True freedom

Freedom from Fear

My deliberations continue to be influenced by the peoples coming to Toowoomba to live. It is not hard to discern that the greatest problem is fear. Many have come from lands of war and genocide. Young people are suffering from PTSS, having watched close relatives murdered in their presence. Others are here because they come from situations where they cannot trust anyone, not even their own family. Others have fear of failure, struggling with learning English and trying to support a family. Many live in fear of failing in religious duties, for example, not fulfilling the rules, fear of judgement day, fear of breaking caste traditions, fear of family dishonour.  Some operate in dread of the Police , not understanding that in this country, the Police are here for the people, not against the people.

So what is the answer to this devastating disease of fear? Education helps, but a better cure is in having an understanding of the true character of God, specifically as revealed in Jesus Christ. I could trace so many of the world problems to other religions. For example :- the terror that flows from ‘Judgement day ‘ prospects, the poverty of millions because of the imbedded caste system, the grinding surveillance of millions because of atheism, the greed that has flowed from hijacked Christianity.

Let me present the positive!

God is so great that we should reverentially fear Him. This is not the dread of some sinister deity. Rather it is giving Him the honour of His holiness and His right as the Creator to bring all peoples to account.

God in His character is Love. This has been and still is known in His communications of mercy and acts of grace (undeserved kindness). Millions of lives have been changed from fear to freedom by knowing and trusting Him. This is a spiritual regeneration which creates individual connection with the living God. Most religions are about rules and ritual. True Christianity is about connection and comprehension.

1    Connecting with the living God as Father to children

2    Comprehending God as revealed in Jesus Christ

This changes the whole way of thinking and living. This can filter through to the foundations and fabric of society to  remove fear and bondage. In actual fact the Australian citizenship training book, points to this as the foundation of Australian ‘freedom’.

Let me explain:

Christians obey God because we love Him.(that flows on to loving others. Loving in spite of unworthiness)

Christians understand God, because Jesus Christ has given a full and final revelation of God (making relationship with Him a great joy and cause for praise)

I well understand there are many forms of false Christianity, but I am pointing my readers to the God revealed in the Bible, not the systems of religious imagination. There have been and still are supposedly Christian groups who control the people by fear.

I encourage you to read the Bible. Have a look at 1 John chapter 4, to discover such precious, positive words:

“And we have seen, and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him and He in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear

We love, because HE FIRST loved us!”

Bibles free at johnmckee@internode.on.net

Danger

The dangers of freedom

In Australia we have freedom to travel. Generally it is safe to travel anywhere across this vast land. Yes safe from bandits, safe from molesters, safe from extortion and corruption. However this freedom has put many into trouble. For example –many tourists come to Australia, hire a car or campervan and set out to travel from Brisbane to Adelaide. So they choose to go via Birdsville and Innamincka to see the outback. Out in these ‘safe’ places they go, unprepared for the inevitable difficulties of heat, desert, mechanical failure etc. My children have assisted several of these unprepared freedom seekers.

What is my point? Freedom without guidance is dangerous. Freedom to travel needs a guide. Freedom of religion needs a guide. Freedom of business enterprise needs a guide, freedom of speech needs a guide, freedom of education needs a guide, freedom to choose a marriage partner needs a guide!

As I teach citizenship lessons, this point becomes clear  -  --   on our own , freedom can lead to disaster. Recently heard of refugee men in Australia, leaving their wives and children to enjoy ‘freedom’. Alongside freedom goes responsibility!

So who is the trustworthy guide?  In so many situations, this is indeed the difficulty. Government representatives have limited capacity. If I was intending to cross Australia , I would seek the help of someone who had survived such a journey themselves.  If I was choosing a religion, I would talk to someone who understood by study and experience religion. Someone who was intelligent about various beliefs and the outcomes of such. ( Jesus said – “wisdom is justified by her children)

In conclusion of this section I say – “freedom is great, but freedom without God is dangerous”

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Failure of freedom

Freedom is the liberty to choose. I write in the context of Australia where freedom is a favourite word. I often ask migrants what they like most about Australia – the answer is always the same  - ‘freedom’.

Indeed it is a privilege to have freedom, but why do we have so many laws and regulations and legislation to make society function? It is because of a root problem – the problem is the natural tendency to choose wrong and this leads to disorder and destruction. It is in the fallen nature of humans to choose wrong! (Wrong? Who says it is wrong to be greedy? Who sets the moral standards about lying? Who determines that oppressing others is wrong?)  Following self driven evolution, progressing by survival of the fittest does not help. Humans without a compass are little more than sophisticated animals.  And so it is that Governments without God, seek to establish laws and rules to control human unpredictability.

But bring into the picture a Creator who has moral values and the situation changes. When our conscience is active and God is recognized, laws become less relevant. Add to this the Christian’s companion – the Holy Spirit, and the laws become unnecessary. (as the NT teaches ‘Love does no wrong to anyone, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law’! Romans 13.10 )

Why then do we have the increasing regulation of society?? Because so many are without God and without hope in this world.

John McKee

Freedom - what is it

Freedom

To millions of people, this is the one word they would love to enjoy! So many governments and religions refuse to give the people true freedom.

In many peoples’ minds, ‘freedom’ is the idea of liberty to choose a good education, freedom to travel, freedom to associate with others, freedom of religion, freedom in marriage, freedom of speech, freedom to choose employment  etc

Others call for freedom to please oneself and let loose the passions and purposes of the natural human nature. Some young people strive for the opportunity to try the pleasures of the world. They want to go fast, try drugs , eat and drink anything, to be free of parental restraints – to do as they please.

Freedom without moral restraint is the recipe for disaster. Freedom without the power to choose right is sure to fail.

I plan to write some articles on this subject, so I invite all my readers to subscribe to the blogsite.

Genuine?

The most important test of reality

In 2 Corinthians, the command is given –

“examine  yourselves to see if your faith is genuine”

Looking for what ?   - to know if Jesus Christ is in you.

Many practise religion, but that is not ‘Christ in you’

In another Bible place it is written “we pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him”

It sounds just like the words of the Lord just before He died: “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I am in you!” (John 14)

John the Apostle wrote; “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.”  

On our part it is faith in Jesus Christ the LORD.

On God’s part it is the gift of the Holy Spirit that regenerates our spirit to know and love the LORD.

This is the true relationship God intends for everyone.

Do you pass the test  -  if not, repent now of sin and believe the Good news of Jesus Christ coming from heaven, dying for our sins, and risen from the dead, is alive at God’s right hand. According to His promises you can now become a child of God, with a very close relationship with Him through Jesus Christ our Lord.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Imaginations, thoughts,............

2 Corinthians 5:10

“Every thought brought into captivity to Christ”

Paul saw himself as a soldier warring against the proud reasoning’s of man, arguments that oppose the truth. The true character of these arguments is described in the expression ‘against God’. It could be applied today to the reasoning of scientists, evolutionists, philosophers and religionists who have no room for God in their scheme of things. The Apostle was in no mood to sign a truce with these. Rather he felt committed to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. All men’s teachings and speculations must be judged in the light of the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul would not condemn human reasoning as such, but would warn that we must not allow our intellects to be exercised in defiance of the Lord and in disobedience to HIM

W MacDonald (Believers Bible Commentary)

The Cross of Jesus Christ the Lord

The cross of Christ is an embarrassment to religion – Jewish religion and others. Who would want to follow a Messiah who was defeated and disgraced by crucifixion! It seems illogical to  honour one who was condemned by Jewish and Roman courts. The shame of crucifixion was extreme.

But when we see the situation from God’s perspective, everything changes. Listening to the words of Jesus before He died , and the teaching of His messengers after He rose from death, they all point to God doing something special by the cross.

For example, Jesus is presented as the ‘Lamb of God’ to take away the sins of the world. He spoke of Himself as fulfilling the purpose of the Passover lamb – to protect people from judgement. Paul clearly states that “Christ died for our sins”. This means that the cross of shame really became an alter of sacrifice.  By this means, God chooses to forgive.

More than forgiveness, God sees Jesus Christ dying the death that we should have died. Now God can welcome us back as children in His family. More than that, through the purging of sin, believers are clothed with the righteousness of God and will be presented in heaven without fault, all because “the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me”   (Galatians 2)

By this work of God, true Christianity is based on what God has done through Christ, not on what we might do for God.

johnmckee@internode.on.net