So, if you don't agree with the actions of the person in charge of your country, does that mean you don't love Jesus?

Then Paul said, "I did not know brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.' " Acts 23:5 also: You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. Exodus 22:28

So, if you don't agree with the actions of the person in charge of your country, does that mean you don't love Jesus? 

This post is very significant for me, because I don't always agree with the actions or tweeting of the ruler of my country. I have to be prayerful about this and see where Jesus is leading me on this one. 

How do I reconcile my faith with someone who  makes negative comments about: someone handicapped, unattractive, someone of another race, someone who doesn't agree with him, the poor, those in need of medical assistance, etc.?

According to the parts I underlined in the Bible passages, I think I'm able to disagree with the negative comments I mentioned above. I just can't talk about it with other people, which is more difficult than it sounds. When I am talking with people about these negative comments, I have to watch myself, so I don't say mean spirited things against the ruler of my country, because they just want to leak right out of my mouth!  It's very tricky and I have ended conversations, because I didn't know how to get out of them with my Christian ethics intact. 

On the other hand, the negative comments are distinctly against my Christian ethics and being sensitive to the needs of the poor, less fortunate, those who need medical assistance all of which Jesus wants us to do. So, although I don't have any strong answers, I felt compelled to share these verses that leave me lots to prayerfully ponder!

When I'm Awkward About Sharing My Faith in Jesus, Does that Mean that God Won't Dwell in Me?

1 John 4: 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

When I'm awkward about sharing my faith in Jesus, does that mean that God won't dwell in me? It quite possibly does!!! 

*When there are opportunities to share my faith in Jesus, do I do it or do I shuffle my feet and look at the ground?

*When around those who are putting others down, do I stand up for them by being an example of my faith in Jesus, or do I shuffle my feet and look at the ground?

*When others are using God's name in vain, do I take a stand up for Jesus, or do I shuffle my feet and look at the ground?

*When others suggest doing something that wouldn't make Jesus proud, do I stand up for Jesus by declining, or do I shuffle my feet and look at the ground?

To be honest with you, there are too many times I've shuffled my feet and looked at the ground rather than take a stand. I want to be prayerful about being a better example of my faith in Jesus, because I truly want God to dwell in me! How about you?

If I turn my back on a Christian going astray, am I saying to Jesus that I figure they'll be O.K., because they are a Christian?

" Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. " Ezekiel 3:20

This may sound similar to last week's post, but it's a little different. This one is more personally significant!!! It's talking about if we encourage Christians to make lifestyle choices that could lead them astray, we are putting a stumbling block before them. If we don't warn them that they are going down the wrong path, Jesus takes it personally when we've had the opportunity to help redirect them and we choose not to. Of course, mentioning this is a personal risk, but ignoring this is an even bigger personal risk!

If I turn my back on a Christian going astray, am I saying to Jesus that I figure they'll be O.K., because they are a Christian?

I said that this passage is more personally significant, because it speaks to all Christians. If other Christians can lose their salvation by going down the wrong path by making counterproductive lifestyle and faith choices, then we can too! We have to realize that it's not a Once Saved Always Saved situation, although many churches believe so. If you read these verses, you will realize that we aren't guaranteed salvation just because we were a Christian at one point in our lives.

Fortunately, it also says: "Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul." Ezekiel 3:21

If I turn a blind eye when someone is making counterproductive lifestyle and faith choices, by saying nothing to them, am I telling Jesus that I wipe my hands of this situation?

"When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand." Ezekiel 3:18

If I turn a blind eye when someone is making counterproductive lifestyle and faith choices, by saying nothing to them, am I telling Jesus that I wipe my hands of this situation?

I realize more than you will ever know how much easier it is to ignore choices of this nature. Sure, you risk the person jumping down your throat when you approach them. Sure, there's the potential of them telling your friends that you confronted them. Sure, there's the chance they will no longer be your friend. The thing is, at what cost do we ignore their choices? It can have a detrimental effect on their salvation and according to the verse above, it could possibly have a detrimental effect on our salvation, as well.

"Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel" 3:19

This verse shows that Jesus takes into consideration that we tried to warn the person of their counterproductive choices. Hopefully, they will make the changes necessary to be aligned to what Jesus wants in their life, but if they don't, Jesus won't hold us accountable for that.