Why I Believe Biblical Christianity Promotes Religious Liberty

     In chapter 9 in the book of Luke, Jesus and the disciples, John and James were walking through Samaria. A group was sent into a town ahead of them to prepare the Samaritans  for a visit from Jesus..The town's people rejected the offer. John and James were angered and suggested that fire should be called down from heaven and destroy the town. Jesus answered them by saying, " Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
     The Apostle Paul in the second book of Timothy instructs Christians; " The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach patient. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God, perhaps, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." In the book of 1st Peter we are instructed to; " Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but on the contrary be the blessing, we are called to be."
    Jesus in the parable of tares in the book of  Matthew, taught that we should leave the tares among the wheat so that God himself could separate the good from the bad at the end..The Bible teaches us in 1st Thessalonians; "Now we exhort you brethren , support the weak be patient toward all men...No where in scripture does it teach that the followers of Christ are to force, coerce or punish others for not sharing their beliefs..On the contrary we are taught to love and be kind and patient with unbelievers..Jesus Himself said in John 3-17, " For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

                                      Wesley Jones

Why I Have Never Given Up On Going To Church

    One of the hardest things to get past when going to church is the immutable fact of universal human frailty..We all have our faults and blind spots whether we attend church or not..As I have matured and grown in Christ I have come to the realization that I am not always right and all knowing..I have also learned to be more patient with those who share the same propensity to error. Too often we go to church and expect a perfection in others that we are not able to attain ourselves. Having said that, there are genuinely bad experiences and less than honest people in some congregations and positions of authority in Christian churches..
    Fortunately we live in a time and place where we are free to choose from many different kinds of churches, or attend a different church with different leadership within the same denomination..With so many options I find it hard to come up with an excuse to ignore the biblical command; ...And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
    One of the most compelling reasons I have not given up on attending church is, I love to be where my God is worshiped openly and where the Holy Bible is read and taught.. I also love to be around people who are making an honest effort to seek and please God, even if like me they are doing so imperfectly..I receive a lot of peace and grace from corporate worship..Our Lord Jesus taught us that in this world there will be persecution and tribulation..We need each other to help heal the wounds this world inflicts on us..
     One of the most important things attending church has taught me is a love, and patience with people I might not agree 100% with. We all have different life experiences and degrees of knowledge, so we are not always going to be on the same page all the time..However my love for Jesus Christ produces a love for my fellow Christian as well as the rest of mankind..Church has civilized and softened me..It has also lifted me up when I have been down and out...The friendship I have found in Christian churches has been wonderful and I have learned much from other believers...
     Church is not perfect and is often  messy...But in this troubled world it is a safe port in a very fierce storm..I have attended hundreds of churches in my life..I know from experience there are many out there full of honest kind people who are trying their imperfect best to please God..I would encourage everyone to make an effort to find a church home where you can be encouraged and encourage others...

                                        Wesley Jones