Pardon My . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !

by Patrick McDonald MRav.Tonight many questions are going to posed during the teaching, Please understand I do not want nor expect an answer fromanyone in text. These questions are for you to pose to yourselves, in the privacy of your own homes. The answers arebetween you and G-d.

Have you EVER started out a sentence with “Pardon my . . . . . . . . . . !Has there been a time in your walk when you were put in the embarrassing situation ofsaying or doing something that is ‘not’ exactly Christ/Messiah like.(Don’t answer in text just to yourself)Have you been in this situation?You are with co-workers or relatives, or even other believers and a joke is told that isborderline lashon hara/inappropriate.Or let your language show the ‘old man/woman’.Have you been embarrassed when you told a joke, or shared some some juicy tid bit aboutsomeone, or your self?Let me put this another way. If Yeshua was standing there would you have done, said,and/or acted that?[don’t comment yet]Recently I was put in a situation where it was either stand up for my faith or forfriendship, and let something go unchecked.When we become believers we become representatives of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus theMessiah here on earth. We become ambassadors if you will for the Kingdom of G-d and wemore than our faith becomes the focal point of society.Society looks at us and see’s what to them being a believer is.Now the sad thing is they don’t look at just those who walk the walk but also those who are“less than shining” examples of what “They” think a Christian/Believer should be.Now in many cases these people are rough shorn, rude, irritating people who just want afight, but once in a while they are truly looking for truth and help.So for instance one of these folks (Tiny Todd) is looking (fight or truth doesn’t matter),but they are looking and they come across Mr Ajax, a believer of many years in his church

and considered by his friends and church members as an upright man.And Tiny Todd see’s Mr Ajax every day for months and ‘knows’ he’s an upright man. Or sohe is led to believe by everyone around. And seeing that he goes to the “Church/Shul ofUprightness” figures this man can answer his questions.Being timid it is some time before Tiny Todd finally gets the courage to approach Mr. Ajaxat his home, and see’s him out front with another “member” of the Church/Shul ofUprightness”, and as he does they acknowledge him and they continue to talk.--(mr ajax) now you should have seen the _______on that gal, it was, well pardon myfrench, but the finest_________ I’ve seen in years.and mr jones laughs and acknowledges acting if nothing was wrong, and excuses himself tocontinue on his journey. Leaving Tiny Todd there with Mr Ajax, who asking “what can I dofor you?” Knowing full well that Tiny Todd heard the previous conversation.Tiny Todd responds with I want to know about your G-d. And Mr Ajax goes on to explainthe intricacies of their particular denominations requirements for salvation. And eveninvites Tiny Todd to join them this coming sunday.*** What did we have here?What was wrong with this scenario (other than a lousy script)? I could not use real namesso examples from unrelated instances so as not to violate Torah.We had lashon hara, lust, covetness, and false witness. In each case if Yeshua had beenstanding there do you think Mr Ajax would have said those things?Or Mr Jones would he have condoned it?If you were in that situation what would you have done?Don’t answer. Just think about it.

Matthew 12:33-37 KJV Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. (34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy

words thou shalt be condemned.

We as believers must remember that we are ambassadors of the Kingdom here on earth.We are the first witnesses that the heathen see, we are the first evidences of heaventhat the unsaved are presented. We are the first fruits that are presented to mankind bythe Ruach when we are placed in the path of an unbeliever. We are the example of whatthe Body of the Messiah is about.

ow can we be that example when we start a sentence with “Pardon My.................?”

ow can we be that example when we use profanity/cuss words as if we were stillheathen?

ow can we be that example when we gossip about others?

ow can we be that example when we lust after others?

ow can we be that example when we are continually debating with heathen’s, knowing fullwell that they have already turned against G-d, and have chosen their own path?

ow can we be that example when we make excuses for watching sexually explicit movieswhen there are alternatives that are not as explicit?

ow can we be that example when we threaten some one or curse them?

ow can we be that example when we bear false witness (lie) about some one?

ow can we be that example when we trade evil for evil? Hate for hate?

ow can we be that example when we “don’t care” that what we do or say might be astumbling block to others, to unbelievers, to new believers?

ow can we be that example when we constantly attack others openly spewing hatred leftand right?

ow can we be that example when we chastise some one for false teaching yet do notattempt to correct the errant teaching?

ow can we be that example when all that comes from us is negative and worldly?In all honesty folks, can we be a true witness if we do/say any of the above?

NO!

What sort of witness do you think that presents to the world?Think about it!!If anyone here says they have NOT had one of these issues I think I would challenge themon that. Because even the best us, is still human. And these will come forward onoccasion.But for those that anyone of these are a “daily occurrence” or common in their daily walkthen there is work to be done.As I quoted earlier;

Matthew 12:33-37 KJV Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the