Friday, 16 May 2014
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.
Friday, 9 May 2014
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.
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.
Friday, 2 May 2014
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 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.
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