Following the Bible...
Sunday:
Bible Class
9:15
Morning Worship
10:00
Evening Devo
7:00
Wednesday Evening
7:00
Words Fitly Spoken
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 5-7
Jesus began his most famous sermon by describing joyfulness and happiness in terms of meekness, a desire to do what is right, mercy, a pure heart, being a peacemaker. He then talks about changing one's thinking so that hate, sexual impurity, and violence do not occur. Jesus encourages people to love their enemies, to give to those less fortunate to not judge others, and to build one's life on love and service.
In America's early days, the teachings of Christ were held up as positives. Everyone was part of a local community that looked after one another. People had security, and abuse were things to be stopped and avoided. But now we find our culture unraveling--politically, socially, economically, and educationally.
Isn't it sad that we Americans cannot learn from the history of the past, and to compare with what other cultures have had to endure because of their belief systems? The idea that one group of humans is more fit than another is what led to the justification of slavery. If it had been understood that every human is created in the image of God and is special and unique, slavery would never have happened. Hitler's belief in the superiority of the Aryan race was based on the same belief, and was expressed in the Nazi death camps. Ethnic cleansing is always rooted in the belief that one group of people is more fit than another, and in modern times has been practiced by such atheist states as Stalin's Russia, Mao's China, and Pol Pot's Cambodia. When religious groups have instigated such processes, it has always been when a religious leader usurped the Bible and adopted a policy in direct opposition to what Jesus taught. The greatest problem with Islam has been the embracing of violence that Muhammad clearly taught in the Koran and which is expressed in Jihad (the so-called "Holy War!").
Don Wright, Minister
West Yellowstone Church of Christ