Christmas or X-Box?

Well, we're in the mad month of December when most Americans go into a mad
frenzy to see how much deeper they can drive themselves into debt by buying
billions of dollars of stuff they really don't need. But Madison Avenue's
prophets for profit have conditioned us like little lemmings that we MUST
bow to the god of Mammon during this season. Why our economy depends upon
it! It is un-American not to gorge ourselves and become utter gluttons of
the finest of foods and goods imported from all over the world even though
these Merchants of Mammon have already put us way into debt.



As I ponder this season, I wonder what Jesus would be doing right after
Thanksgiving. Would he run to Macy's to get a Holiday special designed to
get you into the store knowing you'll come out purchasing a heck of a lot
more than you intended to buy? Would he run to Walmart to get a newer,
bigger, brighter, flat-screen TV to add to the other four or five TV sets in
the house? Or would He be braiding some cords preparing to visit His
Father's House (the Church) which has become a den of thieves all over
again? After all, America is "The" Christian country of the world, isn't it?



I know what He would be doing, He would be going around doing good. He would
be visiting the poor, the orphan and the widow. He would be healing the sick
and casting out demons that were oppressing the people. He would be teaching
them the good news of the kingdom of God. He would be doing what Ron and Sue
Bates, American Missionaries to Romania are presently doing - and they need
your help.



I received an email this morning from an American missionary couple working
in Romania with orphan children and the blind. If I presented Jesus the
option of buying more trinkets the Merchants of Mammon dangle in our faces
even more noticeably this time of year than at other times or helping Ron
and Sue Bates who are just trying to keep a few Romanian orphans alive,
there is not a single doubt in my mind, what Jesus would spend His money on.
I believe Christians are those who have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living
inside of them. They are the body of Christ in the earth.



This Christmas season (which is NOT the time of Christ's birth, by the way),
remember who you are and act accordingly. Mammon or "going about doing
good." Jesus made the choice really very easy. The merchants of Mammon have
invaded the Church and have made the decision much more complicated.



"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)



Somewhere, somehow, the church is going to have to make a major turn or else
it will go the way of old Jerusalem.



"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them
which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt. 23:37-38)



I find more and more these days, that the words Jesus spoke to Israel,
Jerusalem, the leaders of Israel and the "chosen people," still speak to
them today AND they also speak directly to us, the "elect of God," the
church, the body of Christ. Before you allow the hypnotists of materialism
to seduce you into buying another pair of socks, a tie, a plastic toy
designed to break within the week you bought it, foods filled with man-made
poisons to stuff your face with, etc., may I suggest you do what Jesus would
do? Send some money to these missionaries in Romania. Believe me, they need
it much worse than you need another dress or shirt or more channels of
television to fill your mind with more violence and sex or a face lift or
tummy tuck.



Now I realize this will offend some people. But I have found in the past
that most messages that don't bring offense to someone, are usually so
luke-warm and politically correct that they are utterly useless for human
consumption just like much of the food available in our grocery stores these
days - lots of filler and sugar - but little nutritional benefits.



Here is the email I got from the Bates recently. We recommend very few
ministries. This is one of them. Be generous and do good to those Jesus
would be good to. I believe the Bates would be closer to the top of His list
than Walmart or Macy's. Like I said, I doubt Jesus would be spending too
much time in stores - He would be seeking out orphans to heal. Here is the
Bate's contact information and plea for help. Please respond according to
what is in your heart:



"INASMUCH as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have
done it unto me." Matthew 25:40



Ron & Sue Bates, C.P. 53-55, Bucharest 4, Romania Tel: 4021-313-5465/6