God and Government

March 8th, 2010
I have seen responses to how Christians should deal with our national condition. The general theme has been to honor America instead of God. Here is my take on this issue.
—————————-
What is our HONOR CODE as Christians…in regard to our government?
    We are in tumultuous times, and many are having a difficulties facing the reality of the America we know…and the America we see in our future. The fact that God raises up nations for His purpose is a given. But, we are tempted to not honor God’s governing authorities because we disagree…but we are told to submit to them. (Rom. 13) Since God is in charge, He will take care of those who make unjust laws…when the time is right. (Isaiah 10:1-4)
    Our issue is not the government we have, or will have.  It is how we react to what God gives us!
It is time to answer some different questions: 
   
The founding fathers never intended for America to be a Christian nation! In fact, they strongly apposed the concept! America was build on an interesting mixture of Jewish and Christian concepts…based on the reality of God. We have learned over 234 years that these concepts do not always mix well…and, the moral realities have certainly not met the standards of Godliness!
Is our loyalty to the COMFORT and PROSPERITY of the America we have grown to love?
    Surely our loyalty is not to the immorality we see! It is interesting that the church was established in strikingly similar circumstances as we have today.
    The Roman culture was corrupt and full of murder, cruelty, dishonesty, drunkenness, lying, materialism, adultery, homosexuality, divorce, greed, abuse, discirimination and governmental corruption on a different level. 
    As we read through the New Testament, we sense it is very difficult to resist CONFORMITY TO and ACCEPTANCE OF this cultural malaise. Maybe this is why there is so much said about materialism and being transformed through the Spirit instead of conformed to the world. (II Cor. 3:18)
Is the condition of our country directly related to the fact that WE have been exposed to two subtle, but dangerous syndromes?
    Sudden corruption causes immediate, powerful, transforming reactions. Gradual corruptive-changes cause eyebrow lifts that evolve into eyebrow twitches that eventually become Atrophic-Eye-Syndrome (insensitivity to the sin we see) . When the dangerous Look-The-Other-Way-Neck-Jerk-Syndrome(ignoring sin) is added to atrophic-eye syndrome, the result is moral blindness and often seductive, immoral involvement.
    When we look at the situation in the church, do we see advanced symptom of Atrophic-Eye-Syndrome, or even Look-The-Other-Way-Neck-Jerk-Syndrome? Since we have been commissioned to stand for God, and we do not, it is no surprise that the world is going to hell in a Ferrari. Who else will stand effectively? If we have been infected are we part of the spiritual cowardice problem?
Have we become conformed to the American Way…instead of THE WAY?
    If so, it is also no surprise that we can get angry at the possibilities of losing our American freedoms…but seem to have 
lost the ability to generate righteous indignation because of how so many have abused the name, and Way, of God? Until we repent, will God relent?


Our HONOR CODE is to submit to governing authorities UNTIL WE NO LONGER CAN, because of His higher authority.
    The truth is, even if every one of us voted, there are not enough of us to make much of a difference politically…and the powerful media is out to destroy us (Christianity). The only hope for America is for the remnant to be what God wants us to be…passionate, compassionate, praying soldiers in the Army of God. 
    We may not have direct influence with American politicians, but we do have direct influence with the God of the universe…which gives us power to be a force for unimaginable, redemptive change. It happened at Nineveh! But, is it possible to continue to be conformed to the world and be faithful to God…so He will work through us? 
I
t is time for transformation!
    This is not the place for an in-depth study of leadership. But it is the place to point out that honorable leadership comes at a price…the demonstration of honorable, courageous leadership. 
    The New Testament church was committed to the government of God…regardless of the circumstances around them. They publicly pointed out the corruption of the Romans, but did not resist the Roman government. They were willing servants of the Roman soldiers! The courageously told the world about the superior government of God. There hope was not in the whims of foolish men or the weapons of massive armies. Their home was in the presence of the King of Kings that could stop armies with a thunderstorm…and there message of hope was peace, regardless of war.
Our response to the American condition is to compassionately point out the sin, and tell the story of the redemptive hope found in Jesus Christ our Lord!
    
Will the Lord’s people pray, and then quickly rise up and pay the price materially and emotionally to send the Light to America!

Bad news is good news!

February 23rd, 2010

This is actually exciting good news!
    There are over 6 million brand new souls born into our world every month…that have not yet been corrupted by the influence of Satan. Some of them are in our communities. How can we overlook the potential of 72,000,000 brand new souls in 2010.
    We can’t!  It is true, the brand new little ones cannot go to the Internet, but we can get the word to parents. If we can get solid material out to the next generation, we will accomplish our goal. There is another absolute truth: “God wants all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth”.
    Our challenge is to want the same things God wants.
    Over the last several decades God has given us the tools to take His messaage to the 6.8 billion folk in the world. He has provided, radio, television, high quality printers, cell phones and the high-speed Internet access…specifically 1.7 billion computers with Internet access on every continent in the world. Almost every computer has a printer to pass on the message.
    I am a simple man, so it seems we have a remarkable opportunity. All we have to do is get less than 4 folk to each computer.

I do not respond.

February 6th, 2010

I delete all messages when there are any references to cialis, viagra, jokes or off-color comments in the addresses or content.

Wake up, oh Sleeper…rise!

January 26th, 2010

This is not a call to save our nation…that is God’s work!
   
This is a call to recommit ourselves to the most powerful force in our world…the body of Christ (church). Unfortuntely, the church is being conformed to the world. The only hope for US (United States) is for he New Testament church to once again be transformed into its original purpose and power.
    If the United States is saved as a republic, we will thank god. If it is not, we will be prepared for what will happen…because we know God is the one who raises up nations and takes down nations.
    If you doubt the power of the church, look at Eph. 1:18-23. 
   
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
    At this point the enemies of God seem to have the momentum…because they control the media. But, our strength is like the power exerted when Jesus was raised from the dead. We can take the gospel to our world and the world.
Starting in our communities?
   
In our last entry we mentioned the Biblical plan for evangelism (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the World) is backward. It is easier to send folk to other places than get in the trenches and fight it out in our own world. So, we have for the most part bypassed the (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the world) pattern and made the world the pattern.
    One question is haunting: Has every person in our community had the opportunity to make an educated decision about our Lord?
    The Public Forum was an important part of the beginning and the growth of the New Testament church. It was the media of the first century…the place where ideas were exchanged. Our churches, mosques and  temples are not our public forum. They are places of consecration and shelter.
    In the last few decades, God has masterminded the greatest communication advances in the history of the world. During this time color television, FM radio, cable TV, internet, personal computers, personal printers, cell phones, IPODs, streaming audio/video, etc. have appeared on the scene. These advances are now part of our Public Forum along with newspaper and radio.
    We must reclaim our voice in the Public Forum.
   

The 2010 Battle

January 20th, 2010

“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed (aroused to anger) to see that the city was full of idols.”
(Acts 17:16)

What makes us mad…or better yet, do we get mad?
   
Was Paul mad because there were idols as far as the eye could see…or mad because the people were ignoring and discrediting the God of the universe? Either way was reason enough, so he went to the synagogue (Jews and God-fearing Greeks) and the marketplace and taught all others who would listen…preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Some listened and were saved!
Where is our ”righteous indignation” because we see false religions as far as the eye can see?
    Do we have the nerve to go into our public forums to become what the world might call babblers presenting an unknown God (the real Jesus and the power of the resurrection)? The power of the Spirit of God turns what the world calls babblers into powerful messengers of the only good news available to our world. Our challenge is not to baptize folk! It is to present the gospel so that Jesus can draw folk unto Him…to be baptized. 
    We cannot be successful by depending on our own power and persuasiveness. Personal power is corrupting…and compromise is certain!

“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
(Phil. 1:14)
Our world is a mess…and the gospel is the only hope!       
    Paul’s comment was a gentle, encouraging reminder to a young church. Where is our “righteous indignation” when we look around and after decades of sitting in Bible classes, most of us are not speaking the word of God more courageously and fearlessly? 
Could it be we have so few ”distressed” leaders to follow?
In case you have not noticed…we are in a fierce spiritual war!
    The history of the Lord’s people is established firmly. As long as leadership is strong and courageous (standing on truth), followers will generally follow. The truth is, our purpose is to take the gospel to the world…not to provide a comfortable place for the soldiers!
     This year we are dedicated to speaking the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly both to the body and the world. World evangelism is noble and necessary, but we will continue to put emphasis on the Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, world pattern of evangelism instead of what seems to be the backward world-first pattern.

The greatest threat to evolution!

December 24th, 2009

The greatest threat to evolution is science!
   The only reason to spend time on this issue is that the theory of evolutions causes folk to question the power of God and the truthfulness of God’s revelation to man…the Bible.
   Some want us to believe the theory of evolution is proven true by the consensus of scientists. It is not! Others want us to believe the answers to evolutionary questions can be overcome by talented writers with slick propaganda.
   The problem is that honest folk are influenced by verifiable evidence and common sense. The truth is, all the so-called evidence for evolution can just as easily be explained through real science and the account of creation found in the Bible. There is no common sense or logic in the theory of evolution!
Honesty
    The writings of the Bible have been proven over and over to be scientifically true. Evolutionary writings can be easily challenges through real science.
    And, evolutionary writers admit they are wrongor could be wrong by using words like theory, perhaps, if, maybe, etc.
     “We have proffered a collective tacit acceptance of the story of gradual adaptive change, a story that strengthened and became more entrenched as the synthesis took hold. We paleontologists have said that the history of life supports that interpretation, all the while knowing it does not.”
(The New Biology, page 175)
    “If living matter is not, then, causes by an interplay of atoms, natural forces and radiation, how has it come into being?…I think however, that we must go further than this and admit that the only acceptable explanation is creation. I know this is anathema to physicists, as indeed it is to me, but we must not reject a theory we do not like if experimental evidence supports it? 
(Physics Bulletin, May, 1980)
    The greatest enemy of evolution is real science!

No Hoax!!!!

December 22nd, 2009

Some would have us believe Jesus was a hoax!
    
The supposed hoax is not that Jesus lived (which is historically verifiable), but that Jesus was not who he claimed to be! 
But, if he was not who he claimed to be, who was he?
    Roman, Jewish, Biblical and modern historians verify Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived for a while in Egypt. Jesus was known as the Jewish messiah, a wise teacher and miracle worker. When still a young man, he was crucified on a roman cross, buried in a borrowed tomb and raised from the dead. After he was raised, he appeared before hundreds of people.
    In addition, the Bible writers said Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The Jewish religious leaders heard this and knew Jesus was claiming to be equal with God. So they were more determined to kill him.  
    The Bible is the only reliable account of the life and teachings of Jesus. It is actually a series of 27 letters, written and distributed during the time the people who heard and saw what Jesus said and did. These writers claimed to be inspired.
    If Jesus was not the Son of God, he was an egotistical, deranged, cruel, stupid man…and historians would not have called him a great teacher. All the enemies of Jesus had to do was prove one thing in the Biblical letters was not true and Christianity would have been stopped dead. They did not, because they could not!
So, which part of the life and teachings of Jesus is the hoax?
    
Was Jesus not a wise teacher and miracle worker?
    Did the Jewish religious leaders make a mistake about reacting so violently about Jesus claiming to be the Son of God?
    Are all the credible Roman, Jewish, Biblical and modern historians wrong?
    Were the enemies of Jesus simply inept because they could not find one mistake in the writings of the Bible?
Arrogance or delusion?
    Why would anyone look at the evidence and conclude Jesus was not who he claimed to be?
The Bible is true and Jesus is the Son of God!

God and Government

December 21st, 2009

God
    “The authorities that exist have been establishes by God. For he is God’s servant to do you good.”
(Romans 3:1)
    Governments are raised up and taken down for the purpose of God
If we have a dishonest, oppressive government, rest assured it is for a purpose. But, be of good cheer…it will only last as long as it is needed.
Government
    “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees…What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run? Yet for all this, his (God’s) anger is not turned away.” (Isaiah 10:1)
    No government or authority is exempt from the purpose, blessing and wrath of God!
    The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was not a righteous king, but he was raised up to punish Israel for their rebellion against God. God said he would rule over Israel for 70 years. After 70 years Babylon was punished for its ruthlessness.
    Pharaoh was the most powerful man of his time. Egypt had oppressed the Israelites for 400 years and Pharaoh was told to let the people go. He would not listen. He was killed…and Egypt was ruined.
    Herod made a speech. He believed the chant of the crowd:“This is the voice of God, not a man.”  He did not give God the credit and was eaten by worms. (Acts 12)
Christ
    One interesting thing about the life and teaching of Jesus is that he did not get involved in politics…except to expose the sin of authorities (politicians). Jesus called Herod a fox. He called the Pharisees hypocrites, snakes and whitewashed tombs. He accused them of following traditions instead of God’s law. And, He did not resist his own illegal arrest…because of his stated purpose to die for the sins of the world.
Christ-Like
    The word Christ means “anointed one”. If we are to imitate Christ, is it reasonable to react to government as an anointed one sent from God. (II Cor. 2:17) This sounds arrogant, but it is very simple. We are set apart by God to deliver a message from God!
    When we boldly deliver the message (good or bad), we will have the same result…some will listen, some will ignore and some will want to destroy the messenger.
But, the messenger must deliver the message!

The Irrelevant Jesus?

December 21st, 2009

Only 17% of the population of the United States attends any religious service on a regular basis!
    This in no way measures the relevancy of Jesus. It only measures the inadequacy of Christians telling the story of Jesus.
    The truth is, Jesus is the most important, powerful person that every lived on this earth. No other man has inspired the world to change the calendar to start from his birth. History verifies that Jesus lived and was known as a wise teacher who healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, was illegally tried, was crucified, raised from the dead and appeared to hundreds of witnesses after his resurrection. He gave up equality with God to sacrifice his life for his enemies!
     There has been more literature and music written about Jesus than any other man in history. And, the Bible is the only reliable, continuous history of the world from creation to the Ist century…and was written to show the relevancy of Jesus. It is the most popular book of all time. 
    But, the issue is not Just that Jesus is extremely relevant. It is that most folk have not heard that the historical death, burial and resurrection of Jesus proves he is the actual Son of God. If folk understood the significance of this fact, the historical result would be repeated. Believers would live transformed lives and enemies would mobilize against The Way…sometimes violently.
    The obvious enemies of Jesus are openly campaigning to make Jesus irrelevant…and are for the most part succeeding. But, arguably the most dangerous enemies of Jesus are hidden within Christendom. The practical definition of Christendom is division, and it is not Christianity…it is pseudo Christianity.    
    Can we blame folk for not seeing Christianity as relevant…when they see so many examples of division, immoral leadership, compromise and irrelevant behavior.
    Until the church becomes the bold, compassionate, transformed, united body of Christ, Jesus will continue to be perceived as irrelevant.
    When will this change?

Religion is not Good!

December 18th, 2009

Religion: The search for a value system that leads to an ideal life!”
    The contemporary definition of religion is based on values that come from personal experience. With this definition Materialism, Atheism, Hinduism, Islam, Animism, Satanism, Buddhism, Hedonism, Tree Hugging, etc. can all be good…depending on one’s background and perception of what is an ideal life. 
    Some use the generic term spiritual to get around the idea of being involved in this life-style. The concept is the same…a licence to do and be anything. This is not good!
   You have undoubtedly noticed we did not include Christianity in the our list of religions. Christianity does not fit in the modern definition of religion. Christianity is based on having a personal relationship with a loving God. It is not a matter of choosing which values I like…it is accepting the value system God prescribes.
    This is crucial…because the concept of religion is now a part of Christendom. There are thousands of different churches in Christendom…based on the concept of doing what feels good or a particular bias. This is what some call pot-luck Christianity. I can pick and choose what I want!
    The truth is God has provided a pattern of sound doctrine. (II Timothy 1:13) In the original language this pattern is a mold that hot lead was poured into. When the lead cooled, the image produced was the same every time. Those who follow Christ do not have the right to change the pattern by picking and choosing. And, this pattern of sound doctrine can be understood by anyone who studies it. It does not necessarily require the help of a priest or pastor. (Ephesians 3:4)
    The conclusion is not popular and will cause severe angst, but Christianity is radical. Denominationalism is not a good thing. It is division, and the clear message of the New Testament, including the pattern of sound doctrine, is that there should be no division in the body (church). (I Cor. 1:10)
    Christendom is religion…not Christianity!