Daily devotion: Gospel Truth? - Galatians 2:5

Today’s readings: Judges 13:8-16 and Galatians 2:1-10

Galatians 2:5              We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

What is the Gospel Truth? Is it what I say it is, or what I show it to be? Is it what Paul declared it to be, or what he displayed in his life? Is the Gospel Truth what the Church expresses in its doctrines, or what a congregation practices in its mission?

Today, we are all struggling with the Gospel because there are so many different variations of its teachings and interpretations of its practices that one size doesn't fit all anymore. Christians are as diverse as the human population in the world; as each generation comes and goes, our faith evolves and expands into something different, something unexpected, and something new.

For long term Christians like me, this becomes an honest hardship because the Faith that I was attracted to almost forty years ago, has developed into something unimaginable for me. The spiritual safety barriers and sacred security fences that I had built and maintained are no longer there. The boundaries that I once bellowed about, have all been broken down and there’s nothing that I can do to change this. To even attempt it, would be like trying to rebuild the Berlin Wall in Germany – it just cannot be done ever again.

So what is Gospel Truth? Who decides? Has what Paul battled for been forsaken? Are we in danger of shaping our beliefs and molding Christ into our own idolatrous standards and ideas?

Of course, we are. We are only human and we need to create our own Christianity in order to cope with life. My Christianity is as different from your Christianity as my interests, pursuits, and goals are from yours. But that doesn't make our faith ineffective; instead it makes our beliefs relevant to both of us. Christ died for all of us – liberal and progressive, conservative and assertive Christians alike. In His wisdom, He created a multi-colored theological tapestry of all nations, which He calls The Church – therefore we are all made and shaped by Him – and that’s the Gospel Truth.

Questions for personal reflection

What personal beliefs do I hold strongly about Jesus? Do my deeds display those beliefs?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You have called us to Your heart independently and individually of each other. We each have something special to contribute to the Christian faith. Help us to see Your influence in how we all practice our faith. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings. It’s called ‘Star of Gethsemane.’ In it, Jesus is depicted with eyes puffed up from crying and his face is covered with blood and sweat as He agonizes over accepting God’s Will. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/11183575774_4971232f95_b.jpg

4 Minute Devotions: Faithful Love

Is God a Great Santa in the sky who laughs and lovingly indulges everything that we do? Or is there more to faith, love, and life?

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Ever since the Beatles came out with the song, “All You Need is Love,” our church and society seem to have adopted that creed. It’s as if we’re meant to excuse everything under the sun that we do or don’t do, and cover it all under the umbrella of love.

Don’t get me wrong, love is the greatest of all things, but we’re talking about real love here, not the indulgent, narcissistic love that our society idolizes. This text is about the total love that involves faith and loyalty, and in this case, it is the faithful love that we give to God.

Sometimes I worry about my own generation and how casually we treat God. Maybe it’s nothing to some folk, but as a pastor with people under my spiritual care, it’s a very big deal to me. If I couldn’t care less about where people ended up eternally, then the way we narcissistically approach the throne of God’s grace wouldn’t bother me one bit. But because I do care, I express my concerns in my preaching, my writing, and even my blogging.

Maybe I’m a dogmatic dinosaur who has outlived my need to be here. Or perhaps I’m a joyless Jeremiah or preacher-prophet who is destined to cry out in the wilderness of the world. Whatever the case may be, my approach to faith is not to follow the popular or well traveled path; I follow God first and lean on Christ when I fail. I guess it could be called ‘old-time religion’ and, as the song boldly declares, ‘if it was good for Paul and Silas, then it’s good enough for me.’

We’re all heading into a New Year and we will soon make new resolutions. How about we all take on an old one: to love God with all of our heart, strength, body, and soul? Perhaps then we would be able to show the world that faithful love Christians keep talking about. Perhaps then we would put God first and realize that life, as Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church so simply stated it, is not about us. It’s all about God.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we take You for granted and we believe that anything we say, do, or write will be indulged by You. Forgive us for being so vain and for putting ourselves, our needs, wants, and desires, at the center of our lives. Re-teach us that the universe does not spin around us, and that we are all creatures created by You. In Christ’s Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: The Duchess

Keira Knightley perfectly plays the Duchess of Devonshire in her new movie, "The Duchess." What lessons of faithfulness can we learn from such a movie?

Podcast version here

Nehemiah 9:33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

Yesterday, Evelyn and I went to see the new British movie called “The Duchess.” It stars Keira Knightley, who usually pouts, sighs, and overacts too much for me to enjoy any of her movies. I wanted to see this movie because I read the book a couple of years ago.

It’s all about Georgiana Cavendish, who marries young to become the Duchess of Devonshire. It takes place towards the end of the 18th century, when Britain was undergoing turmoil due to the American Revolution overseas. The movie portrays the loves and sadnesses in Georgiana’s life, as well as the impact that she had on society. Keira Knightley portrays her perfectly, whilst the scenery and costumes are absolutely amazing. It’s one of those movies that you have to see on the big screen and I give it two thumbs up.

Who was the Duchess of Devonshire? She was the Princess Diana and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of her time. She was a trend setter whose sense of fashion was copied throughout Britain. She was also a political pioneer and even although she could not vote, she made appearances and speeches at conventions, seeking to usher in a brave new world for the failing British Empire. Many of the famous Gainsborough paintings of Regency women were based upon Georgiana’s influence. Had she lived in today’s world, she would be on the cover of every fashion magazine on earth, as well as Time magazine.

The sadness in her life was that she desperately tried to be faithful to her older husband. His unfaithfulness and rakish life both shocked and scandalized her until she was forced to look for love elsewhere. She had an affair and a daughter by her lover Charles Grey, who was destined to become Prime Minister of Britain and to whom Earl Grey tea is named after. Georgiana sadly died at the young age of 49. Two of her most famous descendants were Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, both of whom were married to Prince Charles and Prince Andrew of the present British Royal Family.

So what’s this got to do with a devotional for today? I think it comes in the faithfulness factor. Georgiana was a young girl when she married, full of hopes, dreams, and expectations. Those closest to her wronged her and changed her through their unfaithfulness, which serves as a lesson for all of us.

God remains faithful to us through the power of Christ’s obedience to Him. We are often unfaithful in worshiping and revering God, but His patience is long standing and His love for us endures. Through Jesus, we can come back to God at any time, to confess our biggest faults and mistakes. With Christ beside us, we are heard, cleansed, and restored to God, no matter who we are or what we’ve done.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive our foolish and unfaithful ways. Cleanse us of the past and restore us to God’s favor. You are our Lord and Champion; our Savior and Great Redeemer. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Religious Art: Christ of the Polls

Christ does not belong to any party...



...and only He can bring the donkey and the elephant together.

4 Minute Devotions: Faithfulness

It's only through God's faithfulness to His Word, that we can ever be restored to His favor and love.

Podcast version here

1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

My faith is built upon the faithfulness of God. If God was ever unfaithful to His Word, my faith would instantly diminish and be destroyed. I depend upon His words being true, which is why I hold fast to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This gets me into bother sometimes, especially with other Christians whose affinity to the faith does not depend upon how truthful God’s Word is, but on how much they believe that God’s Word is trumped by God’s Love. Acceptance and tolerance are the keys to their faith and sometimes I envy them. It would be so easy to give up on God’s Word and interpret things the way that I wanted. Life would be less cumbersome without divine rules, regulations, and readings. I could do as I please, instead of trying to do what would please God.

Now don’t get the impression that I am a sanctimonious, saintly, separationist who delights in being perfect and loves it when other people fail. I am a sinful person, whose mistakes often disappoint God, other people, and even me. Because I hold fast to the faithfulness of God’s Word, it hurts me to hurt Him. My failure to remain faithful, however, does not diminish the truth about God’s Word. He remains faithful, so that when I seek forgiveness, He pardons me through the precious blood of Christ.

That’s why my faith is built upon God’s faithfulness. Left to myself, I cannot always keep His words. At some point, during each day of my life, I am going to sin. My thoughts, my words, or my deeds are going to betray God. Whether it’s intentional or not, the result is still the same: through my selfishness, I have separated myself from God. It’s only through His faithfulness that I can ever be restored to God’s favor and love.

Perhaps you’ve separated yourself from God through something that you’ve done or said. Maybe like me, you find yourself spiritually alone because of selfish and sinful ways. It seems as though there’s no hope, no solution, and no one to turn to, but that is completely wrong. God is faithful and He will find us, no matter how lost, sinful, or unfaithful we have been.

Prayer: Lord God, we all make mistakes and allow our sinful ways to separate us from Your love. We feel alienated and isolated, spiritually crushed and totally abandoned at times. Despite what we do to what we do to ourselves, You remain faithful and offer us forgiveness through the holy sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us at this time, to turn to Him and receive Your mercy and grace. In Christ’s Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Seeking God's Strength

The fatal shootings in a Knoxville Church have shocked our religious community, but we will not be defined by such a heinous act.

Podcast version here

Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

The religious community here in Knoxville is hurting. Last Sunday morning, a deranged man entered a local church with a shotgun and started blasting away at the congregation. Two people were killed and several others were seriously wounded. The shooter was tackled by three other men and over-powered before he could reload. The police arrived within four minutes and quickly arrested the guy. Our whole community is in shock and we are mourning for the victimized families.

The shooter had written a four page note blaming liberal churches for his anger. He has a long history of drunkenness and has violently threatened other people in the past. He bought the shotgun from a local pawn shop and planned the whole event a week ago. He didn’t think that he would have survived this wicked deed.

Instead of taking responsibility for his own disappointments, he blamed other people. Instead of looking for help from the very people who could have embraced him, he made a cowardly choice of shooting defenseless people. He allowed himself to be overcome by his own anger and wickedness, frustration and fear. Instead of seeking good, he got a gun. Instead of looking for heaven, he created hell.

The religious community in Knoxville is rallying around the targeted church. In the midst of all this pain, shock, and tragedy, good will prevail. We look to God for our well being and seek His strength in times like these. Next Sunday, the churches in Knoxville will be full of people, looking for comfort and guidance, forgiveness and hope. This tragedy has shocked us, but it will never define us. Our faith is in God and His Kingdom, not in the fear of bullets or deranged people. We look to the Lord and His strength; we will continue to seek His face always because that’s what we do, that’s who we are, and that’s how we express our faith here.

Prayer: Lord God, we do not understand why people seek to hurt other people. We do not know why this tragic event occurred in our beautiful town, but we do know that You are always with us, in the best and worst of times. Be near to us this day and comfort all those who are grieving. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to reply to this message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org

4 Minute Devotions: Doctor Who Devotional

Ever since I started watching Doctor Who as a boy, I have loved the notion of Time Travel. Nowadays, as a Christian, I am confident of placing my future in Christ's hands.

Podcast version here

I love the idea of Time Travel. I’ve watched practically every episode of Doctor Who and I think that the new series is absolutely terrific. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, Doctor Who is a science fiction television series that began in Britain in 1963. I remember, as a six year old, watching the very first episode on a grainy black and white TV, whilst eating Heinz spaghetti and chips (French fries). I was absolutely captivated by the hero, Doctor Who, a Time Lord, who travels throughout space and time in his amazing vehicle called the Tardis. The series introduced me to my love of science fiction, as well as teaching me about British and World history.

Ecclesiastes 8:7 Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?

I’ve always wanted to travel into the future and see the wonders of the world hundreds of years from now. I know that the environmentalists are predicting gloom and doom for all of us, but I still believe that human beings have the intellect and innovative capacity to reduce greenhouse gases and invent new ways of creating energy. I’d love to see how the earth will look in five hundred, five thousand, or even five hundred thousand years, and see how humankind fares. I guess I’ll have to build my own Tardis if I ever want to see it happen.

None of us know what each day will bring. We can make plenty of plans and be anxious about the future, but as Jesus once said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

We do not know what the future holds for any one of us, and perhaps we’re better off not knowing anyway. As Christians, we have faith in Christ and the assurance that He holds our future in His Hands. No matter what we experience or endure, Jesus will travel through Time with us. And if we trust Him completely, He will lead us beyond the shores of Time and into the realm of Eternity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are glad that You are with us throughout each day of our lives. Your guidance and presence reassure our faith and hopes. As we journey through Life and travel through Time, grant us Your mercy and grace, love and leadership. In Your Holy Name, we follow and pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Dogmatic Dinosaur

If we accept Christ and His teaching, can we adopt a world view that all religions are equal and bring us to God?

Podcast version here

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Some people wonder why I get bent out of shape when it comes to teaching and preaching Christianity. Why can’t I just evolve like the rest of the world and accept different ideas from different cultures, giving other religions and faiths the respect they deserve? Why can’t I acknowledge that there are many ways to God and that Jesus is only one of them? Wouldn’t it be much easier on myself if I would just let go of my dinosauric doctrines and outdated teachings?

Like Paul, I am the chief amongst all sinners and cannot claim to be perfect in any way. So why do I ‘self-righteously’ insist upon the uniqueness and exclusivity of Christ? What makes me think that I have it all right and the rest of the religious world is totally wrong?

I struggle with this and wrestle with my doubts. At times, I would like to capitulate and be all things to all people, as Paul once suggested. But if I did that, it would be insincere and hypocritical. It wouldn’t be me, and if I cannot be true to myself, how on earth can I remain true to Christ?

Let me put it this way: if Christ is only one way to salvation, then He is a liar, a charlatan, and a cheat. He Himself states “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If there are other ways, other doors, and other rooms to be eternally with God, then Jesus has lied across the centuries and Christianity is a false religion. So for me, it all boils down to this: Christ is who He insists that He is, or He is the biggest liar in the Universe.

My own experience of Jesus is this: His promises are true and He is true to His words, therefore I cannot accept that other religions can find salvation through their understanding of what God is. If that makes me a dogmatic dinosaur in the world’s eyes, then so be it. I stand alone in Christ, I can do no other.

If you’re having trouble with accepting this, please take time to read one of the Gospels. Each time you read Christ’s own words, ask yourself these questions: does Jesus mean what He says, and if He does, what does that mean for me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our world is so different from New Testament times. We have more information about other people and their religions. We have more access to other religious ideas and thoughts. Please show us the truth about God and help us, in this religiously diverse world, to know what You would have us accept, express, and do. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Scattering Gifts

We all want to change the world and make a difference in the lives of others. Last year, I came across a charitable website that enables donors to do this. A short devotion on Psalm 112 v 9.

Podcast version here

Psalm 112:9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.

Last year, I came across a wonderful business site on the internet. It’s called Kiva and its whole purpose is to get people to invest in small businesses across the world. Investors are encouraged to make a $25 donation through the website, acting as sponsors of people in developing countries. The hope is that these small investments will enable the entrepreneurs from other lands to successfully establish and market their own skills. Thousands of people are joining Kiva to do this. They are fulfilling today’s verse from Psalm 112 by scattering abroad their gifts to the poor.

To date, I’ve managed to help sponsor five businesses. The entrepreneurs come from Samoa, Tanzania, Peru, and Cambodia. Because I feel that they have a harder time growing businesses in developing countries, all of my chosen beneficiaries are women. They are working hard for their families, as well as their own self-esteem. Each month, they pay back some of their loans and when they have completed it, the initial $25 can be re-invested into another business, in another part of the world. It’s a gift that just keeps on giving and one that makes me feel that I am helping someone else make a positive difference in their community.

You can find Kiva on the internet at http://www.kiva.org/. For those of you who subscribe to the email devotionals, look for a Kiva invitational email to come your way soon. It’s a wonderful organization to support, and I think it’s a great way of advancing God’s Kingdom throughout the earth.

So, if you ever wanted to make a difference in the world, but didn’t know how to go about it, perhaps Kiva is the vehicle to help you do that. If you have any questions about it, just send me an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are many people around the world who need help in a dignified way. They want to build up their lives and communities by establishing their own businesses and using their unique skills. Help us to help those who seek to help themselves in honest, hard-working, and effective ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee

4 Minute Devotions: Gospel Musketeers

Alexandre Dumas' famous Musketeers have been a favorite of mine since I was a boy. Their motto "All for One, and One for All" is a great message for our churches today. Christ died for all, so therefore all should live for Him.

Podcast version here

I always wanted to be a musketeer. Alexandre Dumas’ story of D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers has enthralled me since I was a boy. I think I first saw them fighting together in the 1939 movie, “The Man in the Iron Mask” which starred Warren William in the lead role. I was captivated by their sword fighting skills and camaraderie. It was an exciting swashbuckler from beginning to end and I knew that after it was over, I had to become a musketeer.

Ever since then, I think I’ve seen almost every movie about the Musketeers, even the Chinese version, as well as a French cartoon series. I just love their fight for justice and every time I hear those famous words, “One for All, and All for One,” I want to jump out of my seat and join them. It’s a wonderful moment which epitomizes everything that is noble, faithful, and true about friendship.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

I also feel this each time I read Paul’s message about Christ dying for all. He is the One who died for all of us; therefore all of us should live for Christ alone. It’s the same musketeer message and I sometimes wonder if Dumas came up with his idea through reading the same scripture.

This is what makes me want to be part of a church, too. I’m not a Christian just for myself. I want to belong to a fellowship of faith where friendship can be experienced in the worship, service, and communal devotion to God. It’s a beautiful feeling and when the benediction is spoken and shared, it’s as if the whole congregation is saying, “One for All, and All for One.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died for all and we are so enthralled with Your sacrifice that we want to share Your message with other people. Help us to overcome our fears about being Your messengers; enable us instead to become Your musketeers of the Gospel, fearlessly defending Your words and faithfully serving Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Small Fish in Jelly Jars

When I was a kid, I used to love visiting Springburn Park in Glasgow, Scotland. It had three massive ponds, full of sticklebacks, minnows, and perch. The park was about three miles from my home and, during the long days of summer, my brothers and friends used to walk to the park and spend all day there.

Podcast version here

We each carried cane nets and empty jelly jars. As soon as we got to the ponds, we would walk around the edge trying to catch as many small fish as we could. By the end of the day, our jars were full of black, blue, green, silver and red fish. Just before we left the park, we would tip our jars back into the ponds. By the time we walked home, we would all be tired and head to our beds. Sometimes I would dream of catching more fish the next day.

Psalm 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.

I’m fascinated with how psalmist describes God’s ability to gather the waters of the sea in jars. I guess he thought that the world was flat and that God filled up the seas from His heavenly storehouses. These days we would laugh at such a notion, but I like the image of God doing this. I can see Him with gigantic jelly jars, peering at all the different forms of aquatic life. I know that it isn’t real, but at times I wonder if God looks at our entire planet and sees a global aquarium and world-wide safari park.

I think what the psalmist was trying to convey was this: God is in control and rules over nature. Now that I can accept, for it is one of the true foundations that solidifies my faith. God is in control, so no matter what I go through or experience, He will have a grasp of the situation and grant me guidance when I need it.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the wonders of creation and the mysteries of the universe. You absolutely know everything that goes on in every place, every time, and every person. Thank You for being in control of the entire cosmos. Thank You for watching over our lives with interest, grace, and love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: A New Oprah - why Christians should be wary.

In the next couple of weeks, our church will be studying a book that has been highly recommended by Oprah Winfrey. It’s called “A New Earth” and is written by Eckhart Tolle. He writes about a new evolutionary spiritual transformation that he believes will take place this century amongst enlightened people. He draws from the teachings of Christ and Buddha, as well as the theories of Carl Jung. It’s a typical new age type of book, but his hope is that it becomes sacred scripture in the years to come.

Podcast version here

I’ve read the first chapter and already I’ve come across several areas where Tolle’s teaching misinterprets Christ. He relies upon his own feelings about Jesus as a great teacher and messenger to make his points. He does not proclaim Christ as the Son of God or Lord of all creation. Tolle also avoids calling our mistakes sinful; instead he declares them to be a form of madness which, in effect, does two things: it takes away personal accountability and it discards the need for Jesus to die for our sins.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The book troubles me and I am sincerely sorry that Oprah has become involved and infatuated with this false teaching. It is countering Christ’s message and duping many women into believing the old heresy that salvation comes from within us.

I will be leading a ten week discussion about the book to show people where it dangerously digresses from Christian teaching, in order to help them avoid the pitfall of accepting popular superficial spirituality, as opposed to the deep meaning of Christ’s Gospel.

The discussions will take place at the church on Monday nights beginning May 5 and on Sunday mornings on May 11. I’ll also be starting a new online study class during the week of May 5 -11, so if you would like to be included, please send me an email at pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. Put “A New Earth” in the subject line of your email.

Some people may wonder why I am tackling this. It’s because in every generation, we have to defend our faith from misconceptions, mistaken beliefs, and misleading spiritual teachers. It’s properly called Apologetics, and has been in existence ever since the New Testament was written down.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Holy Teacher and Sacred Guide. You are the Prophet and Messenger of the Gospel. But You are also much more than these – You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and the Only One with the words of eternal life. Keep us focused on Your ways and keep us away from false teachers and superficial celebrities, whose teachings are not Your own. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Religious Battles and Illegal Conversions in India

Christians in Northern India threatened with fines and imprisonment for converting local Hindus. Governor of Rajasthan vows to fight punitive religious legislation.

As reported by Religious Intelligence

By: George Conger.

THE CHURCH of North India has welcomed assurances from the governor of Rajasthan that he would block an anti-conversion bill passed by the state legislature.

Speaking at All Saints Cathedral in Ajmer, Gov Shailendra Kumar Singh said India’s secular government respected “all religions equally.” Last month the Hindu nationalist BJP party, which controls the Rajasthan state assembly, passed a bill over the protests of the opposition Congress Party prohibiting conversions to Christianity by “use of force, allurement or fraudulent means.”

Those found guilty of procuring “fraudulent” conversions would be jailed for up to five years and face a fine of £600.

"Some religious and other institutions, bodies and individuals are found to the involved in unlawful conversion from one religion to another by allurement or by fraudulent means or forcibly which at times has caused annoyance in the community belonging to the other religion," stated the bill. "In order to curb such illegal activities and to maintain harmony amongst persons of various religions, it has been considered expedient to enact a special law for the purpose."

However social harmony between faiths “could be brought only through our good behavior and not by bills and legislation,” Gov. Singh told the Easter congregation.

Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita, Gov Singh noted that the Hindu god Krishna had told Prince Arjuna that all are equal in society, and that one’s true “dharma,” or right way of living, is to fulfill one’s responsibilities.The free practice of one’s faith “brings mutual confidence,” he noted, and would “create an atmosphere of love and brotherhood.”

The Bishop in Rajasthan, the Rt Rev Collin Theodore said the Governor’s words “came as a reassurance” as Christian leaders in the northwestern Indian state fear the new law would be used to persecute missionaries.

Read the rest of the story here…

The Biggest Snitch in the Universe

It looks like the devil is the biggest snitch in the universe. According to a verse from Revelation, he accuses us before God and probably takes great delight in doing so. He knows every temptation that we have surrendered to, and every sin we have committed. He just loves it when we give in and he glories in telling God how wicked, sinful, and unfaithful we are. As I say, the devil is the biggest informer in all of creation. He knows he is going down to the abyss and so he just wants to take as many unfortunate sinners with him as he possibly can.

Podcast version here

Bible verse of the Day

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Jesus, however, in stark contrast to the devil, is the Supreme Advocate for His followers. He also knows all of our guilty secrets and shameful mistakes. He knows every wrong word we have spoken or deceitful deeds we have taken. He just loves it when He can stand before God and intercede on our behalf. He glories in telling God that we are one of His, no matter how wicked, sinful, and unfaithful we may have been. He is the greatest Advocate and Savior that the world can ever experience. He knows that He is going to enjoy God’s love and Kingdom forevermore, and so He just wants to take as many sinners with Him as He possibly can.

You see the difference? Well, for it to make a difference in our lives, we need to trust Jesus. We need to place our hearts and hopes, our lives and love, our future and faith into Christ’s Hands. We can’t justify our mistakes and sins before God. We don’t have that power or authority. But Christ does and He will use it effectively to restore us to God’s pleasure and to receive us into God’s Kingdom.

It’s His call to make and our choice to take – which one will we choose?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely and yet You never let us go. You took up a cross and gave Your Life so that You could take away our sins and grant us eternity. Thank You for being our Advocate and Savior, our Lord and King. Help us to go out into the world today to encourage others to make that same commitment of faith and receive these blessings from You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

U.S Episcopal Bishop Apologizes to Hindus worldwide

“There are far too many Christians in the world,” Episcopal priest declares.

The Bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles has issued an apology to Hindus worldwide for what he called "centuries-old acts of religious discrimination by Christians, including attempts to convert them" reports India Abroad. The apology was given in a statement read to over 100 Hindu spiritual leaders at a mass from Right Reverend J John Bruno.

The ceremony started with a Hindu priestess blowing a conch shell three times and included sacred chants.

This meeting was the result of a dialogue, started three years ago, between Hindu leaders and Rev. Karen MacQueen, who was deeply influenced by Hindu Vedanta philosophy and opposes cultivating conversions. "There are enough Christians in the world," she said. "What we need to see is more Christians leading an exemplary life and truly loving their fellow man."

However the apology has triggered considerable debate among pastors across the US.

Article source: India Abroad

Daily Devotions: Christians First

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Acts 12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.

Over the holidays, I watched a television program on the History channel called “The First Christians.” It was all about the origins of our faith and how Christ’s devoted followers suffered for their beliefs. It was such an interesting program that I’m in the process of developing a five week series on the subject for our church’s Monday Night Bible Study.

I’m always amazed at how much pain, suffering and injustice that the First Christians experienced and endured. They truly believed in Christ and most were willing to give up their lives for Him. When I think about how much we modern-day Christians take for granted about our faith, it makes me wonder if Christianity would ever have overtaken the Roman Empire if we had been given the opportunity. We tend to get upset over non-issues of faith which does nothing for our witness to the world. The First Christians, however, seemed to understand what was important and they staked their lives on those crucial matters of faith.

As we head into 2008, perhaps instead of making New Year’s resolutions that never last, we should work on those essential parts of our faith that are everlasting. We should make more time to study God’s Word and the history of Christianity. We should put more of our lives into worshipping God and serving Christ. We should prioritize our faith and seek God’s guidance for the life changing decisions that we may make during this coming year. If we set out to put God’s Kingdom first in our hearts, then we will find our lives being transformed and made more meaningful by God’s Spirit within us.

Perhaps then we will have a faith worth living and dying for. Perhaps then we will encounter and experience that incredible joy and strength that the First Christians discovered in devoting their lives to Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to be good Christians, with a faith that empowers our lives. Help us to make this New Year a special crossroads in our lives, when we can be reborn and rededicate our hearts to You. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

Daily Devotions: Children of Light

In the midst of a dark and fearful world, Christ's message is a light of hope for all of us. As Christians, we are called to be children of Christ's Light in our community.

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Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Recent events have displayed a lot of darkness and fear in the world, but it’s not any different from Paul’s time. The technology may be far more advanced, but the same anxiety that pervaded much of the ancient world is still with us today. No matter how far we travel or how much progress we make as a species, we are still fragile and frail, fearful and finite.

I see a society where a lot of people are struggling with who they are and what their purpose is in life. Some of them are broken by injustice; others are wrestling with relationships; and still others are fighting illnesses. All of us depend upon each other at times. We are not islands of isolation; we are all connected as human creatures who struggle with life’s problems.

This is where I believe that the Christian message, above all other faiths and spiritual traditions, has the most hope for people who are helpless and hopeless. Jesus Christ has come into our dark world to show us the light that leads to God. We are no longer left scrambling in the darkness trying to get through each day. He stands beside us, bidding us to follow Him, and asking us to trust Him. We are not alone on a planet that is swirling through space. We are placed on earth because God has a purpose for our lives and through Jesus we can effectively change the world that we live in.

Paul’s calls us to be “children of the light.” In his world, total darkness at nighttime was very common. People didn’t have electric switches, lights or power to use at night time. Lamps and candles were precious possessions and were not to be used frivolously. They were kept for emergencies and treated as essential items. When the Gospel was first being preached, people knew exactly what Paul was talking about when he called his people “children of the light.” Christians lit up the world with their love of one another, their compassion for the community, and their courage in the face of death. They had nothing to fear because the darkness could not overshadow them.

Let’s continue that ministry of Christ in our own lives and our own wee world. Let us all seek to be “children of light” to all that we meet today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You truly are the Light of the world and we feel privileged to be Your servants. Empower us this day with hearts of love and compassion, so that we may reflect and express Your influence over our lives. May we become children of Your light to those around us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Feedback Question: How can we be children of light to our communities?

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee

Omaha Shooting

The shooting of innocent bystanders at the Omaha shopping mall has once again shocked our nation. It makes us all ask the question: where was God in the midst of this and how can we trust in His Sovereignty?


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Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

The shootings and slayings in the Omaha shopping mall have once again shocked our nation. Another deluded young man has selfishly and cowardly taken the lives of innocent people, in order to make someone pay for his dissatisfaction with life. Instead of dealing with his problems, he chose to end his life. Instead of facing up to his deficiencies, he chose to kill people unconnected to his burdens. It was insane and satanic, evil and unholy. Whatever infamy he thought he would achieve, the memory of his callous execution of bystanders will obscure any notoriety he hoped to accomplish.

In the midst of all this pain and anger, how do we come to the Lord for help and healing? At this time of year, when peace and goodwill are supposed to be experienced amongst us, how can we remain confident in God’s Sovereignty? The Nebraskan families of those who were slain will be absolutely shattered and their lives will never be the same. Man’s inhumanity to man has reared its ugly head again – where is the faith, hope, and love of God in such a terrible situation?

No doubt the TV newshounds, cable show hosts and bloggers will offer their many opinions as to what caused this carnage. They will discuss the trigger points along the way of the young man’s life and ask the futile question of how this could all have been avoided. They will all play parlor games of second guessing what went wrong, and the victims’ families will be paraded before the cameras for high ratings and public exhibition. We will be inundated with images of Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Omaha for days on end. And then, when the media frenzy is over, the families will still be heartbroken, lives will be ruined, and communities around the nation will be fearful.

Despite the pain, we will still turn to the LORD, expecting Him to heal us, bind us, comfort us, and strengthen us. We may never find the answer to our agonizing question of “Why?” Our Creator, however, has endowed the human spirit with a mysterious capacity of carrying on, despite the crosses that we bear. In the end of the hallmark of hope which is imprinted on our souls will prevail. Killers kill people, but their bullets cannot confine us to be defined by their deluded concept of humanity. In God, we trust; in Christ, we have hope; and with the Spirit, we persevere.

Prayer: Lord God, our hearts bleed for the people of Omaha and for all the victims of this cruel and savage tragedy. We cannot comprehend the pain and heart break of those who have been impacted by this evil. We pray that You will surround them with professional caregivers and therapists, counselors and clergy who will support, love, and guide them through this agonizing journey. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Erin Church Devotions: Keeping It All for God

Do we have to share everything with others? Aren't there some things we should keep for ourselves and God?

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Matthew 25:9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

It’s strange, but you would think that in this situation, the girls with oil in their lamps would share it with the others. After all, it’s a Christian story, and isn’t Christianity all about sharing our resources with other people? Jesus usually criticized selfish people and urged his followers to give what they could to the needy. So why doesn’t He end this story with: ‘and the five selfish maids were not invited to the bridegroom’s party for not sharing their oil.’ After all, that’s the way the world would end it, right?

This means, as usual, that there must be something deeper going on. The parable is not about sharing, it’s about being prepared and showing respect. The five clever maidens were ready for any inconvenience. They wanted to make sure that they could honor and escort the bridegroom when he eventually arrived. They weren’t thinking about themselves. They were concentrating on what the groom needed to make his wedding party a great success. The five wise girls had already committed their resources to him; if they shared their precious oil with the foolish maidens, then the bridegroom would have been dishonored by all. By keeping the oil to themselves, they were at least ensuring that fifty percent of the bridal party would properly honor the groom.

I guess we all feel sorry for the five foolish maidens because we identify so readily with them. Most of us are last minute shoppers at Christmas and get by each day by doing just enough. It always amazes me on Sunday mornings when a lot of people arrive just a couple of minutes before the worship is due to start. One minute the sanctuary looks half empty; the very next it is three quarters full.

The point Jesus was making with this story is something that we all should seriously consider: leaving our faith commitment to the last minute may be fatal to our souls. Our lives are meant to be used for enjoying God and worshiping His Son. If we take them for granted, then we may unexpectedly run out of time one day, with no earthly chance of making things right with God.

That’s why making and taking time to read the Bible, reading or listening to these devotions, and to ponder about what God is telling us is so important. We can get sidetracked too easily. We can leave holy things to the last minute much too often, that we unintentionally end up disregarding, dishonoring, and disrespecting God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are often too busy for our own good and end up sapping our resources and energy on things that are unimportant, trivial, and meaningless. Help us to reset our ways and enable us to honor You with our love, devotion, and faith. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Erin Church devotional: God's Final Revelation

Audio version here

Deuteronomy 4:15,16 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman. (NIV)

You may not know it, but I love drawing as well as writing. I find both to be very therapeutic. I tend to draw late at night just before I go to bed. It helps to switch off my mind and enables me to wind down after a hectic day. I usually use wax crayons in my drawings. I guess I’ve always been that way since a child. I like the grain effect that crayons produce. Lately, I’ve been designing stained glass windows using the grain effect to enhance the drawings.

I think that the Hebrew children must have loved to draw as well. Maybe they made pictures in the sand or chalked drawings on the rocks. However, they were under a strict prohibition not to make an image and then glorify it. God was beyond their imagining and didn’t want to be contained in a painting or drawing, idol or statue. He was greater than they could possibly know, so to picture Him in an image was to diminish God entirely.

God also liked to reveal His nature to His people in different ways and at different times. The Old Testament is full of events and circumstances where God’s presence is known amongst the people in a dynamic way. Those events such as the Crossing of the Red Sea, Elijah’s sacrifice on Mount Carmel, and Daniel in the Lion’s den testify to the immediate and true presence of God. Images and idols, drawings and pictures were not needed to convince the people that God was truly with them.

And then God’s final revelation to the world came to us in Jesus Christ, His Holy Son. In the midst of a world empire that was obsessed with images and idols, statues and temples, God quietly brought His Son into our world to reveal to us His love, His care, His mercy and grace.

As much as I enjoy drawing, I know that I can never depict Christ as He really is, nor do I ever want to. He is the final revelation of God and we are meant to be attracted to His life, teaching, and words, so that we can one day step into the holy, wonderful, and awesome presence of God. Without Christ in our hearts, we cannot gain entrance to God’s Kingdom. Without Jesus in our lives, we will never get beyond the Pearly Gates. He is the ultimate image of God in the world. Our purpose is to help as many others as we can to see Him that way, too.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Holy Son of God and the last great hope for humankind. You are the true image of holiness and perfection, of strength and courage, of mercy and grace. Help us to turn to You this day, to glorify Your words and deeds, so that we may confidently tell others about who You really are. In Your Holy Name, we humbly serve and pray. Amen.