what Jesus has done for us
*If you fall in love with Jesus, you will change your character.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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