“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7

     As Christians, we are called to welcome all peoples and bring the good news to Christ to them regardless of who they are or where there are from. However, in practice, we humans are not always that good at the inclusive part of being Christian or just plain being inclusive. We divide ourselves on race, creed, wealth, ideology, and politics.

This is especially true whenever we face times of crisis and the fear of the unknown about a certain group of people overcome our good senses and morals. This has been a black mark on the United States of America with the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII and now threatens to do so again, not only in the United States but for the countries of the European Union as well.

The Refugee crisis from people fleeing the civil war in Syria has brought the enemy of Christ and inclusiveness once again to the forefront of people’s minds in the Western World. Fear of terrorist attacks, of losing national identity and just not knowing how to deal with so many new people flooding the system all at once. These are all legitimate fears, but one cannot let them override one,s normal sense of what is right and let that fear take over. A little fear is good, it is a survival instinct, but when that fear paralyzes us and changes us, that is never a good thing.

For the United States and most of Europe who is now dealing with this crisis, we all should know better. For both have strong Christian roots, even when faith has lost much of its meaning in much of Europe and to a lesser extent in the United States as well, both still have the underlining values and teachings of being a Christian, such as inclusiveness.

The thing to remember when it comes to crises such as the current refugee one and the threat of terrorism is that a society can still be open and accommodating to those in need and still take precautions. A society can also take steps to make sure that assimilation does happen, as is largely done in the United States already. The main thing is that if we let our fear of something take over, it will change who we are before we even realize it. This change is never in the long run, good for ourselves and society for it is self-destructive. It is self-destructive because one never makes the change them self, but lets their fear do it for them. So matter what happens in the future, remember to be inclusive of others, for Christ died for all.

“Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.” Romans 14:1

     For Christians, this piece of scripture is very important to pay attention, when one is trying to explain and show just what the faith of Jesus Christ is all about and why it is important. One needs to be inviting not confrontational, to be open and not closed. And above all else just be their selves (if they are truly Christians this is a very good thing). But this advice from Romans 14:1 need not be for just Christians, and for just bringing those into Christianity but for all peoples and in all situations.

In all matters of life, rather it is trying to sell a product to a customer, explaining one’ s point of view on a particular political issue, or just having a discussion about any number of things; the world would be such a better place if they remembered to be open and inviting to all peoples and all views all the time. That is not some of the time, but all of the time.

When encountering different viewpoints to one’s own, it is important that not only do we listen with one ear but both. What I mean by that, is not just putting up with the other person for the moment and then when leaving the room to throw out what he/she said in the trash (in one ear out the other). When this is done, we are not respecting the other person or his/her ideas.

Christian teachings are not just about the Christian faith; though that is important, they offer life lessons on how to behave and interact with one’s fellow human beings and being a Christian is not necessary to take them to heart and live by them (but it helps). One only needs to look at the United States and much of Europe and the rest of the “Western World” to see this is true. Most of the whole of the “Western World” has a long, deep-rooted Christian Tradition, yet is increasingly secular or not religious at all. Yet, the values that this part of the world holds dear such as basic human rights and treating every human being with decency and respect to just name a few can be traced back to Christian teachings.

So remember, regardless if you are a Christian or not, do not be confrontational with others, but be open to them and they hopefully will do the same to you. Despite what you may think it is not all about you, but God and all human beings.

“And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:18

     For Christians, this verse of scripture is very important in that when the Lord God is calling us to take action on something and to do something we cannot wait to do so. It needs to be done then and now. Unfortunately, this is an all too common theme in life to put things off, to say “I need to do this, I will do it tomorrow or next week.”

This is not just a good lesson/advice for Christians and those called to do God’s will but for everyone and for all of life’s experiences. Everyone, not just Christians could and should learn to not put important (any) things off till later. Mark 1:18 is not just about dropping everything at once to follow Jesus, it is about prioritizing one’s life with what is absolutely important being done first before anything else.

When you are called to do something meaningful, to help someone, when you see someone needs help in some way, you don’t put them off and say I will help you tomorrow or I have to do this first, do you? No, you help them at that very moment. At least, that is usually how it is done. And that is exactly what Jesus Christ is saying Christians need to do in Mark 1:18. Help now not later. Do, now and not put off, do what you say you are going to do in other words. As followers of Christ, we must remember that our religion is a religion of action, immediate action, but also that need not apply to only Christians.

“Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like the stars in the world.”  Philippians 2:14-15 

        In today’s world as in back in Paul’s days and the days Philippians that he was addressing, to be a Christian, that is a follower of Christ, we must set an example to the rest of society in how we live and act each and every day. We cannot be focused on each other’s differences and arguing all the time with each other. But going out into the world that is increasingly secularized and without moral fiber and be good examples of how to live is what we as Christians must do.

Now that does not mean to be in people’s faces and tell them how to go about their lives and what is or is not right. No, what we as Christians are called to do is to be examples of how to live and what is right. Be kind and courteous to others, even when they are not kind to you. Be helpful to others even when you are not being helped or expect anything in return.  When there are disagreements do not let them become a dividing issue, it is ok to disagree as long as you talk and work out those differences peacefully and calmly.

The key, when surrounded by wrong behavior and beliefs is not only to not join in; but also not to just preach about it. To shine like the stars means one needs to be a beacon to others on what is good in God’s sight. By living and acting as Christ wants us to every moment of every day, is how we change society for the better. The change happens not when we tell others how to behave and live, but when we show them by example. No one likes to be preached at but when one sees good behavior, one is moved to do the same.

“Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

        For those of us who call ourselves Christians, we do not always act as we should, which is as Christ acted and has called us to act. That is to love our fellow human beings and to show that love by doing good works, but also just in how we treat one another. In today’s society, we tend to hold grudges and be quick to anger. We look down on people based on their race, and economic well-being and other differences. We don’t forgive transgressions, even when the ones in the wrong have paid their dues. In this regard, I am referring to our criminal justice system in the United States, which has lost for the most part its roots in focusing on the reform of criminals and not just the warehousing of them.

But it is not just the criminal justice system but society as a whole where even after serving one’s time in prison and being released has forever a stigma attached to themselves for the rest of their lives and find it extremely difficult to get a job and make a legitimate living. We as a society make it to where the criminals cannot change.

Perhaps it is about time that for those of us who call themselves Christians to look into the mirror and ask “Really, Am I a Christian, do I embody the life,  message, and teachings of Jesus Christ? Do I show and live in love as my Lord Jesus?” Remember and take this to heart the next time you say to someone “I am a Christian.” As the song goes “They Will Know We are Christians by our Love.” When as Christians we show our love we do not need to say we are Christians, people just know, including ourselves. So are you a Christian?

“In the morning as they pass by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.  Then Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi Look! The Fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain,’ ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:20-24

This lesson from scripture has extremely important meaning to us as Christians. It says that whenever we ask God for something and have absolutely no doubts that it can and will be done, God will provide. At the same time, we must remember that what we ask for in prayer not only must be done with full faithfulness but that it must be of God’s Will. Only then will our prayers be answered and only on God’s time. We need to remember that even though God will provide for all who ask in full faith and lack no doubt; we are not in charge, God is and that it is never about us but always God.

I am reminded of a song that I have heard a few times on the radio called “Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks; in it is the line “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.” The point here is the same, no matter what we ask God for even in true faith, he knows what we need when we need it and even where better than we do. Basically, we need to trust God and let him do what he does and to follow him. We are not in control and never will be, God is! When we acknowledge this, we learn that God will always provide for us what we need in his good time. Even though he only provides for us what we need in his time and if it benefits his will; if we truly follow and believe in God through Jesus Christ than his will is our will and what benefits him benefits us.