To Whom Do You Yield?

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16 (KJV)

I was dismayed to learn recently that many US cities are now attempting to prevent the distribution of food to the needy. As Christians we have been clearly instructed by Christ to 'render unto Caesar' (Luke 20:25 KJV), that is to say the higher powers of civil government, all obedience and respect which is due them. But we must also render to God what belongs to Him, and that is to obey His commandments. What are we to do when the commandments of men conflict those of God?

Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:28-29 (KJV)

The feeding of the hungry is a basic tenet of Christianity; Christ Himself fed the multitudes on multiple occasions with the loaves and fishes. For any US government authority to attempt to prevent a Christian from feeding the hungry is to violate our first amendment right to freely practice our faith. I hereby call on the law community to launch cases against every local government that would attempt to restrain us from fulfilling our Christian duties. But that is not what this article is about.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Matthew 25:41-42 (KJV)

Scripture is crystal clear on this, it is a matter of salvation. Works do not cause us to obtain salvation but they are the fruits of it. Allowing any other entity to interfere with our doing what is right, whether it be person or government cannot be tolerated. I am calling on every person who calls themselves by Christ's name to civil disobedience in this matter, and any other law or instruction that contradicts the teachings of Christ.

We can also consider Christ's admonition here of those who do not feed the poor as an allegory for ministering to them spiritually. Many Churches today do just this; feed people's bellies but starve their souls.

Are You Washed in the Blood?

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 1:5 (KJV)

Scripture tell us that we are washed by Christ's blood and made clean. Will Christ allow anyone to enter Heaven who has not been washed?

Recently God gave me a very interesting allegory to consider. What are the 'fruits' of a person who has not bathed? We might say they are 'ripe' or even that they smell rotten! While we cannot positively say that they have not washed themselves we will notice their stench when it offends our senses.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation 3:17 (KJV)

This is the folly of those who chastise us for judging when we have only exercised discernment as scripture commands us to (Hebrews 5:14 KJV). They have no discernment; they walk around with clothespins on their noses! "Do you smell anything?" "I don't smell anything, do you?" They are in a self imposed blindness like the king's subjects in "The Emperor's New Clothes". They are under strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV). They cannot smell anyone's stench, especially their own. As if that wasn't bad enough, they actually wear their spiritual ignorance as if it were some badge of self righteousness!

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14 (KJV)

When we choose to follow Christ we are clothed with His righteousness because our own is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). We must wash our robes in His blood because they aren't getting clean on their own. Is washing our robes work? In a real sense, yes , it is. It is His precious blood that does all the cleaning, but we are still required to wash our robes. Our salvation is a team effort, we must cooperate by washing our robes which we do by confessing our sins and repenting of them. Our part is to obey.

Now think for a moment about how good works like feeding the hungry fit into the context of this allegory. They would be the squeaky clean smell of someone who has just emerged from a good, hot shower. We can fake that clean, fresh smell to other people through the use of perfumes and air fresheners. Have you ever been in an occult bookstore? They frequently have many air fresheners hidden around them because demons stink of sulphur.

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Luke 11:39 (KJV)

A person may cover up the stench of their sins from men but only God can see the inside of the cup, our wicked hearts. Feeding the poor is a good work; it will not get us into Heaven, but is indicative of a person who has washed in the blood of the Lamb. Similarly a clean smell is indicative of someone who has just bathed.

Doing good works comes as naturally to a true Christian as breathing. This is why we cannot allow the government or anyone else to restrain us from feeding the hungry or any other good work. To do so would be to grieve the Holy Spirit in us, because good works are a way He expresses Himself.