Churchgoers, you need to stop

 

Churchgoers, you need to stop!

Not stop going to church, stop judging people who don’t “look the part”. Please, don’t pretend, you know what you do.

Someone comes to church, but you think the person doesn’t look Christian enough or at all so, you’re quick to pass judgment on that person.

This person and that person isn’t one of us so, you label the person.

Sister Elaine is not a member of your church clique so, she better not sit in your pew.

Every Sunday you are in church, yet you do not speak to brother Randy because you find him standoffish.

Churchgoers, you need to stop.

Stop feeling that you are better than or more deserving than or more Christian than; you might just get a rude awakening when you say, “Lord, Lord”. How many times will it take hearing sermons on Matthew 7:21-23 before it takes root? It’s as if you are determined to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah, you will be ever hearing but never understanding (ref. Matthew 13:14 NIV).

If what Matthew recorded Jesus as saying has never even nudged you, maybe what Mark recorded will.

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” – Mark 9:38 (NIV)

Imagine someone is actually driving out demons, not anyhow but in the Name above all names, and because John and the other disciples did not consider this person to be, one of us, they told the person to stop.

Does this sound familiar? A believer from another church or of a different denomination to yours or even one in your own congregation is clearly Spirit led but because she or he isn’t one of us, you and your fellow churchgoers put a stop to whatever this believer is doing in Jesus’ name.

I’ve seen this happen countless times. As simple as a young believer, praising God by playing a tambourine, being told to stop because certain persons were offended by the noise. Imagine that. And when I tell you, I had never heard a tambourine played like that in church before or since. But she was not one of them.

Sadly, she never played again and eventually she left altogether.

What was Jesus’ response?

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” – Mark 9:39-41 (NIV)

Mull over that for a minute.

Whoever is not against us is for us. Not my words.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water in Jesus’ name because of the mere fact that you belong to Him, will certainly not lose their reward. Not my words.

Why do Churchgoers seem to be always against churchgoers?

And immediately after that, Jesus went on to say,

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” – Mark 9:42 (NIV)

Churchgoers, you need to stop causing other believers to stumble; this is a warning from Jesus. Again, not my words.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Churchgoers, you need to stop” © 2026 October 26, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a reminder

 

Today, no long talk, just a reminder…

Romans 3:21-24 (MSG)

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

Beloved, your sins can never eclipse the light of His grace and mercy.

Amen †

 

A play on words: Hamartia

 

I very recently came across the word “hamartia”. Perhaps you've seen it before, but it was new to me. It’s a noun in English but its origin is a Greek verb – “hamartanein”.

This is our English definition of “hamartia”:

a fatal flaw, error in judgment, or misstep that causes a hero or protagonist to suffer a major downfall

And this is the Greek meaning of the verb from which it’s derived:

To miss the mark

Picture an archer; he positions his body in line with his target, now poised to release the arrow, he controls his breath, aims at the target, draws the bowstring and releases the arrow. The arrow sails through the air but completely misses the target.

What went wrong?

The archer’s precision may have been off, or perhaps he wasn’t properly aligned with his intended target, or maybe his issue was an inconsistent anchor point. Whatever the problem, he missed the mark, the arrow deviated from its prescribed path.

Like the archer’s arrow, Adam deviated from his prescribed path when he indulged in eating the fruit that God had specifically warned him not to eat.

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” – Genesis 2:16-17 (NLT)

Adam strayed off the right path, he missed the mark and his disobedience to God was the entry point for sin.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. – Romans 5:12 (NLT)

The writers of the New Testament primarily used the word “hamartia” which was translated to English as “sin”.

As mentioned before, “hamartia” literally means to miss the mark; it’s deviating from God's purpose.

In John 15:22, it implies a moral and spiritual condition of separation from God.

They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. (NLT)

Much broader than what our English word "sin" implies, “hamartia”, both in English and in Greek, applies not only to behaviour, but aptly describes our human affliction.

According to Isaiah 59:2, sin results in separation from God and Jesus Himself warned unbelievers saying,

“I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.” – John 8:21(NLT)

Beloved, Jesus came to bridge that gap of separation. He leads you along the path of righteousness, however, if you choose to continue feeding your sinful nature, then you cannot go where Jesus is going and you will die in your sin.

Why not accept Jesus’ invitation to follow Him? The opportunity has a time, and that time is today; remember, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: Hamartia” © 2026 October 24, 2026

 

A play on words: Ginosko

  

Ginosko is a Greek word which means to, “know”, “come to know”, “recognize” and “perceive”.

Ginosko is not head knowledge but lived experience; it’s not data but a lived revelation.

As Jesus said,

everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock – Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

Jesus here, is speaking of spiritual wisdom which isn’t determined by what you know, but by living what you know.

Unlike our English verb “know”, the Greek “ginosko” carries the implication of a full, intuitive, and penetrating knowledge.

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? – Matthew 16:8 (NIV)

It’s a keen awareness; it’s an absolute knowing – that you know that you know that you know – something that emanates from deep within. Jesus had perceived the disciples’ bewilderment.

Ginosko also speaks of intimate knowledge, as in Mary’s encounter with Archangel Gabriel.

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” – Luke 1:34 (NKJV)

In this context, the word “ginosko” is used idiomatically to indicate that Mary had not experienced sexual intimacy with a man.

When Jesus spoke of knowing the Father in John 8:55, again it implies an intimate and relational knowledge, based on His personal experience.

Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. (NIV)

Beloved, even though “ginosko” has been translated to English in our bibles as “to know”, “to come to know”, “recognize” and “perceive”, with a play on words, still there is no equivalent to truly convey what this Greek word implies.

Ginosko is experiential knowledge, it is therefore not abstract, or theoretical, or merely intellectual but so much deeper.

When Jesus said, I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (John 10:14 NIV), He was not speaking superficially, Jesus was speaking of being in close, personal and intimate relationship with His sheep, that’s you.

And Jesus knowing you, is you experiencing everything that “ginosko” encompasses being in a real living relationship with Him, right now.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: Ginosko” © 2026 October 23, 2026

 

A play on words: Transformation

…a wicked person who turns his back on that life of sin and keeps all my statutes, living a just and righteous life, he’ll live, really live. He won’t die. I won’t keep a list of all the things he did wrong. He will live. Do you think I take any pleasure in the death of wicked men and women? Isn’t it my pleasure that they turn around, no longer living wrong but living right—really living? (Ezekiel 18:21-23 MSG); if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he’s committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won’t die. (Ezekiel 18:27-28 MSG)

This seems like quite a lot to assimilate but in these verses God’s message through the prophet Ezekiel is speaking of turning the course of one’s life around.

Now, this is not an unfamiliar topic, you’ve heard this before, you’ve even read about it right here in Bethel at Balata but it’s a good habit to revisit topics from time to time.

God asks, Isn’t it my pleasure that they turn around, no longer living wrong but living right—really living?  

Turn around, turn one’s back on, turn away from are other ways of saying “repent”, it’s a play on words that speaks of transformation and God’s message is very clear.

Too many people are still under the impression that repentance is only tied to one’s emotions – feelings of guilt and remorse but that’s just the beginning of it.

Repentance involves the changing of your mind and direction. As Paul said in Romans 12:2,

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. (TLB)

Repentance is transformation because it is a conscious turning from that life of sin. It’s purposefully leaving that life behind, completely walking away from it to start living a good life in order that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This profound transformation, simply expressed, is a life-altering shift from a self-centred, sin-centred lifestyle to a life that is God-centred and God-dependent.

The Greek word is “metanoeo” which describes an inner reorientation toward God, such that the very way a person perceives life itself is transformed.

solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God (ref. Acts 20:21 AMP)

Here, Paul is saying that repentance to God is a necessity.

Beloved, in the Amplified version of Matthew 4:17 it is written,

 Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

You see, repentance was never about your wallowing in guilt and shame, it’s so much deeper than that, it speaks of a radical, intentional, change in consciousness.

It is “metanoeo”, a word for which our English language has no equivalent.

It is a complete transformation of your life, of your mind, of your direction, of your previous spiritual condition; it is a spiritual awakening where your new life begins.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: Transformation” © 2026 October 22, 2026

 

A play on words: the Word

 

Many years ago, I was explaining to someone the meaning of a passage of Scripture that I’d read and researched. The person did not agree with my explanation, not because it did not make sense but, as they said, “You’re not a priest, you didn’t go to theological college. If you were a priest, then I’d agree with you.”

That person was right, I did not go to theological college, and to date I haven’t been but that does not disqualify me or you or anybody else from being used by God to spread the Word.

Now, if you take it upon yourself to simply memorize and rattle off the Word, without proper study, without thorough research, without context and all without Spirit’s guidance, then there’s a danger in that, as chances are, you’d be misleading others. And, frankly, even some who have been ordained or attended Bible School can sometimes convey inaccuracies.

That’s why we’re warned to not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God (ref. 1 John 4:1-3).

We must read the Word for ourselves but not in a vacuum. Ministers, Reverends, Priests and Pastors are there to lead and assist in steering the flock in the right direction, but what happens after Church? What happens to our bibles when we get home? Does your bible go back on a shelf until the next Lord’s Day?

You may be daunted to venture into the Word on your own but in these modern, digital times, there are tools at our fingertips that can help us better understand the Word. And of course, our first port of call must be the Holy Spirit who is always available; He is our Teacher (ref. John 14:26); He is at the ready to lead you into all the truth (John 16:13).

It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the truth about God (John 16:13). He reveals the things of God to us and searches everything, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

The Word is a play on words in the sense that throughout the Word, words are interwoven with other words like fabric. Looking closely, you can see the same theme appearing in several books and something in the Old Testament reflected in the New.

Take a look at Jeremiah 17:13 and John 8:1-11, what do you see?

The Apostle Paul rests his doctrine of faith, Romans 1:17, on the word of Habakkuk 2:4.

It’s all connected and every word matters. Deep dives are necessary because the Bible was not originally written in English so, much has been lost in translation. In many cases, our English words simply cannot convey the nuances found in the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. Therefore, the deeper meaning of the verses is not translated.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4 ESV)

For example, “faith” in this verse is the Greek word “pistis”. “Pistis” isn’t just a matter of our belief. According to Strong’s Lexicon, it is “"God's divine persuasion" and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence) yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will”.

“Pistis” is not the only word translated as faith in the Word, however, in the New Testament it is the most used word, appearing almost 500 times. That’s because “pistis”, a genuine act of faith, was and is required to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

It’s not a superficial belief that He is but an absolute trust that He is.

Beloved, you don’t need to be in possession of a degree in theology, you don’t need to be fluent in Hebrew and Greek and Aramaic but you do need to be willing to read and learn and study and become spiritually aware and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

And you must be open to receive information that may be new to you that does not align with what you’ve believed all your life; you must approach the Word not with arrogance but with reverence, only then would you truly be able to apprehend a play on words that is the Word.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: the Word” © 2026 October 21, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A play on words: Magdalene

 

Traditionally Magdala is believed to be the town from which Mary Magdalene came. Though the word itself does not explicitly occur in the biblical text, it does appear in footnotes.

And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.[a] – Mark 8:10 (ESV)

[a] Some manuscripts Magadan, or Magdala 

Like Paul of Tarsus or Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene is sometimes referred to as Mary of Magdala.

We know that Mary was a woman of means since she is mentioned as one of the women who financially supported Jesus and His twelve disciples as they went on through one town and village after another, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God (see Luke 8:3).

We know that Mary is mentioned more often than the other female followers of Jesus and is usually first on the list.

Mary…and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them out of their own resources. (Luke 8:2, 3 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary endured the torment of seven demons until they were cast out by Jesus.

Mary…from whom seven demons had gone out (Luke 8:2 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary ardently followed Jesus in Galilee and ministered to Him.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him (Mark 15:40-41 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25 NRSVUE)

We know that Mary was first to see the resurrected Christ.

Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. (Mark 16:9 NRSVUE)

But did you know that Mary was actually called Magdalene? She was called Magdalene instead of Mary, like a home name. I have a friend named Corinne, but she’s called Sally and my friend Giselle is called Candace at home. So, Magdalene was probably her nickname. It is clearly stated in Luke 8:2: Mary, called Magdalene (NRSVUE) and in another version, Mary, who was called Magdalene (ERV).

But why?

Now, we know that Mary’s commitment and loyalty were unshakable; while others scattered, she remained stoic to the cause. Mary was no shirker; she was a dedicated follower devoted to her Rabbi right up until what was thought to be the end.

Without fear, she went to the tomb where she bravely responded to the “gardener”, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” (John 20:15 NRSVUE).

Mary was a courageous woman who overcame her demons; given the first apostolic charge by Jesus to announce His resurrection, she was a strong woman who stood her ground against those skeptical of her claim; she was a revolutionary who was instrumental in the formation of the early church.

So, it’s no wonder she was called Magdalene.

You see, beloved, Magdalene isn’t just a reference to a place, it’s derived from the Greek word “magdala”, a transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic, “migdala”, it is a word which means “tower” – Mary was called Tower.

It’s a play on words to not only inform where she was from but an apt expression of who she was.

Of all the disciples, Mary was the Tower, Mary was literally Magdalene. The Magdalene is our example of what true discipleship looks like.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A play on words: Magdalene” © 2026 October 20, 2026