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Michael Knowles is Right. Transgenderism Must Be Eradicated
Michael Knowles is in boiling H2O for his recent remarks on transgenderism at CPAC.
Of course, the usual suspects couldn’t contain themselves. Rolling Stone and Variety immediately wrote that Knowles was calling for genocide. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused Knowles of “calling for the eradication of transgender people.” Media Matters called it “eliminationist, genocidal rhetoric.” I could go on and on but you get the idea. That wasn’t at all what Knowles said. He clearly said that the ideology of transgenderism is what needs to be eradicated. But why should a detail like that that get in the way of the screaming meemies on the left.
That said, I completely, absolutely, 100% agree with Michael Knowles. Transgenderism is a plague on this country and on our society and must be pulled up by its evil, Satanic roots and completely destroyed before it destroys us. If it sounds alarmist that’s because it is. By kowtowing to the transgender activists and their twisted ideology, we are in the process reordering our society around the whims of those suffering from a mental illness. Yes, mental illness. Gender dysphoria is a mental illness (as Casey Stengel once said, you could look it up) and should be treated as such.
Here are just a few of the many examples of the damage transgenderism has done so far. Most people are probably aware of the most well-known case of men invading what used to be women only spaces, Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania. “Lia” was a mediocre male swimmer who couldn’t cut it competing against other men so he (I refuse to use she because she isn’t a she) decided to call himself a woman and…well, whaddaya know…world records followed.
Unfortunately the University of Pennsylvania and the NCAA didn’t tell the other female swimmers that a biological man would be allowed in their dressing room. When the other girls expressed their displeasure and disapproval, they were called bigots and transphobes. Those who spoke out were told that if they felt uncomfortable with a naked man in their locker room, the girls are the ones who should seek counseling. And, oh by the way, shut up or you’ll never get into grad school.
That’s just the best-known case. The girls’ basketball team at a Christian school in Vermont refused to play a game against an opponent that had a
transgender girlboy playing on the team. “The Vermont Principals Association ruled that Mid Vermont Christian School had violated policies and is ineligible to participate in future tournaments that it sanctions. The move applies to all sports.”
At a swimming pool in Calgary, Alberta, a parent who was waiting outside a local pool for his daughter was told there was a naked man in the locker room. When the man complained he was told he could speak to the manager, but the naked man was protected under the human rights act.
“The concerned parent said he wasn’t the only one at the pool who had questions, but he was the only one willing to speak up at the time the incident occurred. He had questions for the lifeguard on duty.
“I asked her if she had any kids and she said yes a 7-year-old daughter, I asked if she would be ok with this man using the same changing room as her daughter and she couldn’t answer that question, just kept telling me he’s protected under the human rights (act),” the concerned parent said.”
There’s a parent already beaten into submission. Meanwhile, back in Vermont:
“[D]rama erupted this season as biological females from the Randolph High School volleyball team when a biological male made inappropriate comments while changing with the biological females.
The station reports parents and athletes raised concerns with the school and that’s when the wheels of the transgender freight train were put in motion.
The biological females were the problem.
An email was sent out to families explaining Vermont law. The email stated there is “plenty of space where students who feel uncomfortable with the laws may change in privacy.”
That’s right, if you’re a biological female who doesn’t feel comfortable changing in a locker room with a biological male, that’s a YOU problem and it’s on YOU to find a new place to change.”
I guess in a state that’s crazy enough to keep electing Bernie Sanders anything’s possible.
And then there is possible the most grievous and disturbing story of where this headlong descent into the abyss of transgenderism can lead. It comes from the infamous Loudon County in Virginia where a father was dragged out of a School Board meeting and arrested after accusing the Board of covering up the rape of his teenage daughter in a high school bathroom.
“The shocking account of the sexual assault of the ninth-grade girl was first reported by The Daily Wire. The report included accusations that school board officials tried to squelch the story because it threatened to undercut support for a new policy to treat transgender students according to their chosen sex.
Scott Smith, the girl’s father, reacted angrily at a June 22 school board meeting when board members claimed to have no records of any assaults in school bathrooms. Law enforcement officials physically dragged Mr. Smith out of the room before he made any public statements to the board.”
If that wasn’t bad enough
“The boy accused of assaulting Mr. Smith’s daughter was later charged with sexually assaulting another girl at a different school in the county, the father later told Fox News Channel.”
Sickening. And that’s just the damage transgenderism is doing to those who are subject to people with gender dysphoria. What about the serious and often irreversible harm done to those who suffer from it?
“The youth victims of trans ideology are perhaps the most tragic. The cross-sex hormones given to minors are associated with severe joint pain, osteoporosis, compromised immune systems, thrombosis, heart attack, stroke, and infertility. The bodies of gender dysphoric people are irrevocably damaged before they can legally drink, drive, buy a scratch-off ticket, see an R-rated movie, and, most importantly, before their brains are fully developed and they’ve undergone puberty. If ever they change their minds (which most eventually do), there’s often no reversing the damage that’s been done.”
“The hormones and surgeries do not fix gender-confused people’s psychological turmoil, which is why they suffer from disturbingly high rates of suicide, depression, and self-harm. One study found that more than 50 percent of “trans and non-binary youth” in the U.S. considered suicide in 2022.”
This sums it up perfectly.
“Transgender ideology is dangerous to women, children, and gender dysphoric individuals. It destroys people’s minds and bodies and is, without a doubt, cancerous to society. Michael Knowles is absolutely correct; it needs to be eradicated.”
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Rick Warren Responds to the SBC
Rick Warren has responded to last month’s decision by the Southern Baptist Convention that said Saddleback Church, the California megachurch of which Warren is the former pastor, was no longer in friendly cooperation with the Convention” for having a woman on its pastoral staff. Warren’s remarks were made on a March 8 podcast with Russell Moore.
There’s a lot to dig into here so let’s begin. Warren made it clear that he knows Saddleback is in defiance of what is called the SBC’s Baptist Faith and Mission statement, which reads:
“Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”
Warren’s position is that the SBC needs Saddleback a lot more than Saddleback needs the SBC (full of himself much?) and he would just as soon leave, but he’s going to appeal the decision anyway. Magnanimous Rick must stand up for the little guy.
“In my heart of hearts, I just want to walk away from it. You don’t want to be where you’re not wanted, right? OK. I knew last year at the Convention, but I don’t… I don’t think I can do that. I think that’s a selfish thing to do. I think I need to stand up for the pastors who are scared to death by this inquisition, and I think I need to stand up for the millions of godly Southern Baptist women whose gifts and leadership skills are being stymied.”
Two things. Inquisition? Really? The SBC statement that only men are to be pastors is akin the Catholic Church torturing and persecuting Jews and Muslims in the 12th century? Puhleeeeze. Second, nobody’s gifts and leadership skills are being stymied. Women just can’t exercise their gifts and skills in the office of pastor. Other ministries in the church are wide open, just not the position of pastor. Why is that so hard to get? Scripture couldn’t possibly be any clearer than it is:
“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12.
Not clear enough? 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 say much the same thing, but remembering these are letters written by Paul and weren’t broken up into chapter and verse originally, let’s take it back to verse 33 and get the context. Then it reads:
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the law says.”
Again, crystal clear. But apparently not. Warren sees some discrepancy there.
“This is not a battle between liberals and conservatives. All the liberals left a long time ago [apparently not]. Everybody in the SBC believes in the inerrancy of scripture [again, apparently not]. Now we’re talking about difference of interpretation. Those particular passages from Titus, Timothy and Corinthians have hundreds, literally hundreds of interpretations.”
Now, I’m not a megachurch pastor or the self-proclaimed defender of all the victims of the SBC’s inquisition, but it seems to me that “do not allow” and “are not permitted” don’t leave room for any interpretation, let alone hundreds. But what do I know. The passage in Titus he’s referring to calls for elders to be “the husband of one wife” Titus 1:6. Again, not a lot of wiggle room there either.
Warren moved on to some tactics that have become all too familiar in our culture, usually coming from those who know their argument isn’t on very solid ground. First, the old whataboutism.
“It’s not an accident that the same voices that said we cannot protect women from abuse because of the autonomy of the local church are the same voices that are saying, but we can prevent them from being called pastors. … The autonomy only matters if it’s convenient for you.”
Maybe if Warren had been paying attention he would have noticed that one of the churches found to be not in cooperation with the SBC at the same time as Saddleback, Freedom Church in Vero Beach FL, was because the church refused to cooperate with the SBC in regards to an investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse within the church. Oops. Looks like the SBC can walk and chew gum at the same time. Nice try, Rick.
That failed to pass muster, so let’s go with the old tried and true motive for just about everything. Racism.
“For hundreds of years, Black Baptist churches have been ordaining women as bishops, as pastors, as prophets, as apostles as elders, as deaconesses. If this is true, the SBC is holding up a sign that says, ‘All Black churches look elsewhere.’”
Shameful.
When all else fails in an argument about religion, slam those nasty, old fundamentalist Christians.
“A hundred years ago, I would’ve called myself a fundamentalist, because in the 1920s, it meant you hold the historic doctrines of the church, the blood atonement of Christ, the authority of Scripture, all the basic cardinal doctrines of evangelical Protestantism.
“But that word has changed because now we have fundamental Muslims, fundamental Buddhists. We have fundamental atheists, we have fundamental communists, we have fundamentalists who are secularists. Today, a fundamentalist means you’ve stopped listening. It means you’ve stopped listening.”
Uh, it still means you hold the historic doctrines of the church, which Warren doesn’t, and it still means holding to the authority of scripture, which Warren doesn’t. But never mind that, fundamentalist Christians are now, according to Warren, in the same category as fundamentalist Muslims, atheists, and communists. I’m beginning to get a clearer idea of why Saddleback was kicked out of the SBC. Maybe it wasn’t all about a woman pastor but had a lot to do with a former pastor. If he was preaching this heresy from the pulpit all the time he was pastor, Saddleback should have been kicked out long ago.
Then Warren got to the reason for his change of heart regarding women as pastors. He had an epiphany during the pandemic. He studied the Great Commission and read that both men and women were called to go, make disciples, baptize and teach. (Matthew 28:8-10). He looked at the Day of Pentecost and read “I will pour out my spirit on all mankind and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” (Acts2:17). Then he went to John where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection and told her to go and tell the disciples what she saw. (John 20:16-18).
All those are true and all those are Biblical. All are examples of different ways women have been called and gifted by the Holy Spirit to share faithfully in the ministry of the Gospel, but all have nothing whatsoever to with the qualifications for pastor. What Warren did was take Scriptures unrelated to the subject, knead and twist them together and come out with his desired result. Pretzel logic. The Bible doesn’t work that way.
Warren took one last shot at fundamentalist Christians.
“The problem with the fundamentalists is there are no disputable, no secondary issues with them. Every one of them matters… This issue women’s role, it’s not a primary issue because it doesn’t have to do with salvation. It is a secondary issue.”
Is there a more primary issue in Christianity than following what the Bible teaches? Absolutely not.
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Transformed, Not Conformed
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2.
World is also, and probably more accurately, translated “age” as in the beliefs and values of any current time. Paul is warning the church in Rome to not be conformed to the spirit of the age, but the warning is as much for us today as it was in Rome. The spirit of this age has infected every facet of our culture and our society. Starting with the number one method used to conform us to the spirit of the age, the education system.
This week Project Veritas released video taken at the EdCamp teacher conference in Long Island, New York. The entire video is 6 minutes and worth watching, but just a couple of screenshots.
She wants to be insidious, just not use the word insidious. Another teacher says that the earlier the kids can be brainwashed, the better it is for the middle school and high school indoctrinators to finish the job.
But it isn’t just education. Media, movies, television, and advertising are no better when it comes to conforming us to the spirit of the age. Nearly every movie and television show has at least one homosexual, and now transgender, character, something that used to be shocking. Not any more, now it’s just…meh, OK, no big deal. I was a regular viewer of Law and Order SVU until a few seasons ago when nearly every episode started having some kind of LGBTQRSTUV theme to it. Remember the first time you saw Caitlyn Jenner on television? Now men pretending to be women and women pretending to be men are so common the reaction is a yawn. Ads for dating services routinely show same sex couples. All these things are aimed at desensitizing us and conforming us to the spirit of the age.
Another tool used to conform us to this age has been the elimination of any kind of personal responsibility. You’re oppressed, you’re a victim, it’s not your fault. It’s systemic racism or the patriarchy that’s responsible for your situation. Not you. It’s the man keeping you down, don’t you know. Come on and join our subgroup and demographic and we’ll march on something or other. Or it’s a disease, which the good folks at Pfizer just happen to have a pill for. Just take one every day for the rest of your life and you’re all set.
But Paul tells us not to be conformed but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What does renewed mind look like?
“…and that you be renewed in the spirit of the mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:23, 24.
The renewed mind is the mind that is “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5. The renewed mind is the mind set on the Spirit.
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8,9.
There’s only one way to get this renewed mind. The Word of God.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV).
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All Too Comfortably Numb
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.” Ephesians 4:17-20.
This could not more accurately assess the state of American culture today in general, and unfortunately, too many Christians aren’t far behind. I would expect nothing less from secular America, but witnessing the desensitization of Christians to the ways of the world is sad, because as Paul wrote, we did not come to know Christ that way. The world has so crept into the church that things which were considered intolerable and heretical just a generation or two ago are now rapidly becoming standard practice. But it was not unforeseen.
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2.
Just in the culture in general, look at how we’ve been desensitized, and our consciences have been seared. Two generations ago, marriage was between a man and a woman. Then the world crept in and said there was no need for a piece of paper to make that union official, no big deal, just live together. A few years later tolerance of and acceptance for the ways of the world grew and now men can marry men and women can marry women. And if marriage isn’t your thing, we’re in the hook up culture. No need for even the appearance of commitment, do what feels right for you at the time. Consequences? No problem. Just kill the baby.
If you’re as old as I am, you remember when, if a young woman got pregnant there was a wedding shortly thereafter, shotgun or otherwise. Or if it was a teenage girl she was sent out of town to a home for unwed mothers until the baby was born. Not an issue now. We’re desensitized to the point where so many children are born without married parents that we’ve invented a cute little name, baby mama, just for the situation and it’s become something to be celebrated.
A generation or two ago, if a child came home from school and Mom asked, what did you do at school today, and the response was, we learned all about sexual acts and positions and a man dressed like a woman danced around the classroom, parents wouldn’t have waited for the next school board meeting to air their grievances. Moms and Dads would have been at the school the next day demanding to know what was going on and demanding it be stopped immediately. I can tell you with 100% certainty that if my sister was on the girl’s swim team at school, and came home and told my Dad there were men dressing and undressing in their locker room, he would have been at the door of that locker room the next day, baseball bat in hand, saying, ‘Nope, ain’t no way you’re going in there with my little girl, buddy.’
But we’ve been slowly but surely desensitized to all these things over the years. The Devil and those useful idiots who do his work have so infiltrated every inch of our society that in the name of tolerance and inclusion things that everyone once knew were wrong are seen as right.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20.
Sadly, some who are
false prophetsspiritual leaders aren’t much better, if any. We have so-called pastors and elders putting rainbow flags on the pulpit and wearing rainbow-colored robes. Many are performing same sex marriages and putting homosexuals in positions of church leadership. The United Methodist Church is in the process of splitting right now over whether to hold to what Scripture says about these issues or go along with the whims of the popular culture, and the popular culture is winning. In the name of being tolerant all types of behavior once labeled sin is accepted. The world has told the church what to believe and what not to believe and the church has dutifully followed along. Teachings like “Come out from among them and be separate” and “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world” are quickly becoming a thing of the past.“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10.
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Pride Is Nothing To Be Proud Of
In today’s culture, pride has become something to be celebrated. This group’s pride and that group’s pride. We have an entire month dedicated to LGBTQ pride. There are parades and official proclamations promoting it as something to be admired. However, God’s Word has nothing good to say about pride. Nothing. From Deuteronomy to Isaiah to Proverbs and throughout the New Testament, God looks at pride with the utmost contempt.
“There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes seven which are an abomination to Him.” Proverbs 6:16. Number one on that list? Haughty eyes.
“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 16:18.
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked is sin.” Proverbs 21:4
Moses warned the children of Israel about the corrupting effects of pride.
“…then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Deuteronomy 8:14.
The New Testament calls pride “defiling” (Mark 7:22). In 2 Timothy 3:1-2 Paul writes about the terrible times in the last days and lists the characteristics of men in those days. No surprise “lovers of themselves” is number one on that list, too. John writes on 1 John 1:16 that the “boastful pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world.”
The originator and instigator of the attitude of pride, arrogance, and self-exaltation is of course, Satan himself. Isaiah 14:13-14
“I will ascend to heaven,
I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will make myself like the Most High.”
Of all of man’s pride, arrogance, and self-exaltation in what he is, what he has, and what he does, there is none greater than what is being inflicted upon our society by the Alphabet Mafia (LGBTQIA…infinity). Their “pride” goes directly back to the last of Lucifer’s 5 I Wills. I will be like the Most High. In fact, I’ll add that it goes even beyond that. I will be the Most High. God made a mistake, he put me in the wrong body, I know better than God so I’ll correct his error. In essence, I am God. There is not a clearer example of a Romans 1 depraved mind than one that sets itself up as God.
“You shall have no other gods besides me.” Again, Number One. Exodus 20:3.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not leave him unpunished…” v. 7.
There is nothing that takes the name of God in vain more than bringing into disrepute his character, his very existence, and questioning his work in creation. Nothing. God doesn’t make mistakes. That is a lie straight out of the pit of Hell and another reason why God’s judgement has fallen on America.
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Submit Yourselves to the Authorities, Until…
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” 1 Peter 2:13.
This is God’s order for government. Punishing the evildoers and rewarding the righteous. Paul says much the same in Romans 13:1.
“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”
However, when government becomes so corrupt, so tyrannical, and so far from God’s prescribed directive that it flips this order on its head, praise and reward for those who do evil, and punishment for those who do good, government has forfeited its right to expect submission from Christians.
“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge…Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” Acts 4:19 and 5:29.
Where is such a government? Right here. Two cases in point. The first one in Philadelphia:
“A well-known pro-life author and sidewalk counselor was arrested in front of his children after the Department of Justice ordered a SWAT raid on his house for alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, according to a report from LifeSiteNews.
Mark Houck, a father of seven, drove two hours to Philadelphia every Wednesday to speak outside of abortion clinics for six to eight hours at a time, his wife, Ryan-Marie Houck, told the outlet.
The FACE violation charge was thrown out this summer, but was somehow picked up by the DOJ, she said. Houck also described an incident in which her husband “shoved” a pro-abortion man away from his 12-year-old son after the man entered “the son’s personal space” and refused to stop hurling “crude… inappropriate and disgusting” comments at the Houcks.
The man did not sustain any injuries but did try to sue Houck.
On Friday morning, Houck’s rural home was raided by 25 to 30 armed FBI agents, who pounded on the door and yelled at the family to open it, his wife said.
Mark Houck pleaded with the FBI agents before opening the door, telling them “Please, I’m going to open the door, but, please, my children are in the home. I have seven babies in the house.”
The agents continued to yell, and when the door was opened, they pointed their guns at the Houcks while instructing the children to go upstairs, according to Ryan-Marie. “The kids were all just screaming. It was all just very scary and traumatic,” she said.
The FBI agents proceeded to put Houck into a vehicle and when his wife asked if they had a warrant, she said that they replied that “they were going to take him whether they had a warrant or not.”
Sounds like something right out Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia, but it’s happening right here in what used to be the land of the free.
Then on February 9 an FBI memo was leaked which calls for the surveillance of what it called “Radical Traditionalist Catholics” who the DOJ has deemed as domestic terrorists and a threat to national security because of their adherence to white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ ideology, and not being nice to abortion activists.
“To further surveil “Radical-Traditionalist Catholics,” the document says the Bureau may potentially mitigate this “threat” with “tripwire and source development,” which means further infiltration into Catholic communities using various kinds of informants. The report also implies the FBI will begin monitoring social media posts for what it claims is “Radical-Traditionalist Catholics” ideology.”
The memo has since been retracted. Funny how that happens when the public finds out what they’re up to. Not scary enough already? It gets worse. This “further infiltration” came up in a Senate hearing on Wednesday when AG Garland was questioned about so-called informants planted in Catholic churches. He, of course being the good little totalitarian that he is, denied any such spies were being placed in churches. However:
“While Garland may profess ignorance about the matter, an abundance of circumstantial evidence indicates that the FBI indeed has informants in Catholic churches, as well as a variety of other religious institutions.
For starters, the FBI does have a program to embed informants in churches, congressional offices, the media and other “sensitive” institutions—as Headline USA has previously reported.”
So be careful what you say or who sits next to you at church. It just might be an FBI snitch looking to add your name to the terrorist watch list.
In my opinion, a government that sends fully armed SWAT teams to the house of pro-life advocates, that targets Catholics as domestic terrorists, and that sends spies into churches, meanwhile showing leniency and in some cases downright refusing to prosecute rioters who were burning down cities during the summer of 2020, has given up its right to be subjected to or respected in any way. I stand with Peter, John, and Joshua.
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge…But as for me and my house, we’ll serve the Lord.”
AG, Catholics, Christianity, churches, DOJ, FBI, Garland, God, Mark Houck, memo, spies, SWAT, terrorists, testimony -
Spiritual War in the Classroom
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
Make no mistake about it, Christians, we’re in a war. But not against another nation or another religion. This is a war on speculations (thoughts, philosophies, ideologies) and man’s arrogance toward God. But we have the right weapons for such a war. Divinely powerful weapons. The only weapons powerful enough to demolish the spiritual strongholds manned by the forces of hell.
“… be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12.
As we stand here today, the front line of this spiritual warfare is in the classroom. The world’s forces of darkness and wickedness are in full attack mode in our education system. It started in the universities and now they’re coming for the children. The schemes of the devil and his Satanic philosophies and ideologies are running rampant. CRT, cultural Marxism, intersectionality, gender identity confusion, and political correctness are being force fed to impressionable young minds at a rate unimaginable just a few years ago. Take a look:
Mind boggling. But, as Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, we have divinely powerful weapons at our disposal. First, if at all possible, don’t send them to public schools. I know in these tough economic times many parents can’t afford to send their kids to private Christian schools, but at this point it may have become, can you afford not to? I can almost assure you of this; The people who believe like the ones you see above, if they are not already in the classroom, they are in the colleges of education and on the way to the classroom. It’s only going to get worse from here. If private school isn’t an option, know the curriculum of the classroom, get involved, go to school board meetings. Let the teachers know you’re watching them. Above all else, teach your children the Word of God and its principles from the time they’re old enough to understand. Read the Bible with them, pray together, take them to a Bible believing, Bible teaching church. Give them a solid foundation before the indoctrination of the classroom gets to them.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.
Equip them with the full armor of God. It’s their only chance.
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Itching Ears
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
Paul’s letters to Timothy are written to encourage Timothy in his work as the pastor of the church at Ephesus.
“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13
“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 1 Timothy 4:6
Paul contrasts sound words and sound doctrine with a different doctrine and a strange doctrine.
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing…” 1 Timothy 6:3.
“…remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men no to teach strange doctrines…But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3,5.
Paul told the church in Rome where those different and strange doctrines lead.
“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17,18.
Just what itching ears are looking for. Smooth, flattering, deceptive speech. Something easy and attractive, not harsh and offensive like “If anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24) or “they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of my name.” (Luke 21:16, 17). Itching ears don’t want any of that.
Itching ears want the prosperity gospel. Itching ears want to name it and claim it. Itching ears want to hear that Jesus is their own personal genie in a bottle. Say a few magic words and he’ll give you every material thing your little heart desires. Itching ears don’t want to hear about sin or repentance. Nah, we can save ourselves and create our own dreams by the power of our faith. Itching ears want to see signs and hear about personal conversations and revelations from God, like ‘God told me to tell you to send me money.’ Itching ears don’t really care if they’re being deceived as long as they get a good show.
“The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it this way! But what will you do when the end comes?” Jeremiah 5:31.
And finally, this from probably the most well-known ear scratcher in the country today, smilin’ Joel Osteen, the
used car salesmanpastor of a Houston megachurch:“God is not going to just deliver you, not going to just bring you out, He’s going to endorse you. He’s going to put you in a position of prominence where people can see you honored, respected, and admired…When God can trust you, He will take you from obscurity to notoriety. I believe and declare you are coming into a new level of prominence, a new level of influence, a new level of income.”
I guess smilin’ Joel’s version of the Bible left this verse out.
“…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14.
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Women Pastors
Today I’m tackling what can be a controversial subject (although it shouldn’t be, Scripture is very clear) that’s been brought to the forefront again this week with the action taken against Saddleback Church, and four other churches, by the Southern Baptist Convention. The subject is the ordination of women as pastors.
Saddleback was among five churches with female pastors who were deemed “no longer in friendly cooperation” with the denomination at a meeting of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville on Tuesday.
The Lake Forest, California, congregation ordained three women from the stage in May 2021, a decision that rattled some Southern Baptists who believe the role of pastor is reserved for men. Then last year, Saddleback selected Andy Wood as Rick Warren’s successor and the church’s lead pastor, and his wife Stacie Wood came on as a teaching pastor.”
Full disclosure, I was raised in Southern Baptist churches, my father was ordained as a deacon in a Southern Baptist church, I was saved in a Southern Baptist church, and spent many years under the teaching of some great men of God who were Southern Baptist pastors. It’s not something I’m at all ashamed of or shy away from. Southern Baptists have taken a lot of heat over the years but they’re one of the few, if not the only, major denomination still standing up for what the Bible says.
That said, let’s take a look at the Scriptures, beginning with 1 Timothy 2:12.
“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
Paul also adds the qualifications for overseer in the church, also translated as bishop or elder.
“An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” 1 Timothy 3:2.
Then 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35:
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”
Seems clear to me. So, where’s the controversy? Why is the SBC getting blow-back from not only the usual secular suspects shouting, Sexist! Misogynist! Patriarchy! but from other so-called religious leaders as well? Well, for one it’s not a popular stand to take in a culture that’s all about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rick Warren’s response to the action taken by the SBC was, let’s just call it, interesting.
“Hours after the decision, Warren posted on Instagram saying, “Friends worldwide: We’re so touched by your love! Kay & I love you back! We’ll respond to SBC in OUR time & our way thru direct channels,” going on to list his reach through newsletters, radio, and social media, where the Purpose-Driven Life author has 11 million followers.”
Sorry, Rick. God’s not in the social media business and couldn’t care less how many followers you have. God is in the truth business, and the Bible says what the Bible says. Kim Kardashian has 345 million Instagram followers, maybe we should check with her and get her views on the subject.
Warren also had this to say:
“I could talk to you all about what I believe about the gift of pastorate as opposed to the office of pastorate, but I’m not here to talk about that,” Warren remarked…”
He’ll be addressing the hair splitters convention next week, I’m told.
The SBC isn’t saying, and the Bible doesn’t say, that women are somehow second-class people. Far from it. Throughout the Bible women have significance. Ruth, Rachel, Hannah, Deborah was a Judge, Esther was a queen, Miriam saved the life of Moses, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary Magdalene, and of course Mary, Jesus’ mother. All very prominent and all very important in God’s plan and/or Jesus’ life on Earth. Just not as the pastor of a church.
Finally, there’s the old slippery slope. The United Methodist Church began ordaining women pastors in 1968. In April of last year, a UMC church in Illinois unanimously certified a drag queen to be ordained as a minister. Once the church starts down the road of attempting to appease the whims of the popular culture there’s no turning back. Kudos to the Southern Baptist Conference for taking a stand.
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Information Surplus, Knowledge Deficit
Our world is awash in information. In the palm of most of our hands there is a device with access to more information than has ever been available to mankind in the combined history of the world. One estimate puts the amount of information we possess at 300 exabytes. That’s 300 followed by 15 zeroes. And that number is from 2015 so you can just imagine what it would be in 2023. We have information coming out of our ears, or our palms if you will.
This explosion of information has unfortunately not been accompanied by a coinciding boom in knowledge and/or wisdom. The reason is simple.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7.
Hosea lays out the progression in verses 1, 6, and 14 of Chapter 4:
“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…a people without understanding will come to ruin.”
Amos describes a coming famine:
“The days are coming, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I will send a famine throughout the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11.
America is smack dab in the middle of such a famine. It’s not that we don’t have access to the words of the Lord—85% of US households own a Bible—it’s the hearing part where we fall short. The reason is pretty simple, we’re too smart and too sophisticated, or we think we are anyway.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness (unreasonable) to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 1 Corinthians 1:18, 19.
A savior who was born of a virgin in a stable in a little town, Bethlehem, who was a carpenter, not a scholar or a philosopher, who claimed to be God, was rejected by his own people, killed by the Romans, and rose from the dead? The wisdom of the world calls that unreasonable, unscientific, foolish. But Paul said:
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believed.” 1 Corinthians 1: 18-21.
So, to the world the message is unreasonable. It’s also brought by unremarkable people, further confounding the wisdom of the world.
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards (no Ivy League professors or scientists); not many were influential (no political leaders, or members of the World Economic Forum); not many were of noble birth (nobody named Gates, Bezos, or Zuckerberg). But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
An unreasonable message presented by unremarkable people in an unattractive way.
“Jews demanded miraculous signs and Greeks looked for wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:22.
Give us a show, something to get social media likes and attention. Sounds familiar:
“The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread…The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down from here. For it is written; He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Luke 4:3, 9-11.
Now there’s a show. That’s a viral video if there ever was one. Jesus wasn’t having any of it. “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
Paul relied on the power of the Holy Spirit for the only knowledge necessary:
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
Amen.
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You Did It, Charlie
“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” Acts 4:17
For too long this has been the case, especially among our elected officials and political pundits. It’s OK to invoke the name of God, that can mean many things to many people. But “this name,” the name of Jesus Christ, has been taboo. Too divisive, too non-inclusive, they say. But Sunday afternoon……I tuned in to watch a memorial service for Charlie Kirk, and an old-fashioned tent revival broke out. Our political class, from the President to the Vice President to the Secretary of State to the Secretary of War to members of the President’s cabinet to prominent political commentators, all speaking in “this name.” Boldly, unapologetically, and continually, the name of Jesus Christ was spoken.
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20.
Marco Rubio laid out the plan of salvation. Jesus Christ came from God and took on the likeness of a man (Philippians 2:7) to give His life a ransom for many so that those who believe on Him may have eternal life (John 3:16). J. D. Vance said that he has spoken the name of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more in the last 10 days than he has in the entirety of his political career. Pete Hegseth proclaimed that we are all sinners, in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and saved only by the grace of God. Tucker Carlson spoke the words of John the Baptist. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1).
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31. Indeed it was, and indeed they did. Hallelujah!
And then there was Erika Kirk. The grieving, tearful widow, who has more reason than anyone to harbor anger and a call for vengeance in her heart for an assassin who took the life of her husband and the father of her children, invoking the words of Stephen when he was being stoned, and Jesus on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The epitome of the Christian spirit. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 4: 27, 28.
Oh, but I can hear it now from the naysayers. You know, the crowd who celebrates the death of Charlie Kirk. ‘Separation of church and state! Christian Nationalism!’ First, those words of Thomas Jefferson have been completely twisted by the secular left, but there’s no need to go into that now. Instead of separation of church and state, we need unification of Jesus Christ and state, which is what I saw at the memorial service, and the way the founders intended it to be.
Christian Nationalism? You bet. We’ve tried the alternative, and what do we have to show for it? Sixty million dead babies, a country where a young lady can’t ride the bus in a major city without be murdered by a deranged lunatic, and where a man can’t go to a college campus and debate ideas without being shot through the neck. Yes, I say let’s give Christian Nationalism a try. Personally, I prefer the term Biblical Patriotism.
It has been repeated by many of Charlie Kirk’s close friends and associates recently that one of his main objectives was to bring the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. You did it, Charlie. You did it. To God be the glory, great things he has done.
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Nothing New Under the Sun
“That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
The celebration we’re seeing in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination falls into the above category, nothing new. It has been done in the past and will be done again in the future. The Apostle John wrote in his Gospel what Jesus’ words were to the disciples concerning His impending crucifixion:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.” John 16:20.
John also wrote in Revelation of a time in the future when two witnesses will come to Earth for 3 ½ years to preach a message of judgement and salvation. These 2 men will be killed, and their bodies will lie in the streets for 3 ½ days.
“And those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 11:10. The revelers in both instances are the same—the world and those who dwell on the earth. The same people we see celebrating today. But the account of the two witnesses doesn’t end there. After the bodies have lain in the streets for 3 ½ days:
“The breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.” V. 11. No celebration there, huh?
The moral to the story, past, present, and future?
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7.
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The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail
Disgusted? Absolutely. Shocked? Not at all. Looking around at the sewer that goes by the name of social media, I’m disgusted by what I see following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In fact, disgusted is not a strong enough word. We need a new word for the reaction to this level of hate and vitriol. Whatever happened to basic human decency? Are we as a society so far gone that even a modicum of civility and respect for the family of the deceased has vanished? Apparently, we are. Sadder still is the thought that these are just the people bold enough to vomit their thoughts online.
But shocked? Not in the least. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the first century.
“God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice…slanderers, haters of God…arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil…unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32.
Almost as if Paul had a preview of Facebook and X. Of course, all this hatred is coming from keyboard cowards who would have never had the courage to confront Charlie Kirk face to face with their accusations of racism, sexism, misogyny (place your misguided pejorative term here). They could have attended any of Turning Point’s events across the country, and not only confronted Charlie, but he would have let them go to the front of the line. But that’s not how gutless cowards operate. They prefer making their vile, demon inspired accusations posthumously and from the shadows of the internet.
That’s the bad news, here’s the good news, my fellow Christians.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8,9. Unlike the rest of the world, we have hope. We know that our God is sovereign over every event in His universe. His justice and righteousness will prevail. As the familiar adage goes, we’ve read the last chapter in The Book, and we know how this ends. But until then our command is to “occupy ‘til I come.” Not in my lifetime at least have the dividing lines been so clear. Good vs. evil, righteousness vs. unrighteousness, the kingdom of God vs. the kingdom of Satan. And as we are seeing dancing and celebration at the death of Charlie Kirk, the devil and his angels were surely dancing and celebrating one Friday afternoon on a hill far away. But then came Sunday morning.
Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA has received over 50,000 applications to start chapters on high school and college campuses all across this country. Inspired by Charlie’s bold proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, people are picking up the Bible and reading it, many for the first time in their lives. The assassin’s bullet was meant to silence a voice, but instead it has raised a million new ones. Many millions, perhaps. In the powerful words of Charlie Kirk’s widow to the shooter, you have no idea what you’ve started. Satan has once again overplayed his hand. A move of the Spirit is afoot, and nothing can stop it.
“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.
As a student of history, I’ll close with this historical analogy. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto uttered these ominous words, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
History is repeating itself.
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Charlie Kirk, Spiritual Warrior
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the “powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
Outside of Jesus Christ, I’ve never been so moved by the death of someone I never met. But the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a university campus in Utah this week has shaken me to my core. My emotions have run the gamut from shock and disbelief to grief to anger. And of course, the question, why? How do I make sense of something so senseless? With a few days to reflect, pray, and search the Scriptures, I’ve come to this.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed for his political beliefs, although that’s what the deranged lunatic who pulled the trigger thought he was doing. Charlie Kirk was killed because of his faith, his unwavering, unapologetic proclamation of Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Yes, Charlie was active in the political arena, but he said on many occasions that his priorities in life were God, family, country. His political opinions stemmed from his belief in the Word of God and its teachings. Every one of us is created in the image of God, life is precious and should be protected. The family was established and ordained by God, and the only answer for fallen man is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Charlie, as did Peter and John in Acts Chapter 4, spoke boldly about “that name.” As Peter and John did when they were commanded not to speak any longer in “that name,” Charlie proclaimed by his actions and by his words that he cannot and would not stop speaking the name of Jesus Christ.
Our adversary has always been about stopping the proclamation of that name, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ marches on. The apostles were martyred for the name of their Lord. James was beheaded, Andrew was crucified, Peter was crucified upside down, John survived being boiled in oil and was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote Revelation. Nothing stopped the spread of the Gospel, and nothing ever will. When the world forces of darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness entered into the heart of the Utah shooter, Satan thought he had silenced another voice, but all he did was raise up 10,000 more voices. Ten thousand times 10,000.
And one of those is this voice. I have let the adversary distract me from boldly proclaiming the Word of Truth as often as I should have, letting the excuses of not enough hours in the day and attention to the other activities of life get in the way of my faithfulness to God, but no more. Charlie Kirk gave his life for the cause of serving his Lord, I can give up a few hours of sleep for my service to Him.
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The Gospel According to Man
“But if even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to (other than, more than) what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” Galatians 1:8,9.
When God wants to make a point, He repeats Himself, just in case we missed it the first time. Any gospel contrary to what is written in His word is a false gospel, and to preach any other gospel nullifies the death of Jesus. Our world today is awash in the false gospel, a gospel other that which Jesus taught during His earthly ministry, and which Paul wrote about in his letter to the Galatians. The gospel according to man.
Man’s gospel is just what you might expect it to be. A gospel whose tenets are prosperity, convenience, tolerance, inclusion, license, entertainment, and happiness. Everything fallen man in his natural state desires. Ease, comfort, and pleasure. Everything “itching ears” (2 Timothy4:3) desire. Where God’s gospel speaks of the narrow way to Him and the few who find it, man’s gospel is directed at the many, the masses, those on the broad road.
Man’s gospel says, ‘God loves you unconditionally and He has a great plan for your life.’ Hey, that’s great, I love me unconditionally and have a plan for my life, too. Come on God, get on board and let’s get this done. Man’s gospel says, ‘we’re all going to the same place, just taking different roads to get there.’ Fantastic, none of that “I am the way, no one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6) stuff. That’s a load off. Man’s gospel says God is the big Santa Claus in the sky, just waiting to give you everything your heart desires, all you have to do is ask. Yes, as you would expect, man’s gospel is very popular, and also very prosperous for the false prophets who proclaim the false gospel.
Only one slight problem with the gospel according to man. It’s a lie from the pit of hell, and its proponents are the tools of Satan and his demons that appear as “angels of light.” That sign on the broad road might say “this way to heaven”, but it doesn’t lead there. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12.
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Mocking God at the Paris Olympics
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7.I’m sure by now most of you have seen the photo or the video from last night’s opening ceremonies at the Paris Olympic Games. (Said photo/video won’t be posted here because I kind of like to follow a strict no blasphemy rule, but that’s just me). My initial reaction was probably along the same lines as most other Christians. Disgusting, sickening, nauseating, revolting, filth. And yes, this Satanic performance, conceived in the pit of Hell, mocking the famous painting of The Last Supper with drag queens in the place of our Lord and his disciples, was all those things.
A few hours reflecting on last night’s proceedings have made it no less disgusting and despicable, but it has brought to light one thing. Once again, God’s word is still 100% infallible and inerrant. This is exactly what Paul wrote about in his letter to the Romans.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil… Romans 1:28, 29.
If Paul had been alive to review the Olympics opening ceremonies he would have written those exact words.
This is not the first time we’ve seen God and Christianity made the object of our culture’s scorn and ridicule, only the latest example. But we seldom, if ever, see other religions treated with the same contempt. I’ll leave to your imagination what would become of performers who made similar mockery of Mohammed. Just ask Salman Rushdie how that works out. So why God and Christianity? Why the intense, vile hatred? A few reasons come to mind.
Satan hates God, and by extension Christianity, above all else. He has no such hatred for the world’s other gods and their religions. Why would Satan hate them? He is their creator and founder. It was God, the true God, who cast him out of Heaven for rebellion. It was God who placed the curse on the serpent in the Garden of Eden that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Satan has tried many times over the millennia to keep that from happening and failed every time. He tried to tempt Jesus during His time on Earth and failed (Matthew 4:1-10). Satan thought he was victorious at Calvary only to be thwarted again by Jesus’ resurrection. Satan knows his fate and it is God who will cast him into the lake of fire for eternity.
This world, and particularly our present world, hates and reviles God for His creation and His creative order. Unbridled hedonism is the religion of the day. License and licentiousness rule. God has order and commandments. If God created me then I’m accountable to Him. No way. ‘I am the captain of my ship, I am the master of my soul,’ this world proclaims. God created them male and female? Oh no, can’t stand for that. I can’t be whatever my depraved mind tells me I am under that standard. Ours is a culture of self-aggrandizement and self-exaltation. Jesus commands us to deny ourselves and follow Him. We have a month devoted to pride. James 4:6 tells us “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So, is this Olympic debacle as bad as it gets? Has depraved man finally scraped the bottom of the blasphemy barrel? Unfortunately, not even close. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy assures us that “evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Should Jesus delay His Second Coming another 4 or 8 years, I shudder to think what future Olympic ceremonies have in store.
Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20.
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Getting Serious About Hell
As God allows America to slide deeper and deeper into the abyss of a Romans 1 depraved mind, something I find particularly disturbing is the flippant, irreverent way in which people regard Hell. What has reinforced this lately is a popular Tik Tok video in which a woman pleads with Christians to stop trying to save people and “please just let us go to Hell.” This is by no means a new or unique sentiment, just the latest example. We’ve seen performers on awards shows dressing as Satan, in the stereotypical red suit and horns carrying a pitchfork caricature, and I’m certain many Christians have heard lost people joking about getting together with their friends is Hell and throwing a party. I cringe hearing this and am reminded of the words of Jesus as he hung on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
In search of a cause for this casual disregard for a place the Bible vividly describes as a place of “eternal destruction” (2Thessolonians 1:9) and “unquenchable fire” (Isaiah 66:24) where “the smoke of their torment goes up forever” (Revelation 14:10,11) two things come to mind. First is the Great Deceiver at work. What else would Satan want people to believe except that, even if Hell is a real place to begin with, it’s a big social gathering with all your other non-believing friends? Much the same way he convinces people on the broad road they are on their way to Heaven, until they get to the end and hear, “depart from me, I never knew you.”
The second cause, unfortunately, can be laid directly at the feet of the modern church, even those who call themselves evangelical. Growing up in the Baptist church, what were known as fire and brimstone preachers and evangelists were pretty common. Try to find one now. Telling people they’re going to Hell if they don’t repent of their sins doesn’t build megachurches, happy talk from motivational speakers does. People want to hear about God’s love, which is certainly an integral part of the Gospel, but divorced from equal reference to God’s judgement, it is misleading at best and damning souls to Hell at its worst. The modern church’s devotion to not being offensive and judgmental has led too many preachers to avoid the subject of Hell altogether. But the Word of God, and in particular the words of Jesus do no such thing. The most detailed descriptions of Hell appear in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and are spoken by Our Lord himself. Jesus wasn’t afraid of being accused of hurting people’s feelings and making them uncomfortable, just ask the religious leaders of his day. He was more interested in telling the truth about eternal damnation, regardless of whether or not those listening to his sermons would put something in the collection plate.
Probably the most well-known account of Hell, and the most graphic and disturbing, comes in Luke Chapter 16, verses 19-33, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Just as a brief synopsis, a rich man who had every worldly possession of the time, and a sore-covered beggar named Lazarus, both died. Lazarus was carried away to Abraham’s bosom (from the Talmud as a figure for heaven) while the rich man lifted up his eyes in Hell. The rich man sees Abraham and Lazarus far away and cried out Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and touch it to his tongue, “for I am in agony in this flame.” Abraham denies this request so the rich man asks for Lazarus to be sent to his 5 brothers to warn them, “so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”
Agony, flame, torment. Doesn’t sound like much of a party, does it?
In Matthew 25:46, Jesus speaking of the final judgement where he separates the sheep from the goats says, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Same Greek word used in both instances. If eternal life means eternal life, then eternal punishment means exactly that, eternal. What does eternal punishment consist of?
“Unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12
“Disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2
“Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:48
“A lake of fire and brimstone…and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10
Outer darkness: “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12, 22:13.
Yes, my brothers and sisters in Christ, God is serious about his love for all mankind. He proved that to us on the cross. But God is also serious his judgement of the unrighteous and the unrepentant. We should be also.
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Celebration and Euphoria at the Slaughter of Innocents
For all the useful idiots on college campuses across America, for every “protestor” in the streets of every major city around the world waving Palestinian flags and chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” for Hamas sympathizers and collaborators who roam the halls of the United States Congress, for anyone and everyone whose rabid hatred of the Jewish people causes them to refer to those who carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust as “freedom fighters,” this should be required reading. Maybe if there’s any iota humanity left in you, any speck of decency still remaining in your darkened, evil hearts, you’ll reconsider.
Journalist Sabrina Maddeaux, who writes for The National Post of Canada, was one of a small group invited to attend a screening by the Consulate of Israel in Toronto of footage from the October 7 attacks by Hamas on villages in Israel. The footage was taken from various sources, including some which was livestreamed by the Hamas butchers themselves. The following is her account. Fair warning, brace yourselves.
“There were babies. Toddlers. So many children of all ages. Young men and women dressed for a music festival, not the wanton slaughter that saw their bloodied bodies piled atop one another in scenes reminiscent of some of the Holocaust’s worst images.
Parents. The elderly. A dad who, attempting to hide from Hamas attackers with his sons, all three of them still in their underwear, was blown up by a grenade in front of his children. The two young boys, covered in blood, crying, throwing themselves on the ground in grief, as a Hamas gunman raids the family’s fridge and takes a swig of soda. One of the sons’ panicked voice as he realizes he can no longer see out of one eye.
… The literal streams of blood, the hacked off arms and legs, the infant missing part of its skull, brain leaking out. The dog shot over and over again as its limbs splay in every direction until they don’t anymore. Mickey Mouse pajamas on a young corpse, skull fragments on floors, victims shot point blank. So much blood.
I’ll never forget the gore, but it’s the look of euphoria and pride in the terrorists’ eyes, cheering for the cameras as if they were the ones partying at a music festival that day, that will haunt me.
In the videos, Hamas attackers did not behave as soldiers or freedom fighters. They hunted their victims in their homes like serial killers in a horror film, peering through blinds, slashing through screen doors with knives, following families wherever they tried to run or hide. If they couldn’t find them, they’d use lighters to make sure fire did. They toyed with their victims’ lifeless bodies. They kept trophies, both physical and digital.
It’s unimaginable that anyone could watch this and still equate what happened on Oct. 7 to resistance or war. I’ve seen war footage; this was not that. These were terrorist attacks targeted at civilians and mass shootings of innocents. Hamas was indiscriminate in their cruelty, killing not for cause, but for pleasure.
I don’t know if the full footage will ever be made public, but if it ever is, every single Canadian should watch it to understand how far beyond any conceivable rules of engagement Hamas went, why this time was different, and why it must never, ever happen again.”
These are the people you support and defend? May God have mercy on your soul.
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Standing With Israel
I am saddened by what I see happening, saddened but by no means surprised. It took less than a week from the time the sub-human animals who go under the name of Hamas stormed into villages in Israel slaughtering innocent men, women, and children, for a wave of antisemitism to sweep across this country and the rest of the world. People carrying Palestinian flags took to the streets in cities around the world chanting slogans like “gas the Jews.” The useful idiots who populate college campuses in America are protesting the so-called occupation of Gaza with their own chants of “Palestine must be free from the river to the sea,” although I’m certain they are much too stupid to have any idea what that actually means. College professors at Ivy League universities are calling the Hamas attacks “energizing” and “exhilarating.” Jewish parents are afraid to send their children to school, Jewish people are arming themselves in anticipation of violence directed at themselves and their families. A mob stormed an airport in Russia as a plane arrived from Tel-Aviv. Our world looks like 1930’s Germany re-created.
But in the face of the insanity I see all around, I proudly, unashamedly, and unapologetically say, I stand with Israel, as should every Christian. One hundred percent, unequivocally, I stand with Israel and the Jewish people-God’s chosen people. And I further support any measure they deem necessary to eradicate this evil known as Hamas from the face of the Earth. As with every subject tackled here, let’s see what the Bible says about it.
“Now the Lord said to Abram, go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3.
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:5-7.
Everlasting translated from the original Hebrew meaning—everlasting. God reaffirms this covenant in 1 Chronicles:
“Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant.” 1 Chronicles 16:15-17.
And again in Psalm105:8
“He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.”
For Christians who subscribe to the so-called replacement theology that because of Israel’s disobedience God’s covenant is now upon the church, Paul (a Jew) refutes this is Romans Chapter 11.
“I say then, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” Romans 11:1-2.
Paul further expounded on the importance of the Abrahamic covenant to believers in Christ in his letter to the Galatians, Chapters 3 and 4.
I stand with Israel and the Jewish people not only because of God’s everlasting covenant, but because of their prominent place in God’s prophecy, some already fulfilled, some yet to be fulfilled.
“For behold, days are coming declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah. The Lord says, I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it.” Jeremiah 30:3.
“I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God.” Amos 9:15.
The prophet Isaiah asked the question:
“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day?” Isaiah 66:8
Yes, it can. May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was born.
Israel is also at the epicenter of Bible prophecy yet to be fulfilled, further indicating God has future plans for his chosen people, and that God’s covenant with the Abraham and his descendants had no expiration date. The Antichrist will come on the scene making a 7-year peace treaty with Israel and beginning the Tribulation. The 144,000 redeemed Jewish messengers will be instrumental is the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles during that period. In the middle of those 7 years the Antichrist will break that pact and set himself up as god in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. The coalition of nations prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 surrounds Israel only to be destroyed by God. During Jesus’ thousand-year reign on Earth His throne will be in Jerusalem. In the New Jerusalem the 12 gates will bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Don’t tell me God is through with Israel.
Without the Jewish people we would have no Bible. Every Old Testament author was Jewish. Every Book in the New Testament except Luke was written by a Jew. Jesus was and is a Jew. I can do nothing else but to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. Now and forever.
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The Rapture of the Church
There is an old adage which, depending on the attribution you subscribe to, is either an ancient Chinese curse or a line from a speech by British statesman Joseph Chamberlain in the 1830’s. May you live in interesting times. Usually, the quote is used ironically with interesting referring to times of difficulty, chaos, danger, uncertainty, and trouble. From the standpoint of the secular world this is certainly the case today. War in the Middle East, saber-rattling from Iran, Russia, and Turkey, never before seen geo-political alliances being formed, World War 3 looming.
But for believers in Jesus Christ and students of eschatology these should be wonderful, exciting days. Days of peace and surety. Days of hope and joy. Not a time to be scared but instead a time to be prepared. We’re seeing Bible prophecy coming to life before our very eyes, played out every night on the evening news and all across social media.
There is much to be said on the subject, too much to fit into one post, so for now I’d like to particularly focus on the next event on God’s prophetic calendar-what is commonly referred to as the rapture of the church. Right off the top, I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. Why? Because the Word of God says so. Jesus preached a pre-tribulation rapture during His earthly ministry, and the Apostle Paul wrote extensively about a pre-tribulation rapture. That’s good enough for me. But just for good measure John also pointed to a pre-tribulation rapture in the Book of Revelation.
That said, let’s get into it. First, for the benefit of naysayers and skeptics, I know the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible, not in the English translation anyway. The term rapture comes from the Latin translation of the New Testament. The word from the Greek is “HARPAZO” and is translated as catch away or snatch in most modern translations. This term is used over and over in the New Testament. In Acts 8:39 “the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away” and he was no longer seen by the Ethiopian eunuch. In 2 Corinthians 12:2 Paul was “caught up to the third heaven.” In John’s vision in Revelation 12:2 the male child was “caught up to God and to His throne.” In the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:19 Jesus said, “the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was sown in his heart.” This is the same word that was used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where Paul writes “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
Who will be raptured or caught up? Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians was concerning their question about saints who had died. They were living in anticipation that Jesus could come at any moment and were concerned that those who were already dead would miss it and somehow be disembodied spirits not united with a physical body. Paul made this very clear.
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 2 Thessalonians 4:13-16.
Why do I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture? Immediately following Chapter 4, Paul opens Chapter 5 with these words.
“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, peace and safety! Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.” 2 Thessalonians 5:1-5.
“Day of the Lord” time and time again in Bible prophecy refers to judgement. Destruction, or tribulation, will come upon them suddenly. They will not escape. Those in darkness, not in light.
In John Chapter 14 Jesus said:
“Do not let your heart be troubled; Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there you may be also. John 14:1-4.
Do not let your heart be troubled. I’m going to get your rooms ready and then I’ll come get you so you can be in Heaven with me. But first you have to go through seven of the most terrible, terrifying years the world has ever seen? But don’t let your heart be troubled? Makes no sense to me.
In Revelation Chapter 3, John writes to the church at Philadelphia:
“Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I will also keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Paul admonishes the church:
“And to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
Wrath to come aka the tribulation. Finally, Paul closes his writing on the great “catching up” with “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Where is the comfort if Paul believes the church will go through the tribulation? I can’t see it.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
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Do You Believe The Bible?
Most Christians will tell you they believe the Bible—to some extent. A Gallup survey from last year showed that 40% of those who call themselves born again or evangelical (emphasis on call themselves) believe the Bible is the literal word of God, while 51% say it’s the inspired word of God but not every word is to be taken literally. This is a huge problem in itself, because once we as Christians start to decide what is to be taken literally and what isn’t, where does that start and where does it stop? The Bible isn’t an a la carte menu. Either it is the word of God, or it isn’t. It’s not up to fallen man to be the judge.
But that being said, I’d like to focus on the 40% who say they believe the Bible is the literal word of God. I would submit to you that the actual number is less, a lot less, if we just dig a little deeper. Ask the average Christian if they believe the following and the response will be almost universal.
Virgin birth? Check.
Jesus died on the cross? Check.
Rose again on the third day? Check.
John 3:16? Check.
Ephesians 2:8-9? Check.
Romans 10:9-10? Check.
These are easy. But let’s go back, and I mean all the way back. As far back as the Bible goes, the Book of Genesis. Do you believe “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth?” Good so far? OK, let’s move on. Do you believe God spoke everything into existence? In verses 3-26 of Genesis 1 the phrases, “And God said…and it was so” are repeated multiple times. This means there was nothing, God spoke, and it existed. Didn’t evolve from something else, didn’t start out in one form and develop into another. Out of nothing God made everything. We still good? My suspicion is the number of believers thinned out a little bit there, but let’s move on, and here’s where we’re going to see a significant thinning of the herd.
Do you believe God created everything—including man– in 6 days? Six twenty-four-hour time periods. Genesis explicitly says, “there was evening and there was morning” the first day, the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, and the sixth day. Here’s where the so-called theological evolutionists get lost. Each day was not a thousand years, ten thousand years, or a million years, it was six literal days, just as we know a day today. How much of the 40% did we lose there? My hunch is a bunch. Why? It’s not a real popular stance to take in our so-called enlightened day and age where the mantra is ‘follow the science.’ People who believe in a literal 6-day creation are looked at as uneducated, unsophisticated rubes and hayseeds. And in the day of seeking likes and followers on social media, who wants that? My hand is up, how about yours?
So you see, there’s more to saying we believe the Bible is the literal, inerrant, infallible Word of God than most people who call themselves Christians want to adhere to. The Bible is an all-in Book. We believe it all or not at all.
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It’s Too Late
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
Despite His extraordinary patience with mankind, there comes a point with every people and nation when God’s patience runs out, when he says to that people and nation, it’s too late.
In the parable of the soils in Matthew 13 Jesus says, “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Then Jesus quotes from Isaiah chapter 6:9-10 where God told Isaiah “Go and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.” What God is telling the children of Israel through Isaiah and what Jesus is saying to the Jews of His time is that it’s too late. They would not hear God’s Word and now they cannot hear it.
In John’s Gospel Chapter 12:37-40 John writes, “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: Lord who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”
Again in Acts 28:25-27, Paul says, “The Holy Spirit righteously spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your father’s, saying, Go to this people and say, you will keep on hearing but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand what their heart and return, and I would heal them.”
In Romans Chapter 11 verse 8 Paul again quotes Isaiah, “Just as it is written God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day.” This is from Isaiah chapter 29 verse 10 “For the Lord has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep he has shut your eyes, the prophets he has covered your ears, the seers.”
So what happens to a nation when God says it’s too late? Isaiah spells it out, For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, to rebel against his glorious presence. The expression of their faces bears witness against them, and they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it, Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves… for they will eat the fruit of their actions. Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, for what he deserves will be done to him. Isaiah 3:8-11.
Acts 14:16 tells us that,” In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways.”
Romans 1 makes it clear what happens to those who suppress God’s truth and then refuse to hear His Truth. God gives them over to a depraved, non-functioning mind so they are unable to distinguish truth from a lie. They will not hear so they cannot hear.
God’s proclamation of judgement that it’s too late fell on the children of Israel in the Old Testament, it fell on the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time, and it has fallen on America. It’s too late. We have been the recipient of more truth than any nation on Earth and we have suppressed the truth, refused to hear the truth, and now we cannot hear it. We are sliding deeper and deeper into going our own way, and God has given us over to the insanity which inevitably follows. We are in a nation in the deep stupor of wickedness, perversion, and degradation. Our eyes are blinded, our hearts are darkened, we proudly display our sins like Sodom, and we are eating the fruits of these actions. I would say God help us, but I am afraid it’s too late for that, too.
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Pedophiles Walking Through the Door Transgenderism Opened
“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.” Mark 9:42.
We’ve seen a flurry of what might seem to be unrelated trends. School children are being exposed to more and more sexually graphic teaching and literature (I use that term very loosely) at younger and younger ages. Men dressed as women giving equally graphic and sexually suggestive performances for school children of the same ages. And an explosion across the country of schoolteachers, counselors and administrators being arrested on child pornography charges. All these have a common root, and it’s not one that’s talked about very much.
What the proliferation of so-called transgender people and the Satanic ideology of transgenderism has done is to give a sector of our society, which has up until now had to exist in the shadows and the dark corners of the internet, access to the mainstream of our society. Pedophiles. Perverts in trench coats who once flashed school children, and lured unsuspecting children into their cars with candy and puppies are now using the titles of teacher, counselor, and drag queen to have open and unfettered access to our children. And we’re allowing it to happen in our crazed, full speed ahead rush into diversity and inclusion.
What do you think is the purpose of sexualizing children as young as 5 and 6 years old? Children are sexualized by people who want to have sex with children. What is behind exposing these children to more and more explicit descriptions of what used to be considered adult sexual activity? Desensitization. Numb the kids’ senses and portray it as normal and acceptable behavior, not just for adults but between any two people no matter their ages. Confuse vulnerable, young minds by telling them they might not actually be a boy or a girl. And right out the pedophile playbook, by all means don’t tell your parents. ‘It’s a secret just between you and me, little boy, or little girl.’
Have you ever thought about this. Why is it only drag queens? Where are the women dressed like men performing drag king story hour? Ask not why schools want drag queens to perform, but why do drag queens want to perform at schools. Again, easy access to children with the approval of teachers and administrators who are either unsuspecting fools or pedophiles themselves. Think that’s harsh? Let’s dive into the news.
April 11, 2023. “The Woodlands, TX. A former Magnolia ISD high school teacher was arrested for having an improper relationship with a student and child pornography Tuesday, the Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office said.”
March 20, 2023. “A Florida elementary school teacher is accused of soliciting child porn…Police said [he] was arrested on Friday, March 17. He was a second-grade teacher at Wyomina Park Elementary School.”
April 11, 2023. “Orange County, Fla. — An Orange County Public Schools employee was arrested Tuesday, accused of possessing and sharing child pornography.”
March 9, 2023. An elementary school librarian in Maryland was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography.
March 22, 2023. “Frankfort, Ind. — Suncrest Elementary School third-grade teacher Cody Shanks found himself in the Miami County Jail on Wednesday on suspicion of possession child pornography.”
That’s just in the last 6 weeks. I said all that to say this, and I’ll say it repeatedly and unashamedly until it happens. Transgenderism must be eradicated from our society. Pulled up by the roots and thrown back into the pit of Hell from whence it arose. It has allowed perverts, pedophiles, and child predators of every evil, demonic, Satanic stripe to have unlimited access to those who we once considered to be our most precious and valuable asset—our children. It has to stop.
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He Is Risen!
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is in vain.”1 Corinthians 15:14.
The resurrection of Jesus is the centerpiece of the gospel. Christianity stands or falls based on the doctrine of the resurrection and whether or not it is true. Without the resurrection, Christianity is no different from any other religion which has at its core a dead prophet, founder, leader, messiah. Much of the focus of Passion Week is placed on the cross, and rightfully so, because of the cruelty and suffering of the crucifixion and the incredibly horrible circumstances leading up to it. The conviction of an innocent man, the scourging of Jesus, being slapped, and beaten and spat upon repeatedly. The crucifixion itself with the Roman soldiers driving the nails through the hands and the feet of Jesus. The incredible anguish of the abandonment by the Father on the cross when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
If the story of Jesus’ atonement for our sins and promise of our salvation ends at the cross and there is no resurrection, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, our faith is in vain. But praise God our faith is not in vain, and the story doesn’t end at the cross, it ends with an empty tomb.
From that time to this there have been many questions and doubts by the naysayers, the skeptics, and the deniers about the authenticity of Jesus’ resurrection. The New Testament is replete with accounts of His appearing to people in the days following the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). But what I want to focus on here is not the proof of his resurrection, but what his resurrection proves.
First it proves God’s truthfulness and the consistency of his word.
“Moreover, my flesh also will live in hope; because you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow your holy one to undergo decay. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” The writer of Acts is directly quoting David in Psalm 16 verses 9 through 11.
The apostle Paul speaking before king Agrippa:
“I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer and that by reason of his resurrection from the dead he would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22.
“The Jews then said to him, what sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things? Jesus answered them, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews then said, it took 46 years to build this temple and you will raise it up in three days? But he was Speaking of the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.” John 2: 18-22.
Second, the resurrection proves Jesus’ deity.
“Who was declared the son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:4.
“Therefore let all the House of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:36.
Third, resurrection proves the completion of salvation.
“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:23-24.
“These are in accordance with the working of the strength of his might which he brought about in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1: 19-21.
Fourth, Jesus’ resurrection ensures our resurrection.
“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26.
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
Saving the best for last, Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension to Heaven guarantees the eternal bliss of the people of God.
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where i am, there you may be also.” John 14:2.3.
Hallelujah, He is risen!
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Why Is This Woman Smiling?
“There are six things which the Lord hates, yes seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil.” Proverbs 6:16-18.
For those who may not live in Michigan or follow politics closely, the woman pictured above is Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The evil smile on her face is due to the fact, that under the guise of “reproductive freedom,” she just repealed a Michigan law which prohibited the abortion of viable late term babies. Something to be proud of, huh? Michigan now joins California and Vermont as states which allow abortion right up until the time of birth.
Flanked by pro-abortion advocates from Planned Parenthood and Emily’s List, also seen smiling and applauding above, Whitmer claimed the legislation reflects Michigan “values” and creates a better future for everyone. Everyone but the babies murdered in their mother’s wombs, that is.
“By getting this done, we will help attract talent and business investment, too, the governor said. I will continue to use every tool in my toolbox to support, protect, and affirm reproductive freedom for every Michigander, and I will work with anyone to make Michigan a welcoming beacon of opportunity where anyone can envision a future.”
I’m not sure what kind of talent she’s referring to unless she considers abortionists to be talented. As far as business investment, I’m sure businesses will be more than happy to move to Michigan knowing they won’t have to be inconvenienced with things like their female employees missing work due to pregnancy and maternity leave. It’s a much more cost effective if women can just kill their babies during their lunch break and get back to their cubicles. And again, where anyone can envision a future? Not much of a future when you’re being dismembered, sucked out of your mother’s womb, and thrown out with yesterday’s garbage, is there Gretch?
Meanwhile, Democrat lawmakers made clear that the repeal of the elective abortion ban it’s just part of their pro-abortion agenda. State House Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky said Wednesday “that this is far from the end of the story,” and Democrats want to do more to expand abortions in Michigan.
Do more? I’m not sure what more they can do unless the plan is to allow the murder of babies after they’re born and not just before, which wouldn’t surprise me coming from the bloodthirsty pro-abortion ghouls.
“I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case which I did not know. I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the prey from his teeth.” Job 29:16-17.
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Declining American Values
A recent survey by the Wall Street Journal/NORC concerning what is important to Americans has some alarming numbers but considering the trajectory of our society in the last 25 years they should not be unexpected. Three particular areas, patriotism, religion, and having children are the numbers from the poll I want to focus on here.
Patriotism. 38% consider it very important in 2023 compared to 70% in 1998.
Religion. 39% said it was very important compared to 62% in 1998.
Children. 30% said very important compared to 59% in 1998.
The numbers are even more alarming when the questions are asked to those under 30 years of age. Patriotism is very important to only 23% of that age group. The numbers for religion and having children aren’t any better, 31% said religion is very important, and 23% said children and a family. And these numbers are only back 25 years. I suspect if we go back 25 years before that to 1973 the decline would be even more precipitous.
The decline in the numbers in all these categories really shouldn’t be unexpected. First, in the area of patriotism. A person born in 1998 has heard nothing in their elementary and higher education learning except what a horrible country America is. They are taught lies like the 1619 project, which tells them that America was founded on slavery. The American Revolution was not about religious freedom and independence from England, but to preserve slavery in North America. They have seen the statues of our Founders torn down and their names dragged through the Cultural Marxism mud. They know nothing of American exceptionalism, but all about American imperialism, systemic racism, and oppression. How could they possibly be able to consider patriotism to be something important when they’re told they’re country isn’t worth being loyal to or even living in?
Religion. Again, people born in 1998 in the following years have been fed a steady diet of, there is no God, and the Bible is just myths, legends, and fairy tales. There’s nothing in this universe greater than you. Invictus, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” There is no Creator, we all just one giant cosmic accident. Religion is denigrated and ridiculed. Those who believe in it are uneducated, unsophisticated, hicks from the sticks. You don’t want to be lumped in with “those” people, do you?
Children. A generation of women has been sold the fallacy of feminism. You don’t need a man, get out there and be an independent woman, climb that corporate ladder, girl. Children are a burden, an expense, and an inconvenience that you don’t need. A hindrance to your career. And if you happen to get pregnant along the way, no problem, just kill the baby. It’s your “reproductive freedom.” The problem with this lie comes around 35-40 when women realize the emptiness of their lives without a family. The feminists didn’t tell them that part of the deal.
Secular people don’t get the ‘why’ behind these numbers.
“Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who worked on the 2019 survey for the Journal and NBC News, told the paper that Monday’s poll “paints a new and surprising portrait of a changing America.”
“Perhaps the toll of our political division, COVID and the lowest economic confidence in decades is having a startling effect on our core values.”
The poll paints a new, and not really surprising, portrait of a changing America alright; however, it has little to do with political division, COVID, and economic confidence. It is a spiritual decline that has been taking place in America over the last two generations and accelerating rapidly in just the last decade or less. A country whose values were once based upon the virtues of God, family, and country have been replaced by, I am God, family is an impediment, and America is certainly no place to be proud of, quite the opposite. I shudder to think what poll numbers 25 years from now will tell us.
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Our Nation’s Soul
In his proclamation of Transgender Visibility Day last week (as if trans people weren’t visible enough last week), President Joe Biden had this to say, “Transgender Americans shape our nation’s soul.” Some people said this came across as callous and tone-deaf considering the shootings at the Nashville school which happened just a few days before Biden’s remarks. I thought that when I first heard what he said, but after taking a little time to reflect, and in the interest of giving credit where credit is due, Biden stumbled onto some truth here. The transgender movement is a perfect depiction of the shape of America’s soul. But not in the way our President thinks.
America’s soul is a Romans 1 soul. Lustful hearts, dishonoring bodies, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, degrading passions, unnatural functions, indecent acts, depraved minds. And as bad as those things are, the conclusion in verse 32 is worse, and is where America is today.
“Although they knew the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but give hearty approval to those who practice them.”
It didn’t have to be this way. Since its inception, America has been given more light and more Truth than any nation on Earth. Our Declaration of Independence acknowledges that our unalienable rights are given by our Creator, not man. Our Constitution is founded on Judeo-Christian principles. For these reasons, America has been blessed above all others nations. But in spite of God’s blessings we have turned our back on Him.
We have told God we don’t want Him in our public education. Bible reading and prayer are forbidden but men dressed as women gyrating and simulating sexual acts are acceptable. This has regressed to the point that these men dressed as women are performing in the State Capitol of Minnesota and on a country music awards show. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me” and under the name of choice America has murdered 60 million children in the womb. God said marriage is between a man and a woman and our courts have ordered that same-sex marriage is the law of the land. God said, “male and female created he them” and we have said God makes mistakes and puts people in the wrong bodies. Men can be women and women can be men. Men can even use women’s restrooms and locker rooms and that’s called tolerance and inclusivity.
America is not unique in turning from God and incurring the wrath of His abandonment. It is a story repeated over and over in the Bible.
“Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.” Judges 10:13-14.
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices. Proverbs 1:24-31.
“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways.” Acts 14:16.A nation’s march towards God’s abandonment follows 3 steps as laid out in Romans 1:24-28. First, sexual immorality (v.24). This was what we called a sexual revolution. Free love, no commitment, love the one you’re with, if it feels good do it. In short, the 1960’s and 1970’s. Second, a lesbian and homosexual revolution, degrading passions (v.26,27). Third, depravity (v.28). God gave them over to a depraved mind. Depraved, non-functioning, unable to be reasoned with, and unable to make rational judgement. This final step is where America is now. No definition of man or woman. Doctors profiting from the mutilation of children. Lawmakers who pass legislation banning these procedures or anyone who dares speak out against them being threatened with physical violence and/or death. Trans Day of Vengeance. And a woman who thought she was a man murdering 6 Christians in Nashville. Depraved minds.
There is a way back from God’s abandonment.
“Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please save us this day.” So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord.” Judges 10:15-16.
“But whoever listens to me will live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” Proverbs 1:33.“Oh that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
I would quickly subdue their enemies
And turn My hand against their adversaries.” Psalm 81:13-14. -
Calling Evil Good and Good Evil
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20.
On Monday, a mentally ill woman (I will not use the term transgender man) walked into a Christian school in Nashville and murdered 6 people, including 3 children. These are facts, but listening to the lunacy coming out of our corrupt, evil, politicians and our equally corrupt, evil media you would think the reverse is true.
President Biden said, “Transgender people shape our Nation’s soul.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Our hearts go out to the transgender commun“ity as they are under attack right now.”
Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said, “The trans community is being forced to fight for its very existence.”
Amazon sent an email to their employees affirming “Amazon remains in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ employees, customers, and communities… during this period of apprehension and uncertainty.”
A pastor in Nashville said, “Some folks don’t realize there are church communities out there that do celebrate the LGBTQ community and support them.”
ABC News blamed the shooting on Tennessee lawmakers who recently passed legislation banning the mutilation of children and pornographic literature and performances in schools.
Not to be outdone, NBC news said the shooting happened in Nashville because it’s the home base of conservative news outlet, The Daily Wire.
The Washington Post posted a Christmas photo of a Tennessee representative, whose district includes the school where the shootings took place, and his family in which they were holding guns. He supports the Second Amendment so it’s his fault.
Reuters tweeted that the killer was a former student at the school, implying that the fact that it’s a Christian school is somehow to blame. MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough went on an unhinged rant and blamed the “losers in Washington” who refuse to pass gun control legislation.
The list goes on and on but the point is clear. The woman who murdered 6 people isn’t responsible. To the contrary, she should be celebrated and supported. No, the fault lies with the people who believe in God and the Constitution. They are the evil ones, not the killer.
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 17:15.
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A War That Must Be Won
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against world forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12.
We as Christians tend to have an aversion to war language. We want to be kind and gentle and loving and non-confrontational to everyone. We like to say things like “God loves the sinner but hates the sin” (although the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah might take exception to that one) and in general follow what Voddie Baucham calls the 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt be nice.” But the verses following the ones above describe the full armor of God. A breastplate, a shield, a sword, a helmet. What a Roman centurion put on when he went into battle.
We are in a war. A war with the direst of consequences for our country and our civilization. And a war in which there must be a winner. Either our side wins or the forces of evil win. There can be no negotiated peace in this war. It will either be victory or unconditional surrender. The war I’m talking about is against the transgender ideology and agenda. And we must have a better battle strategy than we did against homosexuality and same-sex marriage, where we fought half-heartedly for a little while, and then rolled over and waved the white flag of surrender.
We must also have a better battle plan because Satan learned from the homosexuality/same-sex marriage battle too, and although some of his tactics are the same, after all why change a winning game plan, he learned some lessons and has stepped up his game. As high as we thought the stakes were then, they are much higher now. The stakes encompass everything from Genesis and the origins of man to what our future will be with a generation, and succeeding generations, of fully indoctrinated and brain-washed children. If the transgender agenda is victorious, America as we know it will cease to exist.
Some of what I mean by Satan stepping up his game. The homosexuality/same-sex marriage battle was the argument that a man could be attracted to another man, or a woman to another woman, and thus they should have the same rights as a heterosexual couple. As distasteful and contrary to the Word of God as that is to Christians, this time the debate is over what is a man and what is a woman. Men can be women, women can be men, there is no defined order as God laid out in His creation. Man is not questioning whether God made them with a proclivity to be attracted to the same sex, man is questioning the Creator himself. God got it wrong. When God said “male and female created He them” it was a lie. That’s only a guess or something “assigned” by a doctor at birth. We can all choose whether we’re a man or woman, or neither, at some later date. In other words, I am God. Blasphemy doesn’t get any more blatant than that.
To the best of my recollection, the homosexuality/same-sex marriage debate was confined to adults. What consenting adults did in the privacy of their homes was nobody’s business, blah blah blah. Satan saw how easily Christians, again wanting to be nice, rolled over, so he dug a little deeper into the pit of Hell and came up with an ideology that targeted children. Now children as young as 5 and 6 are being force-fed the transgender ideology, with or without parental consent. In fact, there are politicians and school board members across this country saying things like, parents should have absolutely no say in the curriculum because they aren’t educated enough to know what’s best for their own children.
For example, but by no means an outlier, in Minnesota
“An education bill is working its way through Minnesota’s legislature that will require the teaching of “ethnic studies” starting in kindergarten.”
Yes, kindergarten.
“The ethnic studies referred to in this bill, however, has a very different definition: “Ethnic studies analyzes the ways in which race and racism have been and continue to be powerful social, cultural, and political forces, and the connection of race to other groups of stratification, including gender, class, sexuality and legal status.”
This ethnic studies bill would also require the Department of Education to hire “dedicated ethnic studies staff” who’s job in part would be to monitor schools and ensure compliance, as well as develop “a model ethnic studies curriculum” for school districts to use. The model curriculum must also include “a power, race, class, and gender analysis” and “an intersectional analysis of climate, health, food, housing, education and policy.”
This is straight out of the Cultural Marxism handbook. What do you think a kindergartner understands about racism, intersectionality, and climate change? Doesn’t matter. Indoctrinate them as young as possible and you’ll have a true believer in the victim mentality and the oppressed and oppressor classes for a lifetime. They may not be able spell oppressed but they sure know what it means, and that’s what’s important.
And of course while the transgender agenda is attacking the minds of the most vulnerable, Satan has a second front in this war. Long held societal norms like who can use what restroom. States actually have to pass laws now that prohibit men from going into women’s restrooms. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have so-called anti-discrimination laws that allow it. I never thought I’d see such a thing even being discussed and debated, but here we are.
The good news about this war is this:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Corinthians 10:4.
We have divinely powerful weapons capable of destroying Satan’s fortress of transgenderism. We just have to use them this time.
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Corrupted By The Culture
God reminds us over and over in Scripture to separate ourselves from the world. In 2 Corinthians 6:17 He says, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean.” I John 2:15 tells us, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world.” Philippians reminds us that “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Colossians 3:2 tells us, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” James 1:27 tells us to “Keep oneself unstained by the world.”
World in these passages doesn’t mean the physical world, of course, that would be impossible. World is better translated “age” and refers to the beliefs and values of the time in which we live. When God repeats something time and again it’s with a purpose—to get our attention. God knows full well the corrupting influence the age and the culture can have on those who believe in Him, going all the way back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis Chapter 19.
“Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.” Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house;”
Lot knew full well the city in which he lived. When the angels said they would spend the night in the town square, Lot knew what and who awaited them. So, he urged them strongly to enter his house. Then when the men of Sodom pounded on the door and demanded Lot bring the angels out for the purpose of sexual relations with them, Lot offered up his two virgin daughters instead. He had obviously and egregiously been corrupted by the age.
The sin of homosexuality is as corrupting and as insidious in the age we live in today as it was in the days of Lot. It has invaded and permeated every facet and every institution of our culture and our society. Unfortunately, even though the Bible is very clear on the issue, the church has not been exempted.
Joel Osteen sits down with Oprah Winfrey and when asked if homosexuals can go to heaven says, “I think so.” When pressed whether or not he thinks it a sin, he stammers and stutters and says, “yes, but…” Then he equates it with pride or lying and says God doesn’t categorize sin. I may be wrong but I don’t recall anyplace in Scripture where God calls lying an “abomination” or any cities God rained fire on for being proud. But I could be wrong.
Andy Stanley tells his congregation that homosexuals have a stronger faith than he does and claims his approach to homosexuality is necessary to reach the next generation.
“What does this have to do with the next generation? Everything…As long as they think that we don’t understand that they can’t hear us… A gay person who still wants to attend church after the way the church has treated them… I’m telling you…they have more faith than I do…They still love God…I know the “clobber passages,” alright? We’ve got to figure this out. And if you don’t you can say goodbye to the next generation.”
Stanley’s so-called “clobber passages” are Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:27, and 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. Let’s look at the last one.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
For a good perspective on how homosexuality has influenced not only the culture but the church, take a look at the other sins listed by Paul. Substitute any of them for homosexuality and try to imagine a pastor saying, ‘A thief who wants to attend church after the way the church has treated them has more faith than I do. A drunk or an adulterer who still wants to attend church after the way the church has treated them has more faith than I do.’ Will you ever hear that from a pulpit? Not a chance. Reason being thieves, drunks, and adulterers don’t have a “pride” month, or a flag, or a parade, and their political activists are nonexistent unless I missed Drunk Pride Month.
Let’s just cut straight to the heart of the matter. Osteen and Stanley are the false prophets Paul and Peter warned us about.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13,14.
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” 2 Peter 2:1.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.” 2 Timothy 4:3
To be clear, homosexuality is a sin. That’s not popular and not appealing to the mainstream culture but it’s true because God’s Word says it is. Yes, homosexuals can be forgiven and can enter the Kingdom of God, but only by repentance and turning from their sin. Paul plainly says that in the verse immediately following verse 10 of 1 Corinthians 6 where he lists those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Such were some of you. Past tense.
In times like these, we don’t need preachers who follow the go along to get along philosophy. Mealy mouthed fence straddlers with one foot in the church and the other in the world, trying to appease both. We need men of God who rightly divide the Word of Truth, in season and out of season. Popular, unpopular, makes no difference. This generation, the next generation, any generation. The Word doesn’t change. The message doesn’t change. It’s the same yesterday, today, forever.
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Jesus Never Said…Well, Yes He Did
See if this sounds familiar. Well, Jesus never said anything about (fill in the blank). The usual context of this statement is relating to homosexuality, but it can be applied to every other sin man tries to justify which Jesus failed to explicitly condemn during his ministry on Earth. My answer to this is simple. So?
Let’s begin…well, in the beginning.
“Then God said, let us make man in our image, according to our likeness” Genesis 1:26. Us? Our? Also in Genesis Chapter 11 v. 7 where the people were building a tower to reach into heaven. “Let Us go down and there confuse their language…” These are the first mentions of the Trinity in the Bible. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The first chapter of John’s Gospel confirms:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. Jesus, with God from the beginning. Not only with God but was God. Is God.
“Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” Leviticus 18:22
“ If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman both of them have done what is detestable…” Leviticus 20:13
When someone says these are Old Testament scriptures, not the words of Jesus, the Book of Leviticus begins:
“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting.”
God spoke to Moses, Jesus was with God and was God from the beginning. These are Jesus’ words.
“I and the Father are One.” John 10:30.
Just as an aside, this is why I’m not a fan of versions of the Bible with Jesus’ words in red. They’re all Jesus’ words.
Now on to the New Testament references to homosexuality.
“In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Romans 1:27.
“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexual offenders,nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
But these are the words of Paul, not Jesus. Well, not so much. Paul himself makes that clear.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16.
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” 1 Corinthians 2:13.
Peter concurs.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21.
John brings them all together in writing Revelation.
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.. Revelation 1:9-10.
This is why my response to the statement, Jesus never said is, so? The words of God, the words of Jesus, and the words written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit are inseparable. If one said it, they all said it.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7. (KJV)
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The Narrow Way
The tag line above is taken from Matthew 7:14 at the end of what is referred to as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The entire passage reads:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
A lot there in just a few words. Two gates, wide and narrow. Two ways, broad and narrow. Two destinations, Hell and Heaven. Two crowds, the many and the few. Only two choices. The wide gate and the broad way leads to one destination. The narrow gate and the narrow way leads to the other. Many are going to one destination, few to the other. There are only two choices because there are only two religions which direct people to these roads. Christianity, through divine accomplishment, and everything else, through human achievement. That’s it. But hey, there are lots of ways to get to heaven. We may all be on different roads, but the roads all end up in the same place, right. It’s like cable television, hundreds of channels, but they all lead to entertainment. Steve Harvey said so.
Sorry, Steve, but there are only two. What you’re describing is the wide gate and the broad way. The one that the many are on. The one that leads to Hell. Oh, the sign doesn’t say Hell, it says Heaven. Satan is many things, but he ain’t stupid. He’ll tell you, ‘Come on, the road is wide, there’s room for everybody, follow the crowd, it’s easy. Bring all your baggage, you can even call yourself religious if you want to. And we’ll call you by your preferred pronouns and you can identify as whatever you like. We’re a tolerant bunch.’ The problem comes when you get to the end of the road and find out he was lying. Then it’s too late.
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22.
Then there’s the narrow, constricted way. The one that says:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
It’s sure not the easy way.
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39.
“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24.
No crowds through this gate, one at a time. No baggage, either.
“Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling..”Yes, the way is narrow, and the road is not easy, but for those who persevere it’s worth the struggle.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1
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God Bless the Child
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of last year, the mask came off the so-called pro-choice crowd. The facade of safe, legal, and rare abortion that was their calling card since the days of the Clinton Administration suddenly became abortion at any point in the pregnancy, up to and including the moment of birth, for any reason or for no reason at all. The House and Senate wasted no time in drafting legislation saying as much. In short, they revealed what they really had been about all along. They can’t cloak their language in benign sounding terms like reproductive health services and a woman’s right to choose any longer. Now all the pro-death, pro-infanticide cards are on the table.
My aim since I decided to start this blog and comment on the issues facing Christians today has been to ask one question and one question only. What does God, through His Holy Scriptures, have to say about it? So, let’s begin to answer that question,
First, children are a blessing and a reward from God.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm127:3-5Grandchildren, too.
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6.
God knew us before we were born.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16Knit and woven together. This is exactly what happens when DNA strands come together to form chromosomes to create a unique human being unlike any other. We’ve only discovered that process recently. God knew about it all along. Almost like he created the process or something.
No exception for children with what the pro-death crowd might call birth defects or disabilities either. These special children are created by God too.
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Exodus 4:11
We are made in the image of God.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness. Genesis 1:26
Jesus had a special affection for children.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4
“Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.” Mark 10:14-16.
And to those who would harm children:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better off for him to have a heavy millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6
That seems fairly straightforward to me.
The abomination of infanticide is nothing new. Pagans in ancient Rome threw unwanted children into the river or on the garbage heap and left them to die. The only difference today is that American pagans have moved the garbage heap indoors and renamed it Planned Parenthood.
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Truth or Consequences
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Romans 1:18
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” Romans 1:25.
“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done.” Romans 1:28.
Paul lays out a progression for God’s judgment here. First step is the suppression of truth. What does THE truth tell every man and woman? That they’re born with a sinful nature and that the only way to avoid eternal punishment is through repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for their sins. Watch a CNN panel discussion on religion and see how fast the Christian saying that gets shouted down by the 8 atheists who make up this “balanced” program. Or post it on social media and count the minutes until it’s deleted as disinformation or misinformation. Say that at work and see how fast you get reported to HR and ordered to go to sensitivity training. Gotta nip that stuff in the bud, don’t you know.
“Truth is nowhere to be found and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah 59:15.
Aka cancel culture.
“Exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” The literal translation of this is the lie. What is the lie? A denial of God’s very existence and his right to be obeyed. After the truth is suppressed, the knowledge of it diminishes to the point of ‘there’s no God at all. Why should I live by what he says? He’s just a myth anyway. I have a better way. My truth.’
Let’ stop here for a minute and, as a popular phrase of the day goes, unpack this. When truth is suppressed and the truth is exchanged for the lie, what are the inevitable consequences? Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year-olds. Why? There’s no truth, no God, nothing greater than me in this world. Add the discarding of Biblical knowledge and principles, no guidelines and guideposts for living. There’s just me and my truth. Young people look around and say, ‘Is this all there is? This is as good as it gets? Thanks but no thanks, I’m checking out.’
“Worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” Isaiah Chapter 44: 14-17 tells about a man who cuts down a tree. Half of the tree he burns to cook his meal and warm himself. The rest he uses to make an idol which he bows down to and worships. “He prays to it and says, Save me, you are my god.” V. 17. No acknowledgment of the God who made the tree and who sent the rain to make it grow. We’re no better today. Save the whales, save the snails, save the polar bears. Save everything but the unborn babies, they’re expendable. Throw in the religion of climate change which worships the created earth but not the Creator God and it becomes clearer.
“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done .”
Depraved— non-functioning, unable to be reasoned with, unable to distinguish truth. The King James Bible used the word reprobate. Irrational, what we would call insane, with no hope of returning to sanity. Back to mental illness. Then there’s “gave them over.” Not words a country or a people want God to say to them or about them. A Greek judicial term used for a prisoner being handed over for the carrying out of his sentence.
I don’t think there’s much question America has progressed to the point of the last stage. Insanity abounds. This country is under judgment. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Good News.
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5.
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Me, Myself, and I
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves… 2 Timothy 3:1,2
Not too long ago in a galaxy not too far away, aliens were sent to Earth to check out these strange creatures called humans and see what makes them tick. Their mission? Find out what these beings’ worship. So, they go hurtling through space and land right here in the good, old USA. What do they find?
Naturally, they would look for a place where people spend a good deal of their time. They see everyone walking around with these strange rectangular devices in their hands and wonder why humans are glued to these devices almost constantly. So, they discover social media. What do they see there? Selfies after selfie after selfie after selfie.
They know that humans go to this place called church in order to perform their worship rituals. But so many churches, where to go? Well, there must be a lot of people there to get a good sample size for their study. How about a place in the fourth largest city in the country, in an arena that was formerly used for basketball games and concerts. What do they find there? A smiling book salesman, I mean pastor, peddling books with titles like, Your Best Life Now, The Power of I Am, I Declare, It’s Your Time, and Become a Better You.
The aliens go to the spaceship and report back to their home planet immediately. We’ve seen enough, we know what Earthlings worship. Themselves.
Is that not America 2023? Selfies, self-help, self-improvement, self-esteem, self-love, self-gratification, my truth. It’s all about me.
Why? You may sense a recurring theme here. Let’s look at the original Big “I.”
“How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”Isaiah 14:12-14
Five x “I.” What does that equation equal? God doesn’t take long to add it up. “But you are brought down to the realm of the dead to the depths of the pit.” V. 15.
If you’re looking for help and love and improvement and gratification and true happiness, you won’t find it in yourself or in the pages of any book written by man. You’ll find it in the Word of God and a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. THE Truth
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.
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This narrow way 