"...and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:" (Matt. 23:23)

When Jesus walked the earth he performed many miracles. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, enabled the lame to walk, healed lepers, and even raised the dead to life. Some people believed on Jesus as a result of the miracles they witnessed. When Lazarus Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." (John 11:45)

Once, when a heated discussion broke out between believers and skeptics, supporters of Jesus challenged the cynics citing the evidence of his miracles. "And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he so more miracles than these which this man hath done? " (John 7:31) It is an enigma why man is so gullible to unscrupulous men and doubtful of miracles from God. Why do people overlook the plain evidence?

God allows the fruit to speak for itself but he expects man to view the evidence objectively. When God led the Israelites out of Egypt he performed at least 10 incontrovertible miracles. Later when Israel doubted God he became angry because they overlooked the evidence he had already shown.

In relation to this, a story in the news today caught my attention. The Archbishop of Canterbury has declared that certain aspects of Muslim law should be recognized in England. Needless to say it has set off a firestorm of protests. And for good reason. We are still looking for a Muslim court to condemn terrorists and terrorism. Why would anyone, especially a Christian, embrace Muslim law?

The basis for justice in Western culture comes right out of the Bible. No other religion has created such a system to allow the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Of all people who have lived, our generation has witnessed one of the greatest validations of Christianity. Namely that justice is a prevailing characteristic of the nation that sincerely embraces the Judeo Christian ethic. And it prevails in proportion as the ethos of the Bible is valued.

As Moses said to Israel, "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" (Deut. 4:5-8)

Does God hold America and Western Europe to the same standard as he did ancient Israel and the people who witnessed the miracles of Jesus? The people who don't value a system of justice from God may have to experience another system to be convinced.

Until next time,