About
What’s in a name?
The name of Jesus is front and center here. I am just a disciple of Jesus, a servant of the king, a student of the Bible.
The Greek name for Jesus translates the Jewish name for Joshua; this name means “God saves.” Knowing and following Jesus can save us from other names that compete for our attention and allegiance.
I don’t want to be one of those other names. I’m not trying to make a name for myself. Like the authors of several New Testament books–including all four Gospels–I prefer to remain anonymous. If a certain name is the focus of this blog, let it be Jesus’ name.
Yet since I need to use a name to register for emails, blogs, and other websites, you can just call me Lucas. The name Lucas means light, illumination. In our dark world, a follower of Jesus can bring light; that light can break through like the dawn of a new morning.
Jesus is the light of the world; and he tells his disciples we are also the light of the world. We should let our light shine so others can see our good works, including our good words, and glorify our Father, the one in heaven (see Mt. 5:14-16).
In a world of competing fathers and authorities, Jesus says his disciples should focus on one Father, the one in heaven. When we pray to our Father, we affirm “it is your name that should be revered (hallowed).” As for the earth’s famous fathers–who rule over religious communities and political states–their names should not be revered.
The Bible, especially the New Testament, can show us the truth about Jesus and his Father. Join me in seeking and sharing that truth.
jesusandthebible 
Hello sir. I posted this here because I have not really received posts on the actual blog page before from other bloggers and so I am not sure if you receive something notifying you of my response to your comment on my post. You may have received multiple communications because i tweaked it a couple of times after realizing there were grammatical and spelling errors that I needed to correct. Sorry about that.
So here it is. Hope you don’t mind. For the record, I am glad to hear from someone else that is out there boldly trying to let their light so shine. Blessings.
Hi there. I assume your comment, which almost looks like a blog post of your own is covering the idea, in light of my post, that we should challenge our authorities on aspects of their leadership that are not biblical. I would agree.
In fact, their are times and ways provided for us to do that very thing. My main point was that we should not live in fear, because no decision made by a political figure has more power than that of God. Also, that whatever disagreements we have with our leaders should be handled in the most Godly and loving way possible.
Also for anyone else reading this. In case there was confusion or concern. I absolutely believe that we should vote and play an active role encouraging Godliness in politics. We should allow the light of the Gospel to shine in any and all aspects of our lives. Including how we handle politics.
I appreciate your feedback. No hard feelings here. And blessings and gratitude to all who read this blog. Love in Christ.
Josh
Hi Joshua,
Thanks for your encouragement. I’m glad you agree we should challenge our authorities sometimes.
Your criteria that their leadership should be biblical, and that we should encourage godliness in politics, do not necessarily mean letting the light of the gospel shine in this area. For Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom included a strong contrast with the kingdoms of earth, including the kingdom of Israel. Yet Israel is the main focus of most of the bible, and its law of Moses (for the kingdom of Israel) is very biblical; the problem is that the godliness demanded from the law of Moses is different from the godliness demanded from the gospel of Jesus.
For example, the law of Moses commands love of neighbor (in Lev. 19:18)–and defines the neighbor as “the sons of your own people.” As for ungodly Gentiles, especially the Canaanites, the law says to destroy these enemies with the sword (as in Lev. 26:7). So political leaders who fight, punish, and slaughter their national enemies could say they are biblical and godly (according to the Old Testament). But Jesus, as king of his new kingdom, says while his disciples have heard they should love their neighbor and hate their enemies, instead they should love their enemies (Mt. 5:43-44). This gospel teaching is indeed different from earlier biblical teaching; and no “kings of the earth” want to follow that teaching, for due to the dog eat dog nature of the world’s politics, they would get eaten quickly.
Jesus did not come into the world to take sides among competing political leaders; he came to take over (as king of his new kingdom of disciples). Would he now say his disciples, if given the choice, should vote for the most godly leader–when none of them are godly according to his standards (just as they were not godly during his time)?
May the love of the gospel of Christ indeed shine in how we handle politics.
thanks for your comment on my blog. As far as I’m able to discern, I totally agree with your stance and will follow your blog with gratitude.
Thank you. We’ll both try to discern the truths (and falsehoods) in the blogosphere.
Aloha, Lucas! Thank you for visiting my blog and allowing me to visit yours. It is a blessing to find someone who can speak and write of his faith in an intelligent manner. You have a good spirit.
Aloha (in Hawaii)? Thanks for your comment. I’ll try to visit your blog more often in the future.
Mahalo and aloha ke Akua, thank you and God bless you!
And you also.
Lucas,
Thank you for visiting my blog. I enjoyed your blog reflections and downloaded your ebooks.
Blessings
Thanks JT for your comments and interest.
Hi “Lucas!” Thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my blog, and I am thankful to find yours as well! God bless and have a wonderful Christmas.
Thanks Linda. I appreciated the insights you revealed through your recent post.
Hello, Lucas. I’m making a return visit since you were kind enough to visit and comment on my blog. I think I’ll follow you and read what you have to say.
Grandmothers of nine (grandchildren) are always welcome on this site. My best friend is a grandmother.
Thank you for visiting and commenting on 2x2virtualchurch.com. Your comment will be helpful to our readers. Good blogging!
Thanks Judith. The Gospel of John is indeed a good mystery story.
I appreciate your comment on my blog. It was great encouragement, and part of God’s continued confirmation. It’s only within the last year and a half that I finally understood the gospel of grace and love. I too often mixed law and grace, God and country, and my life itself seemed mixed as well. It is time (and always has been) that the church returns to its first love, and dies to all other loves. I’m thankful for others that are committed to Jesus’ mission as well.
Thanks for your comments, Kevin. Following Jesus’ commands about love, through the grace/power of his Spirit, is a better covenant than the law of Moses.
Hello!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and taking time to comment. I look forward to reading some of your posts too.
~LC
You’re welcome; and welcome to this blog.
Hello! I’m horribly tardy on this, but thank you for the comment on my blog a while back! I’m enjoying your blog and look forward to reading more of it. 🙂
Thanks for your comment Nathan.
Thank you for the insightful comments you left on my blog. It blessed my soul to read what you wrote! After thinking about it, I can see how Jesus, our gentle, loving Shepherd called us out of our place of bondage. I have thought of this from many angles, but for some reason, reading that today just really hit a nerve with me and opened my eyes to see that it was because of following HIS voice that we were ever able to escape. It is a very long story, but God has brought us through the fire and delivered us in so many ways, and we will never be able to praise Him enough. SO thankful that if we are truly His children (sheep), we will follow His voice, no matter how many other strangers’ voices are calling to us at the same time. Thankful to make your acquaintance, Lucas! Keep the faith. 🙂
Thanks for your response, Cheryl. Let’s keep following the right Shepherd.
Hello, you posted on my blog and you still proved what i was trying to say so thank you
You’re welcome. 🙂
Lucas, Thank you for visiting my blog at blogspot.com and for leaving a comment. I appreciate what you shared.
Thanks Sue.