Monroe Church of God

     Every person is of tremendous value to God, Creator of the universe.  However, many unjust rulers from various cultures through out the centuries have viewed humanity in a divisive manner. There were the superior humans who are worthy to rule, and there were the inferior humans who are to be ruled. The Founders of America developed a political philosophy of government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. This was based on the “self-evident” Biblical truths that every person is “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These rights are not privileges to be granted or revoked by rulers, but rather are gifts from God which no human authority may take away.   Unfortunately in many cultures, both men and women are not respected as created equal and these unalienable rights are not available to the governed. 

     God declared through Old-Testament prophets that He will hold unjust rulers accountable for violating the rights of people, especially those considered inferior. Jesus shocked the culture of His day when He identified the people that will be welcomed into God’s kingdom. The idea here is that once a person repents of their sinfulness,  and  accepts Jesus as the Son of God and their personal Savior,  the fact that they were poor, or murderers,  or outcast and homeless,  or prostitutes, or lepers, or scammers, or rip-off artists, or liars, or crooks, or heretics, or foreigners, or even the most despised of society, will not keep them out of the presence of God.   Jesus speaking in the Bible book of Matthew 9:12-13, said that “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”   

     Jesus, to illustrate this important concept, in the Bible book of Luke 14:16-24 tells  the following story:  "A certain man was preparing a big dinner. He invited many guests.  Then the day of the dinner arrived. He sent his servant to those who had been invited. The servant told them, 'Come. Everything is ready now.'   "But they all had the same idea. They began to make excuses. The first one said, 'I have just bought a field. I have to go and see it. Please excuse me.'  "Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen. I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'  "The servant came back and reported this to his master.   "Then the owner of the house became angry. He ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those who are poor. Also bring those who can't walk, the blind and the disabled.'   " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done. But there is still room.'  "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads. Go out to the country lanes. Make the people come in. I want my house to be full.  I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my dinner.' "  

     Everyone wants to be respected and appreciated. The concept of the equality and dignity of every person originated from God. He sent His Son Jesus to bring a message of love and acceptance for all people regardless of their cultural standing.  God’s promise of everlasting life is extended to every person.  Those who choose to embrace God’s promise, do so by accepting Jesus as the Son of God, believing the message that Jesus brought, acknowledging the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for their sinfulness, and celebrate His resurrection from the grave as proof of His authority and power to keep His promises.

 Know Jesus?