The Economy & Faith

I was wondering. Does the economy affect our faith?
If so, how does it affect our faith?
Does it affect our giving to God?
If so, how? Why?
Does The Church suffer when the economy is bad? In what ways? Has it affected you and your church? If so, how?
When the economy is bad, what can we do to not let it affect our faith and giving to God?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

Judas: The Victim?

Following is an excerpt from a book called: Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook by Robert J. Morgan and Joshua D. Rowe.

"The Times of London carried an article headlined, 'Judas the Misunderstood,' written by Richard Owen in Rome. The subtitle said, 'Vatican Moves to Clear Reviled Disciple's Name.' According to the article, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, is to be given a makeover by Vatican scholars.
The proposed 'rehabilitation' of the man who paid 30 pieces of silver to identify Jesus to Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane comes on the grounds that he was not deliberately evil, but was just 'fulfilling his part of God's plan.'
The article went on to say that while Luke's Gospel claims that Judas was possessed by Satan. Modern scholars believe it's time to reconsider the Judas story in a way that revolves 'the problem of an apparent lack of mercy by Jesus towards one of his closest collaborators.'
Some Bible experts say Judas was 'a victim of a theological libel which helped create anti Semitism' and his rehabilitation could help the Pope's drive to improve Christian-Jewish relations, which he has made a priority of his pontificate" ("Judas the Misunderstood" by Richard Owens in The Times of London, January 2, 2006, accessed on January 17, 2006).

What do you think? Was Judas a victim? Was he possessed by Satan to betray Jesus? If he was, was he just fulfilling God's plan? Was Judas a victim of theological libel which helped create anti Semitism? If so how? Do you think we should 'rehabilitate' Judas? Will it help how people view Christians and Christianity in any way? Will it help improve Christian and Jewish relations? If so how?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts?

Is It Up To Us To Judge?

I believe that as Christians and as disciples we should strive to obey the very words of Jesus Christ. He is our teacher and we are his students. I would love to challenge each and every one of you to purchase a red letter Bible. The red letters being the very words of Jesus Christ. I challenge you to read the words of Jesus Christ daily. Study His words. Meditate on His words. But more than anything, live His words.

In Matthew 7 we read from Jesus, "Do not judge or you too will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

How often throughout the day do we judge others? At church do we judge others? "If so and so was really faithful they would be at church." Do we sit in the judgement seat when it is not our place to do it? Why do we judge others? Has the church of Christ been guiltiy of this in the past? Is it something ofrom which we need to repent.

I pray that we will become less judgemental, understanding that God is our ultimate judge and let us strive to be the disciples he wants us to become.

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.