Should Christians campaign against supposed "social injustice"?

Over the last few years it has become apparent that a number of so-called "Evangelical" Christian societies have been more concerned with getting involved in politics and fighting "social injustice" than preaching the Gospel.  Is this right?  What is more important - campaigning to put the world to rights or telling people the only way to be saved for all eternity?

In Mark 14 v 7 Jesus said that the poor are always with us and when we wish we may do them good.  There is nothing wrong with helping someone in need and, on occasion, I've bought a meal for a homeless person.  Such an act opens an opportunity for the Gospel and may lead to that person getting saved.

However, what should be the main thrust of our service for Christ?  I would suggest that campaigning on social issues detracts from the real task that the Saviour left us viz. to spread the Gospel so that souls may be saved.  Consider the following 5 points:

1.  Christ did not concern Himself with the problems and politics of this world.  When a man came to Him complaining about his brother not sharing the inheritance this may well have been an opportunity to put right a perceived wrong.  However, Jesus refused to get involved (see Luke 12 v 13-14).

2.  Christ lived during a time of great oppression from the Roman occupation but did not once mention the need to protest against the Romans.  Moreover, He showed kindness to a centurion.

3.  Peter lived at the time of Nero, a particularly nasty bit of work, but did not encourage any form of protest against him; on the contrary he taught that one should be submissive to the authorities - (see 1st Peter 2 v 13).

4.  Paul taught, in Romans 13 that God appoints the government and we should not rebel against it. The only exception being where the authorities try to prevent Gospel preaching (see Acts 5 v 29).  Moreover, in this chapter we are told that the prime responsibility of the government is the maintenance of the rule of law "they bear not the sword in vain".  It is NOT the government's job to provide health, education and welfare; it is wholly wrong for Christians to protest against welfare cuts which are designed to stop scroungers sponging off the state (If anyone refuses to work let him not eat - 2nd Thess. 3 v 10).

5.  God sets a person's station in life.  He ordains an individual's financial circumstances.  As Christians we believe God provides, and we trust in Him rather than moan about the government not giving us enough money (see Phil 4 v 19).  

I believe that our PRIME responsibility is to spread the Gospel (Christ died for our sins and rose again) so that people can be saved.  After all, what good is it for "social injustice" to be put right if the beneficiaries of our action are heading for Hell when they die?

Are you "IN"to the Bible?

Over the last 30 odd years I've read the Bible through many times and the more I read it the more convinced I am that it is the Word of God.  While perusing this thought recently I came up with the following 5 "IN"s:

1.  The Bible is INspired.

In 2nd Timothy 3 v 16 we are told that all scripture is "given by inspiration of God".  Some versions use the words "God breathed".  The very words of God have been breathed into being in the pages of this wonderful book.  All that God has to say to us is there in the Bible.

2.  The Bible is INerrant.

As mentioned above, I've read it through many times and have not found any errors.  The supposed contradictions can easily be answered by keeping a passage in context.  It is historically accurate and no known fact of science or archeology has disproved the Bible.

3.  The Bible is INfallible.

Many so-called "Christian" ministers deny the Bible's infallibility and claim it has mistakes.  IF the Bible contains mistakes how do we know Jesus is the Son of God?  To call oneself a Christian and deny the infalliblity of the Bible is to cut away the ground from beneath one's feet.

4. The Bible is INdestructible.

As a young kid I used to watch "Captain Scarlet".  This man was indestructible; no matter how many times he was shot he still survived.  The Bible is like "Captain Scarlet" - down through the centuries it has been attacked and maligned.  However, it still survives today and is still changing lives for the better.

5. The Bible is INvincible.

Voltaire boasted that within a 100 years of his death the Bible would be a museum piece and nothing more.  However, not long after he passed into eternity (to face the God he had denied) his very house was used to publish God's Word! Truly God has the last laugh - His word is invincible, it will always triumph.

 I feel deeply privileged to be an evangelist spreading the truths of this glorious, soul-saving book!

What do these 6 men have in common?

Apart from the fact that they are the men what do the following 6 people have in common?

1.  Von Ribbentrop - Nazi

2.  Billy McCurrie - terrorist

3.  Mitsuo Fuchida - Jap pilot (who led raid on Pearl Harbour)

4.  David Upton - homosexual

5.  Michael Ford - atheist

6. Brian Morris - Drug Dealer

The answer is....they all got saved!  The details of these people are available on the internet - simply google their names, with the words "Christian conversion" afterwards, for the proof of their wonderful change.

1. Von Ribbentrop

He was Hitler's Foreign Minister, and one of the men convicted of war crimes for which he was hanged.  What isn't so well known is that he got saved before going to the gallows.  His true story is outlined by Chaplain Gerecke.

2.  Billy McCurrie

Was a terrorist in N Ireland; got saved and is now a Baptist Minister soundly preaching the Gospel.  This man's violent hatred was removed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Mitsuo Fuchida

He was the pilot who led the infamous attack on Pearl Harbour.  Got saved 5 years after the war ended after being given a tract as he got off a subway train in Tokyo.

4. David Upton

David was involved in homosexuality for many years and was told that he couldn't change, but he did through the power of the Gospel.  His testimony can be viewed on www.illbehonest.com  (scroll down to the bottom to the "testimonies" section).

5.  Michael Ford

Michael was an atheist who had no time for the Bible's claim to be God's word, BUT God had other plans for him and drew him to repentance and faith in Christ.   Again, view his testimony on www.illbehonest .com

6. Brian Morris

Brian served a prison sentence for drug dealing but got saved in prison and is now a Baptist Minister in Wales.  His testimony was highlighted in the national press.  Google "Brian Morris former drug dealer, now minister". 

Time and time again, I've heard of, and come across, people who have been changed by the Gospel.  I personally know of some who've got saved through the street ministry in Canterbury,  including a former God-hating satan worshipper and a former drug addict.

(I've no doubt that enemies of the Gospel will boast about former "Christians" who fell away but that only proves the Bible is true.  Jesus predicted, in the parable of the sower, that there would be people who profess salvation but fall away).

The Bible says: "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new".  2nd Corinthians 5 v 17.

The devil uses the film industry to spread his lies.

I note from the national press that the film "Ouija", which is being shown on cinemas at the moment, is leading to a huge increase in people dabbling in the occult. This will, in turn, lead to a corresponding increase in people being taken over by demonic forces and suffering all sorts of mental and physical troubles in their lives.

Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say that the devil has destroyed many people's lives (not to mention their eternal souls) by drawing them into activities like "Ouija" boards and so on.  Moreover, he uses all sorts of ways in which to lead people into godless behaviour with the film industry (as we see from this latest "offering") being one of those ways.

Another example of the devil using a film to lead people astray is "Brokeback Mountain" (released about 10 years ago).  I saw a trailer for this and quickly realised that it was promoting a particularly filthy and vile perversion of the most unnatural kind.  A cursory read over a review confirmed this to be the case.   No doubt the aim of the film was to convince people that this kind of "behaviour" was acceptable and that anyone who objects was a narrow minded bigot. 

This kind of tactic from the devil is nothing new; in the 1960s "The Dirty Dozen" was released and quickly became popular.   It was about a group of US soldiers who went on a suicide mission to kill Germans.  However, in keeping with the anti-Bible spirit of that decade, one of the characters used the Bible to justify his killing of women.   I'm sure that many watching that film were led to believe that Bible-believing Christians were extremist nut cases and, as a result, closed their minds to the Gospel.

A more recent example of this satanic chicanery is "12 Years A Slave" about a black man kidnapped and sold into slavery while in a drunken state.  One could argue that his drunkenness led him into the suffering he endured over the next 12 years (a clear warning against abusing alcohol).  However, as I watched this film it became clear to me that this was yet another case of the devil trying to discredit the Bible. The "villain" of the story was Edwin Epps who, even by Southern standards of brutality, was particularly wicked.  What I objected to was the way the film showed his use of the Bible to justify mistreating the slaves.

While it is true that many people have misinterpreted the Bible in order to claim that their vile conduct is justified in God's sight, it is also true that the devil will use every means at his disposal to put people off reading the Bible and seeking after God - the film industry being one of the most obvious examples.

What should be our response to this?

We should simply rest in the sovereignty of God.  We need to recognise that  the devil has always been in the business of attacking people's souls by seeking to lead them away from the truth BUT he is a defeated foe.  No matter how much he uses his devious means to fulfil his purposes he will never stop the elect from being saved.  ALL people elected, according to the foreknowledge of God, WILL be saved.  In John 6 v 37 we read that every person given to Jesus by His Father will believe in Him.  The devil will use many and varied ways to draw people after himself, but even he cannot stop God from drawing the elect to the foot of the cross in repentance and faith in Christ.

As we spread the glorious truths of the Gospel let us do so in absolute confidence that the Gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes".   Romans 1 v 16.

An excellent web site for seekers after truth.

Over the last 10 years, or so, I've sought many opportunities to engage in reasoned debate with non-Christians on the internet.  Although there have been some people with a willingness to discuss various issues in a reasonable way, there have also been many occasions when I've had to stop such debates because the unbeliever has showed a distinct hostility to having a sensible discussion.

Such people are not interested in searching for truth, all they want to do is pour out invective against God and the Bible; to attempt to reason with them is a classic case of "pearls before swine" - Matthew 7 v 6.  (Indeed, some of these people have been so angry against the Bible they have even banned me from their blogs, no doubt because they cannot cope with the power of God's word).   Moreover, when passing out tracts on the street I've become adept as discerning the difference between a genuine seeker and those who just want to have an argument.

When meeting genuine seekers I often point them to an excellent web site which seeks to answer people's sincere questions and exposes the errors of false teaching eg evolution, atheism and the cults. This web site I write on the back of a booklet entitled "Knowing God personally" which I give to people who show any kind of interest in the truths of the Gospel.

The address of it is:   www.thechristiananswer.org and it is well worth a Christian studying it in order to strengthen one's faith and give ready answers to genuine enquirers.  The Bible says that we need to be ready to give an answer to those who ask about the faith we have (1st Peter 3 v 15).

This web site is an invaluable aid to evangelists and, indeed, to any Christian with a desire to spread the word so that others can be saved.  As we do so let us remember that if a person is truly, and sincerely, seeking after God then they will find Him.

"You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart"  Jeremiah 29 v 13

Political Correctness - the new Nazi party

In 1930s Germany you would get into serious trouble for nothing more than simply expressing mild criticism of the Nazi party, you  would be arrested and sent to prison for such "offences".   Moreover, it was even likely that if your son or daughter made an unguarded comment at school, to the effect that you disapproved of Hitler, then you would not only get a visit from the State Police, but your kids would be taken away from you.

Fast forward 80 years to the Western world today.   Politicians often boast about how people fought in the world wars for freedom.  They boast that we are free to live and work without state interference; they even claim that we have free speech.  However, the facts contradict such boasting; consider the following:

Christian believers have been arrested just for outlining basic New Testament doctrine concerning marriage and family life viz. that marriage is for one man and one woman. and that sex should only take place within marriage;  in other words that fornication, adultery and homosexuality are all sinful.  Christians have been dismissed from jobs or demoted for expressing such truths.

Moreover, in the name of tolerance, we are told that all religions lead to God and, if a Christian preacher states that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven then that is a form of racism.  Indeed, I well remember someone accusing me of racism when I told him that truth.

In my street evangelism I've noticed that there is an increasing public awareness of the fact that true Christian preachers emphatically state the truth of John 14 v 6, and there are many more questions about this issue than used to be that case a few years ago.   One evening in August I had 4 conversations with enquirers who pressed me on this matter.   I've also told adherents of "other religions" that people who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God are going to Hell (see John 3 v 18).

So far I've not had any trouble with the Police over this but it is only a matter of time before someone complains and then I'll be seeing the inside of a cell.  For example, in Ramsgate I've had several conversations with a Jewish chap and we get on well together.  However, if he had taken exception to me telling him that those who don't believe Jesus is the Son of God are going to Hell, then I would have been accused of anti-semitism and probably arrested.

Does this mean that we water down the truth of God's infallible word?  Chocolate soldiers would, no doubt, look for ways to fit in with the ungodly and still maintain their Christian faith (or what's left of it) but true soldiers of the cross will unashamedly, and unreservedly declare the truth of the Gospel even though it may mean serious consequences.

In 1990 I stood in a pulpit and stated that the day will come when Christian preachers will be nicked simply for telling people that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, and that all other beliefs will lead people to Hell.  At the time this seemed a preposterous suggestion, but the days are rapidly approaching, and may even be here, when it becomes a criminal offence to preach Christ outside the four walls of a church building.

We should not be suprised at this, the Gospel has always been opposed but has always triumphed in the salvation of souls and the glorification of Christ's name.  Indeed, the reason why Gospel preaching is so strongly opposed is simple - it is the truth and the devil doesn't like it.

"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes"  Romans 1 v 16

Jihadi John? We are all murderers!

In recent weeks there has been a lot of newspaper reports about the activities of a group of Islamic Fundamentalists going under the name of "Islamic State" (or ISIS or ISIL).   This group has been causing a huge amount of havoc in Syria and Iraq, carrying out atrocities including the decapitation of westerners who have had the misfortune to fall into their hands.

One of the terrorists responsible for this barbarity has been a man with a British accent dubbed "Jihadi John".  This "person" has appeared on videos purporting to show the murder of at least 4 westerners (2 Brits and 2 yanks).  I understand that there is a huge manhunt underway to capture him and bring him to some kind of justice.

It is right that we condemn the wickedness of I.S. and the one termed Jihadi John but, before we do, let us remember that we are all murderers, we have all committed acts of killing.  I state this fact for 2 reasons:

Firstly, in the New Testament Jesus taught that if we hate someone then we as guilty as killers (Matthew 5 v 21-22).   Simply hating someone in our hearts is just as if we had killed them.  God sees everyting and, if we don't repent of hating someone the Lord will bring us to account in the same way as if we had killed.

Secondly, when Jesus died on the cross He did so as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.  It was part of the divine plan that He would pay the price for our sins.  Therefore, it was not the Romans alone who killed Him (or the Jews for crying out for His blood) but it was us.  We all killed Christ - we all had a hand in putting to death the Son of God, a dreadful crime because Christ was sinless and perfect.

Consequently we must conclude that we are all guilty before God, and we all need to repent of these acts of wickedness.  Having repented we must all then accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour - He is the ONLY way to eternal life.

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one comes to the Father but by me"  John 14 v 6

I'm quite relaxed about it.

My last article mentioned a number of people (with identities concealed to protect them from cyber bullying) who have been saved as a result of street evangelism.  However, what about the many who refuse the Gospel?  What about the hordes of people who are offered tracts and do not avail themselves of the offer of eternal life?

My response to this question is simple - I'm quite relaxed about it; why is this?  There are 3 reasons I give in answer to that:

1.  Jesus said that most people will not get saved.

In Matthew 7 v 13-14 Jesus made it clear that many are travelling on the broad way which leads to judgement and few on the narrow way which leads to life.   Although there will be many people in Heaven  (a great multitude that no one can number - Revelation 7 v 9) as a percentage of the whole human race it will be a minority, therefore, in relative terms - a few.

2.  The loss is theirs.

When most people refuse tracts they are quite polite but sometimes they can be terse and spiteful; my response to such people is often to say "it's your loss!"  Why do I say that - because one day they will give account to God for refusing His offer of eternal life.  They refused to have their names written in the book of life by accepting Christ as their personal Saviour.  Therefore, they will end up in the Lake of Fire - Revelation 20 v 15.   It's obviously very sad when this happens, but it's no loss to me - I've made reasonable efforts to show them the way to Heaven.


3.  God's Holy Spirit is stronger then man's rebellious spirit.

I know of people who once refused (and refused very strongly) to repent of their sins and accept Christ.  However, over time the Holy Spirit worked upon them and drew them to the foot of the cross in repentance and faith.  There are people who were once enslaved in sexual perversion and vile filth who have been drawn to repentance by God and are now reaching out to gay communities telling them that Jesus can change them.  There are people who were once trapped in cults, who have found freedom in Christ, and are now telling their former cult colleagues about this new freedom.  If God is drawing someone to repentance and faith in Christ then they will come - John 6 v 37 and 6 v 44 teach us this quite distinctly.


So you see then, while it is right to be zealous in evangelism, we don't need to get angry and upset when people refuse the Gospel.  We have done God's work to give the free offer of the Gospel, the results are out of our hands.

Evangelism works - here's the proof!

I've been involved in literature evangelism since the 1970s and have seen many encouragements in that time.  Of course, most people who hear/read the Gospel do not respond by repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour; indeed, many people will not even accept an offered leaflet.  However, I'm not discouraged by their refusals as Jesus warned (in Matthew 7 v 14) that this would be the case.

There may well be readers of this blog who wonder if literature evangelism actually works.  Do people really take this form of outreach seriously and get right with God?  In order to answer that question I've listed below a number of people who've come to know the Lord through Gospel literature.  I use initials rather than their full names in order to protect their identity.   There are some very spiteful atheists on the internet who subject Christians to cyber-bullying (I know because they do it to me, but I rejoice in it as it increases my reward in Heaven - Matthew 5 v 10-12) and so it is appropriate to take reasonable steps to protect vulnerable people.  Please be assured that these are real people - I have not made this up.

Example 1 - shortly after starting work at an office block I used to leave "chick books" in the toilets. A man "R" came to know the Saviour through this witness and started to attend the church I was going to.  At the same time his wife "D" came back to the Lord after having spent some years in a backslidden state. 

Example 2 - while I was walking back to the train station after spending an afternoon passing out tracts a man approached me ("P") who told me that he had been saved after reading tracts I had given him.  I remember having had at least one conversation with him a few weeks previously, and I rejoiced to know of his salvation.    This was some years ago but, more recently, I saw him again and he assured me that he was still going on with the Lord and attended a local Gospel preaching church (I know the church he mentioned and it is very sound).

Example 3 - I had a number of conversations with a homeless, drug addict ("S") to whom I gave a Gideon New Testament.   Over the years he read this NT and came to know the Saviour. Proof of the change in his life occurred when he found some money dropped on the pavement and gave it in to the Police rather than spend it on drugs.  I attended his baptism where he testified to having passed from darkness to light.

Example 4 - I gave a bi-lingual (French/English) person, we'll call him "B",  a number of items of literature in both languages over a period of a few years and he came to know Christ.  I saw him again recently and he is still going on with the Lord.

Example 5 - "J" had serious personal problems and was on medication but responded to the Gospel in a real and wonderful way after reading a tract and praying to receive the Saviour.

Example 6 - a lady approached me while I was tracting and told me that she was a Christian.  She had taken a tract from me some while before and read it to her mother.    After hearing the contents the mother got saved and died a few hours later, just in time to avoid the judgement.

Example 7 - "M" was a lady with serious issues.    She hated God but was searching for purpose in her life.  One day she bought a book on buddhism and later she went past me and took a tract.  To cut a long story short she got saved and is going on really well with the Lord.  She is a vibrant witness and often gives tracts to work colleagues or leaves them in the rest room for them to read.

I could give many, many more examples of how God has worked through literature evangelism but the afore-mentioned are sufficient to prove that there is a God who changes lives! 

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel"  - Mark 16 v 15

Oh dear - he's in big trouble!

In my street evangelism I find that most people are polite.  Even if they don't want the Gospel they generally don't get abusive; in short, most people conduct themselves within the bounds of decent standards of human behaviour.

However, there are exceptions.  Over the years I've been on the receiving end  of verbal abuse and bad words a number of times, and have even had threats of violence.   Notwithstanding that, the vast majority of people are polite when they refuse to accept a Gospel leaflet.  When the exceptions occur it is reminder of the dreadful hold satan has on people's lives and proof that there is a devil who has not only blinded people, but also holds them in the bondage of slavery.

One such incident happened only yesterday in Ramsgate.  I offered a young person a tract which he took; then after he looked at the title (Jesus paid the price for us) he cast it aside onto the floor with a look of contempt for me.  I warned him of the Hell that he faces but he walked away very fast.

As I reflected upon this a thought struck me - this "person" (poor creature would be a more accurate description) cast aside the offer of the Gospel. He cast aside the name of Jesus, and, on the judgement day God will cast him aside should he die in his current state of rebellion.

The Bible says:  "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" - Revelation 20 v 15.

Truly, instead of getting angry with him for showing such arrogant contempt we should be moved with compassion.  He has been blinded and enslaved by the devil, he is in the hands of the devil in the same way that a mouse is under the control of a cat that torments it.

We need to pray for him, that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to open his eyes, and turn him from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God.  We need to pray that God would open his heart just as He opened Lydia's heart in Acts chapter 16 and verse 14.  We need to pray that God would be pleased to grant him repentance unto life.

Over the years I've been involved in front line evangelism I've had the privilege of witnessing the power of the Gospel at work in people's lives; God can change even the vilest of people and turn them into "trophies of Grace".

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away.  Behold all things have become new"   2nd Corinthians 5 v 17

The loss of a poor soul

What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? - Mark 8 v 36

No one can adequately describe the loss of the soul.  No one can paint this dreadful picture in its true colours. 

You and I will never fully understand what it means to lose one's soul until we pass through the valley of death and wake up in eternity.

Only then shall we begin to know the value of the soul.

The value of things will change greatly in that day. 

The hour is coming when money, stocks and shares will be worth no more than waste paper. 

The day is coming when diamonds, silver and gold will be as dust in the streets. 

The day will dawn when houses, property and land will be as useless as a child's worn out toy.

In that day the fame, honour and glory of this world will be worth no more than faded flowers and withered grass.

In that day a man will be willing to trade all that he knows, and can imagine, for the privilege of hearing one Gospel sermon, one hour of prayer, one verse of scripture.

In that day a man will be willing to trade all the world for one grain of faith.  Men will curse the day they were born!

In that day of God's judgement and wrath - what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

God's sovereignty and man's free will.

Norman Geisler is a Christian theologian with a long and distinguished career as a lecturer at a number of Bible Colleges in the US.  Some years ago he wrote a book entitled "Chosen But Free" which looked at seeking a Biblical balance between God's sovereignty and Man's free will.   At the beginning of this book he stated that this issue had been the one that his students has questioned him most on.

The issue clearly perplexes many people, including Christians and atheists, and I'll give 3 examples of why this is:

1.  Romans 13 v 1 tells us God appoints the government but, in Western countries, at least, we have the free will to choose the government.  How can it be that God ordains but man has free choice?

2.  The Bible teaches in many places that God the Father sent Jesus to die for our sins.  Isaiah chapter 53 foretold this 700 years before it happened  (a clear example of the Bible being true and infallible).  It was ordained that Jesus would die for our sins.  However, God still held Judas responsible for betraying Jesus, and the Jews for howling for His blood.  How can it be that God, the Father, ordained Jesus to die for us and yet holds people responsible for the deed?

3.  In a number of places in the NT we are told that God has fore-ordained people to be saved, and they are the ones who believe in Christ; an example being Acts 13 v 48 "....and those ordained to eternal life believed".   Moreover, in 1st Peter 1 v 2 we read that Christians have been elected "according to the foreknowledge of God".   How can it be that God ordains people to eternal life and yet holds to account the unbelievers who, if they die "in their sins", will be "cast into the Lake of Fire" Revelation 20 v 15?

These are questions people may ask for understandable reasons and for the answer we need to turn to Isaiah chapter 55 and Romans chapter 9.

In Isaiah 55 v 8-9 we read that God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's thoughts and ways.

This doesn't mean that Man is unintelligent but that we do not have the capacity to fully understand God.  If we could fully understand God then He wouldn't be God.    It is rather like asking your pet dog to read a daily paper;  he may be an intelligent animal but he simply doesn't have the capacity to read a paper.

Now let us turn to Romans chapter 9.

In Romans 9 v 9-13 we read that God chose Jacob over Esau.  Moreover, in verse 15 it states that God has mercy on "whom he wishes".   This is re-inforced in verse 18 were we also read that "whom he wishes, he hardens".   Anticipating the objection to this (in verse 19) Paul goes on to say "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God" - and that is the ultimate answer to the questions raised at the beginning of this article.

God is God and we are mere humans beings; He is sovereign over His creatures.  Romans 9 goes on to speak about the potter and the clay (verses 20-21; see also verses 22-24).

As far as the unsaved are concerned the promise is there, that if they will turn to Christ He WILL NOT turn them away (see John 6 v 37); for those of us who believe we rejoice in God's mercy and kindness shown to such undeserving sinners - "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness"  Lamentation 3 v 22-23.

It's all fore-ordained anyway.

I note from the national press that Westminster politicians are getting into a right state over the possibility of Scotland voting for independence next week.  It seems that even the Queen is "deeply concerned" (as well she should be, given that she has offended the Lord over signing the "gay marriage" law - God is not mocked). 

However, I find the whole thing (Scottish "independence" that is) highly amusing.  Leaving aside the obvious economic flaws in the finances of an independent Scotland, the result has already been ordained by God.

In Romans 13 v 1 we read that "the powers that be are ordained of God".   Some "Christians" may wish to re-write that to say that God merely allows rulers to be in authority, but the text is crystal clear.  I well remember about 30 years ago leading a home group Bible Study when this issue came up.  One of our number was a bit of a leftie and strongly rejected the clear teaching of this verse (Maggie was PM at the time!).  However, God doesn't simply "allow" rulers into authority He actually puts them there.

Of course, it is right to vote, some may say it's a civic duty, and I always vote in the "big" elections BUT I recognise that the result is not something we need to be troubled about because it's all in God's hands anyway.

The implications of what I have just written are rejected by many on the grounds that past and present rulers have done, and are doing, wrong to their people (and people of other nations!).  We think, of course, of Hitler and Stalin; Mugabe and Putin.  Moreover, some of our own Prime Ministers have been responsible for wrong doing as we saw just a decade ago when Blair led this country into an illegal and unjust war that caused many thousands of civilian deaths.

However, even though God ordains the government that doesn't mean that they are not accountable to Him for the way they have governed.  Romans 14 v 12 tells us that one day we must all stand before God to give an account ( perhaps this is why atheists get so angry and aggressive; they don't like the thought that there is a God who sees everything and will bring them to account).   The rulers who have governed unjustly will have to account for the way they have misused the power granted to them by God, but this doesn't negate the fact, and it IS a fact, that God appoints them.

As we consider all this we should experience a feeling of deep calm; to know that God is in control, and that He will work all things out in His own good time, should cause us to leave all things in His hands and not worry about the election results (or the result of the poll on Sept 18th!).

Moreover, what good will it do politicians to be on the winning side - if their souls are not saved then being  a victor in the election will profit them nothing.

God's purposes WILL be carried out.

In the 1970s I used to receive a magazine called "The Voice of the Martyrs" which highlighted to dreadful suffering of Christian believers in the communist countries of Eastern Europe.  The evil communists put Christians in prison, tortured, and even murdered them.  Moreover, Bibles were burnt by the 1,000s in huge bonfires as the enemies of the Gospel attempted to eradicate all traces of Biblical Christianity.

Every year this magazine would have a text for the 12 months up to December and, one year, (I believe it was about 1978 or '79) the text was "The God of peace will bruise Satan under your feet shortly" from Romans 16 v 20.

As I read this I remember thinking something like the following: "Surely, that can't happen; the communists are so entrenched and so powerful".  However, as we all know, communism in E. Europe collapsed within a decade and Christian evangelism was able to be openly done and not in secret as before.   Indeed, in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, a building that was once used to frame laws against Christians became the venue for a Gospel rally!

Truly, the Gospel had triumphed over communism and God had had the last word against those who opposed Him and His word - the Bible.

I was reminded of this Gospel victory as I pondered the 2 greatest threats to Biblical Christianity today - militant Islam and militant atheism/secularism.

We all know how these twin forces (both inspired by Satan, the enemy of people's souls) are being marshaled against the Gospel.  In our own perverse and wicked nation we have seen evidences of political correctness being used by atheists to try and silence evangelism.  We are all aware, too, of just how vicious militant Islam is. 

In the light of these threats we may well find ourselves being discouraged BUT, let us remember how God has worked in times past to ensure His word goes out.  He has vanquished His foes in the past and He will do so again.

In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Word, knowing as we do, that the Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes"  Romans 1 v 16.

"I could never worship a God like that!"

In the Bible God commanded King Saul to attack the Amalekites and completely wipe them out, every last one of them.  He  also commanded him to destroy all the animals.  However, the king disobeyed the Lord and spared King Agag.  He also spared a number of animals ostensibly to use them as sacrifices to the Lord.

No doubt Saul thought it was good to spare the animals in order to sacrifice them to the Lord but Samuel, the prophet, rebuked him stating that obedience was more important than sacrifices. (You can read the whole account of this in 1st Samuel chapter 15).

Opponents of the Bible point to this (and many other Biblical accounts of God ordering the mass slaughter of people) as a means of attacking God.  What kind of being, they say, could be so cruel as to make such an order?

There are several things wrong with this line of reasoning.  Firstly, God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55 v 8) and when He gave these commands He had His reasons for it - however much it may seem repellent to our humanistic society which extols the "goodness" of human nature.

Secondly, the pagan nations were a constant source of temptation to the Israelites.   The Israelites had been chosen by God to be a monotheistic nation - that is, to worship one God, but the pagan nations were idolatrous.  In order to keep the chosen race pure from sin it was necessary to wipe them out.  The disobedience of  the Israelites in letting them live led directly to snares being put before God's people, and their being led astray.

Thirdly, God is sovereign, we are not, and that is the ultimate answer.  When people say "I could never worship a God like that" my answer is simple - "I know, until God takes out your heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh, you never will!"

Moreover, when people rail against God in this way we need to remember the words of Romans 9 v 20  "Who are you, o man, to answer back to God".

I have heard people say things like "When I meet God I'm going to tell Him just what I think of Him!"   However, when people meet God they will be so over-awed by His presence they will immediately fall down and worship Him.  Those who have got right with Him before they died (by accepting Christ as their personal Saviour) will rejoice in His presence; but those who have died in a rebellious state will be in abject terror as they realise that they were wrong all along.  They should have listened to Christians attempting to help them by pointing them to Christ as they ONLY way to Heaven.

In the meantime let us re-double our efforts to spread the Gospel, knowing that we ARE on the victory side.

Why do people believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour?

There are a number of reasons why people refuse to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour but ultimately it comes down to  the simple fact that they have been blinded by the devil - see 2nd Corinthians 4 v 4.  Given that fact one may wonder how it is that anyone will believe; if the devil is stronger than people (and he is) and if he has blinded people (and he has) how can anyone believe?

There are six reasons why people repent of their sins and accept Christ:

1.  Truth is revealed to them.  

In Matthew 16 v 13-17 Peter declares Jesus to be the Son of God.  Jesus sates that Peter believed this because it was revealed to him by His "Father in Heaven".   Of course, anyone can have an academic knowledge of the teachings of the Gospel, but until God reveals truth to their hearts then they will not believe.

2.  God draws them.

In John 6 v 44 Jesus makes it clear that no-one can come to Him until the Father "draws them".   Think of water in a well not being able to draw itself, a person comes along and draws that water using a bucket.  That is what happens when people come to Christ for salvation - they are drawn to Him..

3. They are enabled to believe.

In John 6 v 65 Jesus said that no-one can come to him unless "it has been given him by my Father".  The New International Version is more explicit,  using the word "enabled".   In our natural state we are not able to receive the "things of the Spirit of God" (1st Corinthians 2 v 14) .  For us to believe we need to be "enabled".

4.  They are the sheep who hear the shepherd.

In John 10 v 26-27 Jesus said to a group of people "You do not believe because you are not of my sheep, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me".   Those who are not "the sheep" may hear the physical voice of a Gospel preacher but they will not hear the voice of Christ, and they cannot, because they are not of the sheep.

5.  They have been ordained to eternal life.

In Acts 13 v 48 we read of those who believe doing so because they were "appointed to eternal life".  In John 6 v 37 we read of those who have been given to Christ coming to Him.  These 2 verses are making the same point - people believe because they were ordained to do so.

6. Their hearts have been opened.

In Acts 16 we read of Paul going to Philippi to preach the word and he preached to a group of ladies gathered by the riverside.  As he did so the Lord opened Lydia's heart so that she gave attention to what Paul was preaching, and she got saved (see verse 14).  

When I got saved in Sept 1975 I thought it was me opening my own heart and accepting Christ, but as I read the Bible I find that it was God who did the work - all praise to His glorious name!

As I spread the Gospel on the streets of Kent I am encouraged to know that God has all these things in hand and that HE WILL draw people to Himself in repentance and faith.

 

Israel - proof that the Bible is true.

In preaching and teaching the Bible the first emphasis must always be on the cross of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.   People need Him in their lives and so we should make that the first priority in evangelism and Bible teaching.   Issues like evolution, abortion and gays are important, and we should have Biblical views on them, but people's need of personal salvation come first.

To that end we read the Bible and see Christ on every page; in particular, we see a huge number of Old Testament prophecies and how they are fulfilled in Christ.  As we read them our faith is encouraged and we are strengthened in our belief that the Bible is infallible.

There are other prophecies in the OT that relate, not to the cross, but to Israel and, while we must not be sidetracked from the Gospel, it does us good to see how they have been fulfilled even in our day and generation.  One such prophecy is found in the last two verses of the book of Amos.  This prophecy states that the Jewish people would return to the land (meaning, of course, Israel) and "would never again be uprooted".  After the ransacking of Jerusalem in 70AD, and the dispersion of the Jews, it appeared that they were finished as a race.  Humanly speaking, they would simply assimilate into the nations they went to, and, through intermarriage, would eventually die out.

As the centuries passed, the land of Israel became part of the Ottoman empire and there was no place for a nation dedicated to preserving, and protecting, the Jewish race.   Over the centuries the Jews were savagely persecuted (much of this being orchestrated by "Christians"; think: Martin Luther's call for Jews to be driven off their land), the worst example being the holocaust when 6 million were murdered.  Yet despite all this, there were Christians who believed in the OT prophecies like the one mentioned above, and they were looking for the day when Israel would, once again, become a nation.

Against all the odds, humanly speaking, Israel became a nation in May, 1948 and, despite numerous attempts to destroy it (the latest being the Hamas campaign dedicated to the removal of Israel from the map) it still stands today.  This is a stunning fulfilment of prophecy and should encourage the faith of people, like myself, who believe that the Bible is true in every detail.

In stating the above I am aware that sometimes the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) carry out attacks that lead to tragic loss of civilian life; I'm also aware that Jews need Christ as their Lord and Saviour - they are not automatically right with God just because they are Jews.  However, the fact that Israel came into being, and continues to survive, is solid proof that the Bible IS God's word, and what He says WILL come to pass.

If what God says about Israel comes to pass, then what He says about a coming judgement day is also going to come to pass.  There will be a day of reckoning when we must all give account of ourselves to God.  Only those who have trusted the Saviour can be sure of eternal life.

The New Birth

In John chapter 3 we read the words "Except a man be Born Again he cannot see the kingdom of God". 

About 12 years ago I was passing out tracts when a man approached me and said "I've done the Born Again bit".   I don't doubt his sincerity, and he may well have been a true believer in Christ, but his choice of words was a little unfortunate.  In reality we don't do the "Born Again bit", God does it in us.

As we consider this subject it may be helpful to look at four questions viz.

1.  Why is the New Birth necessary?

It is necessary because we are, in our natural state, dead in trespasses and sins (see Ephesians 2 v 1).  This speaks for itself; there is no spiritual life in people who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.  This is why they consider the claims of Christ to be irrelevant and not important enough to give any thought to.   Moreover, those who die in that state of spiritual deadness are under God's condemnation for all eternity.

2.  What is the operation of the New Birth?

In other words, how does it happen?   It happens when the Holy Spirit of God comes upon people and gives them new life.  It cannot be explained, but needs to be experienced (ie. better felt than telt).  I experienced this, in my own life, in September 1975 when I got saved.  Millions of people all over the world, over the last 2 millenia, have also experienced the same phenomena .   The Bible likens it to a wind which cannot be seen but it's effects are clearly visible (see John 3 v 8).

3. What is the condition of the New Birth?
 
The answer is found in 1st John 5 v 1 where we read that "everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God".    When we come to the realisation that we are lost sinners, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and we truly repent and accept Him, then we are Born Again.  God brings us to newness of life.  The Bible puts it like this:  "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" 2nd Corinthians 5 v 17.

4. What is the result of the New Birth?

I've already alluded to this in the previous paragraph when mentioning the new life we experience.  We are also adopted into God's family; we become His children (see John 1 v 11-13). Many people believe that we are all naturally God's children but this is not the case.  We are all, naturally, the devil's children; but when we get saved then, and only then, do we become the children of God through faith in Christ.

This is vital subject but, sadly, so many people continue in their spiritual deadness because they refuse to submit to the Lordship of Christ.  May the Lord be pleased to draw precious souls to Himself through the spread of His infallible word - the Bible.

  

Mandela - the movie

Last week I rented the Mandela movie from the local library and was pleased to note that they had, by and large, stuck to the historical truth, and didn't seek to suggest that Mandela was a man without fault.  It showed his life in general and his struggle against the injustice of apartheid.  (Incidentally, the Dutch Reformed Church were wholly wrong to use the Bible to justify apartheid, believing, as they did, that the Boers were the "elect" race).

Whenever I watch films, I try to look for spiritual lessons that I can take with me throughout my Christian life, and this film was no exception.  There are 2 particular points that came through very clearly for me viz.

1.  Mandela, for all his faults, showed great magnanimity towards the white population.  After 27 years in prison he could be forgiven for feeling bitter, and one word from him would have led to the whites being massacred.  However, he behaved as a true statesman and led the country through a difficult transition to democracy.  One may feel that he exhibited the kind of grace that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount.  This is a lesson for us; the heaviest load to bear is a grudge and when people do not learn to forgive then they damage themselves.

2.  As I saw the scenes of brutality and oppression towards the black majority I began to consider another form of oppression, one that is even worse than the barbarity of apartheid.  I refer, of course, to the way that the devil keeps people enslaved in their sins.  The reason why people do not repent of their sins and accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour is that, not only have they been blinded by the devil, but also enslaved by him.   As we witness people being enslaved and used by oppressors we need to see, in that, a picture of how the devil treats people.

Why is it that so many people cannot see their need of Christ - because the devil has them under his control.

Why is it that many people have addictions that they cannot break free from - because the devil has enslaved them.

Why is it that many people engage in immorality, homosexuality and various gross perversions - because the devil manipulates them, and plays with them in the same way as a cat plays with a mouse.

In other words, people who do not have Christ as their personal Saviour are helpless - in a sense they cannot help doing the things they do, the devil is controlling them like a puppet master pulling the strings.  Of course, they are still accountable to God and, if they don't repent, will face eternal damnation, but these poor creatures have been caught by satan and are being used by him to further his evil designs.

The Bible teaches, in 2nd Timothy 2 v 26, that the unsaved have been taken captive by the devil, at his will, to do his will.  What is the answer to the predicament these people are in - the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In John 8 v 32 Jesus said that the truth will set people free.  Moreover, the prophecy in Isaiah 61 about setting prisoners free has been, and is being, fulfilled in Christ.   When God opens the eyes of  poor blind sinners, and draws them to repentance and faith in Christ, they are set free.  They know the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit, they have been born again.

As I consider these matters I am renewed in my dedication to spread the Gospel, the only means whereby the slaves can be set free.

Flight MH17

Unless you have migrated to Mars you cannot have failed to notice that, last week, a passenger plane was brought down by a missile over Eastern Ukraine.   It appears that the missile was fired by pro-Russian "rebels" who are fighting the Ukrainian govt. over the future of the region.  I've no wish to take sides in this conflict as my first responsibility is to preach the Gospel, not get involved in politics.  However, all people, of whatever persuasion, would have been shocked at the appalling loss of life and the blame game started within minutes of the tragedy taking place.

Whenever, such an incident  occurs I tend to ask myself - "What spiritual lessons can be learned?"  I believe there are 2 basic lessons that we can draw from this.

Firstly,  don't be a hypocrite.   Messrs Obama and Cameron have roundly condemned the Russians for allegedly arming the separatists.  However, Obama seems to have forgotten that the US navy brought down an Iranian passenger plane in 1988 with heavy loss of life.   Moreover, Cameron seems to have forgotten that he supported the Iraq war which lead to huge suffering among Iraqi civilians.  Both of these "leaders" exemplify one of the basest traits of human nature - the tendency to condemn others for things we do ourselves.  Jesus warned against this in Matthew chapter 7.

Secondly,   we all need to recognise 3 basic truths - life is brief, death is certain and we must all pass into eternity one day.  The time and date that we meet God has been  fixed by Him and we don't know when that day will come.   Those reading this article cannot be certain that they will be alive tomorrow, as death can come at any time.  Yesterday on Broadstairs sea-front I had an hour long conversation with a man in which this issue came up, it is always relevant.

Moreover, after death comes the judgement, and then it's eternity in bliss or torments.   Over the week-end I heard a sermon from John Macarthur (of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California) in which he stated that the most important question in life is this "How can a guilty sinner get right with God and avoid eternal Hell?"

No question is as important as that, and no quest is more urgent than seeking to be right with God.

I sincerely hope that all the victims of this tragedy were saved; it is highly unlikely that they would have had notice of their death as it was so sudden - and that is a wake-up call for all people.

We all need to be sure we are right with God and this is ONLY by repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  As Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life, NO-ONE comes to the Father but by me" - John 14 v 6.

One reason people don't get saved.

The welfare state was set up in the late 1940s by the Attlee government.  This was, no doubt, motivated by a genuine desire to see an end to poverty by helping those who had fallen on hard times.

However, over the last few decades it has become so massive that millions of our fellow-citizens now refuse to work because they know they can get free handouts from the state.  I'm not writing now about those who are genuinely unemployed, but those who don't want to work (I see them often in Ramsgate town centre; all they are fit for is boozing, swearing and fathering kids by different women, producing another generation of scroungers - I call them the "Pramsgate Militia").

The New Testament makes it crystal clear that such people should not even be allowed to eat (see 2nd Thessalonians 3 v 10).  As the number of claimants has increased the number of people getting saved seems to have declined -  why is this?  The answer is obvious, over the last 40 years, or so, many people have come to trust in the state to provide, rather than God.  Consequently, they think they don't need God.   In effect, the welfare state has caused people to end up in Hell.

This mentality (the state provides, therefore we don't need God) explains why lefties tend to be atheists to a man - the likes of Michael Foot, Robin Cook, Donald Dewar and Bob Crowe were all strong atheists with a mouth to match!  Of course, these people have passed into eternity and, one hopes, came to their senses before their appointment with God!

Having established the fact that the rise in the Welfare State has co-related with a fall in the numbers of conversions to Christ, I come now to the remedy: slash welfare spending, big time.   As benefits are reduced so churches can set up soup kitchens where those in need can get soup and rolls to feed themselves.  As the poor are queueing up to get their food Christian Evangelists can get alongside them and tell them of the Saviour.  Perhaps such evangelists can sit down with them as they eat and tell them of the Bread of Life, and how they need to have their souls fed as well as their bodies.

This will have a huge impact for good in our nation - as more and more people get saved so they will be an influence for good and we will see crime falling; we will also see the new converts going out with the Gospel and leading many others to Christ.

At the end of the day - what matters is not how much of this world's goods we have but whether or not our souls are saved.  Slashing benefits will help to get matters back into their proper perspective.

It is eternity that counts, not making people comfortable and state-dependent in this life.

Pray for Rolf Harris to be saved

It appears that Rolf Harris has been sentenced to 5 years and 9 months for doing things he shouldn't to young girls over a long period of time.  He was convicted a few days ago and has now gone to prison for his offences.

Of course, what he did was wrong, and he has been rightly punished for it.  No doubt he will reflect long and hard while in prison concerning the shame he has brought upon himself, and the distress he has caused his family just at that time of life when he should be at peace with himself and his family.

However, my biggest concern is for his soul.   Many people will write him off as "an evil paedophile" who is beyond redemption, but I believe he can be converted and forgiven by God. 

Jesus loves even people like Rolf Harris, and loves them so much that he laid down His life on the cross as a sacrifice for their sins, then rose again to be their Saviour.

Even people who have committed vile acts of perversion against children can be changed by the power of God's Holy Spirit; indeed, if we are honest with ourselves we would have to admit that we have all fallen short of God's standards.  Most of us have not done evil things to children but we have all sinned against a Holy God - we have all broken His laws and gone our own way in life.  None of us have reached up to the standard which God requires which, of course, is perfection.

Consequently, before condemning Rolf Harris let us look at our own hearts and lives; let us all acknowledge that we need the Saviour to take away the guilt of our sins and give us peace with God.

I did this nearly 38 years ago when I repented of my sins and accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour - now I know I am bound for Heaven, not because there is any good in me but because Jesus paid the price for all my sins and now lives in my heart.

While we examine ourselves and ensure that we are right with God, let us remember to pray for Rolf Harris; this poor man needs the peace that only God can give, and which can only come through the Lord Jesus Christ.   May it happen that, as he languishes in a prison cell, he will read God's Holy word and come to know the Saviour.

God hardened Pharoah's heart.

In the book of  Exodus we read of how the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and how God called Moses to lead them out of slavery.    In chapter 4 we read of God calling Moses and saying to him that he should appear before the Egyptian king (Pharoah) and tell him that God told him to let the Israelites go.

However, God warned Moses (chapter 4 v 21) that he would harden Pharoah's heart and, as a result, he would refuse to let his slaves go.  As we read through those early chapters we see this fulfilled.  Moses appeared before Pharoah and told him to let the slaves go, but God hardened Pharoah's heart so that he refused; the subsequent plagues brought upon the Egyptians for this stubbornness led to a great deal of destruction in the land and huge loss of life.

Opponents of the Bible are quick to complain that Pharoah should not have been blamed for what happened as God had hardened his heart anyway.  Even many Christians appear to "water down" this statement and make it seem to suggest something else.

However, if plain English means anything then we cannot get away from the text - in a number of places it clearly states that God hardened Pharoah's heart.  Moreover, in Romans 9 v 17 we read that God raised up Pharoah in order to show His power.  In other words, this whole matter was fore-ordained by God in order to show His power in the plagues of Egypt and get great glory for Himself.  If Pharoah had simply let the slaves go then the plagues would not have happened; therefore, God hardened his heart in order that the plagues would follow and God's great power would be clearly manifested for all to see.

I've no doubt that what I've written above will be vehemently opposed by the Bible's opponents; even Christians may feel "embarrassed" by it.  However it is the clear truth;  moreover,  in the same chapter (Romans 9) we read in verse 18 that God shows mercy to whom He wishes to show mercy, and whom He wishes He hardens.

By the time many have read down to that last paragraph they will really be gnashing their teeth in rage, but the answer to them is found in verse 20 - after stating the objections people have (v19) Paul says: "Who are you, O man, to reply against God?".   That is the answer to all the objections and complaints about the apparent injustice of God in the way He acted against Pharoah.

In conclusion we should note that God is sovereign - if He chooses to harden someone that is His business; if He chooses to show mercy then we give Him all the glory and the praise for this.

God showed mercy to me some 38 years ago when he opened my eyes to my lost condition as a sinner on the way to hell, and then He graciously drew me so that I willingly repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour - my heart wells up in praise and adoration to Him for showing me this mercy, even though I didn't deserve it.

May God be pleased to draw many sinners to Himself as the Gospel goes forth in the preached word and the printed page.

Psychological abuse or Christian Evangelism ?

The government recently published plans to make it a criminal offence to subject children to "emotional or psychological abuse" but there is some debate concerning whether or not they will actually carry this through.


In theory this would be a good law as no-one should want to treat children in such a way.  However, if these proposals become law then it would have serious consequences for Christian parents and general evangelism among children as I will now explain.


The Bible has much teaching about the love of God and His goodness to us.  However, it also teaches a number of unpalatable truths which many find deeply offensive - the universal guilt of all mankind (i.e. we are all sinners), the fact of Christ's death for our sins and His resurrection, the fact that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven and the alternative to Heaven being Hell.  These truths are deeply resented by most people, no doubt because the devil has blinded them and, keeps them under his control -  until such time as the Lord draws them out of this state.


Truly loving Christian parents will teach these facts to their children, as also will Sunday school/club leaders etc.  In my own evangelism I often see children walk past me after leaving school, or French kids on day trips to Canterbury and I offer them material without any pressure or harassment.  In the last few weeks over 50 Gospel leaflets have been passed on to English children and over 200 scripture booklets or Gospel cartoon booklets to French kids (if anyone wishes to read the English equivalent please Google "This was your life chick tract" and read online).


I consider all these outreaches to children to be extremely important - they need the Gospel as they have souls.  While it may be wrong to pressurise them it is not wrong to freely offer them the opportunity to read the only way eternal life.


However, there are trendy-left social workers who believe that giving children Gospel material, or verbally teaching them these truths, is "poisoning their minds" and is a form of "child abuse".    If the proposed law is enacted it will give ammunition to these people to be able to complain to the police and get such evangelism stopped. It may even lead to children being snatched from their parents simply for teaching them the Bible (as happened in the Soviet Union when it was under communism).


What should be our response to all this?  I believe in 3 ways:


1.  First we need to pray that the enemy of our souls does not get this legislation through the House of Commons.


2.  We need to redouble our efforts to offer children the Gospel while we still can.


3.  We need to recognise the sovereignty of God in this matter.  He will ensure that the Gospel goes forth and that ALL those people who have been given to Jesus will be saved. (John 6 v 37).


The devil has been trying to stop Gospel preaching for the last 2,000 years and he has not succeeded.  As we get closer to Christ's 2nd coming we must expect him to step up his efforts -  as the Bible says: "...the devil has come down to you having great wrath for he knows that he has but a short time"  Revelation 12 v 12

Now, the moment of truth.

News came through yesterday, of the sudden death of "comedian" Rik Mayall at the age of 56 (born the same year as me).  He was not known for living a godly life, quite the reverse - only last week he was photographed with a fan sticking 2 fingers up at the camera.  Moreover, he once wrote a book about himself as being "better than Christ" - what blasphemy!


I've no doubt that during his comedy career he raised many laughs by his outrageous antics; I've no doubt too, that he made a great deal of money in the process - but what good is that now that he has passed into eternity?  After all, didn't Jesus say "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul" (Mark 8 v 36).


Many of these entertainers and celebrities think they are so clever with their godless behaviour and attention seeking.  For them, the most important thing in life is to be noticed and feted.   They have to have a pedestal to show off from, and they love the fame and status (not to mention the money) that comes with territory.  Moreover, for them, the more godless and vile their behaviour the better!


However, all this is worth absolutely nothing if one's soul is not saved.  Indeed, just one second in Hell will be enough to obliterate all fond memories of pleasure and fame that they enjoyed while they lived out their pathetic little lives on earth.


The Bible says: "That which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God" - Luke 16 v 15.  The world has it's "heroes" who have their 15 minutes (or more) of fame, but I would rather give homage to the godly, Christlike believers, who quietly serve Jesus without seeking to draw attention to themselves.  Such precious people are gems in the sight of God - they are highly esteemed by Him and will have their reward on the great day.


It is vitally important that we keep things in their proper prospective.  After all doesn't the Bible say "..we look not at the things which are seen but the things which are unseen.  For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal" - 2nd Corinthians 4 v 18.


This is a lesson I need to constantly bear in mind as I go out, week by week, to offer the Gospel to the unsaved.  Many of these poor creatures have been so blinded by the devil that they have no idea they are just one heartbeat from the presence of God, and the bliss (or torment) of eternity - depending upon what they do with Christ's free offer of salvation.


May the Lord give us all an "eternity focus" in our daily lives - not to be taken up with the foolish cares, pleasures and pursuits of this short existence on earth, but to live for Christ in accordance with Paul's words in Philippians 1 v 21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain".

If God is drawing them, then they WILL come!

Back in the 1990s I used to attend a church where there was an "after-church fellowship" after the evening service.  Sometimes, this would take the form of a "testimony time" whereby people could speak of a verse from the Bible that had been particularly helpful to them.  One Sunday, a lady (we'll call her Jane) spoke of how John 6 v 44 helped her while speaking to another lady about the Lord Jesus. 


In John 6 v 44 Jesus stated that no-one would be able to come to Him unless "drawn" by the Father.  Jane was saying how she had several opportunities to speak to this lady, who was very open to the Gospel, and told her that if God was drawing her, then she would come.  At the time I was unsure of this line of theology but as I thought upon it and looked into the Bible I came to see that it was absolutely right.


In John 6 v 65 Jesus stated that people could not believe in Him unless enabled by the Father.  Moreover, in verse 37 of the same chapter Jesus made it clear that everyone given to Him by the Father would come to Him.  As we put these verse together we can see a clear pattern emerging which is as follows:


Firstly - People in their unsaved state do not have the natural ability to repent and believe.  They are spiritually blind and spiritually enslaved by Satan.  Moreover, 1st Corinthians 2 v 14 tells us that such people cannot grasp the truths of God because they are foolishness to them.  2nd Corinthians 4 v 4 tells us that these poor creatures have been so blinded by "the god of this world" (the devil) that they are unable to see their need of salvation.


Secondly - God, in His mercy, has given a people to Jesus (John 6 v 37) and that every single one of those so given do come to the point of repenting of their sins and trusting in Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  Unless God draws such (John 6 v 44) they cannot, and will not, so believe.


What are the practical implications of this? The answer is simple - When we point people to Christ we can have absolute assurance that, if God draws them, then they will believe.  This is a huge encouragement in evangelism.


The people we are speaking to may be  hardened, even abusive, atheists.  However, if God is drawing them then they will repent of their unbelief and come to know the God whom they once denied even existed!


The people we are speaking to may be involved in an immoral lifestyle such as adultery or homosexuality.  It may be that they are so "comfortable" in their sin that they don't want to leave it - but if God is drawing them then they will be set free from their filth.


The people we are speaking to may be addicted to alcohol or drugs and, seemingly, without any hope of redemption.  However, if God is drawing them then they will be set free from their addictions and given new life in Jesus.


As we go forth and spread the Word let us be absolutely confident in the power of God to save even the vilest of people and transform them into trophies of Grace.


God "is able to save to the uttermost" all who unto come to Him through Jesus.   Hebrews 7 v 25.

An antidote for poison

A generation ago when I attended school we were taught the lie of evolution, but most of our education was not "sinful".  We were taught various life skills we would need after leaving school and which, generally speaking, have stood me in good stead.

However, it seems that the education system today is obsessed with humanism and political correctness rather than teaching kids what they really need to get on in life, (little wonder, then, that an increasing number of Christian parents are opting to home educate).

Perhaps this is why so many are leaving school without being able to read more than the Sun "newspaper" and can barely even construct a coherent sentence.  The tragedy of this situation is that, instead of being taught traditional subjects that kids need to learn, the emphasis is on poisoning their minds with unnatural sexual perversions (see Romans 1 v 26-27) -  and woe betide anyone who dares to object or even state, however mildly, that the Word of God is against such filth.

These poor kids are having their minds warped and damaged by a state-sponsored emphasis on teaching the devil's agenda (and British taxpayers are pumping millions of pounds into all this!).  What can be done to counteract this damage to these young minds?  In other words, what is the antidote for this poison?  The answer is simple - the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thousands of New Testaments are being given to youngsters in schools every year under the auspices of the Gideons.  Moreover, there are camps and beach missions dedicated to putting the Gospel message into the hearts and minds of these precious ones who are loved by God, and for whom He gave His Son as a sacrifice.

Another way of reaching these kids with the life-changing and mind cleansing Gospel is street evangelism.   Every week street preachers and tract distributors spread the word on the streets of this benighted land.  Thankfully, there have been, and continue to be, many young people reached with the Gospel by this means.

On a personal note I have had many opportunities to reach out to these needy souls on the streets of Canterbury and Ramsgate.   In Canterbury, I find that, as I stand in the main street (near Marks and Spencers) a goodly number of young people go past me just after leaving their school about half mile away.  Some will take tracts and others will ignore me; however, as I am there 2-3 times a week these same children/young people will have multiple opportunities to read the Gospel even if they reject the offer of a tract when it first presents itself.

In Ramsgate, on Fridays, the opportunity is even greater.  I generally stand in the High St opposite the Santander bank around 3.15 to 3.45.    Around this time the local grammar school, a quarter of a mile away, tips out and scores of children and young people will walk down the High St on the way to the Harbour to catch their buses home.  I simply offer them tracts without any "pressure" and am encouraged when they take and read them.  (Incidentally, I never stand right outside a school as that may give a "sinister" appearance, and my motives, which are pure, may be called into question).

My hope is that if I stand there every week (weather permitting) the natural reticence and hesitation of these youngsters will pass and they will gladly take the tracts; then they will read for themselves of the One who cared enough for them to lay down His life for their sins and rise again to be their Saviour.  Once these youngsters turn to Christ their minds will be renewed (see Romans 12 v 1-2) and one hopes that the damage done to them by their "education" will be eradicated.

In closing I would like to quote from the latter half of Romans 10 v 15 "......How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" 

Truly, to spread the Gospel is a beautiful work.

They get angry because they know it's true.

Over the years that I have been involved in street evangelism I've noticed that most people are plagued with apathy, they really couldn't care less about being right with God and about where their eternal destiny lies.  Such people have been conned by the devil into thinking that it really doesn't matter.  They have been lulled into a false sense of security, they are living in a fool's paradise.

I've also met people who have some degree of religious belief and may even attend church services; such people think that they are right with God because they are leading a "good life" but, of course, they are in for a shock on the judgement day when they are told that their good works did not save them.

To be fair, most people have not been aggressive or hostile.  I may occasionally get a sour look or a silly comment, but most people simply refuse the tracts with an affable grin or shrug of their shoulders.  However, there is a group of people who get angry very easily when they come across someone offering them the Gospel.  For such people the free offer of the Gospel is like putting a red rag in front of a bull.  I refer to militant atheists.  

Such people are incapable of reasoned discussion and simply want to sound off (usually with vile profanity) at the unfortunate person who has the temerity to express any concern, however mildly, for their soul.   My concern for the eternal destiny of these poor creatures has extended to attempts to reason with them on the internet, or by e mail "conversation".  However, it quickly becomes apparent that such attempts, sadly, amount to "casting pearls before swine".   The blogs of militant atheists are no places for Christians to attempt reasoned discussion - we are likely to be met with a torrent of vile abuse and banned from making comments (so much for free speech!).

Why is this?  Why is it that people who seem to be reasonable, sane individuals, "lose it" when the are faced with such concern for their souls?  The answer is simple - they know, deep down, that it is true.

In the book of Romans chapter 1 and verse 18 we read of those who "suppress the truth".  Deep down they know 3 basic facts - firstly, they know there is a God; secondly, they know they will one day face Him; and, thirdly,  they know that they will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell.  As they are intent on rejecting the love God has for them, as expressed in His Son's atoning death on the cross, they realise that their eternal destiny is Hell.

Such a weight of burden is extremely heavy for them and they have my sympathy.  It seems that they manage to drown out the voice of conscience by surrounding themselves with noise, or by heavy drinking (or drug taking).  They may try to silence the voice of conscience by meeting with other like-minded individuals, either in person or on the internet, and goad one another to stronger expressions of unbelief (and deeper depths of vileness) concerning the existence of God. 

If only these poor people would open their hearts to the love of God, if only they would realise that, if they simply repented of their sins and submitted to Christ instead of rejecting Him (and His servants) then they would know a peace that is deep, real and lasting.

My prayer for them is that they would truly come to know the Saviour for themselves and, indeed, there are atheists who have done so.  Their testimony is genuine, and their peace so strong that the world and their former atheist "friends" cannot take it away.

Jesus said to His disciples "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you....."  John 14 v 27.

Why do I spend so much time spreading the Gospel?

As regular readers of this blog will know, I spend several afternoons a week passing out tracts and pointing people to Christ.  Over the years this has exposed me to many sour looks, occasional abusive comments and even one or two threats of violence.   No doubt many, who are too polite to voice their thoughts, wonder what is the point of standing there holding out leaflets about the Christian faith when so few seem even remotely interested.  That being the case one may quite legitimately ask - "why does he do it?"

The short answer is simple - because the Gospel changes lives.

I was reminded of that fact only this week when reading a book entitled "Once an Arafat Man".  This is the true story of Tass Saada, who was once so full of hatred that he became a sniper for a terrorist  group and killed Jews whom he regarded as legitimate targets.

To cut a long story short, Jesus spoke to him the words of John 14 v 6 (I am the way, the truth and the life, no-one comes to the father but by me) when the room he was in was filled with a brilliant light.  At that point he surrendered his life to Christ, and shortly after, lost his hatred for the Jews being filled, instead, with love for them.  Incidentally, before that experience he had not read the Bible and did not know such a verse existed.

Most people believe that people can be changed by changing the environment they are currently living in; they reason that if you give people a good education, sound living conditions and money in their pocket you will make them better people.  However, the problem with that reasoning is that the heart remains unaffected.   A rough council estate can be rebuilt and new houses filled with all modern conveniences, but if the people remain unchanged in their hearts they are just as likely to continue  being "rough", they are just as likely to continue engaging in criminal acts, getting drunk and fighting. 

Moreover, politicians seem to think that if they can forge a "peace agreement" then people groups with opposing views can live side by side without hating one another.  However, history shows that this is simply not the case.  One may be able achieve a reasonable degree of law and order but the old hatreds still remain and simmer just below the surface, ready to break out at the slightest provocation.

No, for people to be changed for the better, there has to be a change from within; and this is where the Gospel's power comes in.  Tass Saada wasn't changed from hatred to love because Western political leaders imposed a "peace solution" on the Middle-East; he was changed because God, in His sovereign mercy literally spoke to him, and drew him to repentance and faith in Christ.  In short, he was "Born Again" of the Holy Spirit.

It is for this reason I dedicate myself to spreading the Gospel rather than getting involved with well meaning "community projects" or political activity intended to improve people's lives.   The outward form may be changed by such activities but it is the heart that needs changing, and then when the heart is changed people's lives change for the better.

In conclusion I draw your attention to the following verse: "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new"  2nd Corinthians 5 v 17.

The ungodly do God's work!

I thought that title would raise a few eyebrows! 

Let me explain; sometimes opponents of the Gospel write articles or give speeches against some particular evangelistic outreach.  They think they are furthering their own godless cause by so doing, but in fact they are helping to publicise the Gospel. 

An obvious example of this is the hysteria generated by such people over the short film made by "Jews for Jesus" (which can be viewed on www.thatjewdiedforyou.com).   This film is part of a web site that encourages seekers to ask for a book outlining testimonies from Jewish people who have accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour.   Various writers have been railing against this film by calling it deeply offensive and insulting.  However, when people write such articles it simply encourages their readers to look up the offending website and view the film for themselves. They may then be led to seek further information and, we trust, will be led to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Indeed, the You Tube video of this has been viewed a staggering 1.2 million times!  No doubt many of the unsaved who view this will turn away and complain about alleged anti-Semitism and lack of sensitivity, but there will also be others who will be drawn to the Saviour when they realise how much He loves them. 

Clearly, Jews for Jesus are motivated by a sincere desire to see Jewish people turn from their bondage and come into the liberty of knowing their Messiah in a personal way.  Indeed, many Jewish believers call themselves Messianic Jews rather than Christians.  This is understandable given the way that professing Christians have treated the Jews over the centuries.  (The film "The Merchant of Venice" with Al Pacino is an example of this; I know the film is fictional but it gave an accurate insight into the way the Jews were mistreated.)

However, not only do Jewish people need their Messiah in order to know true liberty of worship, they also need Him in order to avoid the eternal condemnation that will come to those who do not know Him.  In John 3 v 18 Jesus warned that people "who do not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God" are under God's condemnation.  (When the Bible speaks of Jesus as the "only begotten Son of God" it is referring to His uniqueness as the only Son within the Trinity).

The Bible is crystal clear - all people who do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God are heading for eternal torments. 2nd Thessalonians 1 v 7-9 teaches that such people will be punished with "everlasting destruction".  Moreover, Revelation 20 v 15 warns that people whose names are not "in the Lambs book of life will be cast into the Lake of Fire".

Far from being anti-Semitic and deliberately offensive, groups like "Jews for Jesus" are doing a tremendous service towards to the Jewish people and should be commended for this.

Only eternity will reveal what good has been done to people's souls through evangelism, the spread of the ONLY message that will save sinners from damnation.

The Gospel transcends language barriers

Last month I wrote an article about how French visitors to Canterbury were being reached with Gospel literature in their own language.  This work continues apace and, only this week, I've been able to give French scripture booklets to young people and even children; these booklets have a French address at the back and a website for further information.  Only eternity will reveal what good has been done to people's souls through this outreach.

However, it is patently obvious that visitors to the city come from all over the world.   It is simply not possible for me to carry booklets in many languages so how can these needy souls be reached with the Gospel?  How can they be given the ONLY message that can save their souls?

As I pondered this question I was reminded of a true story I heard about a Turkish merchant seaman who docked at New York.  While on shore leave he walked passed some evangelists who were preaching and passing out tracts.  An English tract was given to him, and, though he couldn't speak or read English he was greatly intrigued by this.  He resolved to teach himself to read enough English to be able to understand what he had been given.

To cut a long story short, he mastered written English and read the tract.  He then bought, and read, a Bible in English and came to know the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour.

This actually happened, and can be repeated time and time again.  If someone is truly seeking God then He will bring that person under the sound of the Gospel and lead them to faith in Christ.  As the Bible puts it: "..and you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart".  Jeremiah 29 v 13.

Of course, it is right to give someone literature in their own language but God is sovereign, He is able to ensure that the Gospel transcends language barriers - He WILL see to it that all those given to Jesus will come to Him (see John 6 v 37).

Such incidents as that related above are a great encouragement to evangelists; we know that our responsibility is to spread the Word.  Our responsibility is to do all we can to pass the Gospel to souls on the way to Hell.  However, it is God's responsibility to actually do the saving - we sow the seed but God gives the increase.

As 1st Corinthians 3 v 7 puts it "neither is he that plants, anything, or he that waters, but God who gives the increase".

There IS a God, and He will NOT be mocked.

News has come through of the resignation of the culture secretary, Maria Miller, from the cabinet.  One may wonder what this has to do with the headline at the top of this article - the answer is simple, and I will outline it.

Up until a couple of years ago Miller was a virtual unknown; despite being a member of the government she wasn't given much attention in the media.  Then Cameron gave her the job of steering his "destruction of marriage bill" through the House of Commons.  This bill, otherwise known as the "gay marriage" bill, would allow legal recognition of unnatural sexual perversion.  It was a wicked law to enact, and Cameron was warned time and again to back off, so was his culture secretary Maria Miller.

This law would be a clear example of trampling underfoot the precepts of God's inspired, infallible and inerrant word.  Despite being warned not to go ahead, Cameron and his sidekick, Miller, did so.  Only last month (March 29, 2014)  the first of these unnatural unions was lawfully recognised in a date that will live in infamy (see my last article).  At the time of her triumph Miller must have thought she was unassailable; she must have thought that, with Cameron's protection and support, she was guaranteed a permanent seat at the Cabinet table and a massive salary as a government minister, not to mention the huge pension she would get (all at taxpayer's expense) at the end of it all.

Now, she has resigned in disgrace, and I firmly believe this is a clear example of God's judgement.  She went against His laws, and against nature itself, by allowing herself to be used in this way by Cameron. 

In the Bible we read that one should not follow a multitude to do evil (Exodus 23 v 2); we also read, in the Book of Proverbs "When sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Chapter 1 v 10).  Maria Miller allowed herself to be enticed to do evil, no doubt tempted by the promise of earthly recognition and riches, and she has been dealt with by the Lord for it.

The Bible says, "God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" Galatians 6 v 7.  In Miller's case it could be re-phrased "God is not mocked, whatsoever a woman soweth, that shall she also reap".

She has lost her cabinet seat, will she also lose her soul?  That is matter she cannot ignore; one hopes that she will learn a lesson from this and repent of her sins, one hopes she will make her peace with God by turning to Christ and accepting Him as her Lord and saviour.

I repeat the title of this article "There IS a God, and He will NOT be mocked" - many wicked people seem to be having the upper hand, they seem to be in the ascendency, but a reckoning WILL come.  God WILL have the last word.

March 29, 2014 - a date that will live in infamy.

On December 7, 1941 the Japs bombed Pearl Harbour; this brought the Yanks into the 2nd World War and led to their president, F D Roosevelt, to declare that this date would live in infamy.

However, this date has now been overtaken by March 29, 2014; why is this?  Because on that day the Destruction of Marriage Act came into force and people involved in unnatural sexual relationships could legally call themselves married.  The Prime Minister, Cameron, did not re-define marriage when he forced this law through the House of Iniquity (known as the House of Commons), he destroyed marriage.  He went against many centuries of marriage as defined as a union between one man and one woman; he also went against the wishes of huge numbers of people in his own party.

However, what is more serious than going against his own party is the fact that he has put himself against God, and His infallible word - the Bible.  I wouldn't wish any personal harm against Cameron, or anyone else for that matter, but I wouldn't want to be in his shoes on the judgement day.

God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6 v 7).  It is easy for those of us who believe the Bible to be downcast and despondent at yet another plunge in the moral temperature of this nation, but let us remember that God is on the throne.  He allows wicked men to go so far (in order to give them a chance to repent) and then He acts in righteous anger and vengeance. 

We see this in the Old Testament in Egypt.  When Moses told the Pharoah that God wanted him to let the Israelites go from slavery, Pharoah arrogantly dismissed him and boasted that he didn't know the Lord.  When Moses then started to perform miracles to convince Pharoah that he should repent, the magicians could "duplicate" these miracles.  However, there came a point when these magicians could no longer act in such deception and God's power was clearly shown.  The nation of Egypt was virtually destroyed and the first born wiped out.  Only then did Pharoah "get it" and let the Israelites go.

However, shortly afterwards he changed his mind and chased after them.  God opened the Red Sea to let His people pass and then wiped out the Egyptian horsemen.  Truly God showed His power even though He patiently waited for Pharoah to repent and make his peace with Him.

We may wonder why it is that God doesn't act in judgement more speedily. The answer is found  In 2nd Peter 3 v 9  where we read - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".

The reason why God hasn't yet judged Cameron for his wickedness is because He is patiently waiting for him to repent.  However, the day of reckoning will come when Cameron will have to give account to God for his wickedness.

Indeed, we can apply this principle right across the whole human race.   Multiplied millions of people are openly living in rebellion against God and His word, and seeming to get away with it.  However, God will "have the last laugh", and His people will be vindicated.

Psalm 73 v 17 - "Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I understood their end".  Eternity is a long time to bitterly regret one's sinful lifestyle.