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© 2010 The Acts of God |
Christianity or Socialism? And The Purpose of the Christian Body<<Read Previous Page (1)>>A civilized society such as the United States should provide health care for her people without seeking profit. What good is there in a civilized society where someone is seeking profit from a dying patient? I have even seen and heard some of our so called Christian ministers asking people to pay or do offering of specific amount before they can receive their healing. If Jesus charged zero, then, why are some ministers asking people to give a $1,000 or various amounts as offering before they can receive their healing? Going back to the collection business, what type of Christian are you if you have to be forced (in a form of tax) before you give up something for the need of another? Have you not read in the Bible that a given without the heart is worthless? Are we to be reminded on when we should give? If so, we are not Christians our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is coming to meet. Jesus said that He is coming to meet a Church in oneness. Is it not through the caring and loving of one another that we will get to that level of maturity? Or can we have oneness with just a few people? Who did the Bible instruct to “Sell your possessions and give to the poor?” Is it not the one who chose to follow Jesus Christ?
I am not advocating that Christians should now become Democrats. A Christian must be independent of any party. A Christian must make his/herself available to the best candidate there maybe. Don’t you know that as you are an elect of God, so also those in authority are chosen by God? Being independent of any party will allow the Spirit of God to reveal to your spirit the best or God appointed candidate to vote for in a democratic system. Your independence of any party allows you to listen and hear from the Spirit of Truth. But your lack thereof denies you this right. You chose a candidate but your choice of candidate did not win. Doesn’t that tell you something about yourself? That you have abandoned your guide, the Spirit of Truth; which supposed to guide you into all truth. I should have blamed the Church leaders of today; but why blame just a few when the same Spirit that has been given to them have also been given to all believers? As a believer, you have allowed yourself to be deceived if you only listen to your Church leader and not the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of Truth dwelling on the inside of you.
The Character of a ChristianSo, what is the character of a Christian? Let’s look at what the Bible says… “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.” Acts 4:32-37 (NIV). “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” To me, this sounds more like the definition of socialism with individual willingness to generously share their belonging with one another. However, this was the first and clearest characteristics of the early Christian body. So why are we not partnering with those that are doing the same today? I want to raise the alarm for my Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord! What is the primary function of the Christian body? Is it not first to spread the good News and secondly to care for those in need – the fatherless, motherless, homeless, the least among us? And what did James say about those who store up for themselves and is careless about other’s wellbeing? “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5:1-6 (NIV) Paul said the same thing when he wrote to Timothy the faithful servant of God. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 The Lord Jesus, the King of glory said the very same thing: “…"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: |
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PRINCE AREMI AMACHREE is the author of “The Acts of God: The good, the bad, and the ugly”, he’s a member of Living Stone Bible Church and a rotating Coordinator at the Church’s “School of Wisdom” located in Union, NJ where he inspires other believers. As a Bible scholar, he spends much of his time studying the Word of God in order to better understand the things and ways of God. If you’d like more inspiring perspectives about these topics, or to schedule an interview with Prince Aremi Amachree, please call (201) 203-9004 or email: PressRelations@ChristElite.com. Copyright 2009 ChristElite.com. |
