The Importance of Prayer
Prayer can seem sort of “perfunctory” at times – especially public prayer like we offer up before every show. Some of you know that I was advised against giving prayers by a group of pastors years ago – they said it took too much time and that we would lose some of our audience doing it. I said too bad. And we have tried to include God in every production we do. In my estimation, there is no more important participant in the programs. He is the supreme special guest, and to me, I want to welcome him in, thank him for all He is and does, and ask Him to lead us – and you – in His will. I mean the prayers. And they serve as a time for me and you to unite together as one – wherever we are located physically – and to go before the living God. I think this is more important than anything I say or do – to speak to Him, thank Him, and ask Him to help us.
Unconditional Agape Love
Last Tuesday night we had a show where I followed up on the previous Monday and in that show I talked about unconditional agape love for everyone all the time. I said we ought to work on loving individuals face to face before we go out and try to “love the masses” and mentioned that I think it's more important to love those who work in the abortion clinics first, than to rally or petition against them in public outcry. We got some great responses from that show and I want to speak to them now:
Loving Unconditionally
Rex Albright asks, "How can one love doctors who perform abortions? Really? We could definitely pray for their souls and pray they repent of and stop performing abortions. Is that a form of love?" I think that certainly praying for those who perform abortions is a form of love – you are sacrificially spending some of your life’s time talking to God on their behalf! Of course, prayers for others is a form of agape love. But my point, Rex, is that it is face-to-face, while they are yet sinners love that causes people to turn in life. It’s not distant love nearly as much. Others have to see that they are unconditionally blessed and loved and served by Christians in Christ's name and cause for them to understand, feel and experience His love – it doesn’t happen from a distance because Agape love is a verb, it's sacrificial, and it is self-denying. When you choose to set aside the acts of an abortionist, which are personally repulsive to you, and to move in and love the abortionist, they then have the opportunity to be received by you and your love, which in turn, when offered without conditions or attachments, works to soften their hearts. The way you and I are able to look at others who do things that to us are reprehensible, is to realize that we – me, you, and everyone else claiming Christ – are also doing things reprehensible to him if not with our hands, then in our hearts. We hate, we judge, we lust, we act selfishly. With this mindset in hand, honestly understood as God shines a light into our hearts, we humbly say, “who am I to judge another? Ever. Anyone – no matter how fugly their sins appear to be.”
I used to think that I was above committing some sins – have you ever felt that way? Like I would be noble and never do this sin, or that sin – right. I am now convinced that I would be capable of doing or performing any sin once I had been exposed to the right influences and elements. The phrase uttered by Jean Paul Sartre goes a long way when believed: “I have never met a man more evil than myself.”
Agape Love and Freedom
Taking this idea underwing and looking at others goes a long way in helping us to move into really actually loving any and all on their earth. And that, my brother, is the command. At this, I want to go explain one more thing – for whatever its worth. Agape Love is the END of the Law and commandments, right? WHY? I have said that God is love and so Agape love is what he wants His children to operate by. Let me work this out a little with you on the board.
God gave the LAW (His Law). Humankind could not abide by it. So . . . God gave us His Son who did. And we look to Him in faith and are equipped! With what? The ability, the power to LOVE! The more faith we possess the more love. BUT AGAIN – WHY DOES GOD WANT/COMMAND His children to Love all with agape love? Because it is ONLY by and through Agape love that we can truly be free. And God wants His children to be FREE.
The Consequences of Non-Agape Love
How does this work. Let’s use our first comments tonight from Rex to explain this. Let’s assume God wants us to love all people EXCEPT abortionists. In other words he does not expect His children to show them patience, gentleness, kindness, longsuffering or forgiveness. In fact, God allows us to hate them, despise them, judge them, condemn them, and treat them badly. Guess what? God would be condemning YOU to bondage. Because your mind and heart would be preoccupied or at least occasionally sidelined by anger, hate, or non-love toward another. Just one other. Abortionists. And your agape love would have a dark spot in it. Which could grow, but if it didn’t it would still exist. When we allow non-agape for all to enter into our minds and hearts we are subjecting ourselves to imprisonment and therefore non-freedom.
But when we refuse to allow non love to exist – the decisions have been made – and no MATTER who darkens your doorstep, you have already decided to forgive them ahead of time, serve them, show them patience and long suffering as you would Anyone and everyone else, the result is consummate and total freedom – which is exactly what God wants His children to experience. I don’t want to be tested on this. I don’t want to have to come face to face with someone who harms someone I love. But I can tell you this – no matter what a person has done or will do, thus far, no matter what, God has told me to love them, and I do, and the result is absolute freedom of soul. There is NOTHING more liberating that this. And I think it all comes about by and through Christ, faith in Him, and unconditional love for all others.
Reflections from Viewers
We had a few other comments from last Tuesdays shows:
Contact 3604
Thank you Shawn, Watching has been such a pleasure. You are, a true brother in Christ. These shows, have been amazing! Thank you for the Love! your faithfulness is much appreciated. Love always! Moira From England. ?
Shamoa Krasieski
There's more than one way to interpret the phrase about the road to hell being paved with good intentions. However; it is definitely a saying from men not from God, even if it sometimes makes sense when spoken in the right context. But on the subject of loving intentions being or not being love when the actions thereof inadvertently cause harm, I was reminded of how God designated cities of refuge for the Israelites. Only God can accurately judge one's true motivation. And from what I've read and heard about God's judgement, he definitely takes the intention of a person's act into account. He might punish foolishness and ignorance too. But I'm led to believe that God takes an individuals intention into account when deciding what they have done. And so, I believe loving intent is indeed truly love. But also that well informed actions combined with loving intent are superior to careless and ill-informed actions with loving intent. By the way, Shamoa is actually a man. But I don't blame you for assuming otherwise, as I have actually met a couple of women with the very similar name Shanoa.
Denae Hansen
We all become what He said not to be, hypocrites!!
Analysis of Religious Law and Doctrine
History demonstrates you're correct shawn regarding how the letter of the law kills. Church history is loaded with witch trials, people like bloody mary, puritan executions, Martin Luther's anti semitic work called the jews and their lies which encourages destroying their synagogues and so on. These are the roots of modern denominations. As far as I'm concerned, if the roots are bad, the fruits are bad. A bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Look at the strife and division the man made religions and denominations cause by the letter today. The fruits of their own roots. I pray that we all will see through the strife and doctrinal battles and debates of today and actually become one in christ.
Relationship with God
Absolutely loved the episode tonight! If we look at our relationship with God kind of like we do all of our other relationships, the idea that we must obey a book of rules and laws in order to be "right" with Him just seems ridiculous to me. God is love, grace, mercy, and forgives us unconditionally. The idea that we must be lawyers or law obeyers in order to be accepted by Him seems so opposed to who He is. It would be like compiling a book of rules for your husband or wife, for your children, or for your friends. It's unnecessary. When you love and respect someone, you don't need a list of rules to tell you how to love and respect them. The Word teaches us about God and guides us in our walk, but to use it as a rulebook for a "proper" relationship with God seems unreasonable to me, and if applied to any other relationship that people have in their lives, controlling and abusive.
Sola Scriptura
On the sola scriptura part – I'm not arguing for or against the idea of sola scriptura, whatever people mean by that… But my take was always that back before the Protestants, the Catholic Church would not let anyone else have copies of the Bible in their possession, translate it, etc. And with their ties to the government made those things punishable crimes. If you violated their interpretation and you were condemned to "hell" by "excommunication" So I always thought what they meant by saying "sola scriptura" was to say that they wanted to look to the Bible alone, and that the catholic church shouldn't have sole control over it, make it illegal to make a copy of it and read for yourself, etc. And that any extra religious rules put on them by the Catholic Church of that time to avoid going to "hell" by "excommunication" for not following said rules was not acceptable to them. That's my understanding… I guess more dogmatic type people today mean more by sola scriptura today? Personally, I likely wouldn't even argue with people about it if it came up myself anyways… But I do wonder now if my understanding of history on that is correct, and if so, if you think people today who might be adament about sola scriptura are using that term in the same context and with the same reasoning/motivations behind it?
Presence of Jesus
Excellent information and makes so much sense the way you explained. My question is a bit off topic but have been wondering about this for some time. Since Jesus said, "where there are two or more gathered in my name, I will be there", does this mean that if you are alone that Jesus is not with you? Being only one (1)?
