Citizenship

 

I have been teaching English and citizenship to migrants for many years. To help peoples who have come from disaster experiences has been a privilege. Christian compassion says “welcome”.

        However one thing is missing – God

In a church context I have explained a little of the Christian faith, but in a State School context I felt very restrained about discussing religion. After interacting with migrants of many kinds, the common problem appears: -- what is the valid reference point for living – as one student said “we don’t know all the laws!”.

  Some come with different religious laws, others think ‘freedom’ means ‘do as they please’. The Government pushes the idea of democracy – ‘the will of the people for the people’, and eventually the biggest families dominate.

This mishmash of cultures and religions results in confusion and disorder e.g. gang bullying, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, illegal business, marital breakup, financial corruption, mental health disorders etc.

    So what am I suggesting? One starting point!

-Explanation and implementation of the first line of the citizenship pledge:

      “From this time forward, under God”……..

The promise to be loyal to Australia is helpful but which Australians set the example? The rich? The bludgers? the gay? the corrupt, the racist, the workers, inconsistent politicians? religious hypocrites .....................................................?

   The two words “under God” are the vital key. So what does it mean?

“All persons in Australia are finally accountable to God”

-To be aware of our creator God, and that He will judge all people by Jeus Christ.(Bible- Romans 2:16)

This is the great restrainer to domestic violence, youth crime, drunkenness, corporate crime, political corruption etc.

“Under God” was evident at the Kings coronation ceremony.

 All need to fear God, and serve others as the Lord Jesus Christ has served us. His standards and mercy brings order and cohesion. Ignorance of this is destroying Australia.

God has and will have the final say, so it is my duty, to make God known and to seek to bring people into a living relationship with Himself through Jesus Christ the Lord .

I may have failed, but the Bible, the word of God to all humanity is able to bring light and life and love. So we distribute Bibles and Bible plaques freely to all who choose to receive them.

Election

 

Who will win the Election?

In a democracy, the elected people are a reflection of the social and spiritual state of the society.

The better question is :- “What am I doing to lift the moral, social and spiritual condition of society?” There are plenty of sideline critics contributing so little.

 

What is it that guides the young people when choosing a candidate? – usually “Me-ism” – because many have been reared to get anything they want, so they vote for the one who will promise to give them what they want. So what are parents and teachers doing to counter the disease of ‘Me- ism’?

It is an important part of my RI lessons at school to teach that Jesus Christ was against greed. I give out priority prisms – Jesus first, others next, myself last.

 

What guides adults when voting? For most people it is the TV screen. Sadly, in most homes the biggest and most devoted object is the big TV screen. Once it was a large family Bible. And so the candidates  with the best propaganda usually win. The glossy presentation of half truths, unkeepable promises, smooth words along with uncalled for accusations, seek to appeal to the fallen sensibilities of the voters.

I choose to talk to the would be politicians and ask about their moral position, financial accountability, social standards and Christian foundations.

So the question persists:- “what am I contributing to the moral, social and spiritual fibre of the community?  Living for self? Setting a bad moral example? Doing business dishonestly? Cheating the system? Playing church?

 

Those who have read the book “The Book that made your world” will realise that much of our western society is based on the Bible. So besides contending for good on a humanistic level we need to proclaim loud and clear the truth of the Bible.

The Lord countered the focus on ‘today-ism’ with the eternal realities. He said “Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY WORD will never pass away.” “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven”  (Matthew 6)

 What abundant opportunities we have to declare HIS word to a lost world. In that alone can true values be found for voting, for living life, for relationship with the living God.

Midst a chaotic world, we need to remember ‘God is still on the throne’ and will bring all to account. History records how often God can turn political events right around by one person totally committed to Himself eg Daniel

Are you, am I??

True Discipleship

 

True Discipleship (Extract from booklet)

Introduction

 The pathway to true discipleship begins when a person is born again. It begins when the following events take place: 1. When a person realizes that he is sinful, lost, blind and naked before God. 2. When he acknowledges that he cannot save himself by good character or good works. 3. When he believes that the Lord Jesus Christ died as his Substitute on the Cross. 4. When by a definite decision of faith, he acknowledges Jesus Christ as his only Lord and Savior. This is how a person becomes a Christian. It is important to emphasize this at the outset.

Too many people think that you become a Christian by living a Christian life. NOT at all! You must first become a Christian before you can live the Christian life. The life of discipleship outlined in the following pages is a supernatural life. We do not have the power in ourselves to live it. We need divine power. Only when we are born again do we receive the strength to live as Jesus taught. Before reading any further, ask yourself the question, “Have I ever been born again? Have I become a child of God by faith in the Lord Jesus?” If you have not, receive Him now as your Lord and Saviour. Then determine to obey Him in all that He has commanded, whatever the cost may be. —William MacDonald

School lessons

 

In teaching ‘Religious instruction, at the state schools, I have come to the highlight of the curriculum (B2).

After lessons from Moses, 10 commandments, Tabernacle and two covenants, we study the Bible book of Romans.

The summary of the teaching is as follows:

1    The Gospel about Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of David proven true by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.

2    The need for the Gospel is graphicly portrayed in the lesson book as a man behind prison bars. Also a good-o-meter is used. An odd child will claim not to have sinned, while another will be despaired of hope because of guilt.

3    Then the difference between wages and a gift is highlighted. “Sin pays off with death. But God’s gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

4    This lesson brings the students to ‘faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ as Lord’ as the only means to salvation. The memory verse is Ephesians 2:8

“You are saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own” (CEV)

5    The fruit of the Gospel. ‘People do good things because they are saved.

6    The goal of the Gospel. This heading is linked to Romans 8:15- “God’s Spirit does not make us slaves who are afraid of Him. Instead, we become His children and call Him Father.”

7    The hope of the Gospel. With our eyes fixed on Jesus the future has eternal hope –“ I am sure that the suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us” Romans 8:18

8    The Body for the Gospel. First we consider the body of the believer surrendered to God. Then we consider the gospel blessings for the Christians as a body of people.

9    The final lesson directs the students to a flowering plant. This illustrates our need to be rooted in the word of God, producing seed bearing flowers, sharing, singing about Jesus the Lord.

10  The final verse:

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as He has always wanted us to live. That’s why He sent Christ to make us what we are .” Ephesians 2:10 (CEV)

 

I can only say –‘ What a great privilege it is to bring this glorious Gospel to many children who have never heard it.’

 

I cannot fathom why some many churches etc, treat this work with disdain – the children are adults in the making, and many will never hear a clear Gospel again. About two thirds of our classes have never been to church! And Oh how I long to see them in heaven.

comments to  johnmckee@internode.on.net

Birth of Jesus

 

This Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) season is most likely when Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) was born!

 There is no prescribed holy day for the birthday of the Messiah mentioned in Scripture.

 As Believers, each day that we call upon His name in praise or prayer, we celebrate Him!

 Even so, most Christians celebrate Christ-mass in the winter, but it is not likely that Yeshua was born in that season, and certainly not on the pagan winter solstice of December 25. 

Lambs for Temple service could be raised anywhere within a 9 km (5.5 mile) radius of Jerusalem, but it seems that Bethlehem was an especially well-known source of sacrificial sheep.

 

Jesus was born in Bethlehem amidst the Temple sheep, God chose Yeshua from before the creation of the world to be our perfect lamb without blemish.

 

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Messiah, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake."  (1 Peter 1:18-20)

 

While the Bible does not specify the timing of Yeshua's birth, like it does for His death and resurrection, we can determine its approximate timing:

· Miryam (Mary) conceived when her cousin Elisheva (Elizabeth) was in her sixth month of pregnancy (Luke 1:24-26).

· Elizabeth probably conceived early in the fifth month of the Jewish calendar (Av or early July).  This is likely since the angel Gabriel appeared to her husband Zachariah while he was serving in the Temple as a priest in the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5), and advised him that Elizabeth would become pregnant (Luke 1:11-24).

· The Talmud and other historical sources reveal that the Abijah served during the last two weeks of the fourth month of the Jewish calendar (Tammuz), which is about late June.

· And the Bible says that after Zechariah came home from his service (in early Av), Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:23-25).

Nine months of pregnancy and another six months of Mary's pregnancy (15 months total) brings us to the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (Tishrei), during which the Fall Feasts occur, including the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).

Through these Biblical, historical, and linguistic clues, we can come to a fairly educated guess that Yeshua may have, indeed, been born during the season of the Fall Feasts, which includes Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) occurring in September or October.

Extract from 'Messianic Bible'

Gospel truth

 

The Evangelism of ‘Acts’ is followed by the ‘Doctrine of the Gospel’ in the Bible book called Romans. ‘Acts ‘ describes God using humans to spread the Gospel far and wide.

‘Romans’ is the situation on earth as God sees it (helicopter vision).

It begins with God assessing His creation, His creatures. The humans were designed to worship Him, but the evidence is that they had rebelled. Even the enlightened and religious had lost their way. The divine conclusion is:

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” – all guilty.

But God is not defeated by human failure. He is a God who intervenes, coming right into the situation with the solution.

The remedy for this extreme malady is Jesus Christ the Lord. He became a man. He appeared as a Saviour, not a judge. He gave His life up to achieve redemption, atonement, propitiation, forgiveness, reconciliation,  freedom, justification, salvation and more.

But God knows the incapacity of humans to choose well or to pay enough or to pray intelligently or to overcome sin.  So He chose to give freely. This great salvation He decided to give to all who believe in Jesus, His very special Son. Faith in Jesus, makes no room for boasting in self – it is a trust that is focused on Jesus Christ and what He has done.

But God wanted to richly bless all believers. So the doctrine of the Gospel spells out God’s love at work, making peace, spreading His love upon and into believers, changing them from Adam’s family to being ‘in Christ’. Chapter 6,7 describes God believers free from the habit of sin, and free from the law that stands ready to condemn.

But God does more! He sent His Holy Spirit to live in all believers so that they have identity as God’s children and  live as God’s children. They have hope for the future and they are intimately joined to God in His love (Chapter 8)

All this is called GRACE – God giving much more than we deserve!

But God has more – He chooses , He calls people both Jews and Gentiles to have Faith in His Son:

“If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus Is LORD, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” ( 10:9).

Enough – no. – God by His Spirit enlightens to create faith.

But God also enables believers to have faith to walk right as Jesus did. Chapter 12 is not so much commands,  but rather the call of mercy and grace to total surrender – the complete person yielded to the will and way of God. Then is described how a Christian ought to live – motivated by love, letting God be the judge, treating others well even with cultural differences.

 

Finally the conclusion God has been working towards – Chapter 15:13

“So I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you rejoicing and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God is not defeated, rather God is victorious and we are victorious in HIM.

The Message

 

A most rewarding study is to read and consider the messages delivered by the Apostles in the Bible book of Acts. You will discover how the Gospel is presented audience appropriate.

Acts 2  - to the Jews, it has many references to the Old Testament.

Acts 7 – to the Jewish court, giving a lesson from history.

Acts 10 – to Gentiles, giving details about Jesus the Lord of all.

Acts 13 – In the synagogue, a brief history of Israel through to John the baptiser and Jesus the Messiah.

Acts 17 – to philosophers, speaking of their own culture pointing to Jesus, God’s final judge.

In all these messages, the presentation is audience appropriate, yet retaining the same fundamental elements – Accountability to God (Repentance) and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Lord of all).

 

What about today?  Yes,  with the school children I must be age appropriate, with migrants having limited English I must adjust my vocabulary, with affluent Australians I must reactivate dull consciences, with older folks, presenting hope in Jesus Christ for the next life – but underpinning it all must be giving God the honour of being God, and persuading all as to who Jesus is and what He has done through His death and resurrection.