THANKS, AND NO THANKS

There are many things we can be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. However, there are some things for which I can’t be thankful.

I am not thankful for sin. Adulterers, child molesters, drug addicts, fornicators, homosexuals, lesbians, murderers, porn addicted, sex-traffickers, swindlers, transvestites, wife beaters all of us are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Yet we all do matter to God.

While we are alive, though, we have an opportunity to turn from our wicked ways and turn our lives around and get right with and to walk with Almighty God through Jesus Christ. I am very thankful for that!

I am not thankful for the growing prominence of the secular-humanist religion in our culture, which has been for some time and is incessantly trying at ever twist and turn to replace and even destroy Christianity and its great past and potential influence on our culture and society.

I am not thankful for the rampant hedonism in our culture today. Pleasing self is not the highest achievement man can obtain. Teaching K-12 school children anything-goes pornographic sex-education is counterproductive to building a fair, moral, wholesome and just society.

I am not thankful for the Leftists' version of tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism, which only tends to divide us as a nation.

But I am thankful I still can live in a nation founded on Christian and biblical principle and values and which has the potential to be renewed and restored. But that must begin individually, one person at a time.

Let it begin with me.

"Gay Pride,” A Double Dose of Debauchery

Sin in the City

Columbus, Ohio 2016 "Gay Pride" Parade

Columbus Dispatch Photo

There was a so-called “Gay Pride Parade” in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. It is billed as the second largest such display, apparently second only to Sodom and Gomorrah.

I had tried to join a group of protesters on Saturday morning, but I left too late from home and ran into a literal herd of lifeless humans, walking like Zombies, drawn as if by some evil force to Goodale Park, the final destination of the parade. I could not find a parking space so I gave up on joining the Christian group of 20 or 30 who gathered to give God a voice in the madness. But Satan’s minions, marchers and gawkers greatly outnumbered the people of the Judeo-Christian God, the modern day Gideon’s Army.

The fact is we are all sinners, depraved by nature. We are born that way. Without the cleansing of our sin, which we can only obtain when we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, who died for our sin and the sin of all mankind, we remain in a lost condition, eternally separated from God. Until we trust our lives to God through Jesus are part of Satan’s gaggle.

In other words, unless we agree with God that we are filthy sinners personally, take responsibility and turn from our evil ways, and personally invite Jesus into our life, and relinquish control of our lives to Him, we are lost.

Every one of us is a sinner. We are either saved sinners or we are lost sinners.

The list of what qualifies us as sinners is extensive and includes, but not limited to one or more of the following: Adultery, Blasphemy, Child Abuse, Drug Abuse, Envy, Fornication, Gossip, Homosexuality, Infanticide, Jealousy, Lesbianism, Lying, Pornography Addiction, Pride, Sexual Depravity, Slander, Transvestitism,  etc.

Well the term “Gay Pride” itself calls attention to two sins which are on the aforementioned list, homosexuality and pride. Both quality as sins in Gods as He has enumerated in the Bible, His ultimate truth revealed to mankind.

This parade, and those which are like it, show of uninhibited immorality in open rebellion to God’s law and order. Homosexual behavior involves the misuse of God’s design and intended purpose of sexuality. Then to deliberately flaunt that moral depravity for all to see, to parade that perversion for all to view, including children of all ages, compounds the sin. It adds insult to injury. God is insulted and innocent children are injured. And the sinner suffers eternally.

 The moral of this story is that “Gay Pride” is shooting at God with a double barrel shot gun, proudly flaunting sexual depravity. It’s a double dose of sin, it offends and insults God, and it can cause irrefutable damage to the innocence of children who are exposed to it. It is pure selfishness, arrogance.  It serves no useful purpose.   

Good News, Not Sanitized News

Some people say that the Gospel is a message which only about peace, goodwill, grace, and happiness.  They argue that when you are witnessing to someone, you shouldn’t mention hell or talk about how bad sin is.  They point out that hell and the consequences of sin are bad news, but the word gospel means “good news”.  Actually a better translation of the word “euangelion” is a message well done.  That is, it isn’t the news itself that is good, but it is the one telling it who does a good job at delivering the message.

Suppose the witness to a horrific crime were to accurately describe what he saw to the authorities and that his testimony were to lead to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.  The witness’ testimony is good, but not pleasant.  What makes the testimony good is that it is the truth and that it led to the conviction of the criminal.  It is not that the testimony provoked a warm fuzzy feeling or anything like that.

Similarly, the Gospel is good news because it is the truth and because it leads to the conviction of a sinner.  To be sure, the Gospel is an optimistic message.  The promise of heaven and freedom from sin is the most positive message that there has ever been.  But this is lost if you don’t first learn the law of sin and death.  The apostle Paul writes,

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." ⁸ But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. ¹² Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. ¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7:7-13 (NKJV)

Isaiah wrote:

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Isaiah 30:10-13 (KJV)

Paul wrote to Timothy :

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (KJV)

Michael Sam: Progressive Promotion of Sodomy

Warning:  The following article is not politically correct. If you can’t deal with the truth, then please discontinue reading and go back to watching Desperate Housewives or whatever.

I am appalled at the prolific positive promotion of homosexuality in our culture, which is so rampant today. This perverse progressive agenda is being fueled by those bent on destroying the foundations or traditional American values and virtues. Not happy just having desensitized the consciences of millions of people via their movies, music, video games, and television to the immorality and negative aspects of homosexuality, they desire to infect all of our culture. This ungodly ideology has crept into our schools and colleges advancing a lifestyle that is deadly to individuals and to society as a whole.

The liberal left now has set their sights on making inroads into sports arena. It is not enough that professional sports tolerate and accept drug abusers, wife beaters, and cheaters. Now they want us to accept those who practice unnatural, unhealthy and abnormal homosexual behavior. Apparently so hungry to gain a foothold into sports, they have glorified a borderline player vaunting him to a status way above what his skill on the football field deserves. I have heard only rapturous reports on NPR and even ESPN following Michael Sam's every move from his low round draft pick to his pre-season exploits to his failure to make the final cut of the profession team that drafted him. He’s been treated as if he were some kind of hero or star.

What next? Will the progressive left proclaim a pedophile, a porn star, or a serial purse snatcher as the first of his or her kind to play in a sport? It is a sad commentary on the state of our society when we elevate any sinner to that status of saint, which many in our society have done in the case of Michael Sam.  I admit that I too am a sinner as every human being is. We should not glorify wanton immoral behavior of any kind, be it fornication, pornographic addiction, drug abuse, child abuse, theft, adultery, or homosexuality. In doing so it only further weakens the moral fabric and foundation of our already shaky society.

Sin Hurts

Sin Hurts by Dr. Patrick Johnston    One of the devil's tricks is, "This is good for you." Isn't that what he told Eve in the Garden of Eden? "This is good to eat. It'll make you wise. It'll make you like God."       It's a seductive lie. It's never right or good to disobey God. Never. Women like Marla, whose unfortunate story is told below, frequently fall prey to the physician's argument that this abortion is "good for you." Marla's death during her abortion is a sad memorial to how sin sprouts out of the soil of lies, and breeds misery and destruction. Pro-life groups, unfortunately, have fallen prey to the same lie. They think that it's good to justify some abortions in our pro-life legislation. They think that maternal health, rape, or incest justify the killing of an innocent child. They think that exceptions to the divine commandment "Thou shalt not kill" are necessary in order to do "the greater good." Don't believe the lie that abortion is sometimes good for women. Abortion hurts - always. Dr. Johnston preached recently at Amsterdam Church of God in Amsterdam, Ohio, and his sermon was entitled "Sin Hurts."  Click the title to listen to the sermon. You'll also hear testimonies from the pastor's wife and two other woman on how sin brought them suffering. God gave us His law because He loves us. He wants what's best for us. Deuteronomy 5:28 reveals that He wants us to obey His commandments so that it will go well with us and our children. God's way is always best, and not just abortion, but all sin always hurts.  Marla's Shocking Story Marla Cardamone was 18 and pregnant. She would not make it to 19. A medical counselor told Marla that the medication she had been taking would cause her baby to be born with severe birth defects. They recommended an abortion. At first, Marla refused, but their pressure to abort the baby increased. They told her that her baby would probably die anyway, and if the baby survived, it would be deformed and suffer. The abortionist aborted her baby - and Marla! Looks like "safe and legal" is not that safe after all. Following Marla's death, it was determined that her baby was normal. This is Marla, before and after her abortion. She died from abortion-related septicemia (infection).

These photos are used with the permission of Marla's family. They want the world to know what "safe and legal" abortion did to their child and grandchild, in hopes that it won't happen again. This video is of an interview of Marla's mother about the death of her daughter.   To read the stories of other women killed by abortion, click here. (The information about Marla is taken from a Life Dynamics tract entitled "Safe & Legal.")

Obama Signs Monsanto Protection Act

There are a lot of people, both Christians and non-Christians who are upset about how genetically modified foods (GMO's).  From a biblical perspective, we know that God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in them in six days.  In the beginning everything was perfect.  Though we live in a fallen world now, man's efforts to re-engineer God's creation into something better is bound to fail.  There are instances in which the consequences of man's sin can be temporary alleviated by technological advances, but to destroy God's creation in this manner will result in disastrous consequences in the long run.  This is all being driven by greed. Monsanto produces genetically modified seeds which are resistant to Round-Up so that the crops can be sprayed with this poison which Monsanto also produces and sells.  Thus it is both the pesticide and the fact that the food comes from a genetically modified organism which are a danger to the American public.  There may be many diseases that are caused by GMO's--especially digestive disorders. We have yet to see the worst of this because children (including the unborn) are more susceptible to these problems. This is yet another proof that Barack Obama has no respect for live, God's word, or morality.

For some guidance (but not full-proof protection) on how to spot GMO produce click here.  As the video points out, Europe has virtually banned GMO's.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Matt 24:7 (KJV)

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matt 24:12 (KJV)

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Matt 24:19 (KJV)

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Matt 24:22 (KJV)

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Rev 6:6-8 (KJV)

Perpetuating the Great Homosexual Lie at Eastertime No Less

Here are my comments in response to a very provocative, essentially misleading article, “The Fascinating ‘Science’ of Homosexuality/Lesbianism,” which I read this morning on Alternet.org, a very partisan liberal agenda-promoting not-nearly-the-news website.

“The Fascinating ‘Science’ of Homosexuality/Lesbianism”: Fact or Fantasy?  

Yes, the question of whether being a homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgendered is a CHOICE or NOT is being battled around. Desperate to justify unnatural, unhealthy, abnormal, and immoral behavior and lifestyle, the LGBT community seeks a ‘scientific’ explanation for mankind’s and their universal predisposition to sin.

Is there a gene or biological explanation that predisposes a person to adultery, to fornication, to thievery, to pornography, to lying, to embezzlement, to rape, to pedophilia, etc.? No, there is not. Man as a species is fallen. He is naturally prone to sin. From the beginning of time he has tried to justify his behavior, or misbehavior. 

The homosexual or the heterosexual, we are all the same, are sinners destined for separation from God here on earth and for all eternity. However, each person has an opportunity to change, to be transformed, and to overcome the effect of sin in our lives. This is made possible only by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event being celebrated this very Easter weekend. 

Jesus’ crucifixion, His death, His burial, and His eventual supernatural resurrection offer all of us hope and forgiveness of our sin. We must individually acknowledge our sin and separation and our unworthiness and then accept God’s Resource at Christ’s Expanse (which is GRACE)…

This weekend contemplate the fascinating account of redemption from the sin that keeps us from full fellowship with God…

This weekend make a decision to follow the risen Savior and quit simply following after the vain pleasures of this world…

Debauchery-in-Motion

Today’s Columbus (Ohio) Homosexual / Lesbian “Pride” Parade
Columbus Dispatch Online Photo

Conscience, Compromise and the Sacredness of Your Vote

I had a conversation a few days ago with some Republicans about voting your conscience.  I argued that I could not vote for any Republican except Ron Paul and would vote for a third party or independent candidate or no one at all if the Republican Party did not nominate Ron Paul.  I told them that I had not voted for any Republican or Democrat for President in the general election since Bob Dole (and that I would even take that vote back if I could because it was an unacceptable compromise).  We argued about whether there is a real difference between Obama and the Republican establishment candidates.  We argued about whether the United States would last as nation longer with the Republicans in power or the Democrats.  I argued that the Republican establishment has supported No Child Left Behind, Medicare part D, and even the funding of Planned Parenthood while they had control of all federal branches of government. I challenged them to tell me even one instance where they repealed a bad law previously enacted by the Democrats during those six years. The Bush tax cut law was the only thing that they could come up with.  But I argued that this is meaningless if spending is not also cut (and in fact, it wasn't).  If spending is not cut, then you (or your grandchildren) are eventually going have pay back that extra money anyway.  I also contended that God is in control, he is more powerful than Obama, so we don't have worry about him being reelected.  Just do the right thing, and let God manage the consequences.

They argued that you don't have to endorse everything that a candidate believes in order to vote for that candidate.  I agreed because no two people on earth are going agree on everything, but where do draw the line?  What if Hitler was the Republican nominee?  Would you still be saying, "That Hitler is really bad, but we just can't let that Obama get back in office!!!"  The only sensible place to draw the line is this:

If a candidate has clearly demonstrated that he intends to use the power of his office for evil in any instance, then voting for this candidate should be out of the question.

Very simple, isn't it?  You may not agree with everything that a candidate believes, but if you vote for a candidate that intends to use his power to promote sin, then you are participating in the evil that is accomplished if that candidate takes office.  The Bible teaches us not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers" and "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."  Clearly, there is no difference between voting for such a candidate, and doing these evil things yourself.  This does not mean that the candidate must be in favor of the particular punishment that you think is fit for particular sin, or even if that particular sin should be against the law at all, as long as the minimum standards of Biblical justice are upheld.  This does not even mean that you can't vote for candidate who has used his power for evil in the past--for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  But if a candidate has clearly demonstrated a pattern of using his power to promote wicked behavior, and shows no remorse for what he has done and does not even acknowledge that what he has done is evil, but instead defends it--it is then unreasonable to vote for that candidate regardless of how wicked any opposing candidates may be.

Violating the Constitution is a form of lawlessness and lawlessness is sin. I am not saying to vote for Ron Paul--I am struggling with this decision myself--he is a borderline candidate.  But please, please do not vote Santorum, Gingrich, or Romney in the primary or the general election.  There is no question that they are unacceptable.  They have no respect for the Constitution.  They have all supported legislation which funds abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.  Send them a message that they can't get away with it!  Please, stop and think about this before voting!

MURDER, UNINCORPORATED, PART TWO

You can read last week’s post, Murder, Unincorporated, Part One if you haven’t done so already. Today, we look at the operation of sin and evil in the world in more recent times.

The craft of murder expands

The Apostle Paul writes that sin entered into the world when Adam disobeyed God. Sin was in existence before the disobedience of Adam. Death and sinfulness then passed upon all people.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12).

Satan has a kingdom made up of the people of this world.

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand (Luke 11:18a)?

Jesus is saying in this statement that Satan has a kingdom. He is the god of this world.

in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, (II Corinthians 4:4a).

Jesus specifically did not pray for the world for He is not of the world nor are those who believe on Him.

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, (John 17:9). I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:14). I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (John 17:15). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:16).

Jesus speaking to the Pharisees (devout religionists) said that they were of their father the devil and would do his desires which included murder.

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:42-45).

Today many people hate Christians in the United States of America. These Christians would include such notables as Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, those of the Tea Party, and others. Those doing the hating would include the many members of the news media, many democrats, atheists, and others. These are under the leadership of Satan and doing his bidding.

The notable Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., President of the Teamsters Union said the Tea Party should be “taken out.” This is a phrase usually calling for physical violence against someone which often includes killing them. I remember watching a war movie in which the commander called in artillery fire on a machine gun emplacement and he said, “Take them out.” Artillery shells began exploding on the emplacement and soon all that were there died.

Hoffa and the unions appear to have a symbiotic relationship with the Democratic Party. Together they act like a parasite on the United States of America destroying the very nation in which they live through the policies and laws which they pass and the judges which they appoint. Scripture says that Satan weakens the nations. These are following Satan in weakening this nation. Are you one of them? Jesus said that a nation divided against itself will not stand. I think that those who want to destroy this country smell blood in the water.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations (Isaiah 14:12)!

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth (Luke 11:17).

If you do not want to go down with the ship (country) I recommend that you repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your heart. A sample prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ forgive me of my sins and come into my heart.”

MURDER, UNINCORPORATED, PART ONE

The craft of murder starts

When did murder begin?

Jesus said that the devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44b).

 “He was a murderer from the beginning.”

Was the devil created by God as a murderer? 

God says in His word that the one who is now the devil was created as a cherub and was perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:14,15).  

          “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

When was the beginning?

Jesus said that at the beginning God made them male and female (Matthew 19:4).

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,”   

This means that the beginning was the creation of heaven and earth and all that is in it.

As Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”  This is then referring to the entire week of creation and the day God rested.  It is a summary statement at the beginning of the creation account.

In John 1:1 we read that the Word was in the beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This “was” means prior existence to the beginning.  In the same way Satan “was” a murderer from the beginning indicates him as being a murderer before the beginning, which is creation. 

In what way did Satan murder?

First, he wanted to be greater than God.  We read of this in Isaiah 14:12-15.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

 For thou hast said in thine heart,

I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

          I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

          I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Secondly, he got a third of God’s angels to follow him in revolt against God (Revelation 12:4a).

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth;

These angels died spiritually and will eventually be thrown into the Lake Of  Fire.

Thirdly Satan got Adam and Eve to disobey God and thereby die.

          But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:17).  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (Genesis 3:4):   And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3:6).

This one act of disobedience caused separation of Adam and Eve from God, which is to die spiritually.  They were turned from immortal to mortal and their bodies began to die.  Adam died 930 years later (Genesis 5:5).  As a result we are all born into this world separated from God.   We are then all sinners by this one act of disobedience and subject to death.  Have you noticed?  There are not too many people who do not die.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).

Through the sinlessness, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, who is the Christ, God paid for the right to offer each human eternal life.

          For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Each one of us can have eternal life by confessing to God of being a sinner (repentance) and inviting Jesus into ones heart.  A sample payer is “Lord Jesus Christ forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.”

The craft of murder expands - to be continued

Why Evil Exists in the World Today, Part 5

We see evil all around us today. TV, newspapers, and radio all chronicle the ravages of evil. I am continuing a new series today, taking a break from my current series, “Armor of God.”

If you wanted someone to love you, wouldn’t you want them to love you of their own free will, rather than because they had no other choice?

Satan Sinned
.
The Devil, who is Satan, a word which means advisory, also called Lucifer was the first to sin. He is the anointed cherub.

Isaiah 14:12-17, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Ezekiel 28:11-19, “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Satan's ultimate fate will be that he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, as will all those who follow him. There in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death, Satan and his followers will be tormented by fire forever. (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 14:9-11, 20:10-15)

Why Evil Exists in the World Today, Part 4

We see evil all around us today. TV, newspapers, and radio all chronicle the ravages of evil. I am continuing a new series today, taking a brief break from my current series, “Armor of God.”

If you wanted someone to love you; wouldn’t you want them to love you of their own free will, rather than because they had no other choice?

God once destroyed the world through a world-wide flood

God Destroys Nations for Their Sins

God brings calamity on the nations that sin. As Scripture notes in Psalm 9:17, “The wicked will be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.”

In Ezekiel 14:12-23 we read, “The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
“If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
“Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast: Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.”

Leviticus 18:27, 28, “(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spews not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spewed out the nations that were before you.

Do you think God could destroy the United States because of our sin? What is keeping God from judging or destroying America for its great sins such as our practice of nearly unlimited abortions, our condoning of homosexuality, and our rampant immortality?

 

Why Evil Exists in the World Today, Part 2

We see evil all around us today. TV, newspapers, and radio all chronicle the ravages of evil. I am continuing in a new series today, taking a brief break from my current series, “Armor of God.”

If you wanted someone to love you; wouldn’t you want them to love you of their own free will, rather than because they had no other choice?

God Provided the Human Race with A Choice: To Obey God or To Disobey God

God accomplished giving mankind a choice at the time of creation. He created the Garden of Eden and put in it the Tree of Life and also the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Genesis 2:15-17, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Satan used the serpent to deceive Eve. She chose to disobey God by eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam, who was not deceived, also disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

I Timothy 2:14, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

This was how sin originated in mankind. The source of temptation was Satan, who is the personification of evil. Eve, then Adam, succumbed to the temptation and sinned. Human nature has been fallen ever since.

RECALL NOTICE

I got this from a friend...

We here [sic] of recalls nearly everyday in the media . . . this is one they may never post, but seems to make sense to me!  Enjoy!

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. 

Some of the symptoms include: 

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. 

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. 
 
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
 
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes. 

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus. 
 
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention! 
 
- GOD 
 
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!  
 
Because He Lives!

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Luke 12:25 ESV

Street Preachers

Last week, a group of friends of mine had a discussion about certain street preachers who frequent the U.C. campus. The majority of the group spoke against them because of their offensiveness and ineffectiveness and because their message drives people further away from the truth and causes them to sin. I have never heard these particular preachers preach, so I cannot judge them one way or the other, but I took the opposite view, partly for the sake of argument, partly because I think that most preaching goes too far in the opposite extreme, and partly because I’m just plain ornery. There were two specific points mentioned about the preachers that the group found objectionable. They told specific people that they had committed certain sins and that they wore T-shirts which said “Repent Pervert”. (There may have been others which I don’t remember.) I will get to these objections later, but first I want to clarify my position.

It is wrong to rejoice in the fact that other people are going to hell. It is wrong to tell people that they are going to hell without explaining the reason why. (The reason is that they have committed sins which greatly offend God.) Those who preach just to be seen by men have received their reward in full. Accusing people of committing sins, not knowing that the accusation is true, is slander, which is a sin. It is also wrong to present God as only being a God of wrath, and leaving out the part about his goodness and loving nature. If these preachers are doing any of these things, then I totally agree that they are doing more harm than good.

But, on the other hand, if the only objection is that they exposed sinful sexual behavior for the filthy and shameful thing that it is, then I do not agree. This was done over and over throughout both the Old and New Testaments. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with preaching about hell either. Jesus did it. How can anyone understand the significance of the death of Jesus if they aren’t convinced that it saves people from shame and hell? If saving people from hell is one of the most important reasons for witnessing to someone, isn’t it being disingenuous to leave that out of the message? In his sermon on the mount, Jesus preached about both sexual sin and hell, but did not mention either his own death on the cross or being the Son of God. On many occasions Jesus actually told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah (e.g. Matthew 16:20) or about him dying on the cross because the people weren’t ready for this message yet. This is also why Jesus had a forerunner who preached a message of repentance first.

Someone said that Jesus only preached that way to the religious leaders. I do not agree with that argument. Jesus often preached more harshly to “teachers of the law”, scribes, “experts in the law” and Pharisees, but they are not the only ones he preached convicting messages to. (Not all Pharisees were “religious leaders”.) Jesus preached against sexual sins and warned of hell several times in sermons addressed to general audiences.

I don’t agree with the argument that the “Repent Pervert” T-shirt is wrong because it would drive people away from the truth or that no one would ever come to Christ because of such a statement. I guess I’m just weird. I am actually attracted by provocative statements such as this. Even if I know that I disagree with someone’s point of view, I tend to want to listen them more if they display some evidence that they are passionate about what they believe in.

I pointed out that after Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (John 6:53, KJV), many no longer followed him (John 6:66). Also, Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. Jesus could have had more followers if he had attended a “Developing Interpersonal Relationships” seminar, but that isn’t the point. There are lot passages which teach that it is better to fail at making a true convert than to succeed at making a false one. The Canaanite woman said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.” (Mark 7:28, KJV) This beautiful expression of humility would never have happened if Jesus hadn’t called her a dog.

Quoting Matthew 18:6 (or Mark 9:42 or Luke 17:2), one person said that this type of preaching would cause people to sin. But these passages refer to “offending one of these little ones that believe in me”, not causing adult unbelievers to sin, which is what we were talking about. The same principle applies to a certain extent, but how does wearing a “Repent Pervert” T-shirt cause someone to sin? In order for this argument to be valid, you must give a Biblical proof of this or at least give an example of an instance in which this actually happened to someone. Even if making a statement about how God abhors sin causes someone to sin, this does not count as “causing someone to sin” in the sense Jesus was talking about. For Paul said:

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead…But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

Romans 7:7-13 (KJV)

I am assuming that no one believes that street preaching itself is wrong, but only the manner in which these particular preachers were addressing their listeners. (I think someone said that it is better to speak to someone you know in a one-on-one conversation. This may be better in some situations for some Christians, but there are many, many, examples of preachers addressing large crowds of people probably not known to the speaker in the Bible. So why not do it today?) I also want to point out that there is nothing wrong with showmanship in street preaching. Some preachers may do this to draw attention to themselves, but it can be done with pure motives and draw attention to Christ in way that is not sinful. Ezekiel laid siege to a brick, laid on his left side for 390 days, laid on his right side for 40 days, and baked bread over cow’s dung to send the people God’s message (Ezekiel 4). Ezekiel was only responsible for delivering the message, not for people accepting it.

Finally, I will address the point made about pointing out certain people in the crowd and saying that they had committed a certain sin (or was committing it). Generally this would be wrong because you couldn’t know that someone had committed that sin if you don’t know them. But if, for example, a young woman in the crowd was scantily dressed, then it would be entirely appropriate to call her a fornicator. This is a much more clearly appropriate instance in which you should criticize someone for causing someone else to sin. Jesus said:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:27-30 (KJV)

In defense of the group, I would have to say that I tend to lean more the style of the Way of the Master than the preachers we were talking about. Instead of telling people they are sinners and telling them to repent, Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort ask you if you have committed certain sins and then ask you how you think God (being just) will judge you. But this is a relatively subtle point and is not an absolute rule by any means. I also like Paul Washer.

In conclusion, I believe that the majority of preachers unnecessarily avoid controversial topics and effective teaching methods because they are so afraid of offending people. There are far fewer who are preaching a message which is too harsh. There is nothing wrong with preaching against sexual sins or about hell in a provocative manner. You shouldn’t worry for offensiveness about whether a message would drive someone further away from God if that is the only reason. The number of people who respond positively to a message in the short run is not the true measure of its success. Showmanship can be used in a beneficial way when preaching the gospel. You can’t fault someone for pointing out someone else’s sin if it is done in a loving manner and the sin actually happened.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalms 2:11 (KJV)

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalms 147:11 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

Isaiah 30:9-11 (KJV)

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Acts 24:25 (KJV)

And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

2 Corinthians 7:15 (KJV)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12 (KJV)