A man with a white beard kneels down to a small, skinny and obviously malnourished child. There is monotone music playing as he explains the wretched situation of this helpless child living in the slums.

I’m sure you’ve seen those commercials.

You’ve probably thought—as I have in the past—oh no. Here they are, trying to guilt trip me again. But as I’ve studied the Bible and specifically Jesus’ own words and actions, I’ve come to a realization:

What if guilt trips are God’s way of convicting us? What if a guilt trip gives us an opportunity to be part of the love of God for another person, yet we selfishly decide to do nothing?

Sadly, so many times we justify doing nothing by telling ourselves that someone is merely trying to make us do something we don’t want to do. When in reality, we’re ignoring God’s love and His desire to work in and through us.

In our self-centered desire to do what we want, we’ve forgotten that Jesus told us, “Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). This includes not only the nice things we do, but as the singer/songwriter Keith Green put it, “Inasmuch as you’ve not done it unto the least of My bretheren, You’ve not done it unto Me.”

Let us remember that “by this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

I pray that today we are reminded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and love God with everything that is in us (Mark 12:30-31). I pray that we strive to live this love even when it seems our right to do what we want is being infringed so that we can truly follow Christ’ example to the ends of the earth.

I completely understand that sometimes we feel that doing what we want will make us happy, yet I’ve found this happiness only lasts for a short time. However, I can tell you from experience that if you truly love another person enough to put them first, as Christ did for us, it gives you a true joy and contentment that passes all understanding.

Of course, the commercials of starving children aren’t the only instances of what people may call a “guilt trip.” There are definitely times when people try to control you using a false sense of guilt, but I’m not talking about those times. I’m specifically talking about the times where there is someone in need (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.) and there is a possibility of you being able to help them—even in a small way.

Next time you feel you’re being “guilt tripped” remind yourself of what Christ did for you. Forget about whether or not someone may be trying to get you to do something. Allow your actions to come not from your own desires but to flow from God’s own heart through you. See if you notice a difference in the outcome of not only the situation, but in yourself.

I understand that this is a hard exercise to do, but it is one that brings us even closer to the love of God. Don’t let a “guilt trip” become a missed opportunity to be part of and to share God’s love.

Till next time,

Josh

Stay tuned, because I will soon be running a contest and parachute drive to make and send at least 1000 parachutes along with funds to Voice of the Martyrs.

From old to young, retirees to homeschoolers, they are all working for a common cause — spreading the gospel to Marxist FARC guerrillas in the nation of Colombia.

For more than 40 years, Colombia has been terrorized by kidnappings and murders resulting from power struggles between drug lords, revolutionaries and paramilitary groups. But in the midst of the chaos, brave Christians in Colombia are risking their lives to spread the gospel. VOM is committed to helping them, and our readers from across the country are joining the effort.

One of VOM’s partners in Colombia is a pilot named Russell. VOM helped Russell purchase an airplane, and today that plane flies over FARC-controlled areas of Colombia dropping small packages attached to parachutes. The packages, which float down into FARC camps and villages, each contain a selection of Christian books as well as a solar-powered Galcom radio pre-tuned to a Christian station. Before the parachutes are dropped, the radio is turned on so that even if the parachute catches in a tree, someone will hear the radio and climb up to retrieve it.

The Voice of the Martyrs has invited our newsletter readers to make parachutes to help Russell in this important ministry … and they have enthusiastically responded! More than 14,000 parachutes made by American Christians recently left our distribution center headed for Colombia. In total, we’ve already received more than 62,000 parachutes. Some church groups have worked together to make hundreds of parachutes, and some families have sent one or two. Each one provides a critical opportunity to present the gospel to a lost soul.

But there are still many FARC guerrillas who haven’t heard the gospel, and there is still a need for more parachutes. If you’d like a downloadable pattern to make the parachutes, as well as more information about VOM’s work in Colombia and a video of Russell talking about reaching guerrillas for Christ, visit www.persecution.com/Colombia.

[Republished from Voice of the Martyrs]

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Our society is rampant with an “anything goes” attitude. Where whatever you want to believe is “your truth.” Many see the 10 commandments and all the “thou shall nots” as religion trying to control them and take away their freedom and fun. But is that true? Do the 10 Commandments take away your freedom and fun? Let’s take a look at how soccer works.

In soccer, you have certain rules you have to follow in order for the game to work correctly. Each member of a team has a specific position. To score points, you hit the ball into the net without the goalie or another player stopping you. If you hit the ball out of bounds, the other team gains control of the ball. Finally, every person except for the goalies cannot touch the ball with their hands. Those are some of the basic rules of the game.

Imagine if you were playing soccer and no one was following the rules. People were picking up the ball, hitting other players down, and throwing the ball into the net saying they scored. Without the rules, a game of soccer would be chaos. So we see, the rules of soccer don’t limit the freedom of players but give logical limits which make the game more fun! The rules protect the way the game was originally intended to be played. This is quite similar to the 10 commandments.

It’s easy to see “thou shall not” as a negative command. But is that all it is—a command? Or, instead, are these “commands” better explained as boundaries to protect God’s original plan?

With the 6th commandment, is God simply trying to take away your fun? Is God taking something good away from you? Not all all! Through the 6th commandment, God gives us the gift of sex and marriage. You receive the benefits of companionship, children, mutual help, encouragement, happiness, and enjoyment.

Through this commandment, God also gives us the boundaries we need, as fallen humans, to maintain a healthy and trusting relationship with our spouse. By keeping within these boundaries, it strengthens the mutual honor and love in the marriage. And finally, it protects against sexual impurity and abuse.

So after further study, we see that the 10 Commandments are really God’s gift to us in order for us to live holy and happy lives with Him. I don’t know about you, but that sure makes the 10 Commandments sound pretty awesome!

Now I’d like to ask you, which is the good news: the gospel or the law?

Originally posted on Bring One to Christ. Original Post

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Emilio rises at six and starts coffee. His RSS reader has many blogs to read, plus links to a “Bible in a Year” website that sends him daily updates. It’s no longer strange to be reading the Bible in his RSS reader. It just feels like another way to connect. Emilio is thinking of setting alerts for his community in general, plus for specific issues facing the people in his congregation.

Emilio has a personal blog for reflections, and a website for the Church, as well. Most recently, he’s added a section for using UStream.tv to show live sermons. Not that every house has a broadband Internet connection, but if this is another way that someone who can’t make it to the church can feel connected to the community, why not give it a try.

Other churches are putting up sermons and special events on YouTube and GodTube. Emilio has found ideas for sermons online regularly, or rather, ways to refresh his own ideas with the wisdom of others.

Some churchgoers in his extended online community are doing things like Twitter their local service. Others have been confronted for bringing technology into the church. In some affluent churches, there are even Second Life outposts, and online campuses. It’s a balance of concerns and considerations: are you still part of a community when represented digitally? Does God hear your prayer in pixel form? Emilio leans towards yes, but he knows that others aren’t as understanding.

Emilio knows that there are more challenges to taking religion into social media. He’s read and studied the book UNCHRISTIAN, by David Kinnamon. In this book, Kinnamon talks about what outsiders think about Christianity: hypocritical, focus on conversion, antihomosexual, sheltered, too political, judgmental. Emilio feels there’s a much greater risk of these concerns spreading in the online world, where some context is lost.

Emilio recently upgraded his cell phone, which allows him to receive email from people with questions, receive text messages from people seeking a quick check-in during a rough moment, and it’s allowed him to be able to take pictures and share them online with the larger community. As Emilio visits a lot of hospitals, he sometimes records quick audio messages with someone sick, to be able to store and play this message for a family member later on.

There’s still so much face to face that he does, and much that doesn’t require an Internet connection, but through these options, Emilio has reached out far beyond his local congregation. He feels friendship with people from all around the world, and he understands the larger struggles people are having through his exploration of other blogs and online media.

With so much more to do, Emilio is happy for his first steps, and looks forward to even more respectful contact with others.

—

How does this sit with you?

This post originally written by Chris Brogan ( cowritten and deeply inspired by Jon Swanson). Original post.

Asia Bibi, a Christian wife and mother in Pakistan, was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including Asia, worked on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. Her family was one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families. During their work, many of the Muslim women had pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam.

On June 19, 2009 there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam, and, according to Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) sources, Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Jesus is alive. “Our Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins…Our Christ is alive.” She told them. Upon hearing this response, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.

Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into protective custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. Christians urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but the police claimed they had to go forward because of pressure from local Muslim leaders.

After a lengthy trial, on Nov. 8, 2010, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. Her attorneys filed the appeal promptly, and now wait for the Lahore High Court to rule. If the appeal is rejected, Asia would be the first woman to be lawfully executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. She remains in prison, waiting to hear the high court’s ruling.

On Jan. 4, 2011 the governor of Punjab province, where Asia lives, was assassinated by a member of his security team. Though a Muslim, Salmaan Taseer had spoken out repeatedly in favor of a pardon for Asia Bibi and for a reexamination of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Governor Taseer also met with Asia in prison. On March 2, 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan’s cabinet and another person who had spoken out on behalf of Asia Bibi, was also assassinated for his support of her.

The Voice of the Martyrs has supported Asia Bibi and her family since the time of her arrest. In July, 2011, VOMlaunched www.CallForMercy.com in an effort to gather 1,000,000 signatures from around the world asking for Asia’s release.

Are you on YouTube? Help to free Asia Bibi by creating a video her story and entering it to the Call For Mercy Video Contest. You could win a trip to Washington, DC!

Republished by permission from Voice of the Martyrs. Original page

Related articles

• Global Petition Launched to Save Asia Bibi (americandefenseleague.wordpress.com)
• Faith-Filled Friday: A Call for Mercy (h3roich3alth.wordpress.com)
• Pakistan’s Religious Freedom Problem Severe, Says Commission: Christian News (craigsturm.wordpress.com)