The Debate We should Be having as Christians

There are many people who call themselves good Christians but not all of them are acting on or doing God's word.  Part of Matthew 20:16 says "for many are called, but few are chosen."  So how do we, as Christians, know who to trust and who to follow?

In the book of Matthew, chapter 7 we find the answer.  This is one of my favorite chapters in my favorite gospel of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).  There are so many great words of comfort and exaltation in this entire book of the bible.  But in chapter 7, we find the answer to the question above.

15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. So what are good fruits and what are evil fruits?  In John 10:10 we have the answer.

10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Steal, kill, destroy; these are obvious the evil fruits.  And lives more abundantly are good fruits.   These words are fairly simple enough for any Christian to understand.   There are no exceptions in the Bible.  There are no gray areas.  There is good and there is evil. As Christians this is the debate we must have.  Bear in mind that this is not a political debate although its repercussions extend into the political arena.

The reason so many have turned their backs to God's word is because of the hypocrisy of so many people who call themselves Christians.

It is what it is!  No justifications will change this.  Christ admonishes us that there are those who will say they know him but they do not do his will.  We cannot support those whose actions bring forth evil fruit and call ourselves good Christians.  Any justifications are irrelevant.  We either do the right thing or we don't.  It's that simple. 

We must stand up for what is right even if it is hard.  We can no longer follow those who actions result in death and destruction. We can no longer follow those who advocate actions that steal our liberty. 

 In Romans chapter 8, verse 37, we are told that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  God wants up to stand up for what is right.  In other words be his warriors for peace, his warrior for what is right, and not what is easy. 

There is nothing right about what is going on in Iraq.  There is only death and destruction.  There is only the theft of good men and women's lives.  There is certainly nothing good about our country's invasion in Iraq.  And yet the man most adamant that we remain in Iraq calls himself a Christian even inferring at times that God supports his actions.

That is not what my bible says.  I have spent the past few months rereading it, studying anew with the notion that perhaps I had overlooked something, ANYTHING, which could justify the actions of death and destruction.  I know there are those who will quote the scripture in the Old Testament about an eye for an eye.  But I must point out that we live during a different time.  We, as Christians, have been freed of the laws of the Old Testament and given a new and greater law by our living lord and Savior, Jesus Christ where he exhorts us in the book of Matthew, Chapter 9, verse 44 to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

It is morally reprehensible and unconscionable to on one hand to say that you "support life so much that the destruction of embryo's for any reason is wrong" while at the same time send so many men and women to their unnecessary and premature deaths. 

I have looked into the faces of the fallen of Iraq.  I challenge you to look at these faces as well on the Iraq Memorial Quilt I have created at www.cyndc.com.  I challenge you to share these faces with others from all backgrounds.  There are no politics on this quilt.  Only faces of those brave men and women who are dead….lost forever to their families and country.

It's time for good Christians to be God's warriors and fight for what is right, what is good, what is just.  Our actions in Iraq are no longer accomplishing anything remotely right, good or just.  Our actions in Iraq are stealing people's lives, killing good men, women and children and destroying homes and families on both sides. 

It's time to step and do what is Christ commands even if it is hard and stop these actions in Iraq right away and bring our troops home!  Any politician that continues to sanction any action contrary to this especially if they call themselves Christian must be removed from gov't in 2008.   This is not about politics.  This is about right and wrong.  More death and destruction is wrong.  Saving lives is right.  It's that simple. 

 This is the debate we should and must be having within the Christian community regardless of our political affiliations.  If we cannot put our politics aside and do what is right according to our faith, then our faith and our nation are both truly lost.  Please visit the Iraq Memorial Quilt at www.cyndc.com.