Archive for the ‘narrow gate’ Category

Why Liberalism and Bible-based Christian Beliefs Cannot be Reconciled

June 16, 2015

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

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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?

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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.”

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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.

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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.

The Narrow Gate

May 12, 2015

 

I have questions.  Does the liberal leftist “coexist” message mean that a believer  who objects to their Christian faith being constantly berated and continually bashed needs to just sit there and take it?  Or, is that just the “politically correct” mantra espoused by the left at work in public discourse?  Is the homosexual agenda being shoved down everyone’s throat an example of discrimination against people of faith?  Or is it something even more dire than that?

Is any Christian, like myself, supposed to just take it when my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is being made fun of, cursed at, defiled against, defamed, verbally abused and slandered?

What about when such things are being done at an alarming rate against Christian believers here in America?  What about the homosexual activist lawsuits being levied against Christian owners of businesses (with our tax dollars!) where the leftist “judges” rule in favor of their buddies involved in the radical homosexual agenda…and where they go so far as to impose fines that are intended to bankrupt them and destroy their livelihoods?

How about the physical abuse and atrocities?  Do I need to list them all?  Are we supposed to stay silent about beheadings of Christians and death threats happening around the world by the bloody hands of Islamic terrorists?

What about the all-out targeting and destruction of hundreds of Christian churches in the Middle East/ North Africa and the ancient religious artifacts being smashed to ruins by Islamic terrorists?  Are we supposed to stay silent and just take it?

You would think so…when it comes to the Ozero BADministration.  They could care less!!

Then, we have Hollyweird and certain TV shows that purposely enjoy cursing the name of Jesus Christ and write into their scripts things like, “don’t you know that Christianity is almost illegal in Northern California?”

People who aren’t paying attention to the real, and no longer just “imagined,” criminalization of Christianity usually just shrug off these examples as “entertainment” and don’t really think that their sick “humor” harms anyone.  They ignore the fact that such threats are increasing and are real.

The clueless and ignorant think that the deadly attacks are only “happening over there” and many ignore the dire warnings (like the recently thwarted Islamic terrorist attack in Texas) that they have already infiltrated the United States.

Well, deadly intentions against our nation and the attacks being planned ARE real; and I have previously written about the dangers of such instances here at this blog.

Not enough examples? How about The Religion of Peace website list?

What is also perplexing (and often disturbing) to me here in America is the media’s avoidance of “ridiculing Islam” while whole-heartedly (blackened-heartedly – that is!) they mock, defame, curse at, and denigrate the Christian faith.

What is also disheartening to me is when one is a guest at another’s home and the supposed “comedy” show that we are watching continually takes the name of the Lord Jesus in vain; even adding a dirty and vulgar insult such as saying “mother-f-er” after cursing the name of Jesus!  Awful, disgusting and degrading…to say the least!

I was recently in such a situation and I refused to take it anymore, so I got up and went into another room where thankfully, there was another TV where I could watch something else.

People who laugh about such insults are either oblivious to the hurt this causes true believers or, they just don’t care.

Such insults are not new, but they have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past 6/1/2 years. Want to take a guess why? I know…you all know why.

In another example, I recently watched a movie called, “Ride” directed by and starring Helen Hunt.  The movie was good – for the most part – but lost something when Hunt chose to use the name of Jesus when expressing negative feelings or anger throughout the film.  That spoiled the message of the movie for me.  Was it really necessary to include that?  She certainly wasn’t saying His name as a form of worship.  No  respect for Jesus in the film!  But guess which “prophet” Hunt would never, EVER even THINK of ridiculing?

What is it about taking the name of the Lord in vain that releases anger or makes one relieved when they are frustrated about a situation?  Do they feel some sort of satisfaction or even happiness afterwards?  I doubt it.  In fact, they are probably oblivious to how bad it is to do that against God and have allowed themselves to be numb about the dangerous effects of cursing Him.

One of the Ten Commandments from God is, “do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”  So, why do certain people do that?  Why do people laugh at comedy shows which choose to blaspheme the Lord’s name?  I can’t even understand how anyone would find satisfaction in doing that!

There can be dozens of reasons.  But I sincerely believe that those who choose to curse the name of God do so because their souls are lost.  Most have rejected Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross at Calvary as “foolishness” and ignore (or even ridicule) the belief that what Christ achieved on the cross was, and is, THE ONLY WAY to be redeemed and reconciled back unto God.

There is always mercy, grace, and forgiveness when one repents and asks Jesus into their heart as Lord and Savior. It’s to bad that there are so few that find it. How do I know this? Because Jesus told us.

Mat 7:13

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Mat 7:14

“Because [fn] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 

YES!!

Got questions?

Jesus is the answer!

 

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.

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Hat tips to all links.

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How To Know God Personally [Click on link to discover the principles!]

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ…


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