He’s On the Move!

November 29, 2023.

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.  4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
-Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)-

As we embark upon the Advent and Christmas season, I can’t help but think about C.S. Lewis’ classic tale, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”  I’m reminded of the BBC live action, “The Chronicles of Narnia” television series in the 1980s, or even better still, the 2005 Hollywood movie adaption of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”  If you’re unaware, this tale is an allegorical fantasy that re-tells the gospel story of the Bible in a fantastic way! 

*Spoiler alert for those that don’t know the story*

Here are the symbolic parallels from this story to that in the Bible:

The White Witch = Satan

Aslan (The Lion) = Jesus (Lion of Judah)

Edmund  = Judas Iscariot

Santa Claus Appearance = Representing the coming of Jesus (Christmas)

Peter (High King of Narnia) = Peter in the gospels (Catholics view him as the lead of the Church after Jesus Christ)

Lucy* (Aslan’s most beloved) = John “whom Jesus loved” (Jn. 13:23)

Susan* = Representing James (remembering that James, John and Peter are sometimes thought of as being part of Jesus’ inner circle, though this is debatable)

*Note: Lucy and Susan can also symbolize Mary Magdalene and Mary (mother of Jesus) since they were there and witnesses at the death of Aslan (Crucifixion of Jesus).

I think both the television series and the movie did a superb job in showing the cruelty and tyranny of the White Witch.  The movie also does a fantastic job in showing Narnia being covered in evil (the bitter, cold, and frigid winter that will not end until Aslan comes).  However, isn’t this also true about the gospel and the problem with Sin?  Paul says that all of creation is groaning like the pains of childbirth, and right up to the present time. (Rom. 8:22).  This is just like Narnia being covered in an endless and bitter winter.  Yet, when you read the story/watch the movie, there are rumours of characters that hear “Aslan is on the move!”  This is just like the account of the gospel too with Jesus being on the move! – Yes!  He is on the move!

Isaiah knew it in our reading today.  His time was covered in darkness, but the Holy Spirit allowed some men to “see the light” and know about the coming birth of Jesus, even though darkness covered the land!  By the way and on a side note: this is just one of the many examples telling us that salvation belongs to our God (Rev. 7:10), because it’s impossible for anyone to see and seek God on their own, if not for God initially intervening into creation (remember Total depravity and Unconditional election, the T and U in the TULIP, Reformed Calvinism acronym, learned in Church Membership classes).  The bottom line is, Jesus (as the Good Shepherd and the Lion of Judah) saves and protects his flock!  This is a theme echoed from Exo. 3:23 when the Israelites cried to God for help and God sent Moses to emancipate the Israelites.  He was on the move in Exodus, He was on the move in Isaiah’s time, He was on the move with God piercing into creation and becoming flesh, through the virgin birth, and at the original Christmas, and He is on the move now!

 Arguably the most beautiful thing about Isaiah’s prophecy is the utmost hopeful description that Isaiah had about the coming Jesus and His reign.  Here’s a few in our Isaiah 9:2-7 reading:

·1) All of God’s enemies will be defeated and there will be a great rejoicing.

2) “Destined for burning/fuel for fire” – I believe this is a symbolic reference to Hell (yes, Hell is real!)

3) God promises Isaiah that God’s people will be an enlarged nation, but remember Exo. 19:6, where God promises Moses that God’s people will be a nation of holy priests, and also remember 1 Pe. 2:5, where God promises Christians will also be a holy priesthood.  I take it meaning that all of God’s chosen elect will eventually be enlarged as a whole.

4) Jesus’ titles are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (you can’t get any more utmost hopeful than that!)

5) To fulfill other prophecies, Jesus was born from the royal line of David and the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-10, Isa. 9:7, Isa. 11:1-2, Zech. 3:8, Rev. 5:5)

6) Jesus will reign over all forever! (fantastic news!)

7) It is God at work that does this, and in so doing (with God’s zeal) there will be no failure.

He is on the move!  We and all creation wait for Jesus and his reign!  Keep watch and stay hopeful.  Do not lose sight of Jesus as your utmost priority in life!  There may be darkness in your life now, but Jesus will rectify it all soon and this is why we’re hopeful during Advent and Christmas!  To God be the glory!

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A Driving Movement

November 22, 2023.

10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
-Judges 2:10-15 (NIV)-

There seems to still be a growing trend of declining churches in the western world.  Generally I’m talking about Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.  While the 1950s were not perfect by any stretch and fraught with various forms of inequality such as racism, many North Americans and Canadians see the 1950s as the “Golden Age” of church attendance.  It was during this time in North America where church attendance was at its highest.  If you were around at that time, it wouldn’t be an uncommon setting where everyone you knew in the neighbourhood went to church on a Sunday.  Sometimes when thinking about this time, I’d joke saying, “Everyone and their dog went to church.”  That is in stark contrast to declining trends from that time and leading up to today.  On December 24, 2021., the National Post had the following statement: 

The most significant finding of the 2021 survey is the decrease in Canadians attending religious services since the pandemic began. Respondents who said they never attend services increased from 30 per cent pre-pandemic to 67 per cent. The survey also found that 60.5 per cent of Canadians who say they strongly believe in God never or rarely attended a religious service since the beginning of the pandemic.[i]

Now this statement can include other non-Christian faiths including Muslims, Hindus, etc., but it still greatly indicates that church attendance here in Canada is declining at a rapid rate overall, and definitely since the pandemic.    While the western world declines in church attendance and generally speaking, the developing world (South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle-East) has seen a major rise of church attendance.  Thank goodness St. Andrew’s, Moncton has followed a similar trend of growth in terms of attendance numbers since my limited time here and even before my time. 

Now, for those of you that have been away from our church, and recall the days at 90 Park Street, our church today is nothing like it was back then.  On a typical Sunday I’m delighted to hear conversations in Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, French (Acadian, Madagascar, Cameroon, others) and I’m guessing Nigerian Hausa, Ghanaian Twi, etc., just to name a few.  My apologies, as I could be mistaken about some of these languages I’m hearing.  It just goes to show that St. Andrew’s, Moncton is representing modern day Moncton from a cultural perspective, moving from a typical White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASPy) community to more of an international community.  While being predominantly mono-cultured has its strengths, there are some real blessings being a part of a rich, multi-cultural environment.  Have you been to one of our Christmas potlucks lately?  I’m telling you, the multi-cultural food our parishioners put forth is arguably world class, and there’s nothing wrong with that! – And with each culture brings a unique and welcomed experience of our triune God and that helps us understand and experience God in varying and deep ways.

I’ve also been told that with typical churches in Canada, 5% of the congregation consists of young children.  Well, have you looked at our typical Sunday mornings lately?  On top of it being so multi-cultural on any given Sunday, I might say that our children range between 10% - 15% of the overall Sunday attendance.  With that said, there’s always statements I hear such as, “They’re not the next generation, they’re today’s generation,” and rightfully so!  As much as I see our humble church beating general and negative trends of church attendance, my plea is for this generation and beyond, no matter where you’re from, is to teach and share the gospel of Jesus Christ and keep doing it for this generation and the next generation! 

It was too easy for those in the 1950s to attend church.  It was easy, because the church was the centrepiece of many communities, where everyone just went to church and it was a way of life, without thinking twice about it.  The church lived off the status of being the institutionalized norm in culture, and not a driving movement in culture!  I believe the church was never meant to be institutionalized and never meant to be a norm in culture.  In contrast, I believe the church with it's true Christian followers was always meant to be counter-cultural and a powerful, driving movement or force to change culture!  In order to change culture to become more like Jesus Christ we have to keep telling this generation and the next generation about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It sounds cliché, but I’ve attended funeral services and zero biblical references were mentioned from the minister.  I’ve also been to churches where families expect the minister to be the primary and sole biblical teacher to their children.

News flash to parents: As God has given you authority of your children, it’s your primary role as parents to teach your own children about Jesus Christ!  The minister just has a special designation about it.  In all fairness, you can’t expect a minister to speak about Jesus for a measly 20-40 minutes only once a week to make a more bigger impact on your children, than parents spending time with your own children for hours upon hours each day and seven days a week.  That last statement may offend some people and may be eye opening to some, but nowhere in scripture did I read anything about children being brought to prophets, elders or pastors for their primary and only time of spiritual teaching.  The lasting fall of God’s people was failing to ensure this generation and the next generation knew the Lord.  This was definitely true in Judges and the result was captured in Judges 2:11-13.  Conversely, the decree to teach this generation and the next generation about Yahweh fell upon all of God’s followers (Deut. 32:7, Ex. 13:14, Josh. 4:21-22, Psa. 71:18, Psa. 78:6, Psa. 145.4).  If this does not happen, we will fall into the fate similar to that in Judges 2:14-15.  We may or may not fall into physical plunder, but we will surely be a conquered people and fall into the hands of the Enemy (Satan).

The bottom line is this: if we do not want the fate of the Israelites in Judges (and by the way, if you keep reading Judges, it’s probably the darkest time in Israel’s history), we have to be resolute, persistent and firm in continuing to teach this generation and the next generation about our incredible Jesus Christ!  May our triune God empower you, may our triune God encourage you, and may you joyfully teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to this generation and the next.

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[i] Mundie, J. (2021, December 24). While church attendance among Canadians plunges, belief in god stays ... While church attendance among Canadians plunges, belief in God stays nearly the same: poll. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/while-church-attendance-among-canadians-plunges-belief-in-god-stays-nearly-level-poll

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What’s Your Reason?

November 15, 2023.

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
-1 Peter 3:13-18 (NIV)-

Let’s face it, if we check news sources around us, there’s a lot to be unhappy with.  When we look globally, there’s wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Yemen (nobody really talks about this), etc. Locally and in Canada, crime is up from coast to coast and there doesn’t seem to be enough adequate and affordable housing for everyone.  There’s not enough qualified doctors, nurses, hospital beds and care facilities.  Classroom sizes are too big and ill prepared to meet the needs of our children.  In the world of health, new viruses are coming up all the time.  In politics, we’re finding more and more examples of government corruption.  I’m even convinced that the NBA is corrupt and purposely makes basketball games difficult for the Raptors to win, with terrible referee calls on a nightly basis.  (I have good theories to explain my Raptors woes too).

In the world of finance and in many ways the economic picture in Canada has seen better days, and we’re not even as bad compared to Lebanon, Venezuela and a few other places.  In terms of living costs, everything has risen unproportionally in contrast to wages.  The price of food, education, housing and utilities, cars, entertainment, social services, health and dental plans, etc., have all risen at arguably an unfair rate when comparing salaries.  The purchasing power of the dollar is not the same.  I’m about to show you a few startling financial diagrams and charts that will open your eyes using the U.S. dollar.  Why the U.S. dollar and not the Canadian dollar?

According to the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. dollar is the most popular.  As of the fourth quarter of 2019, it makes up over 60% of all known central bank foreign exchange reserves.  That makes it the de facto global currency, even though it doesn’t hold an official title.[1]

Most people don’t realize that at the heart of the global market, the U.S. dollar drives economies and directly or indirectly affects other local currencies, and even the Canadian dollar, though this may change with the rise of BRICS (The union of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and/or cryptocurrencies.

Click on this external link for the image, Fig. 1.1:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Purchasing-Power-of-the-U.S.-Dollar-Over-Time.jpg

(Fig. 1.1) Bhutada, G. (2021, April 7). Purchasing power of the U.S. dollar over time. Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/purchasing-power-of-the-u-s-dollar-over-time/

Click on this external link for image, Fig. 1.2:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/599460007284834324/785851255108141056/unknown.jpeg

(Fig. 1.2) WTF happened in 1971?. WTF Happened In 1971? (n.d.). https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/?fbclid=IwAR2lN2aaS9eRUR3qd_TeJ4_6vCnMzLRQsEidnXh9WmcxcxSdTHLqZjHfPj0

By the way and if you want to see more shocking productivity trends in 1971, you should check out this website (again, these are all based on the U.S. dollar):
https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/?fbclid=IwAR2lN2aaS9eRUR3qd_TeJ4_6vCnMzLRQsEidnXh9WmcxcxSdTHLqZjHfPj0

In addition, the quality of goods we purchase are now cheapened or they’re scaled back in size so that manufacturers can still keep costs relatively low.  Much of this concept is called shrinkflation.  My parents operated various convenience stores in Toronto all throughout my life, so I clearly remember how cheap and large goods were, when compared to today’s grocery store items.  For any readers young at heart, remember when you used to be able to buy candies for a penny?  Well, that’s gone and the Canadian government partnered with the Royal Canadian Mint won’t even produce currency-valid circulated pennies anymore, simply because they’re too expensive to manufacture for what’s they’re worth.  2 litre bottles of soda used to cost $1.99 in most places and last time I checked, they’re hovering around $2.47/bottle.  Aero chocolate bars did used to have a few bubbles in them, but the overall shape was still a filled rectangle, and now you can only find the version with over-exaggerated bubbles in them, such that it’s more bubbles with air than chocolate itself! – there’s a bad joke about “blowing hot air”, somewhere in there.  Don’t even get me started with gas prices.  I remember gas at times being $0.45/litre and some of you remember the prices even being cheaper.

On top of this, many products are actually designed to breakdown or slowdown functions in the near future to force customers to replace them and buy more products.  This is called planned obsolescence.  In 2017 the tech giant Apple, was already caught red-handed and fined in that sneaky situation, with their “battery-gate scandal”, where the company intentionally designed iPhones to slow down over time, such that they’re no longer functional and you’re forced to buy the latest iPhone prematurely and over and over again.  Since then, Apple faces similar accusations and investigations.[2]

In case you haven’t realized by now, I just described what’s called a “HOT MESS” or a stinky “DUMPSTER FIRE” of a situation.  We’re all stuck here in this changing landscape with seemingly much negativity – so where can we turn to and what can we do about it?

Dear Christian, let me quote 1 Peter 3:15 to you by saying, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”

If we as Christians cannot do this, how can we win others to Jesus Christ let alone ourselves?  If we are not prepared to do this at any given moment, how can we not expect to be constantly defeated?  The world may not understand this, but I hope you do – the message of Christianity and of the gospel has always been about hope.  The world doesn’t understand this, because the world falsely thinks hope can be found if I have a spare $3 million in my bank account (accounting for inflation) for most people.  The world doesn’t understand this, because it promotes every act of the flesh (Gal 5:19-20).  Within this list includes sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, selfish ambition and a slew of other perils that lead to destruction!  The world promotes pursuing these values as goals in life and things to be praised.

Dear Christian, what’s your reason for the hope you have, if indeed you do have genuine and not false hope?  Is your gaze constantly fixed on the person of Jesus Christ and his redemptive work on the cross or something else?

I’m not sure, but you may have a different answer to me.  My hope and my reason to hang my head up high rests in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  I will rejoice because my name is written in heaven (Luk. 10:20) and I will rejoice because of the Lord’s salvation (Ps. 13:5) and I stress salvation belongs to the Lord, our God (Rev. 7:10).  There is great hope in that, because since salvation belongs to our God, I can do nothing to gain, lose, add or subtract from the gift of salvation.  There’s a famous adage saying, “If could lose my salvation, I would’ve already done so”, because sadly, I sin every day, but beautifully, every day I need Jesus (thinking about the song, “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA)

The world is going one way, but I’m going another.  I’m definitely a messy work in progress until the day of completion when God wills it for me.  I’m not perfect and I’m not where I want to be, but thank you Jesus, I’m not where I was and not what I used to be! (2 Cor. 5:17)

My desire is that we all have that same outlook, and especially when things look grim.  To God be the glory!

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[1] Amadeo, K. (2022, March 16). Why the US dollar is the global currency. The Balance. https://www.thebalancemoney.com/world-currency-3305931

[2] Meaker, M. (2023, May 19). France is fighting to save your iphone from an early death. WIRED UK. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/right-to-repair-apple-france

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Witnesses by Example

November 8, 2023.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
-Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)-

At times, doesn’t it get tiring trying to “fight the good fight”?  Every day, I’m pretty exhausted by the evening.  Every day I’m plagued by thoughts like, “I have to do better,” or “I have to read more scripture,” or “I have to devote more time in prayer.”  I realize that people depend on me as a spiritual guide, and even if I wasn’t a pastor.  The thought of being a Christian spiritual guide should be embedded into all professing Christians.  There are many people that look up to us.  Wives, husbands, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, grandparents and so forth – these are just a few of the people that may look up to our spiritual maturity to help their own journeys of faith.  Sadly, there are some people that don’t have any other good examples to look up to.  Unfortunately, some of us come from broken homes, or we have disappointing memories of loved ones that failed us and never really exemplified the love and morality of Jesus Christ.

Our only standard is Jesus Christ, that’s for sure, but where else can we look to for role models?  I tell you, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life, if God didn’t place certain people in my life at specific moments to guide me along the way.  Believe it or not and at one point when I was a young child, I wanted to live under the roof of my church pastor, thinking that he could teach me how to live Godly.  How many children get that kind of idea?  Probably not many (yes, I’m a strange one indeed by the world’s standards).  However, I think that desire also comes from the sadness that I’ve been a part of in my own family when it comes to living for Jesus Christ.  The answers I looked for in my own family often were not there.  For those of you who have been longing for amazing Christian role models, I hope you can find them in our church.  I can think of a few names of faithful men and women in our church already.

Other than that, I’m reminded that we’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.  Who are they and what does that all mean?  To answer that question derived from Heb. 12:1-3, we have to search through Hebrews 11.  In Hebrews 11, it lists various names of Godly people that have faithfully served Yahweh in the midst of uncertainty, chaos and difficult situations (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc).  These are the witnesses as described in Hebrews 12.  These are the faithful people that have come before us.  The great cloud of witnesses also includes the angels in Heb. 12:22-23, and so there is a supernatural element in this.  This massive church in the heavenly realms includes thousands upon thousands of angels and the names of these faithful people written in the book of life, in the heavens (Rev. 3:5).  I often say that the church here on earth is an approximation of the heavens and indeed just like in the heavens, there is a supernatural element to God’s church here, where I’m convinced angels are among us, and the Holy Spirit links his church on earth to the heavens until the completion of the end of the age.

It’s not that they’re watching us from above per say, but the names of God’s faithful people written in the heavens are the examples set before us.  These are the faithful role models we are to look up to, and are charged to carry on their legacy as Christians.  Why you ask? Because again, others depend on us!  Actually, I need you too!  I would fail miserably as a follower of Jesus Christ, if not for the prayers, friendship and support of the people found in our humble church….so by God’s grace, power and working of the Holy Spirit, let’s continue to be witnesses by example for others, and encouraging each other to continue to “fight the good fight”. 

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Where Are They?

November 1, 2023

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
-Romans 2:28-29 (NIV)-

Where are they? Where are the people that stand-up for the gospel? Where are they? Where are the people that are courageous for their Christian faith?  Where are they?  Where are the faithful followers of Jesus Christ whose hearts are circumcised?  Where are they?  Where are the people that remember the price that Jesus’ original disciples paid on account of Jesus Christ?  Where are they?  Where are the people that remember the price that the early church reformers paid on October 31st in 1517 (Reformation Day) when they gave up everything they knew to advance the gospel?  There have always been men and women that stood for their Christian faith boldly and courageously.  Sometimes I think that if modern times had such bold people as in the days of biblical times or on Reformation Day, perhaps the world would be a better place.  Such people were willing to die just to advance the gospel and indeed many have died for it.  Such people advanced the gospel message purely out of love and zeal for their Christian faith.  Such people stayed true to God’s word and only God’s word, and never let the state, culture, or other bodies tell them otherwise.

Recently I was reminded about what the true church is.  It is a people made-up of followers of Jesus Christ whose hearts are circumcised as true Jews (Rom. 2:29) according to God’s word and led by the Holy Spirit.  The implications of what I just said is vast!  Martin Luther and the Reformers knew this.  This is why the first of Martin Luther’s 95 point thesis challenged Matthew 4:17’s interpretation, historically taught by the Roman Catholic Church.  Historically, The Roman Catholics taught this passage dealt with penance.  Instead, the better understanding is repentance (not penance), because you can go through the shallow motions of penance commitments and still have your heart turned away from Jesus Christ.  On the contrary and with true repentance, everything about you is shifted towards Jesus Christ and away from sin – ie. Your heart is circumcised.

By the way, I did mention the true Jews are those whose hearts are circumcised right?  Sadly, the war between Israel and Hamas is still going on and sadly, both sides have shed blood, and both sides are not without sin.  However and also sadly, there are a number of evangelical Christians that blindly endorse everything about Israel as if Israel and its people are removed from the corrupting effects of sin.  Keep in mind that Paul wrote Romans (someone from a genuine Jew, physical lineage, from the tribe of Benjamin – see Phil. 3:4-8), and he wrote it to a mixed crowd of Gentiles and Jews around.  Paul denounced the notion of blind justification and the title of “God’s chosen people” solely on the basis of physical lineage.  Paul stressed what makes a real Jew is circumcision of the heart.  Jesus also reiterates this statement with more weight in Matt 3:9 and Luk. 3:8 by denouncing physical lineage as the saving grace, and stating that Jesus can even use stones as good as physical lineage, meaning physical lineage is worthless unless there is a changing of the heart.  Moreover and still till this day, there are many Jews in Israel that spit upon and publicly mock evangelical Christians on account of their faith.  In the end, God looks at the heart and out of the heart our actions are made.  No heart can be concealed from God, and God desires courageous men and woman of faith that will stand for the gospel message – the true Jews.  Upon hearing this, where is your heart?  Will you be bold in your faith?  I pray you may do so!

-Rev. David Chung