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10/17/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 97 - The deep issues that cause us to be divided when we could be friends

“And we ought — we who are strong — to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves;
Instead, each of us should do things that will please other believers. We should help them to trust God more strongly. Even Christ did not do things to please himself. It is written in the Bible that he said this: ‘People have insulted you, God. In that way they have also insulted me.’
For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on Me.” ”

Romans 15 is another ill placed chapter break as Paul is clearly still continuing his thoughts from chapter 14.

What I want to do today is come back to the theme of empire and Kingdom, now that we have spent a few days digesting what Paul has been saying about getting along despite disagreements over disputable matters. I could tell I struck a chord of understanding yesterday and then one person touched on what I want to talk about today. It's encouraging when different hearts and minds come to the same places apart from each other. I don't even know the person but he talked about identity. I would call it empire thinking but it sounds like we mean the same thing.

Empire thinking is when me and my ideas and my desires and my needs come first no matter who is impacted or affected by them. I ascend the throne of my personal little universe and construct a little universe of my own. This mentality spills over into culture wars when enough like minded people band together to try and impose their views on others. They don't care, or at least don't think about how their personal views impact others. All they can see is themselves and their beliefs.

Paul flips that mindset upside down. He puts forth that our number one concern should be the thought and feelings of others and their growth toward freedom in Jesus. He then exposes how Jesus suffered because He approached life this way. Not only did Jesus approach life this way, but empire thinking has zero tolerance for Kingdom thinking. It is seen as weak at best and traitorous at worst.

In fact a prominent "conservative Christian" recently wrote a book called 'Toxic Empathy'. She also reinterpreted the story Jesus told about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 to mean that we only have to help, feed, visit, etc... other Christians.

I am not trying to expose or attack anyone which is why no name is given.

When we identify with certain beliefs and feel that the world will fall apart unless our way prevails, culture wars are inevitable. To be kind and fair those caught in this cycle of thinking really believe in what they pushing. They honestly see victory as imperative. What they don't see is the need to understand and consider the views of those they don't agree with. They don't see the need to put them and their growth first.

This is the "culture war" Jesus fought. The reduction of self for the betterment of others.

"Father help us in this direction so Your love can truly win for the betterment of us all."

10/10/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 93 - Wrestle this through...

Our conscience is ours alone. In choosing what we believe we are unique. We stand alone. But in our living we are in community. There is a very real tension there. We must manage our individual beliefs and freedoms with our love and responsibilities toward each other. No man is an island and no man stands alone.

Listen as Paul writes to an incredibly diverse church in Rome and walks through these seemingly complex issues. Familiarize yourself with what he had to say and tomorrow we will start unpacking it. I would even recommend you go back and start at the beginning of the chapter.

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink w**e or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Romans 14:13-23 NIV

10/07/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 91 - Will we stand in the judgment to plead our own case?

“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
Romans 14:10-12 NIV

After debating with myself for too long I have decided to keep this as simple as possible. Three points.

1, The proof text method is fraught with peril.
2, Fear is a tool of the empire
3, Those who believe in Jesus will never stand in the judgment - at least not the way it was taught to me.

Let's start with 3 and work backwards.

Will there be a judgment in heaven where it is determined who can be rescued and brought back fully into the Kingdom? Absolutely. Daniel talks much about. Revelation talks much about it. Jesus made reference to it as did many others throughout Scripture. It is undeniable that there will be a judgment which will decide our eternal destiny.

But here's the thing. The Bible states plainly that when Jesus returns His reward is with Him to give to every person. Here it is from Revelation 22:12 which is a repetition of Isaiah 40:10.

“ “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:12-13 NIV

Jesus can't arrive with reward in hand unless the judgment has already taken place. That is just a simple matter of chronology. And if the judgment happens before He returns we can't be present at the judgment because the saved are either asleep in the grave or still living on earth.

This harmonizes with what Jesus said in John 5 but what about Paul seemingly placing us individually before God to give an account for ourselves?

Can both be true? That the judgment happens in heaven without us yet we stand in the judgment?

Absolutely.

Because Jesus is in heaven now and He will stand in our place. He will give an account for us if we have chosen Him as our Saviour, Priest, Advocate, and King. If we haven't there is nothing left but a guilty verdict.

I don't want to rush this so I will cover points 2 and 1 tomorrow in that order.

"Those who have the Son have life and those who do not have the Son do not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ”
1 John 5:12, 13 NIV

Love wins our case in court if we choose Him. ❤️

10/05/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 90 - John vs Paul regarding the Judgment

As we continue exploring the apparent contradictory statements about the judgment, today is the day we consider what Jesus said in John 5.

The chapter begins with the healing of the crippled man by the pool. A man who had been in that condition for 38 years. The day of his healing was Sabbath and Jesus instructed him to carry the mat he had been laying on. On Sabbath. In Jerusalem.

The Bible tells us that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus for such blatant disregard of the sacredness of the day (according to their understanding).

Now that we have the scene in view, the conversation that follows is mostly one sided, as Jesus explained who He was and how He got His authority to do such things. His bold statement about the judgment wasn't focused on the judgment itself or how it functions. The point Jesus was making was clear and simple. Their eternal destiny hinged on their belief in Him. Period. They were about to condemn Him for what they considered a serious violation of the Sabbath laws, but Jesus turned it around and said any and all condemnation/judgment comes about as a result of rejecting Him.

Anyone who believes in Him already has eternal life and will never face condensation/judgment.

Let me make this as simple as I know how.

Paul in Romans 14 was addressing who does the judging (God alone). In John 5 Jesus was addressing what criteria the judgment will be based on. Those are two very different things and neither of them are concerned specifically with the when og the judgment, or the where, etc...

But maybe you want to know when the judgment happens, and where, and if you will be present for it, etc...

I will take a detour tomorrow Lord willing and take a look at that because it connects to the theme of Empire vs Kingdom.

It also sheds more light on the fact that Love Wins. ❤️

09/30/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 87 - it really isn't complicated...

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”
Romans 14:1-4 NIV

The same person - Paul - wrote that "everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial".

This entire section can be summed up with "kept your eyes on Jesus and mind your own business".

What I want to look at today is Paul's use of strong and weak faith. He said the strong faith person can eat anything but the weak faith person is very restricted. Oddly we often see it the other way around. We admire disciplined people who restrict their eating habits as being strong. Perhaps they are strong in the area do self discipline but Paul said their faith it weak? Why?

Because when our faith in Jesus is high, we see how silly it is to think we can add to what He has done. When our faith is weak it's like we are trying to impress God because we think our accomplishments matter.

Now here is where some people get really confused, which is why I started out quoting Paul's statement about permissible vs beneficial..

I am a vegetarian most of the time. Do I think that matters or makes me better than anyone else? Not for a nanosecond. Which is why I am not always a vegetarian. If someone invites me to their home and they serve something I wouldn't choose to eat it I was planning the menu, I eat it. Why? Because they are showing me love and I don't want to disrespect them in that moment, or make them feel bad, or make them feel obligated to make something else. And I can eat whatever it is because my faith is strong enough to know that Jesus is enough.

I choose to be a vegetarian most of the time because it believe it is beneficial for my health, not because it does anything for my salvation. Those young or weak in the faith have a harder time separating beneficial from obligatory. They turn recommendations into rules and then fear their own destiny if they "mess up" and question the sincerity of others who are not "strict enough".

This is where the mind your own business part comes in. Since we are all different and our spiritual maturity levels vary, it is folly to try and figure out what "they" are doing or not doing and why.

To their own Master they stand or fall. In other words they are trying to serve God, not your current level of spiritual development. Their journey is theirs and it will change as He changes them, if it even needs changing.

I wish for everyone that they could experience the depth of the concept that Jesus is enough. It isn't just that what He did here as one of us was enough. It is also that His ability to lead us is enough. His promises are enough. His convicting power is enough. His follow through on "He who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" is enough.

When we are weak, then He is strong.

Love - His love - wins ❤️

09/29/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 86 - Here we go. Perhaps the most practical chapter in the Bible for peace amid differences

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. ”
Romans 14:1 NIV

This is kind of humourous because both people in an argument think the other person is not just wrong but wrong because... Wrong because they aren't as mature, a well read, as able to discern, as faithful, etc...

So really Paul, the same guy who just said love is the answer to everything, is not breaking down what that looks like in every day scenarios. First up is how to navigate differing beliefs/standards/practices among believers. I mean the idealist would say there shouldn't be differences. Same God who never changes should produce followers who always agree...

But Jesus said none was ever born greater among women than John the Baptist, yet He also described him as quite different in every day living than Jesus Himself was. John had a strict diet and a regimented life. Jesus came eating and drinking and seemingly free of all John's rigidity.

Do with that what you will.

Paul's point is not that we should all agree. Paul's point is that we should disagree well, especially over disputable matters.

Oh boy.

Now we can start the disputing over what matters are disputable and which are not.

Have that dispute if you want to, but don't make it a quarrel.

Here is what God is trying to teach me these days because heaven knows I can be pretty judgmental about what I think. He is showing me that I need to assume the best of others. I need to start from the position that others are as sincere and well intentioned - maybe moreso - than I am. I need to slow down and hear them. I need to consider they have come from a different past than mine and also have a different personality than mine. When I get frustrated and want to "burn down their village" - like James and John - I need to remember that is definitely not His Spirit working in me.

Romans 14 is perhaps one of the most practical and powerful chapters in the whole Bible for human interaction and finding peace when we don't agree. We will start digging in tomorrow.

Just remember it is the spirit of the empire that demands all others conform to my ways.

Love wins. ❤️

09/25/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 84 - The One Sign of the End...

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.”

Do you know how I know that way too many Christians are not reading their Bibles? It's because the issues they are passionate about don't match the one issue the New Testament is passionate about. And the most sobering thing about issue driven Christians is that they are allowing their passion to justify hatred. The very thing we must never allow to happen inside us.

A few years ago I called my church together for a one evening look at prophecy. I promised to reveal the one sign of the end that no one is talking about. I was shocked by how many people came.

So the issue Paul is talking about here is not new to me and yet watching the thing develop before my eyes is still sobering and weirdly surprising. I have tried to analyze why something I knew was going to happen could be surprising and this is what I figured out. It is in some cases shocking because of who I know personally that is heading down this path and how blind they are to their own folly.

Matthew 24 is a familiar chapter in my tribe. I have been hearing sermons from that chapter as far back as I can remember. I specifically remember a visiting preacher coming to our little church with a flip chart. On that flip chart he had analyze the increase in frequency and intensity of earthquakes over the past century. He had a page on wars. He talked about diseases.

Then I grew up and started reading for myself. One day as I was reading Matthew 24 it was like my eyes were opened. I could see what Jesus was actually warning about in that chapter and it had zero to do with famines, wars, pestilence, or earthquakes.

He said all those things would always be happening but they aren't the thing to watch for. The thing is false teachers who get us riled up about deceptions that don't matter. And in our fear and alarm over these deceptions we fight against each other (within the body of Christ). And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of most will grow cold. That's the sign. That's the one thing that will spiral us into the "end". Hatred is the spark that will light the fuse that will ignite the kind of chaos described in Revelation 13 and 18.

So Paul picks up on that teaching from Jesus and says love is all that matters. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Period.

By the way while we are here do you know what the Biblical definition of lawlessness is according to Jesus as explained by Matthew?

I mean if the increase of lawlessness is the beginning of the end we should probably know what it is.

“ “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” - Jesus speaking
Matthew 7:12 NASB2020

So if that is the sum, the point, the calling, the aim of the entire Word of God, lawlessness is the opposite of that.

I don't know if social media has accelerated our comfort level in being mean to each other or whether the safe distance has just given us the boldness to reveal who we really are, or maybe a bit of both? Either way, love is dying. And sadly these behaviours are being modeled by leaders who should be leading toward love and mutual respect, not away from it.

What does all this have to do with the theme of Empire vs Kingdom?

The nature of God's Kingdom is love. It is both the foundation it is built on and the heart beat that keeps it alive. God is love.

Empire on the other hand is built on power. It's tools are manipulation and force. It thrives on division and us vs them scenarios that fuel hatred.

If I don't love my enemies I don't belong to His Kingdom because every enemy is human being created in Their image and loved with Their everlasting love.

Love is the fulfilling of the law and love will win because Love already has. ❤️

09/22/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 82 - Obey the Empire?

“Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.”
Romans 13:1-7 NASB2020

If there is anything we seem predisposed to as humans, it is imbalance and extremes. Some have taken Paul's counsel here and made it absolute. Others have used exceptions to this to justify pushing back against authority for anything and everything.

What Paul is saying here can't be absolute because we have examples in the Bible or faithful people resisting government authority. But those are extreme cases where the options were to defy the government authority or betray God.

Probably the most famous Biblical example of this is the golden statue in Daniel 3. Nebuchadnezzar, the absolute ruler, commanded that all his officials bow in submission to the image he had set up. He was really demanding absolute submission to himself. For reasons of cowardice, and/or self preservation, and/or the belief that Nebuchadnezzar was the unrivaled rule of the world, almost everyone bowed.

However three Hebrew boys from Jerusalem refused to bow. Why? Because the demand to bow to a man defied their loyalty to God. They believed it was a betrayal of their faith in Him.

What I want us to notice from that story is that their defiance was quiet, calm, reasoned, and respectful.

How different was the scene in Calgary, Alberta, Canada during the COVID restrictions when pastor Artur Pawlowski defied authorities over and over again. Without even debating the validity of his resistance, one only has to observe the spirit of it. Yelling. Name calling. Cursing.

How different was the scene in Daniel 3. Quiet. Respectful. Humble. Those boys were not against Nebuchadnezzar. They were just against his unreasonable demand. Oh that we could learn to separate those two things. The issue at hand and the person, or persons, or government/organization behind the demand. If we could stick to issues rather than make issues into a personal war or a catalyst to write a person or persons off.

Never in my 49 years have I been so concerned for the general trend of society. Divisive. Thin skinned. Quick to anger. Disrespectful.

Is it ok at times to stand against a government demand or a person of authority. Yes. At times it is both right and necessary. However your reason better be deeper and more significant than personal opinion. And when that moment of defiance comes it must come with respect or isn't Godly resistance at all.

This is by no means a comprehensive treatment of the subject, but hopefully fopd for thought. We must respect the Empire in every way we can while we wait for the eventual triumph of His Kingdom.

Love will win because He already has. ❤️

09/21/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 81 - Change is not optional...

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NASB2020

Before moving into chapter 13 this morning I went back and reread chapter 12. Someone shared something with me this weekend that made me laugh and I need to pass it on. He said he was trained to read the Bible with 20/20 vision. 20 verses before and 20 verses after 😅

When I went back I was drawn by verse 2.

Now let's remind ourselves of the general context of the letter. The house churches in Rome are a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. Human nature being why it is, most home churches were probably predominantly one group or the other. The Jews of course thought they were God's favourites and better than everyone else. Everyone else thought the Jews were self-obsessed a little crazy. To both groups he sent the reminder "all have sinned and fallen short..."

So why did verse 2 grab me?

Because a few days ago I wrote a little post to my "tribe" about women and specifically women in leadership. To my shock that post has spawned a lot of conversation and has been read by over 18 thousand people. Predictably some agree with what I wrote and some think I am a little or a lot crazy.

But here is the thing we all need to remember. There is absolutely no such thing as following Jesus and staying the same. If you or I have been following Jesus for 5, 10, 15, or 50 years and we have all the same views and mindset we had before we started... Yes I am saying we aren't following Jesus at all.

In fact there is a gathering wave across Christianity being termed "deconstruction". But in many cases it is actually Jesus, by His Spirit that He promised to send us, actually breaking through the reinforced concrete of our stubborn minds and inherited preconceptions. And the light that is shining through the cracks is so radically different from what church and church culture taught them, that they think they have to flee the church and that often includes fleeing Jesus. It is the proverbial throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Look at what verse 2 says.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can discern, tell, recognize, prove, ascertain, grasp, comprehend, take hold of what the will of God is.

It's so bad in some circles of the church that holiness is seen as maintaining the status quo. Right is tradition. Truth is how we have always done it.

Am I saying all change is good change and all deconstruction is God led? Absolutely not. What the Bible is saying is that where there is no change, we are not following Him. Period.

The pursuit of Jesus and radical mind shifting change are synonymous. One brings the other and if that change is resisted we are blaspheming His Spirit and killing our own souls.

Let Love in. Let Love win. ❤️

09/19/2026

A Letter to the Empire Christians Day 79 - I need this heart.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:11-21 NIV

This is Kingdom living. This is what it looks like.

Empire living is me first. Empire living is reactionary. Empire living escalates all conflicts.

Did you notice a theme that kept repeating in these practical teachings that are directly rooted in Jesus' sermon on the mount?

Bless those who persecute you.

Do not curse them.

Do not repay evil with evil.

Do not take revenge.

Feed your enemy.

Give your enemy drink.

Do not be overcome by evil.

Why does the theme of how to relate to enemies get the most attention by far?

Because the Jews considered the Gentiles to be their enemies and the Gentiles considered the Jews to be their enemies. Paul, living in conflict and himself hated by many Jews for being a "traitor" to "his own people", knew from personal experience that the path to peace starts with self. I must bring peace to conflict. I must bring love to hatred. I must bring unifying behaviours into every conflict. I must be the change.

Paul admits it won't always work. Some will decide to keep hating anyway.

Doesn't matter. Be a Kingdom citizen.

Jesus didn't just teach this - He lived it.

Paul didn't avoid conflict over issues, but we can tackle issues without tackling each other. It isn't about if we disagree but how we disagree. And if we have the opportunity to either argue for truth or live out that truth, better always to live it out.

Fire on the head is not some manipulative backhanded way to get revenge. Fire is a Biblical symbol for purifying and the head represents the mind. When we react from love and peace rather than hate and revenge, it causes the mind of our enemy to rethink everything they are doing to and thinking about us.

Love only has the power to truly win. ❤️

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