The Writings of Reverend Gus

  The Sin of Hypocrisy Years ago, I wrote a thesis on sin. If I were to rewrite it today, I would place significant emphasis on the sin of hypocrisy. Although Jesus had some harsh words for the Pharisees, making His thoughts on their behavior quite clear, this article will take a different direction. I want to focus on our current Western society, where hypocrisy is often seen in leadership positions. Many leaders are frequently accused of being disingenuous or inconsistent, changing their stances as often as people change their clothes. But why is this the case? Besides questioning why, we should also consider the broader implications, especially for those who identify as followers of Christ. There's genuine cause for concern, as there's a correlation between modern-day hypocrisy and biblical teachings. Let’s dive into this further. When we easily change our stance on a subject or alter our point of view to suit a particular situation or discussion, we must ask ourselv...

  Watch Your Tongue - The Power of Words Once spoken, words cannot be taken back. We all know this truth, yet often fail to live by it. Words have ended marriages, caused immense pain and suffering, ignited wars, and inflicted irreparable damage. Truly, we must watch our tongues. This timeless advice is echoed not only by our Lord in the Bible but also in the wisdom of the secular world. Most of us understand the dangers of idle talk, gossip, and even more harmful, destructive words aimed at hurting someone or something. It seems many just cannot stop talking. Is there a conflict between good and bad involved? Absolutely. The adage "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" might sound catchy, but it's far from the truth. While words may not cause physical harm, their emotional and psychological impact can be profound and long-lasting. Words can be wielded in numerous ways, both positive and negative. Educational institutions, regardless ...

  Experiencing Spiritual Warfare? Read This! Although a person confronted with actual spiritual warfare might disagree, they are truly blessed. Experiencing religious warfare is a sign that you are on the right path, for the devil wants to steer you away from it. Yes, he considers you a threat and is willing to spend time trying to realign you with his ways. Have you noticed that the more you seek God, the more issues you encounter and problems seem to arise out of nowhere? Often, you are confronted with sudden and unexpected challenges. The evil one is irritated; he does not want you to seek God, but rather follow the pleasures of the flesh. His greatest victory would be you losing faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pray, brother. Pray, sister. But whatever you do, don't give in. You are blessed to experience this warfare. Dare to say: "Thank you, Lord, for I experience spiritual warfare." Remember the story of Job? Indeed, don't give in. With the Creat...

  The Best Christian Church for Your Faith Journey Many years ago, I heard a priest of the New Apostolic Church make the following statement: "A religion should fit like a good raincoat. If it doesn’t, you are in the wrong place." While this may seem like an awkward analogy, there is some truth to it. After certain fundamental requirements are met, we can indeed consider this approach. Our Lord and Savior made it clear that a church is a gathering of true Christian believers. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, "For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them." A church can exist in a building, but it is not defined by the building. It is a community of people who are Christ-oriented and believers in His word and the future to come. So, what should the basic requirement be for this church? First and foremost, the church of your choice should be centered around the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Anything else is simply...

  When it comes down to it; what is Christianity about? A Christian should consider the Bible as absolute. That makes sense, as it is considered a holy book, inspired and written according to the will of our Creator. The Bible is filled with many verses, but some should be considered fundamental to the Christian faith. These verses immediately indicate the main and most important motivation a Christian should have. One such verse is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." An equally important and fundamental verse is Mark 12:30-31: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." Here we have the first indication of what the main theme of the Christian religion is about. This is als...