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SOCIAL-HELP PDF Drucken E-Mail
Geschrieben von: Stan   
Donnerstag, den 14. Februar 2019 um 13:10 Uhr

In most of the countries in the world there is no social system, or no sufficient social system; also in the past times no governments or kings were worrying about this. Let me remind what the Bible speaks about it – it will help us to have wider perspective to our understanding:
There is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1).

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There is quite a big confusion among believers regarding social system. And writing about “believers” I mean the real ones, who respects God’s Word (e.g. negative example 1 Thess. 3:11: We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies).
So, some Christians are generally against any social-help, others – in contrary – are thankful to God for it.

What is wrong with the social-help – in the spiritual perspective? Definitely wrong is abusing side-effect in such systems by “controls-sanctions-humbling”-methods (like it is e.g. with Hartz IV in Germany), which trample on human dignity. The obvious thing is that we as Christians are obligated to work (it is not the matter of finances only, because there are very many works which are not paid). However in our time, the human work (I don’t write about Bullshit Jobs) is replaced by technology: machines are working for us and take our jobs away from us. Good so! However therefore there are many Christians who are busy and have much to do, but circumstances and evil environments block them from being honoured financially.
Surely in such cases God could help directly (and for sure He does it sometimes!), but on other hand, He has done it also generally (on a larger scale) using some governments to “take from over-rich and give to poor” – namely, the social-help. Such governments realise practically what is written: For it is not intended that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be burdened [unfairly], but that there be equality [in sharing the burden] (2 Cor. 8:13). Shouldn’t we thank God for it and praise Him?! Isn’t it the way to resolve the problems of crime and begging – which in a large scale are resulting from tries to survive – like it is in so many countries were is no, or not sufficient social-help?!
Is not-taking “what is ours” trusting God, or maybe exactly opposite?

I personally believe that Christians should be much more involved in solving social problems – even by appealing to governments; or should we leave it to the left parties (who are doing in this specific direction much more than we do – respect for it)?

Zuletzt aktualisiert am Donnerstag, den 14. Februar 2019 um 22:51 Uhr
 
TODAY'S CHURCH LEADERS PDF Drucken E-Mail
Geschrieben von: Stan   
Montag, den 11. Februar 2019 um 18:20 Uhr

Parakaleo to today’s church leaders


Apostle Paul. In fact, since when he became an apostle? Well, we all know: since meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. That’s when Jesus called him apostle of the nations. But ...

After his conversion, baptism in the Spirit and in water, the first preaching among the Jews in Damascus, escape to Arabia, attempts to establish contacts with leaders in Jerusalem, clashes with the Hellenists ... he disappeared for several years in his hometown Tarsus.

We learn that after Paul was sent to Tarsus, Ecclesia enjoyed peace throughout all of Judea, Gamalia and Samaria. Was he problems-makers? Oh yes! In the circles of leaders and not only: people didn’t trust him, everyone was afraid of him, he had a bad past, he spoke openly what he thought; yes, Paul was just uncomfortable and not matching too well in theirs schemes. When Paul left, there was peace and more and more Jews were converted to Jesus. Could Paul, through his presence in Jerusalem and his speeches, disturb the peace? Loosing peace by speaking truth?

Paul disappeared from the arena of central events. Meanwhile, persecution arose in Jerusalem and Israel – to such point that believers had to flee and scatter around the world. It is assumed that God himself allowed this because the current development of Ecclesia did not go too far in the direction indicated by Jesus. Of course, dispersed Jewish believers found themselves in various places and created local ecclesiae. One such ecclesia, however, was unique, this in Antioch. There, Jewish believers converted also pagans, and in this way a cultural and religious mixture was created. It was a good and healthy mix. It was a way out of traditional or nationalistic circles and open to new and different. The revival in Antioch became known in the Jerusalem ecclesia. They wanted to know what was going on and decided to send the most appropriate man there, Barnabas.

It soon turned out that Antioch needs even more support. It’s as if there were "vacancies" there. Barnabas thought about Paul in this context and personally went to him for a long way to Tarsus.

Barnabas was characterized by two attributes that we need so much today: goodness and fulfilment with the Holy Spirit. Today there are a lot of leaders, presidents, bishops, etc. – that is good, but it is not enough. In this way, offices can be maintained correctly – this too is important and good, but in the Kingdom of God there is something more! What about "Barnabases”? We have today "Pauls”, “Peters”, even … “Judases”, but where are the “Barnabases” today? Where are the leaders filled with goodness and the Holy Spirit? Those who are not guided by public opinion (we would say: gossip), those who are not interested in someone’s (bad) past, who are not afraid of someone’s otherness and even (especially!) mismatching to rigid schemes? The paradox of today is the need for workers in churches (vacancies) with the simultaneous presence of those willing to do such work, “Pauls when in Tarsus”. It seems that one must stop praying for “workers in God’s field”, but rather for a personal transformation into the goodness and fullness of the Spirit of many church leaders and denominations! Or maybe for an official appointment of the “Barnabas” office (yes, offices!)? Someone or an independent arbitrary group in the matters that are swept “under the carpets”?

Returning to the beginning. Yes, Paul was called by Jesus to the Apostle at his conversion under Damascus, but he was released to this ministry thanks the apostle Barnabas and the ecclesiae of Antioch. Then, for the first time, they officially moved with the Gospel into the world, sent by the Holy Spirit and the Antioch’ elders (prophets and teachers).

Zuletzt aktualisiert am Donnerstag, den 14. Februar 2019 um 13:24 Uhr