Relativists hate Truth and work to suppress it

In my previous post regarding the question, Is America Under Judgment? , fellow Christian commenters shared their beliefs on that issue.

This morning, I found a commentary written by Linda Kimball over at Patriots and Liberty.com, where she discusses truth, our current age of moral relativism (plus the huge problems it presents), and the judgment of God.

I suggest reading the essay in its entirety.   However, I will share some important excerpts below.

Excerpt #1 about Truth vs. moral relativism:

Truth however, is neither the seductive lies of the devil nor the worldly opinions, fleeting feelings and perverted choices of fallen men and women but rather the Second Person of the Holy Trinity (John 16:6). Jesus is the embodiment of the wisdom of God; He is the eternally unchanging Word of God. John 1:10 tells us that everything seen and unseen was created ex nihilo by the spoken Word of the Son of God, which means that Jesus Christ was active and present long before His incarnation, therefore eternally co-existent with the Father. Jesus Christ is therefore God just as the Father and Holy Spirit are God, hence the Word of the Old Testament’s creation account is Jesus Christ of the New Testament (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Word. His Word is Truth even as He Himself is Truth, the same today as yesterday and for always. Truth then is Jesus Christ Who teaches, “The truth will make you free.”

Truth is fidelity to Jesus Christ, hence Truth is an objective reality meant to be shared by all mankind. But like their father the devil, relativists hate Truth and work to suppress it, and herein lies the psychological violence which is the evil fruit of moral relativism:

“The clue to the mentality of the liar, in his hatred of truth, is his hatred of God. And this hatred of God floods over into hatred of those whom God loves, the innumerable millions for whom his divine Son died.” (The Roots of Violence, Vincent P. Miceli, S.J., p. 29)

Excerpt from Matthew Henry’s commentary on 2 Peter 3:

How great a blessing this is we learn by observing what is the pernicious consequence of the errors that ignorant and unstable men fall into-even their own destruction. Errors in particular concerning the holiness and justice of God are the utter ruin of multitudes of men. Let us therefore earnestly pray for the Spirit of God to instruct us in the truth, that we may know it as it is in Jesus, and have our hearts established with grace, that we may stand firm and unshaken, even in the most stormy times, when others are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

III. The apostle gives them a word of caution, v. 17, 18, where, 1. He intimates that the knowledge we have of these things should make us very wary and watchful, inasmuch as there is a twofold danger, v. 17. (1.) We are in great danger of being seduced, and turned away from the truth. The unlearned and unstable, and they are very numerous, do generally wrest the scripture. Many who have the scriptures and read them do not understand what they read; and too many of those who have a right understanding of the sense and meaning of the word are not established in the belief of the truth, and all these are liable to fall into error. Few attain to the knowledge and acknowledgment of doctrinal Christianity; and fewer find, so as to keep in the way of practical godliness, which is the narrow way, which only leadeth unto life.

There must be a great deal of self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submitting to the authority of Christ Jesus our great prophet, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, and therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth.
(2.) We are in great danger by being seduced; for, [1.] So far as we are turned from the truth so far are we turned out-of-the-way to true blessedness, into the path which leads to destruction. If men corrupt the word of God, it tends to their own utter ruin.
[2.] When men wrest the word of God, they fall into the error of the wicked, men without law, who keep to no rules, set no bounds to themselves, a sort of free-thinkers, which the psalmist detests. Ps. 119:113, I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love. Whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not conformable to the law of God, and warranted by it, the good man disclaims and abhors; they are the conceits and counsels of the ungodly, who have forsaken God’s law, and, if we imbibe their opinions, we shall too soon imitate their practices.
[3.] Those who are led away by error fall from their own steadfastness. They are wholly unhinged and unsettled, and know not where to rest, but are at the greatest uncertainty, like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. It nearly concerns us therefore to be upon our guard, seeing the danger is so great.

Back to Linda Kimball’s essay; excerpt #2:

According to the highly respected Evangelical minister Erwin Lutzer, a majority of contemporary Americans prefer darkness to light:

“No nation has turned away from so much light in order to choose darkness. No nation has squandered as many opportunities as we have. We can only call on God for mercy, and if it pleases Him He will come to our aid….if we humble ourselves, weeping for this nation, God may yet intervene and restore decency to this crazed world. Most of all, we should pray that millions would be converted and belong to God forever. People change their minds only when God changes their hearts.”  (Erwin W. Lutzer, Where Do We Go From Here?: Hope and Direction in our Present Crisis)

Some Christians are of the opinion that God is not (yet!) judging America.  However, we are so close (and obviously deserved of judgment here in 2016!) that it is more important than ever to get right with God!

Excerpt # 3 of Linda Kimball essay:

Guinness sums up the downward spiral of the West under the Judgment of God:

“ Western cultural elites have disregarded God for more than two centuries, but for a while the effects were mostly confined to their own circles. At first, they disregarded God. Then they deliberately desecrated Western tradition and lived in ways that would have spelled disaster if they had been followed more closely. But now in the early twenty-first century, their movement from disregard to desecration to decadence is going mainstream, and the United States is only the lead society among those close to the tipping point…. Soon, as the legalization and then normalization of polyamory, polygamy, pedophilia and incest follow the same logic as that of abortion and homosexuality, the socially destructive consequences of these trends will reverberate throughout society until social chaos is beyond recovery. We can only pray there will be a return to God and sanity before the terrible sentence is pronounced: “God has given them over” to the consequences of their own settled choices.” (p. 20)

The thoughts and goals of reprobate people who clamor for transgender “equal access for men to go into women’s bathrooms” would previously have been not only considered as absolutely absurd in the past, but unconscionable and mentally insane!

But now, polls are saying that 12% of the public is “coming around” on even that peculiar and ridiculous delusion!

Where would this end?

It won’t… until “social chaos is beyond recovery.”

Perhaps “God has given them over” as it says in Scripture…to such consequences… by those who would allow themselves to celebrate such sin and evil.

How do Christians in today’s world avoid being led away?

Matthew Henry’s has the answers in his commentary:

 

2. That we may the better avoid being led away, the apostle directs us what to do, v. 18. And, (1.) We must grow in grace. He had in the beginning of the epistle exhorted us to add one grace to another, and here he advises us to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. By how much the stronger grace is in us, by so much the more stedfast shall we be in the truth.

(2.) We must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Follow on to know the Lord. Labour to know him more clearly and more fully, to know more of Christ and to know him to better purpose, so as to be more like him and to love him better.’ This is the knowledge of Christ the apostle Paul reached after and desired to attain, Phil. 3:10.

Such a knowledge of Christ as conforms us more to him, and endears him more to us, must needs be of great use to us, to preserve us from falling off in times of general apostasy; and those who experience this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise to him, and join with our apostle in saying, To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Hat tips to all links.

The Love of Many Will Wax Cold

In the previous blog post comment thread, a Christian blogging friend of mine was undeservedly labeled with a disparaging remark. I thought that a portion of my response deserved a blog post [a.k.a. a “Blogment”] all its own.  So here it is, with some added links and commentary:

 

Originally in reply to GMpilot:

From my perspective, Black3Actual does not deserve your disparaging remark. Just because you reject what he is sharing doesn’t make him what you called him in your comment.

For the longest time, you have disparaged God because of your own negative opinion of Him. You believe that the call in Scripture for the fear of God is something to dislike; even hate.

In Matthew 10:28, Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The fear (meaning, dread) of God happened to Adam and Eve the moment that they sinned. Prior to that, they had a forever kind of loving relationship with Him. We (all human beings since) have inherited this tendency to sin, and thus unredeemed men and women (if honest with ourselves) also have the same dreaded fear of God.

Upon being saved, that slavish “fear of dread” turns to a reverential awe of God. This is what Jesus Christ accomplished for us at the cross. We no longer live in dread of our Heavenly Father – it turns around 360 degrees [meaning, a TOTAL turn in which we can face Him because of His agape love] towards a renewed and caring love for Him! And, because of our reverence for Him, His righteousness, and His Holiness, we fear to do evil.  Our desire is to live rightly, for Him!

I see Black3Actual’s heart as being a believer who wants the Lord to use him for His great purposes and His glory. Through reading his blog – The Oil For Your Lamp, I see him as desiring to meet people who are lost with whom he can share the Gospel of Christ.

Jesus shows us many times in Scripture how to pray. There is a great difference between those who say pagan prayers (where he/she tries to harness the spiritual powers of the universe to do his bidding… and so will say, “As I will so it must be.”) They are actually proclaiming, “my will be done.” It is the “being their own God” syndrome. Contrast that with the Christian prayer, “Thy [God’s] will be done.”

The Bible has been attacked over the last 200 years or so like never before. We have been warned in Matthew 24 that this will be the case the closer we get to the end times when “the love of many will grow cold.” The KJV says, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will wax cold.”

“Wax” as a verb from Dictionary.com:

1.  to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.:
Discord waxed at an alarming rate.

[Note: Chuck Smith has a great written sermon on this verse. Read it HERE.]

Why has the love of many wax cold?

Because of lawlessness. Because iniquity shall abound.

We have seen the explosion of lawlessness and abounding iniquity here in the United States over the past 30 years! However, it most obviously became ratcheted up back in the 1960’s when the Bible was removed from the schools.

Mat 24:12

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Many secular “scholars” have joined in the savage attack. Yet, the critical scholars are proven wrong again and again. Why? Because as history unveils itself, the Bible is vindicated.

You, GM, choose your scholars. You choose your experts, in which mostly all express anti-Christian opinions. The point is that somebody chose those particular “experts” and they didn’t choose them by chance. They often stack the experts in such a way as to promote unbelief. [A recent example in the Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design battle is the so-called Homo naledi, which is already being questioned as a unique species of unclear evolutionary importance.]

The truth is, that link questioning this unique species will not get anywhere near the exposure via the media as the “discovery” of Homo naledi has.

But that is only one example. The quest to disprove (as well as disparage, twist, misinterpret, demonize etc.) the Word of God will go on until Christ returns. Meanwhile, Christians are rest assured that:

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. – Psalm 119:89

 

GM, I don’t ban you and I continue to answer your anti-Christian rants here for the purpose of countering what you write; and hopefully helping those who may come upon this blog to read the posts and comments to see what the Bible says on such matters. I don’t know everything, but God’s Word has the correct answers. Whether you agree or not doesn’t really matter.

Dostoyevsky famously said, “If there is no God, then all things are permissible.” That is why the fear of God is good, and to be a God-fearing person is healthy.

I have attempted to begin to express the relationship between the love and the fear of God. I’m sure there is much more evidence of this that can be shared from the Bible.  I would like to encourage readers to share such evidence in the comment section!

~  Christine

 

Hat tips to all links.

H/T:  Black3Actual

H/T:  GMpilot

 

 

Kim Davis Released From Jail

“I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word.”

Kim Davis has been released. And the two commenters here (who have bashed her personal failings in the comment section of my previous post) should read the true story about this brave woman!

In Perspective: Kim Davis – State Criminal? Church Discipline?

Excerpt:

THE SUPREME COURT AND THE LAW OF THE LAND

The first reason is to confront a legal fallacy. It is commonly believed that the opinions of the Supreme Court are the “law of the land.” This mantra is constantly trumpeted by the media, the pundits, the commentators and the administration of President Obama. Nine unelected, though elevated, justices do not “make the law of the land” in our system of government. The law of the land—the Constitution—is supreme in the United States, not the Supreme Court. And the Constitution can only be changed by the people through elected legislators at the local, state and federal levels, not the judiciary at any level. Governors and Presidents execute the law established through elected legislators. The Supreme Court renders “opinions” on cases it hears, but it does not create law. If this delegation of duties is not observed then the warnings of Thomas Jefferson concerning the inevitable tyranny of the judicial branch will be a reality, as even James Madison, the architect of the Constitution, eventually admitted could happen!

In a word, SCOTUS is an arbiter of the law. To make this clearer, they are umpires. Umpires do not make the rules, they make ruling judgments, which may or may not be right. So it is with SCOTUS. And like any other umpire, they can, and have been wrong. Sometimes with catastrophic effects these nine justices have historically made rulings and issued opinions which were politically shaped, but legally and Constitutionally devastatingly wrong. Thankfully in some cases they were rightly challenged by citizens and elected officials in the history of our country. For brevity’s sake, here are just two politically and culturally shaped, but Constitutionally and devastatingly wrong opinions.

1. Dred Scott – (Oct. 1857) a slave was less than a person without unalienable rights.
2. Roe v. Wade – (Jan. 1973) Legalized homicide of a baby in the womb for any reason at any time.

Mrs. Davis is right to challenge the Obergefell wrong ruling/opinion as others challenged such legal fabrications in the past. Many in the North and South as citizens and government officials challenged the Dred Scott opinion. If more had done so, there is a good possibility that 700,000 lives in a fratricidal Civil War might have been avoided, and racial hostilities still plaguing this nation might have been rightly addressed. Although Roe v. Wade eventually has been challenged with legislative, ministerial and civil disobedience initiatives, the fact is 57 million plus annihilated lives might have been saved, if citizens, including elected officials had challenged the Roe. V. Wade ruling/opinion from the outset.

Kim Davis is right not to sign and affirm a so-called law affirming “same-sex marriage” with the devastations, sexual anarchy and relational carnage it will bring. Furthermore, she should be commended for not resigning to go quietly away which many would desire. Then admirably she is willing to suffer the persecution of judicial tyranny, thereby forcing a nation to address the Constitutionality of this issue and professing Christians to address it personally. The First Amendment protecting the free exercise of religion (not just the subset of worship), is not forfeited when you become an elected official. As an elected official, she took an oath to uphold the Constitutions of Kentucky and the United States. The Constitution of the United States does not determine marriage laws. Marriage laws are established by the states and the Constitution of Kentucky is clear and unchanged—marriage is between one man and woman.

Looks like the judge in this wrongful incarceration of Davis finally “blinked” on this one. Perhaps he feared tremendous backlash for his stupidity.

When he sought to punish Davis, he must have had delusions of grandeur; thinking that he’s like the king of England who badgered and suppressed the religious rights of the people in his own country, and then when they left to find religious freedom in the colonies, the oppression by the king didn’t stop. Therefore, the Revolutionary War was fought for the freedoms they were being denied.

Incarcerating this woman was a travesty of justice, and that judge knows it. The upcoming rally on Saturday would have continued to show the judge’s error(s) on this issue, so he “decreed” her release.

At the time that our nation was born, after a long, hard-fought and bloody war against the tyrants from England who sent soldiers over to America to kill the colonists into compliance; Benjamin Franklin was asked by a woman, “what kind of government have you given us, sir?” He replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Our beloved Republic has been on the road to destruction for some time now by the programmed regressives who think their awful policies will lead to some kind of utopia. Their conscientious stupidity, foolish wisdom of the world, anti-God and anti-Christ mindsets, unrepentant hearts, evil intentions, and satanic policies all reveal that they think they know better than God and His Word, the Bible.

One day, they will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment and realize how wrong they were. But at that point, it will be too late for them to be redeemed.

How prophetic Franklin was in his answer to that woman during the birth of our nation!

There is still time to turn the tide away from the deceiving spirits of sincere ignorance, sin, evil, death and destruction. I pray that God will continue to see fit to hold us in His loving care during such a time as this.

Hat tip:

In Perspective

The Child Who Was Never Born Monument

Last night I saw this “monument to the unborn child ” and stared at it, speechless, for a while.  I could not decide whether or not to “like” the posted photo.  There were no words within the post, just this photo.

In my own mind I was thinking, if I “liked” the post, was I “liking” that there had to be a monument entitled, “The Child Who Was Never Born?”   Or, would  I  be “liking” the fact that it demonstrates unequivocally that ALL LIVES MATTER?

The fact that such a monument was created in order to share the grief of mothers who had their child in the womb taken away (for whatever reason) is an example to us all that all unborn children are precious in the eyes of God.

Those who adhere to the evil lie of a “woman’s right to choose” mantra have to, at the same time,  totally negate the rights of the helpless child (many also female) in the womb.  This shows, IMHO, how egregious the sin of abortion really is!  It is a LIE – sent from the father of lies!

This evil doesn’t only affect the death of the child in the womb, the regret, pain, suffering and extreme grief that many women endure for the rest of their lives after having an abortion is the second evil intent of the murderous, satanic deed of abortion.

I thought about commenting on the post last night, but something (or Someone?) told me to wait.

This morning, I now see why I was motivated to wait.

Read the article link below, take another look at that Child Who Was Never Born monument…and weep.

California AG to review group behind Planned Parenthood videos.

 

Investigating whether or not the group that exposed the selling of aborted baby parts rather than the egregious act of breaking the law that selling baby parts is illegal?  How convoluted is the thinking of programmed regressive totalitarians and their evil activities!

Difficult to read…but extremely disturbing and desperately sad to look at…isn’t it?

It’s unconscionable, and one day, they will all have to answer to God for their murderous sin!

Mat 18:6

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mar 9:42

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Luk 17:2

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

The only path to forgiveness that can be found for this sin, as well as all other sins, is through the blood shed for our sins at the Cross of Jesus Christ!

Rev 21:8

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, [fn] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Rev 22:15

But [fn] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

1Co 6:9

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, [fn] nor sodomites,

1Co 6:10

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

1Co 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Hat tip:
Truth 2 Freedom blog

Make Calls to Rehear The Marriage Case!

Janet Porter of Faith 2 Action Ministries is encouraging all Americans who believe that natural marriage is God given (has always been and should continue to be only the union of one man and one woman) to make phone calls to Attorney General Mike DeWine (800-282-0515 ) and ask to have the case reheard.

Excerpt:

Rehear the Case

July 06, 2015

 

Are you upset about what the Supreme Court did to marriage? Now, there’s something you can do about it.

We can ask the court to rehear the case because two justices violated the federal law which states, “Any justice… of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”
[ 28 U.S. Code § 455]

Justices Kagan and Ginsburg both officiated homosexual so-called weddings, which disqualifies them from ruling on the case.

Ask Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to file a motion for rehearing the marriage case at: 800-282-0515 because it was illegally rendered. Ask him to call for a motion for rehearing the case.

Does THIS look like impartiality to you?

“Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality may reasonably be questioned.”

–28 US code #455 – Disqualification of justice, judge or magistrate judge

Supreme Court Rule 44 allows a party to file a motion for rehearing within 25 days of the June 26 hearing. That means if Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine files a motion before July 29th, the case can be reheard–without Justices Ginsburg and Kagan.

The dissenting justices didn’t want to risk antagonizing the Justices before the April oral argument, but there is no reason to ignore this now. If you read the dissenting opinions, they are scathing–Justice Scalia calls the decision a “threat to American Democracy”–and he is right. Now there is something you can do about it.

Call the number below with this message:

Please file a motion for rehearing the marriage ruling because Justices Ginsburg and Kagan violated Federal law by not recusing themselves.

Attorney General Mike DeWine: 800-282-0515

*******

It only takes four Justices to accept a case.

We HAVE the Four:

Roberts:  “Just who do we think we are?”  “The Majority’s decision is an act of the will, not legal judgment.  The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or the Court’s precedents.”

Scalia:  “A system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy…Thus, when the rights of persons are violated, the Constitution requires redress by the courts.

Thomas:  “…to allow the policy question of same-sex marriage to be considered and resolved by a select, patrician, highly unrepresentative panel of nine is to violate a principle even more fundamental than no taxation without representation:  no social transformation without representation.”

Alito:  “I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools.

Five people should not be able to take away the votes of 50 million Americans.

The Motion for Rehearing could literally protect the voter in nearly 40 states, our state constitutions, the institution of marriage, and our Freedom of Speech and Religion.

Think that is worth a call to Attorney General DeWine?  800-282-0515.

 

Never give up! Please help in this endeavor by sharing it everywhere on social media!

Thank you,

Christine

Hat tip: Faith 2 Action.org

May You and I Be Found Faithful to the Task

America is now officially within what Jesus Christ warned about regarding the signs of depravity, sin, and evil which would point towards His return.  Jesus said it would be  As In The Days of Noah and As In The Days of Lot.

Joel C. Rosenberg had written a post back in March, 2015, which is entitled, Three existential threats facing America. (My address to the National Religious Broadcasters convention.)

Rosenberg first discusses Ezekiel chapter 33.  It is about the role of the “Watchman on the Wall.”   Rosenberg (as well as I) believes it is deeply relevant to our times.

Joel writes:

More than 2,500 years ago, the Lord spoke these words to the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel.

• A man of God
• Born in Israel
• Exiled and living in Iraq
• Amidst grave dangers rising

What was Ezekiel commanded to do? The text is clear.

• Listen to God
• Watch for threats
• Warn the people, come what may

This was a divine calling – an enormous responsibility. And God was clear. Some would listen to Ezekiel’s warnings. Some would not. Ezekiel was not going to be held responsible for the decision others made to obey the Lord or not. He would be held responsible for obeying the Lord, teaching people the Word of God and warning the people when God told him to speak. Fortunately, Ezekiel was faithful to the task.

As followers of Jesus Christ — and as pastors and ministry leaders and religious broadcasters — each of you are, in our modern times, also watchmen on the walls. In many ways, you have the same calling. The same responsibility.

• To listen to the Word of God, found in the Bible
• To speak the Word of God — to tell people the bad news and the good news according to the Scriptures
• To warn people of threats that are rising
• To speak the truth in love, come what may

God warned Ezekiel — as He warns us today — that if He speaks and we don’t share His Word with others, we will be held to account. What’s more, if we see threats rising, and we do not warn people, we will be held to account.

In the first threat facing America, Rosenberg asks the question:

Threat #1 — What if America is not simply in a season of decline but heading towards collapse, towards implosion?

Within the list of “season of decline” threats we face here in America, he mentions one of the most important factors – the 58 million children in the womb that have been aborted since 1973. That awful Extreme Court decision has wreaked havoc upon the lives of many Americans – especially women! The question is whether or not we, who are called by the name of Jesus Christ will stand in the gap and continue to condemn the evil practice of abortion for the sake of saving this nation from judgment.

Joel writes:

Since 1973, Americans have aborted 58 million babies. Think about that — 58 million. It is a staggering number. And if something doesn’t happen soon to change course, in less than two years we will hit 60 million.

If this happens, we as Americans will have murdered ten times more human beings than the number of Jews murdered by the Nazis.

We know the judgment of God that fell upon Nazi Germany. What do we think is going to happen to a nation that exterminates ten times more people than the Nazis?

The judgment of Almighty God is coming. There is no way out. The souls of 58 million babies are crying out for justice – and they will get it. But for this to happen we need to be pleading with God to have mercy on us. We need to be calling people to prayer, fasting and above all repentance.

At this point in my post I would like to interject another “watchman on the wall” landmark decision which will be coming any day now…perhaps even today, June 26, 2015. The decision on whether or not the Supreme Court of the land will decide to sweep away state’s rights regarding the legality of same-sex “marriage”; and thus change the thousands of years definition that God gave us that marriage is the union of one man and one woman!

Well, the decision has just come down and in a 5-4 vote, the Extreme Court struck down individual state right to ban same-sex “marriage.”

Instinctively, I knew that this would happen. The “deciding” court justice – Kennedy – apparently has a lesbian sister. Who would think that this man would care about the constitutional rights of states to make these decisions? It’s apparently more important to make a decision this huge based on his own personal preferences, rather than what God says in the Bible about marriage; or what our Constitution says about states rights on such decisions.

America is now officially within what Jesus Christ warned about regarding the signs of His return.  Jesus said it would be  As In The Days of Noah and As In The Days of Lot.

Jesus was asked what would be the signs of the times on the earth to indicate his return?

Mat 24:37

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Luk 17:26

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

Luk 17:27

“They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:28

“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

Luk 17:29

“but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:30

“Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Luk 17:31

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

Luk 17:32

“Remember Lot’s wife.

Luk 17:33

“Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

There was an excellent post in my reader last night that explained the dire consequences of a sweeping same-sex “marriage” ruling for all 50 states here in America. I need to find it again. When I do, I will post it here.

Found it!  Here is a copy in its entirety:

IT IS NOT ABOUT “GAY” MARRIAGE!  IT IS ALL ABOUT DESTROYING THE FIRST AMENDMENT!

The Supreme Court is set to decide whether or not there is a Constitutionally protected right to ‘gay’ marriage, but this is not what is actually being decided.  What is really being decided is whether or not rights can contradict.  The goal is to establish that rights can contradict because it opens the door for government to decide which rights take precedence over others.  I have already explained why rights cannot contradict and why.  This then begs the question as to why the Courts would even consider this case about ‘gay’ marriage.  The answer is simple: this is not about rights.  That claim is just propaganda aimed at creating an emotional appeal so you will not use reason to examine what is really happening.  However, if you can set the emotion aside and look at what is actually happening, you will quickly see that this is about giving the government a path to destroy the First Amendment!

The process is simple: if there is a ‘right’ to ‘gay’ marriage, then it suddenly becomes a ‘hate’ crime to oppose ‘gay’ marriage in any form.  This opens the door to the destruction of faith-based organizations.  It will not matter whether they are churches or businesses, they will have to comply with the government dictates or be shut down.  But it goes further than that.  If you are a doctor but disagree with homosexuality, you could lose your job.  Same for lawyers, firemen, police officers: anyone who disagrees with homosexuality will be at risk of government persecution.

You see, what the Supreme Court is actually about to rule on is whether or not the government has the authority to define bigotry and then use that as a justification to persecute anyone who has just been declared a bigot.  This is one of the reasons I write so much about language, both here, but especially on my other blog, The OYL.  If the government is allowed to redefine the meaning of words at will, then it does not matter what the law says: it will change according to the whims of the government.  This is the very definition of tyranny.  Yet, this is what the Supreme Court is about to decide: whether or not the government has dictatorial powers.

If you doubt me, consider this: what happens is someone you disagree with politically gets into power?  And once in power, that person reverses the definitions of words?  And hatred is suddenly defined as anyone who opposes Islam?  It may not bother you that Jews and Christians will still be persecuted, but now, so will homosexuals.  Yes, the court and law will still say you cannot ‘discriminate’ because of homosexuality, but the government will have just put the rights of Muslims over those of homosexuals.  So now, where the law will allow homosexuals to claim their rights over those of Christians, it will also support the rights of Muslims to exercise their rights over both homosexuals and Christians.  Now, just in case you do not understand what this means, I’ll explain: it means Christians will have to either convert to Islam, pay a punitive tax or die.  However, homosexuals only have one option — to die!

There are other scenarios that I could use to illustrate how this will work, but the point is this: it is not about ‘gay’ marriage, it is about opening a path to destroy the First Amendment.  It is about destroying the right to conscience, and by extension, freedom of expression. It is about the Supreme Court finally handing the government dictatorial powers as a matter of law.  But understand, if the Court does this, it will actually be destroying the law.  So this ruling is not about ‘gay’ rights: it is about the final destruction of the U.S. Constitution — period!

H/T: The Road to Concord

After reading that post over at “The Road to Concord,” I was reminded of a post I wrote back in 2010. At first, I was confused about the following photo which was taken in a “World Can’t Wait” protest march. The photo and brief excerpt below (written in 2013) describes what (and why) there is this unholy alliance of Islam and Communism.

Notice that the man holding the sign is wearing Muslim terrorist garb.  The man walking next to him is wearing a commie red t-shirt with the image of Che Guevara!

How ironic that the Muslim man is holding that sign (below)!  Here’s a quote from Che Guevara that may explain their union of nefarious ideologies:

“I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting.”

Che Guevara

H/T Brainy Quote

I wish that more Americans would heed Ronald Reagan’s advice:

“How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

― Ronald Reagan

 

What those two men (seen in photo above), marching together, BTW, in an anti-Israel demonstration during the Bush presidential years) represent is the forming of an alliance between radical Islam and Communism!  Also, notice what the sign says:  “Thank You S.F. (San Francisco) Liberals – You Die Last.”  How ANYONE could possibly support either group is beyond any semblance of reason!  Liberals are being USED by both!  Yet they are either complicit in either ideology or just too damn ignorant to realize it!

Only one of these evil and nefarious ideologies will win out (meaning, here on this earth – in a temporary way – while the Lord Jesus Christ tarries) and the bloodbath will be ugly!  With all of this in mind, let’s re-read what  the author at The Road to Concord stated:

You see, what the Supreme Court is actually about to rule on is whether or not the government has the authority to define bigotry and then use that as a justification to persecute anyone who has just been declared a bigot.  This is one of the reasons I write so much about language, both here, but especially on my other blog, The OYL.  If the government is allowed to redefine the meaning of words at will, then it does not matter what the law says: it will change according to the whims of the government.  This is the very definition of tyranny.  Yet, this is what the Supreme Court is about to decide: whether or not the government has dictatorial powers.

If you doubt me, consider this: what happens is someone you disagree with politically gets into power?  And once in power, that person reverses the definitions of words?  And hatred is suddenly defined as anyone who opposes Islam?  It may not bother you that Jews and Christians will still be persecuted, but now, so will homosexuals.  Yes, the court and law will still say you cannot ‘discriminate’ because of homosexuality, but the government will have just put the rights of Muslims over those of homosexuals.  So now, where the law will allow homosexuals to claim their rights over those of Christians, it will also support the rights of Muslims to exercise their rights over both homosexuals and Christians.  Now, just in case you do not understand what this means, I’ll explain: it means Christians will have to either convert to Islam, pay a punitive tax or die.  However, homosexuals only have one option — to die!

There are other scenarios that I could use to illustrate how this will work, but the point is this: it is not about ‘gay’ marriage, it is about opening a path to destroy the First Amendment.  It is about destroying the right to conscience, and by extension, freedom of expression. It is about the Supreme Court finally handing the government dictatorial powers as a matter of law.  But understand, if the Court does this, it will actually be destroying the law.  So this ruling is not about ‘gay’ rights: it is about the final destruction of the U.S. Constitution — period!

Next, go back and read what Joel Rosenberg wrote regarding these two points:

RADICAL ISLAM AND APOCALYPTIC ISLAM

Threat #2 — What if America is not simply at rising risk of attack by Radical Islam but heading towards the risk of annihilation by Apocalyptic Islam?

ISRAEL

Which brings me finally to Threat #3 — What if America is not simply entering a season of strained relations with Israel, but we are heading towards total American abandonment of the Jewish State?

We need to heed Joel Rosenberg’s words:

This is the most dangerous moment in the history of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

What do the next two years hold?

I’m not sure. But this much I know: on top of all America’s national challenges and sins, we dare not also abandon or turn against Israel and the Jewish people. If we do, we will seal our fate with God.

Which brings me back to you — the watchmen on the walls.

Are you warning the nation and the Church of the dangerous road the President has us on vis-à-vis Israel?

Are you mobilizing Christians to love and bless and pray for and stand with Israel and the Jewish people in this critical hour?

CONCLUSION

I am afraid I cannot tell you whether God will grant America a Third Great Awakening and/or raise up a King like Josiah (see 2 Chronicles 34-35) and thus forestall the coming judgment.

I cannot tell you whether the American government will do its job to protect us and our allies from Radical and Apocalyptic Islam before it’s too late.

Or whether the Church will do her job in fulfilling the Great Commission and standing with our persecuted brothers and sisters in the epicenter.

Or whether America and the Church will stand with Israel and bless her and the Jewish people.

All I can tell you is that you and I have been called to be watchmen on the walls.

Our job is to:

• Listen to and study and know the Word of God
• Teach the Word of God
• Watch for threats
• Warn the people, come what may

We are not going to be held responsible if people do not listen to us or to the Word of God. We will be held to account if we fail to speak and act when the Lord commands us to do so.

Much is hanging in the balance. May you and I be found faithful to the task.

 

We need to heed God’s Word even more!

 

1Pe 3:12

For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” [fn]

1Pe 3:13

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

1Pe 3:14

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” [fn]

1Pe 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God [fn] in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1Pe 3:16

having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

1Pe 3:17

For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1Pe 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us [fn] to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

1Pe 3:19

by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

1Pe 3:20

who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited [fn] in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1Pe 3:21

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1Pe 3:22

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Having Their Conscience Seared

Over the past 15 + years of blogging, it has been my experience  that liberal, non-Christian people who occasionally post comments here basically reveal that they object to what I write because they hate what they see as “my viewpoint.”

What I share here comes via God’s Word. Jesus did tell us that I [we Christians] would be hated because they [non-believers] hated Him first.

Jhn 15:18

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Jesus’ first words when he began his ministry on earth were, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Mat 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance is not a popular word in today’s world of increasing immorality and decay.  The acceptance of moral relativism is the way that modern man knowingly, or unwittingly, “gives heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Jesus also stated that he didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. (In case you are not familiar, this includes the law and prophets of the Old Testament.)

Mat 5:17

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Without confession and repentance [means turning away from sin], through the shed blood of Jesus Christ at the cross, there is no remission of sin.

Surmising that certain sexual behaviors (which secular man now accepts and embraces) are all acceptable even to God, such groups and individuals go about mocking or condemning Christians who know  (through Scripture) that God never has, and never will accept such behaviors!   Those who turn a blind eye to this fact and insist that “there’s nothing wrong with it” and wholeheartedly accept and/or participate in aberrant sexual sin,  do so as the result of one’s conscience being “seared” in such sin.

1Ti 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

1Ti 4:2

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Thus, embracing, accepting and/or celebrating sexual sin is an act of turning away from God and listening to the enemy of our souls.

Having one’s “conscience seared with a hot iron” is an analogy used to describe giving in to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

In a commentary written by A.W. Faussett, he writes:

 giving heed— ( 1Ti 1:4 Tts 1:14 ).
seducing spirits–working in the heretical teachers. 1Jo 4:2, 3, 6, “the spirit of error,” opposed to “the spirit of truth,” “the Spirit” which “speaketh” in the true prophets against them.
doctrines of devils–literally “teachings of (that is suggested by) demons.” Jam 3:15, “wisdom. . . devilish”; 2Cr 11:15, “Satan’s ministers.”

      2. Rather translate, “Through (literally, ‘in‘; the element in which the apostasy has place) the hypocrisy of lying speakers”; this expresses the means through which “some shall (be led to) depart from the faith,” namely, the reigned sanctity of the seducers (compare “deceivers,” Tts 1:10 ).
having their conscience seared—Greek, “having their own conscience,” &c., that is, not only “speaking lies” to others, but also having their own conscience seared. Professing to lead others to holiness, their own conscience is all the while defiled. Bad consciences always have recourse to hypocrisy. As faith and a good conscience are joined ( 1Ti 1:5 ); so hypocrisy (that is, unbelief, Mat 24:5, 51; compare Luk 12:46 ) and a bad conscience here. THEODORET explains like English Version, “seared,” as implying their extreme insensibility; the effect of cauterizing being to deaden sensation. The Greek, however, primarily means “branded” with the consciousness of crimes committed against their better knowledge and conscience, like so many scars burnt in by a branding iron: Compare Tts 1:15 3:11, “condemned of himself.” They are conscious of the brand within, and yet with a hypocritical show of sanctity, they strive to seduce others. As “a seal” is used in a good sense ( 2Ti 2:19 ), so “a brand” in a bad sense. The image is taken from the branding of criminals.

We now understand the seriousness of having one’s conscience “seared with a hot iron.”

Jesus also said:

Jhn 14:15

“If you love Me, keep [fn] My commandments.

Jhn 15:10

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

We are all in need of forgiveness through repentance from sin. Jesus is the only way. Read John 3.

Scripture speaks of “veiled eyes” to “those who are perishing.”

If non-Christians want to think that warning people who are spiritually lost and under the snare of demonic deception is somehow “funny” or not a good thing…then that is their opinion. But through God’s written word, Jesus calls me to contend for the faith, share the truth and share God’s Word with people so that they will see the way out of their slavery to sin and deception.

A new book on Spiritual Warfare, written by Dr. Karl I. Payne reveals that demonic deception is increasing, even within the Christian church (meaning, the liberal kind of churches that accept all sorts of heresy and apostasy; including the deception of sexual deviancy as “normal”), and the book of Jude warns us that the worst of these types of deceptions are still to come.

Payne writes:

If God allows demonic activity to increase until His return, I believe He will also train up and equip a growing number of His children to faithfully and effectively contend with the power of darkness who oppose His plans and people. Too many North American churches are well on their way to becoming the same spiritually dead museums as Western European churches.”

As born-again Christians, we are to combat against the battles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Throughout Scripture we are told to put on the whole armor of God to become better equipped for the unseen warfare that hinders Christians from living the life Jesus has called us to live.

Jesus said:

Jhn 12:46

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

We are to speak out on such issues in order to help people overcome the darkness of sin in their lives and be saved through repentance and faith at the foot of the cross of Christ.

To be honest, I cannot really care what the naysayers think of me.   It is more important what God thinks of me, and sharing the truth as it is written in Scripture and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is light-years more important than clamoring for the acceptance of unredeemed man.

2 Corinthians 4

Why Liberalism and Bible-based Christian Beliefs Cannot be Reconciled

There are many secular reasons why liberalism and Bible-based Christian beliefs cannot be reconciled.  In my last post, I included the links found at Conservapedia which demonstrate exactly why conservative thought rejects liberalism.

In this post, I will attempt to demonstrate some reasons why God’s written Word in the Bible and God’s Living Word, Jesus Christ, cannot be reconciled with many (not all, of course, but MANY) liberal views and causes that they tend to champion.

This post may well turn out to be a work in progress. I may need extra time to cover the many examples that I’d like to share. Let’s just say that this is part 1 of perhaps several posts on the topic.

1. Marriage issue and many “genders” fallacy.

Mar 10:6

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ [fn]

Mar 10:7

‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

Mar 10:8

‘and the two shall become one flesh’; [fn] so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Mar 10:9

“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

NKJV Footnotes

(10:6)

Genesis 1:27; 5:2

Jesus is speaking here and his saying “let not man separate” tells us many things. It informs us that adultery is wrong (for it can lead to separation of the married couple), fornication with another is wrong, homosexual behavior is wrong, bestiality is wrong, rape is wrong etc. Jesus clearly upheld the commandments of God, and even stated that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it!

Mat 5:17

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

All of the humanistic ideologies that would lead to such sins (as well as ignoring the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament) are not to be done according to the “let not man separate” statement.

Since I have covered this topic in detail in other posts at this blog, you can read those posts via this link:

Talk Wisdom: Marriage

*******

2. The transgender issue.

Gen 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Liberals like to embrace the humanistic secular ideology that a man can (and should) become a woman if that is what he desires, or a woman can (and should) become a man if that is what she desires. Transgenderism has, heretofore, always been considered a disorder of the mind. But now, because certain individuals have “made it so,” people of the liberal mindset have declared that it’s now “the new normal.”

Well, that one verse in Genesis 1:27 tells us that such beliefs reject the image of God the He created. The verse specifically states that He created man (the generic term for all of humanity) as male and female.

Now, why is this important? There are many reasons that can be derived from Scripture, but I will just share one.

Jesus Christ was conceived via the power of the Holy Spirit who came upon Mary and was created in her womb via God’s power. We learn elsewhere that Jesus came from “the seed of the woman.” We know that women do not have “the seed” that is necessary from the man (in ordinary sexual procreation), so where did that seed actually come from? The answer: God Himself. Jesus was placed in the womb of a virgin, in order to not carry the original sin of Adam and Eve. He was born sinless, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for the remission of the sins of us all. He rose again on the third day to demonstrate exactly Who He Is, and all who confess and repent of their sins and invite the indwelling Holy Spirit into their hearts will be saved from eternal death.

For more detail on this, please see:

CRU.org: Would You Like to Know God Personally?

*******

3.  Socialism.

I have read that liberals (especially liberal Christians) twist Scripture in order to claim that Jesus and his disciples supported the concept of socialism.  Not true, and I covered that in my post entitled, Good Samaritan’s Random Act of Kindness.

In that post, Dr. David Jeremiah explains:

In the early church, “all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need” (Acts 2:44-45). The fledgling church experienced severe persecution, leaving members displaced and destitute. They formed a close-knit community to take care of one another, sharing their food, clothing, and money to meet people’s needs.

Over the years, some people have pointed to this passage to make the claim that the early church practiced Communism or socialism, but such was not the case. Communism is a compulsory sharing of goods because no one is thought to have the right to own anything. Socialism acknowledges the right of private property, but it requires individuals to give a certain percentage of what they earn to others in order to narrow the gap between socioeconomic classes.

The early church, however, shared their goods because they were generous and committed to one another. Scripture doesn’t say that the entire church sold all they had and gave everything up for the community’s welfare. It simply says that people voluntarily sold their possessions as financial concerns arose and gave the proceeds to those in need.

Today, almost every church takes care to meet the needs of members lacking food, shelter, help, or clothing. Some churches have food banks or centers offering furniture and clothing. The authentic church is a caring and generous community.

This is why our Founding Fathers chose our form of government here in the United States to be a Constitutional Republic. The freedoms spelled out in the Amendments were placed there so that the government would not force its hand against the citizens; and the citizens would have the redress opportunities to change a reprobate government (like the one we unfortunately have now) that becomes overbearing and oppressive.

Ben Franklin famously said to a woman who asked the question, “what kind of government have you given us?”

“A Republic…if you can keep it.”

*******

4. Abortion.

Liberals are the champions of killing babies in the womb. Their mindset is so strong on this issue that they hate and ridicule pro-life advocates. There is much to read about the horrors of abortion, and Conservapedia provides a lot of counter arguments against the sinful death-to-babies-in-the-womb ideology.

About “little ones” Jesus had this to say:

Luk 17:2

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

(Also see Mar 9:42, Matt 18:6).

Killing children in the womb would also qualify as an offense to “one of these little ones.”

Psa 127:3

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Isa 44:24

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
“I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

Psa 139:13

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

Psa 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; [fn]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

*******

5. Moral Relativism.

 

Conservapedia covers this topic quite well.

Excerpts:

Moral relativism is the theory that moral standards vary from society to society, and from time to time in history. Under this theory, ethical principles are not universal and are instead social products. This theory argues that there is no objective moral order or absolute truth.

[Moral] relativity is a philosophy that states there is no absolute Right or Wrong, and that anyone can freely use his own conscience to decide what is moral. A moral relativist will not say that theft or murder is wrong, because he believes it is up to the murderer or thief to decide whether his behavior is justified. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Moral relativity and related foolish thinking is what allows liberals to support abortion, gay rights, and drug abuse. Moral relativity erodes principled self-defense and thereby leads to misguided demands for gun control as well as psychiatric problems resulting from a lack of mental self-defense.

The first four liberal ideologies on this list could also be categorized under moral relativism errors. So much that is “celebrated” within the liberal mindset leads to evil, sin and death.

Jesus warned:

Mat 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Mat 7:22

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

Mat 7:23

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

 

Despite Paul the Apostle’s  past as a persecutor, hater, and murderer of Christians,  Scripture reveals how he repented and became one of the greatest missionaries for Christ.  Paul’s writings share how to be reconciled back unto God:

1Ti 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

1Ti 1:6

from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,

1Ti 1:7

desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

1Ti 1:8

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

1Ti 1:9

knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1Ti 1:10

for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,

1Ti 1:11

according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

1Ti 1:12

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

1Ti 1:13

although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1Ti 1:14

And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

1Ti 1:15

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Hat tips to all links.

Do You Not Judge What is Right?

There are individuals and groups that believe, “if you love me (us), then you will accept me (us) just as I (we) am (are).”  In the emotional sense of the word “love,” this is possible.  We can love people, although they sin.  We can forgive the wrongs that are done against us, because through His Son, Jesus Christ, God forgives us. God has loved us although, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

How do we gain forgiveness?

John the Baptist paved the way, and Jesus also told us what is needed.

John the Baptist:

Mat 3:1

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mat 3:2

and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Mat 3:3

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’ ” [fn]

Jesus:

Mat 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

What is genuine love?

Jhn 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

The Bible tells us what it is not.

In the spiritual sense of the word (and I am referring to Christian spiritual sense of the word and the meaning of the agape love of God) accepting someone’s sinful acts in a permanent way and not telling them the truth about their need for repentance of those sins will destine them towards separation from God forever.

This reiterates the points in John 7 where Jesus stated:

Jhn 7:7

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

When we agree with Jesus on this statement, and point out the acts of evil that have been done since the moment that the knowledge of good and evil came to be, the world will hate us.

Jhn 15:18

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Jhn 15:19

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

1Jo 3:13

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

This is why, for example, those who point out sins like abortion or homosexuality are hated. Those who stay silent on such controversial issues or those who embrace such issues (e.g. leftist Christians) are not hated. They are called “loving,” “accepting,” “tolerant,” “unbiased;” whereas the Bible based Christians who take the words of Christ and the Scriptures seriously, are called the exact opposite!

So, we can see why Jesus gave us those warnings about being hated. Those who speak out against such sins and are not of the attitudes of this world (because the world would love its own) are hated.

Why?

Because the worldly people hated Him first.

Why?

Jhn 7:7

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

What’s more:

Act 10:42

“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Thus, why would they not hate us as well?

My question.  Is it truly loving to not warn them about these facts?

There are many verses in the Bible describing the act of judging. Many leftists (even Christian leftists) hold onto the verses that state, “Do not judge.” But when you place those words into a search at Blue Letter Bible, you will find that this is not a blanket statement requiring Christians to never judge anything or anyone; but is in actuality an admonition to judge rightly!

Luk 12:57

“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?

Think about it! If we never judged anything, wouldn’t this world be in total and absolute chaos? As it is, those who do not judge rightly do cause much chaos around the world.

There are also those who may think that they judge rightly, when in actuality, they could just be guilty of misconstruing the intent of what is really being shared.

Allow me share a recent example.

Let’s Just Say a Couple’s Memorial Day Wedding Photo Didn’t Sit Well With Some People…

If you read through the comments, there are people judging this photo and having differing opinions about it.  That is certainly their right to do that, but even the title of the post is incorrect!  In the first place, the photo was shared on social media by the photographer – not the couple!  There are those who may think this photo of the couple praying together before their vows (while also desiring to keep from seeing each other before walking down the aisle to share their vows before God, family, and friends – which is a tradition followed by many couples) is somehow “distasteful” because they got married over the Memorial Day weekend.  Please note that they did not get married on Monday, the actual date of Memorial Day!

Of course, people can have their own opinions.  They can make judgments and they have their right to free speech about it.

So…is this an example of “right judging”?

Some readers may view this as a minor thing – and they are correct!  Will the opinions and judgments of the 800+ commenters on this particular subject matter throughout all eternity?

Let’s get back to what will matter throughout all eternity.

Within a commentary from Matthew Henry, we read:

But a wise man’s heart discerns time and judgment; such was the wisdom of the men of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, 1 Chr. 12:32. He adds, “Yea, and why even of yourselves, though ye had not these loud alarms given you, judge ye not what is right? v. 57.

[Christianity] has reason and natural conscience on its side; and, if men would allow themselves the liberty of judging what is right, they would soon find that all Christ’s precepts concerning all things are right, and that there is nothing more equitable in itself, nor better becoming us, than to submit to them and be ruled by them.

II. Let them hasten to make their peace with God in time, before it be too late, v. 58, 59. This we had upon another occasion, Mt. 5:25, 26.

1. We reckon it our wisdom in our temporal affairs to compound with those with whom we cannot contend, to agree with our adversary upon the best terms we can, before the equity be foreclosed, and we be left to the rigour of the law: “When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, to whom the appeal is made, and knowest that he has an advantage against thee, and thou art in danger of being cast, thou knowest it is the most prudent course to make the matter up between yourselves; as thou art in the way, give diligence to be delivered from him, to get a discharge, lest judgment be given, and execution awarded according to law.’ Wise men will not let their quarrels go to an extremity, but accommodate them in time.

2. Let us do thus in the affairs of our souls. We have by sin made God our adversary, have provoked his displeasure against us, and he has both right and might on his side; so that it is to no purpose to think of carrying on the controversy with him either at bar or in battle. Christ, to whom all judgment is committed, is the magistrate before whom we are hastening to appear: if we stand a trial before him, and insist upon our own justification, the cause will certainly go against us, the Judge will deliver us to the officer, the ministers of his justice, and we shall be cast into the prison of hell, and the debt will be exacted to the utmost; though we cannot make a full satisfaction for it, it will be continually demanded, till the last mite be paid, which will not be to all eternity.

Christ’s sufferings were short, yet the value of them made them fully satisfactory. In the sufferings of damned sinners what is wanting in value must be made up in an endless duration. Now, in consideration of this, let us give diligence to be delivered out of the hands of God as an adversary, into his hands as a Father, and this as we are in the way, which has the chief stress laid upon it here.

While we are alive, we are in the way; and now is our time, by repentance and faith through Christ (who is the Mediator as well as the magistrate), to get the quarrel made up, while it may be done, before it be too late.

Thus was God in Christ reconciling the world to himself, beseeching us to be reconciled. Let us take hold on the arm of the Lord stretched out in this gracious offer, that we may make peace, and we shall make peace (Isa. 27:4, 5), for we cannot walk together till we be agreed.

 

A blogging friend from Oil For Your Lamp blog wrote a great quote that I have placed in my sidebar:

A quote to remember!

“We are to be obedient to God and that means we are to fight against sin. Talking about not judging and loving each other does not absolve us from our duty to correct and — if necessary — censure those who refuse to obey God’s laws. If this were the case, then God would have had no reason to even give us a law; He would have just said do not judge, just love and left it at that — but He did not do this. Instead, He told us to obey, and then gave us at least ten commands. If we love each other — Biblical love — then we will do everything we can to help each other keep those commands, not make it easier to break them. After all, how can we claim to love someone if we are in the process of making their path to hell easier to travel?”

~ Black3Actual from Oil For Your Lamp blog

Hat tips to all links.

Brought From Death to Life

While reading a devotional segment from the May issue of Impact Magazine, I read a couplet that contained am unfamiliar word.

There is a little couplet which I like so much, but it contains a good word–forgotten by many today–the word “mien” (pronounced “mean”).  It means “countenance” or appearance.  Read the couplet:

 

Vice is a monster of such horrible mien, that to be hated it needs but to be seen.  But seen too oft, grown familiar with its face, first we endure, then we embrace.

 

In my humble opinion, I think that this is exactly what happened in the minds of those who were fighting for legalizing the horrible killing of babies in the womb back in 1973, as well as in the minds of the decision makers when abortion became legalized by the Supreme Court.  Today, a second tragic Supreme Court decision may be coming down the pike…the one that will be made at the end of June regarding the unfettered recognition of same-sex marriage.

In both cases, what was once deemed as vice, became familiar.  Next, we first endured the consequences of such decisions.  Then, it was embraced by secular society so as to label those who disagree and want to follow Christ and God’s Word  as “bigots,” “homophobes,” and “haters.”

The devotional goes on to say that “familiarity with the face of the monster of vice” is prevalent in our society.  We see it raise its ugly head on most talk shows and within the new “modern family” types of TV series that embrace as “good” that which used to be considered sinful and evil.

What was once considered “sin” is now re-labeled as “happiness.”

One of the great deceiver’s best ploys placed upon the human race is the successful lie he uses upon our consciences that, “we will find happiness and fulfillment through sin and by disregarding the commandments and precepts of God.”  Letting ourselves go in order to follow sinful passions and getting us to ignore Christ and His Word is Satan’s most successful lie.  The devil would have us believe that joy comes through sin.

However, God’s Word tells us that there is happiness in holiness and it is through the submission to the will of Christ that man will find his true joy and fulfillment.  Notice how these two choices are totally and completely opposite propositions!  One is truth, the other, a lie.

Even though the unredeemed of the world would like us to join in with the lies of Satan, Christians are not supposed to seek such familiarity.  Instead, we should turn away from our old vices, our old habits, and our old sinful natures.

And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. – Romans 6:13

There is a great commentary written by David Brown on Romans 6.

Here is just a portion of it:

13. Neither yield ye your members instruments of unrighteousness unto Sin, but yield yourselves–this is the great surrender.
unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and–as the fruit of this.
your members–till now prostituted to sin.
instruments of righteousness unto God–But what if indwelling sin should prove too strong for us? The reply is: But it will not.

14. For Sin shall not have dominion over you–as the slaves of a tyrant lord.
for ye are not under the law, but under grace–The force of this glorious assurance can only be felt by observing the grounds on which it rests. To be “under the law” is, first, to be under its claim to entire obedience; and so, next under its curse for the breach of these. And as all power to obey can reach the sinner only through Grace, of which the law knows nothing, it follows that to be “under the law” is, finally, to be shut up under an inability to keep it, and consequently to be the helpless slave of sin. On the other hand, to be “under grace,” is to be under the glorious canopy and saving effects of that “grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (see on JF & B for Ro 5:20, 21). The curse of the law has been completely lifted from off them; they are made “the righteousness of God in Him”; and they are “alive unto God through Jesus Christ.” So that, as when they were “under the law,” Sin could not but have dominion over them, so now that they are “under grace,” Sin cannot but be subdued under them. If before, Sin resistlessly triumphed, Grace will now be more than conqueror.

The diminishing of our old nature is called mortification. The growing of our new nature is called vivification. Put the two together (mortification and vivification) and you get sanctification –one of the great glorious doctrines of the Christians faith.

Christians realize that the process of sanctification is a lifetime venture. We have never “arrived” because it is not perfected in this life. It is in eternity with Christ where the final traces or evidence of sin are removed and we are declared perfect.

1Jo 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! [fn] Therefore the world does not know us, [fn] because it did not know Him.

1Jo 3:2

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1Jo 3:3

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.