THOSE WHO CALL EVIL GOOD

Picture by Julie Ayers

What is good? What is bad? Who determines these things?

We live in a time when what seems good is no longer.

Morals. Ethics. Principles. Character.

These are concepts that are long forgotten in our current climate. The Bible warned us of this. Isaiah 5:20 says, “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.”

The question is what is good? Obviously, good can be a relative term. God’s Word tells us that none are good and all have sinned. Romans 3 goes into great detail about this. But basically the gist is that only God is good. People on the other hand, not so much.

So when we’re talking about what or who is good, it’s more about people who seek to do what is right in God’s eyes. Essentially, good is a characteristic of God and He imputes His goodness onto mankind.

Is it possible for people who don’t know God or want God in their lives to do good? Yes. God has given each of us as human beings a conscience. This is a distinguishing feature in each person that helps us to make choices between right and wrong. But that’s primarily because God is present in the world. A more in-depth discussion about this was written by Aron Wall. It’s worth noting, though, that God is the center of all that is good and He is the One who created us and brought goodness into this world.

So, as we grow into adulthood, we mature and make choices and are ultimately accountable for those choices. Sometimes those consequences are immediate. Other times they may not show up for years. Although it may not be a hard and fast rule, those who push God away are generally those who slowly fall away from doing good. In some instances, they may even begin to call what is evil good.

That is the problem we have in this sinful world. More and more people are not drawn to what is good and right but to wickedness. John 3:19-20 tells us, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”

Who will disagree that we are seeing this today? It’s bad enough that the world seems more corrupted and dark than ever before. But now we see people distort what is good and evil. In twisting the reality of these terms, people in general are unable to distinguish what is real anymore. What happens then is that Isaiah 5:20 comes to life and people begin calling what is evil good, and what is good evil.

There are many examples of this that come to mind.

There are good people who disagree with sinful lifestyles and are essentially being harassed by society and the government because of their convictions.

•  Court Rules Baker Can’t Refuse to Make Wedding Cake for Gay Couple
•  Court Holds That Wedding Photographer Cannot Refuse Service To Gay Couples
•  Are American Taxpayers Paying For Abortion?

There are sinful people who force others to accept their views and behaviors through whatever means necessary.

•  U.S. Directs Public Schools to Allow Transgender Access to Restrooms
•  Loretta Lynch Vows to Prosecute Those Who Use 'Anti-Muslim' Speech That 'Edges Toward Violence'

And then there are those who are guilty of serious crimes but are given a pass because they are highly powerful and influential.

•  The Drudge Report broke the story about the Clinton-Lewinsky affair 15 years ago Thursday
•  She Lied and She Got Away With It: The FBI has shown that there's currently no way to hold Hillary Clinton accountable.

Up is down, down is up. No wonder people are confused today. People are forced to live outside the realm of what should be “normal”. But what is normal? Normal should uphold morals. Normal should promote ethics. Normal should value principles. Normal should pursue character.

Normal, however, is being redefined by godless people in our culture. People are being told that a man with the physical characteristics and anatomy of a male can actually identify as a woman. People are being told that violent men who are raised within the Islamic religion and traditions are not really associated with Islam when they commit jihad and kill hundreds of innocent people. People are being told that climate change is the greatest threat the world faces when in reality we see how abortion kills millions each year, how Islamist terrorism is on the rise, and how domestically, angry citizens use race as a means to amp up murder sprees throughout the country.

Again, the Bible warns us that we will encounter problems such as these in our culture. God anticipated that we would experience a culture that we wouldn’t understand. It seems counter to the way things are supposed to be. We live in a world that is antagonistic toward good and righteousness. We live in a world that is self-serving and wants nothing to do with God and our Creator. Scripture tells us that before Jesus returns, this is the way the world would be.

2 Timothy 3:1-9

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

We live in a world that is increasingly distorted and confusing. There is, however, truth and reality found in the God and Creator of the heavens and earth. Through the Apostle Paul, God gives us a prescription in how to deal with this kind of distorted reality.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul lays out the prescription in verses 14-16. He tells us that it’s through knowing God’s Word that we can discern right from wrong, good from bad, and moral from immoral. If we study God’s Word, we can know how to navigate through the misinformation the world gives us. Scripture teaches us how to be wise and how to live. Scripture teaches us the truth about morals, ethics, principles, and character. God’s Word is the true source of how to apply these concepts.

In effect, God describes right and wrong by providing us specific characteristics and contrasting them in Galatians 5.

The Bad

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Good

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The world will continue in its decline and will only get worse. The culture will continue to push God away. Why? Because if they allowed God in the course of their discussions, in the middle of their lives and circumstances, they would have to face the ugly truth about the sin they adamantly embrace.

Truth is an amazing thing. It brings clarity to what is wrong in the world. The world wants to keep people from knowing the truth so it continually provides obstacles from people knowing it. That may be why so many atheists are trying to scream “separation of church and state” when they push against God and Christianity.

• U.S. military ‘hostile’ to Christians under Obama; morale, retention devastated
• Florida Schools Ban Bibles After Pressure from Atheists
• Atheist bullies strike again: Delaware high school coaches cave on post-game prayer

Our hope, however, in not in this world. Our hope is in a living Savior, in the person of Jesus Christ. If we want to know the truth, it’s Jesus that we seek. In fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Truth. John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

The world will continue to disappoint, distort, and mislead. But Jesus offers us hope for a future with Him instead. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Yes, the world will continue down this spiral of pursuing evil. And they’ll even call evil good and vice versa. But you don’t have to follow that pattern. We have a choice. We can choose the world’s way or we can choose God’s. God’s will is that we would seek Him with all our hearts. And the good? God will reveal the Truth of Jesus to us and we can finally know what is truly good and do it.

A Different Take on Refugees

Picture by UNHCR

There’s a strange phenomenon taking place in our nation. Mention the word refugees and all of a sudden there are strong opinions from both sides of the argument. But that is oversimplifying the situation. It feels like we’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone where certain thoughts and ideas are coming from camps we thought we knew with many twists and illogical conclusions.

It’s no mystery where our president lands on his take over the refugees. He’s been expressing his views quite clearly over the years when it comes to the immigration debates. What does seem shocking is how extreme he allows his views to take him and how far he’s willing to sacrifice himself in the arena of public opinion to get there.

Where it gets bizarre is where some of the other opinions are coming from. It’s interesting to see how even in the political arena certain Democrats are siding with Republicans by saying that the President needs to do more to protect the country in vetting the refugees before allowing them to come into the country. Then there are Christians speaking out saying that it’s unchristian-like not to accept the refugees no matter the level of danger it places the country in.

But it’s not just the position certain people take on the issue that’s entirely surprising. It’s the explanations behind their views that seem to take on bizarre twists. For example, Donald Trump has apparently come out and said he would like to implement a database system for Muslims in this country. And Fox News host Shepard Smith labels people “political extremists” for objecting to Syrian refugees coming to this country. Then from unlikely sources, someone like Dianne Feinstein, an extreme liberal in her own right, cautions people about admitting Syrian refugees.

Those are only a few examples of some of the viewpoints coming from unlikely sources. There seems to be a lot of emotion tied into all sides of the debate. Some of it may be because there is a real fear of danger regarding terrorism that is gripping the world. Other feelings arise out of compassion for a people going through so much because of a civil war that has killed so many in the homeland of Syria.

But before we all act out of impulse or before we begin labeling people as either extreme, heartless, or radical, maybe we all should take a step back and breathe. There has to be a way to debate this issue without attacking each other and resulting to insults and name calling when people oppose their point of view.

In one of the more honest opinions that I’ve read regarding this subject, Matt Walsh takes an honest approach in just acknowledging there are valid opinions from all sides. Far from name calling, in a well-written and articulate article, Walsh debates the issue from the different points of view. He doesn’t pretend to be an expert in the subject and he says as much. But from my perspective, he has one of the more intelligent responses to this issue. It’s a good read for any who truly wants to open their mind and explore what others think about the refugees.

Although I agree with Walsh on much of what he says, I have to disagree on one point he makes. He argues that “the refugees probably aren’t terrorists”. Okay, I know he said “probably”. But he does go on to say that “over 850,000 refugees [have been] admitted into the United States in the last 15 years or so” and that “[none] of them have ever perpetrated attacks against this country”. He makes a valid point with a logical conclusion. However, in dealing with Muslims I personally do not believe we should be naïve in recognizing the potential danger of this population’s ideology. Logic, in a large degree, goes out the window when there is a religion that is steeped in violence and when that violence is masqueraded with lies and deception.

It is my opinion that there is more to the refugee problem than what meets the eye. In what appears to be a long-term strategy among the Muslim leaders is to overwhelm the enemy with numbers. It is irrelevant at this point that the Muslims are to some extent a fractured religion of different sects. There is an ultimate goal among them to follow a Caliphate that will unite all Muslims, “from all origins, nations, and ethnicities”. What is concerning about this idea is that certain pieces are falling in place for them to achieve this goal. If one were to look at how Muslims are populating the planet and are being strategically placed throughout the countries, it’s possible to see that if a Caliphate does occur the rest of the world is in grave danger.

But the danger of Muslim domination isn’t the real purpose of this post. The danger is, rather, a means to an end and a way for me to discuss what may actually be taking place in the world today. First let me say that I am by no means an expert in any of these matters. I am merely suggesting a hypothetical scenario that may have far-reaching implications. As another disclaimer, I am a Christian still trying to learn and understand Scripture as best as I can. I am not a pastor, elder, leader, or theologian. Many of these Christian leaders may have a different take on what I am suggesting.

In my opinion, it is possible that God is allowing the Muslims to immigrate to the United States for the purpose of disciplining us. And let’s be clear. When I’m referring to God, I’m speaking about God, the Author of life, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Savior of mankind that is of the Scriptures. The main distinction is who Christians believe Jesus was and is. Jesus died for the sins of the world and was raised again from the dead and ascended into heaven and given all authority in heaven and earth. He is the Son of God and He is God.

However, when I mention God it is not Allah that is often translated as God from the Arabic language. Make no mistake, Allah is a false god from a false religion. It is not my intent to be offensive but any other god that is not Jehovah God of the Judeo-Christian faith is not real and should be called out as such.

Now back to my main point. Could it be that God is allowing conditions to exist that ultimately bring about the disciplining of America? Could God be using President Obama to bring the refugees to the U.S. despite all the objections and opposition of many citizens? I believe there have been events, whether natural or man-made disasters, that were designed to be wake-up calls. What do I mean by this? Consider Israel.

First, let’s look at Israel as an example in the Bible. What caused God to be angry at Israel to send them into captivity to Babylon? Israel sinned against God and didn’t heed His warnings when He sent prophets to warn them of the impending disaster. God gave them ample opportunity to turn back to Him and they didn’t. Worse yet, they seemed to harden their hearts even further against God. Israel was the chosen nation that was to be God’s people and time and time again they rebelled and God would need to discipline them. Ultimately, enough was enough and God gave them over to captivity.

But what was Israel’s sin? What was the offense that made God angry? Were they involved in oppressing other nations? Were they accumulating wealth and ignoring the poor? The sin that was most offensive to God was turning their backs on Him and worshiping false gods and idols. God’s relationship with His people is so critical that the first 3 commandments deal directly with this idea. The first is that you shouldn’t have any other gods before Him. The second is that you shouldn’t make any graven image as an object of worship. And the third is to not take God’s name in vain. Israel’s sin was grievous to God and because they refused to repent and love Him with all of their hearts, He dealt with them the only way He could. He sent them into captivity.

The interesting part of the captivity is who God used as the means of His disciplining instrument. Of course that was Babylon. But who was Babylon back in those days? Babylon was a symbol of the evil in the world. And where was it located? It was a city located near current day Baghdad in Iraq. Isn’t it interesting Babylon’s beginnings involve the Islamic religion?

Fast forward to current day events. We have transitioned from the Old Testament days of the people of Israel to the New Testament days of the Christian Church. In Christianity, we see God’s chosen people as those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And now we see persecution of God’s people being ramped up in our culture just as they have endured consistently in the past.

What is different today is that there is a country called the United States. For years the people of this country have been blessed by God primarily because of their relationship to Him. The early founding fathers built this country on the basis of Judeo-Christian values. It was ingrained in the thinking of that day so much so that even non-Christians saw the value of Christian values as provided in Scripture. This is not to say the early settlers were all godly men and women and Christian principles were adhered to in every circumstance. Obviously that was not the case as the United States erred in many areas including slavery, suppression of women, and the slaughter of the Native Americans.

The one thing that made America unique and great, and perhaps blessed by God as a result, was a majority of people who would humble their hearts and acknowledge their dependency on Him. They recognized their need for Him in their lives. They worshipped Him, they made God a priority in their lives, and they spread the Gospel message for a world to come to know Him and be saved by Him. But again, this is not to suggest Americans didn’t make any mistakes. They made plenty. However, because people had a relationship with God and didn’t turn their backs on Him, God showed great grace and mercy despite the mistakes they made.

But the days of God’s forgiveness and mercy may be coming to an end for America. The Bible talks about how God is a patient God and how He is long-suffering. But for years and decades, the United States has been in a moral downward spiral. On a whole, the country has been turning its back on God and has declared themselves a people that want to be free of His presence and influence. In other words, they are hardening their hearts against God in much the same way Israel once did. And unfortunately, God may be on the verge of giving us exactly what we have been asking for.

Consider what we have been doing here in this country. We have been sacrificing unborn babies on the altar of self and convenience. We have ignored God’s prescription for marriage and redefined it according to our own depraved ways. We have kicked God out of school and in many areas of government. And more and more, non-Christians are finding new ways to make business and life difficult for Christians to live in in this country. Even on the altar of tolerance and political correctness, we find people opposing God and pushing out the mention of His Name in traditions that are intended to recognize and celebrate His Name. Christmas anyone?

Moral depravity is increasing in our culture. Life is becoming devalued. Good is now being called evil and evil is now being called good. As more and more people are turning their backs on God and refusing to surrender to Him and acknowledge their need for Him, the closer this nation is coming to the point of no return. Maybe God has already given our warnings. Maybe God has already sent his prophets to turn our hearts back to Him. Maybe God’s anger has already been kindled and maybe judgment is at hand.

We all have had moments of clarity when we recognized our need for God. Remember 9/11? What about Katrina? What about the several school shootings over the years? Is God allowing events to happen to get our attention? Is He trying to get us to turn back to Him, repent from our sins, and get us to ask for forgiveness so He can heal our land?

Like God did with Israel, maybe God is using the refugees and immigrants as a means to an end. It wouldn’t be surprising if one day the Muslims achieve their goal of a Caliphate and all Muslims from all sects band together. If Muslims have already been brought up with the teachings of the Koran and the influence of the Muslim culture, how much of a stretch is it to believe they could all come together as one to bring down America? Maybe the United States being defeated and taken over by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, or some other terrorist group is exactly God’s way of disciplining America for turning their backs to Him.

What if?

Do You Know Jesus?

by edouardo

Ask yourself this question. Do you know Jesus? Stop. Think about this for a minute. Let it sink in.

I didn’t ask, “Do you know about Jesus?” or “Do you know who Jesus is?” There is a difference.

For true Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, they would know that they know that they know that they truly know Jesus. How? Have they seen Jesus face to face? Have they sat down at a table across from Jesus and had a conversation while sipping tea?

How do you know? How do they know?

This is, really, a crucial question. Because if you don’t know Jesus experientially then you’re not a Christian. Obviously, then, what is meant by experientially. Simply put, this means you’ve encountered Jesus and He’s changed your life. From there the experience comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes.

Suffice it to say that if you’ve met Jesus and have come to know Jesus, you’ve had an experience where Jesus has changed your life. For some, that means He’s freed you from addictions. Others, maybe you’ve experienced healing that goes beyond human reasoning. Maybe there was a relationship that was fractured and He brought you back together. There could be a million ways where He has touched your life. But you know one thing. Only God could have stepped in and done this thing.

It’s complicated. It’s complicated because no one person can adequately explain it. It’s a mystery.

But then again, it’s simple. It’s so simple that even a child can receive Jesus into his or her heart and know Jesus.

Is it a paradox? Or is it simply truth?

The Bible, which is God’s Word, says, “…walk by faith, not by sight.”

The Christian world is filled with seemingly complicated and contradictory statements. But to the Christian, it makes absolute sense. For example, Jesus said, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” He also said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” At the same time, God says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

Is God a God of love or judgment? Yes. Contradictory? No.

That’s where coming to know Jesus comes in. It’s in a personal relationship with Jesus, He reveals truth to you. His truth. Jesus prayed to the Father, “…I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” The Apostle Paul said regarding this, “…these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” Jesus added, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Do you know Jesus?

Many people know about Jesus. Many people can recite Scripture. But has the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, changed your life?

If someone were to ask you today, “If you were to die tonight in your sleep, do you know where you would spend eternity”? For the Christian, it would be clear. Yes, with Jesus in heaven for all eternity.

But what about you? Is He some distant deity, a fairy tale, or maybe someone you learned about in Sunday school but never gave a second thought? Maybe the world is such that you have a hard time wrapping your mind around the fact that there is a God? There is, after all, so much corruption, greed, and anger to name a few that it’s difficult to believe that there is an All-Powerful God.

You may not believe it, or understand it, but you do not have to give up your sense of reason or rationalization to believe in God. It is a matter of faith, however. Scripture says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” It’s a matter of trusting God by faith, not by things you can actually see.

Do you know Jesus?

If you do know Jesus, then there are certain things that you know to be true. You know that Jesus is the living Son of God. You know that He died on the cross for your sins. You know that you are a sinner deserving of judgment and death. You know that if it weren’t for the shed blood of Christ on the cross that you’d be damned to hell for eternity. You know that God paid the price for your sins and justified you to God the Father not by your righteousness, but by Christ’s righteousness. You know that you’re not deserving but eternally thankful that you’re forgiven. You know that Jesus gave His all for you so He demands that you give your all to Him…and you do. You repent, you ask for forgiveness, you believe, and you are saved.

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Do you know Jesus?

If you don’t know Jesus, then you’re lost. You’re condemned. You’re an enemy of God. You are already lost in your sins and destined to live in hell, separated from God, for all eternity. You have no hope and you have no peace. You will never experience the joy, happiness, and love that awaits God’s children.

But you don’t have to stay that way. You can change the course of your life and destiny. You can make a choice. Right here, right where you are.

Do you know Jesus?

Do you want to know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? You can. You can know Jesus.

There is a website that explains how you can know Jesus personally. Go to CRU by following this link: http://www.cru.org/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html.

If you do, please let me know and I’ll pray for you. Ultimately, it’s between you and the Lord. I hope that you do know Jesus or come to know Jesus. Because He’s the most important One you’ll ever know. It really is a matter of life and death.

What is Happening to Us?

What is the value of life? This is a difficult question. It’s the kind of question that depending on the various people you ask, you may receive a million different responses. Not only is this question open-ended, it is multifaceted. What do I mean by that? Take for example pro-life organizations that argue against abortion. They argue that all human lives have value because they’re created in the image of God. Certain animal rights activists, on the other hand, will argue that animals have the same rights as people. Some others would go so far as to argue that “Mother Earth” is more important, thus arguing against overpopulation.

I could take the time to try to argue for or against these certain varying opinions. Maybe I will another day. However, I believe it would be an exercise in futility. People are going to have their opinions and very little is going to sway them from their viewpoint. Can they be persuaded otherwise? Yes, but there is only One who is capable of reaching down to the core of a person’s heart and only He can change their belief system and help them to see truth. God does value life and in Scripture has placed greater significance in human life above all others. He values our lives so much so that the Gospels tell us about the lengths God will go to redeem our lives.

The Bible talks about how God changes a person’s heart. He does a miraculous thing when He introduces His Son, Jesus, into our world. Of course, Jesus came in the form of flesh a couple thousand years ago. What I’m talking about is our own individual little worlds. As we grow up as children, we grow into intelligent beings with the ability to learn and create. We have consciences that help us understand right from wrong. But we also have something called a sin nature. Because of that sin nature, we find ourselves living against, or contrary, to the character and will of God. This brings us at odds with God as we are tainted by the world system. The Bible talks about us being at enmity with Him. God, knowing our fallen nature, brought about a plan to restore us into a right relationship with Himself. He sent Jesus to take on the sin of the world and die in our place on a cross. He died as the penalty for those sins. But God raised His Son from the dead, essentially defeating death, hell, and our greatest enemy, Satan himself. What God did was to essentially provide a way for us to be justified through Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The issue for the world, however, is that it is turning itself away from God and from His gift. The evidence of that is becoming clearer by the day. Obviously, with all the terrorist activity from ISIS to Boko Haram to Al Qaeda, among others, there are plenty of examples of the types of atrocities man is capable of. Life is certainly a commodity to be exchanged, extorted, and even written off when it comes to these types of organizations. These are the sort of things we have come to expect in these remote parts of the world distanced from civilized society. And this is true despite the fact these activities sometimes hit closer to home.

But maybe the callousness of man’s heart isn’t so far removed. In developed nations, we would certainly expect attitudes and behaviors to be different than the thuggish and barbaric behavior of terrorists in third world nations. However, the sin nature isn’t monopolized by terrorists. It is alive and well in places like Ferguson, MO, Memphis, TN, and even Des Moines, IA.

Of course, we can all point to criminal behavior that is problematic in all small towns and cities. We all wag our fingers, shake our heads, and belittle certain criminal elements that commit felonious acts in our civilized societies. We tend to agree, on some levels, that there are certain acts of behavior that is not acceptable and devalues life. Activities such as rape, kidnapping, and murder are atrocities that we abhor. That’s why they’re called crimes and are rightly punished under a court of law. (For now, let’s make the assumption that the legal system works.)

Other activities and behaviors we may disagree with but too often tolerate. When it comes to abuse, it takes an action that crosses the line before we cry foul. Many kids in schools see this on a daily basis with bullies and the like. We typically chalk it up as childish behavior and assume they’ll grow out of it. However, more and more we see this same behavior in adults displayed on national television. First, we found it entertaining on shows like the Jerry Springer show. Then reality shows aired this adolescent behavior on a regular basis and society began to see this as some kind of norm. It isn’t until a sports figure beats his fiancé unconscious does our collective conscious tell us something isn’t right. But then we find a way to excuse it, move past it, and hope it doesn’t happen again. Nothing to see here folks, move on.

Life is often devalued and diminished in ways that over time we become desensitized to it. Homelessness, for example, has been a fact of life as long as societies have existed. But how we respond to homelessness certainly speaks volumes as to the kind of society we live in. Too often, we either ignore the issue, pretend it doesn’t affect us, believe it’s too big a problem to deal with, or attempt to ease our conscience in some small, insignificant way (e.g. giving $10 or $20 to the Salvation Army during the holidays). These are real people with real problems and in the United States we have plenty of resources available to come up with real solutions. But because we don’t value life the way we should, we ignore the problem or expect someone else, perhaps the cold, heavy-handed government, to take care of the problem for us.

What are other ways we devalue life? Aren’t women objectified in public and in the media? Somehow we have come to accept a perverse view of sexualized behavior as normal. As a result, prostitution (including the sex-slave trade), homosexuality (along with same-sex marriage), and pornography (in its varied forms) no longer seem to carry the stigma that they once did. In some ways, it seems it’s celebrated. Those that one would think (such as progressive women) would find society’s treatment of women objectionable are actually condoning this behavior. If you think differently, consider those who are defending the novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.

In truth, life has become a commodity even in civilized society. It has been marketed in a way to disguise the vulgar nature and shock value. How else can a society comes to terms with treating abortions as some kind of normalized behavior? Life, at this point, becomes measured in terms of convenience or cost effectiveness. What is life’s value to society overall? What can a person born in an inopportune time or with certain physical or mental defects possibly contribute to society? This is a question recently presented to a father whose son was born with Down syndrome. The wife, and mother of this child, determined this condition to be so reprehensible to her that she provided an ultimatum to the father that it was either her or the child.

The question for all of us is this, “What is happening to us?” How did we get so far from God as to treat life as inconsequential? The answer, despite our desire to think otherwise, is that sin is winning out. Our hearts have become cold and insensitive to the things of God. Even as Christians, we need to take stock of how life is valued. Christians typically fight and defend life when it comes to abortion, the sex slave trade, euthanasia, etc., but often we fail when it comes to the weightier matters of life. How about eternal life? Most people recognize Penn Jillette of the magician duo, Penn & Teller. Jillette is an atheist and often makes references regarding religion that I find distasteful and completely disagree with. But there is one quote that does speak volumes and every Christian ought to hear:

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

The reality is that life, especially eternal life, is something that should be considered with greater weight and significance than we give it today. Society is failing and is only going to get worse. However, what is more concerning is the attitudes of many Christians today, including myself. If someone like Jillette, an atheist, can point out the problem of many Christians’ lack of compassion, then it’s something that needs to be addressed and dealt with. The Church has a problem and it needs Christians to get on their knees and seek God’s compassion for people.

In a world that is dying and becoming increasingly desensitized to the value of life, we need a spiritual barometer. Ultimately, it’s only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that can change our thinking and direction. But even as Christians, we need to stop and reflect on our own attitudes and behaviors. Dr. Charles Stanley, a pastor, theologian, and author, has noted something similar in regards to spiritual growth. Our spiritual growth should be reflected in our desires, understanding, and selflessness to care for people enough to meet their physical and spiritual needs.

What is happening to us? Hopefully, we’re being changed by Christ. If not, then what we’re witnessing today will only get worse.

The Wisdom of the World

By dierregi @ Morguefile.com

The world has gone crazy. It’s no surprise to anyone, or least anyone that isn’t living in a cave or has their head buried in the sand, to see how bad things are all around us. In Iraq, news reports tell us about the horrors of beheadings by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Though, apparently ISIS is small potatoes compared to the governments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, and Somalia with regards to torture, persecution, beheadings, and other forms of execution.

Then there’s another Islamic terrorist group called Boko Haram. This militant group is so radical that to say they kill, steal, and destroy doesn’t touch how extreme they are. According to CNN, “(they have) bombed schools, churches and mosques; kidnapped women and children; and assassinated politicians and religious leaders alike.” They’re widely known, however, for recently kidnapping hundreds of schoolgirls. In a more despicable move, the group forced these Christian girls to convert to Islam and to be sold as slave brides, and thus revealing their complete disregard toward the value of human life.

The atmosphere isn’t any better in Israel either. They’re under constant attack by Hamas, another Islamic terrorist organization. It’s not that the rocket attacks are infrequent, either. It seems like Israel is constantly under threat considering 11,000 rockets have been fired since 2005. And for Israel to protect themselves, they use air strikes to target the terrorists. But Hamas is depraved enough to use human shields and then cry foul when civilians are hurt or killed. And to show that nothing is sacred in their attacks toward Israel, Hamas even uses their own mosques as terrorist facilities.

Violence is everywhere. Even in the United States there are problems with anger and the use of violence. Use Ferguson, Missouri as an example. Because a white police officer defended himself against a black man that appeared to have been attacking him, the entire community and a large portion of the country is experiencing civil unrest. Did the officer shoot the young, black man unprovoked? Answering questions to get to the truth doesn’t seem to matter much, it seems. CNN, an international cable news network forgets that people are innocent until proven guilty. But in their eyes, prior to knowing the truth through a trial by jury, they declare the officer to be guilty by saying he “shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen.” Is that the truth? Does the truth even matter? As it is, major cities throughout the U.S. are bracing for protests that could potentially turn very ugly very fast.

(Read more)

Live Contrary to the World

Pic by Balazs Toth

Today we live in a culture saturated with self-serving, self-indulging, and self-gratifying people. It doesn’t take much to see how true this really is. We could point to the level of violent crime in the US, which indicates on some level a selfish desire to inflict pain on others in order to gain some demented level of gratification. Don’t believe that statement? Consider this comment from one Memphis teenager regarding a teen mob attack at a Kroger grocery store, “It’s fun…That’s just what kids do.”

Violence, though, is just one of many behaviors that reflect the reality of a selfish culture. What about a city that votes unanimously about criminalizing homelessness? Yes, it’s true. The city council in Columbia, SC voted to criminalize homelessness. Why? The motive isn’t completely clear as one council member said it was a temporary measure toward “a more sound resolution.” But like most decisions similar to these, it usually revolves around money. Apparently some businesses are voicing concerns on how the homeless crisis is affecting the city. (Read: Affecting sales and the bottom line.) Instead of addressing the issues in a more humanitarian way, it’s apparent that incarcerating, or moving the homeless to “a remote emergency shelter” on the outskirts of the city limits and where they’re out of sight, is a more acceptable alternative.

Another example of a selfish society can be found in Daytona Beach, CA and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The law enforcement in these cities are told to enforce ordinances that make it illegal to feed the homeless. According to the laws of these cities, it’s up to the government to use taxpayer money to meet these needs in the community. The penalty to feed the homeless on your own? Large fines and even jail time. These laws seemingly run contrary in showing compassion to those less fortunate. 

(Read more...)

What may be good for the goose may not be good for the gander

freepik.com

It appears that in the era of political correctness the error of believing “everything should be equal” is creating a breakdown in society and creating a lot of confusion. While being treated the same on some level is a noble thought, the reality is that we’re not all the same. On that premise, Matt Walsh wrote a very good blog post explaining why there is no such thing as marriage equality. And there is a lot of truth to that.

There are a lot of reasons why we’re not the same or should be treated the same. In society’s twisted logic, equality seems to trump every rational reason for the order of nature and nature’s law. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically men and women are different. Yet society would stipulate that equality must exist in order to promote fairness in every facet of life. While there are many things that men and women can do that are the same and can be considered equal, there are significant differences in the dynamics of the genders that can be and should be appreciated. Men, if they take on their proper roles as fathers in the family, impact their children in their psychological well-being and social behavior that cannot be substituted by only having a mother present. They are also vitally important in how they eventually relate to God the Father. Moreover, women are extremely important in the influence of their children’s lives as they promote stability, academic success, and emotional and psychological health, to name a few. Again, these are attributes and benefits that cannot be substituted if only a father were present in the children’s lives.

Certainly there are many other examples that can be given to illustrate the point that equality, or fairness, is not always the wisest course of action. Yet governments often use this tactic of equality to advance their agenda. In this day and age, people are increasingly falling prey to the idea that wealth ought to be equal. For example, there is a class of people who get an education, work hard, take risks, and are ultimately successful. They are thereby rewarded with wealth and a higher standard of living. However, there is a different class of people who don’t work as hard or put in nearly enough effort; but, because of envy toward the rich, they feel slighted somehow. So, in order to bring about this idea of equality, society pushes the government to create laws and policies that effectively force wealth redistribution. Some may see this idea, which is termed Socialism, as a good thing; many others do not.

Equality sounds like a good idea on the surface. In many ways, equality works if it’s appropriate. If a woman works at the same job and does the same work at the same level as a man, she should receive equal pay. There are applications in life that this principle can be proven fair and effective. However, life isn’t always fair and is usually beyond our control. Consider how a young man who is healthy, exercises, and eats right. This person is then diagnosed with cancer. The cancer is so extreme, such as stage IV type cancer, this guy only has six months to live. Within three or four months, he is given in to the disease and dies. Now, another person comes along who does nothing to take care of herself. She sits around all day eating junk food and is physically non-active. She is soon discovered to have stage IV type cancer as well. However, because of aggressive treatments her cancer is caught in time and it goes into remission. If life were fair and everyone were treated equal, it would stand to reason that the woman should have died as well. That would be fair.

To be certain, differences exist in nature, and by association in the affairs of man, that we should not only accept but appreciate. It’s a world in which God created. And if the world is viewed through a Biblical perspective, it’s much easier to appreciate and understand. To further illustrate this point, we could examine fairness from God’s perspective. Take, for example, our rebellious nature and how we have sinned against God. Do we really want God to give us exactly what we deserve, what is fair and equitable? In Scripture, Romans 3:10-18 tell us that there is no one righteous; in fact, we’re all worthless because there is no one who does good. This is significant because following these verses is another passage, Romans 3:23, that tells us that we all have sinned. Now follow this thought over to Romans 6:23, where Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death. Fairness dictates that we all should die.

Ponder the previous point that we have all sinned and should die. Understand that there is nothing inherently good about any one of us. We sin and we do things that are abhorrent to God, our Creator. God, being the Creator, is also Judge over heaven and earth. He decides our beginning and our end. And it is His judgment that to sin is to deserve death. This death is not just physical death but spiritual death. Since being with God is eternal life, being separated from God is eternal death. That’s what is at stake. The Bible talks about how this kind of death, or in other words going to hell, is what we deserve. So while we’re contemplating this idea of equality, let’s face the fact that with all things being fair or equal, what we deserve is God’s wrath.

Now consider the notion that instead of dooming mankind to eternal hell and separation from Him, which the Bible describes as torment, God instead formulates a plan to save us. As Judge, He determines that mankind is guilty. But in the process of penalizing us for our sins, as a merciful and gracious Redeemer, He determines there is a way for us to be justified and reconciled back to Him. From the beginning of time, blood has had significance regarding life; as in life giving. In the Old Testament, to offer pure, unblemished sacrifices with bulls and goats and such was a symbolic way to show that blood was a substantial aspect in atoning for sins. What God did was go above and beyond to show His love for us by offering as a sacrifice His one, and only Son. Jesus was the ultimate, perfect, spotless Lamb of God. Jesus’s blood that was shed on the cross effectively washed away our sin once and for all. So, in referencing the other part of Romans 6:23, God’s Word tells us that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Interestingly, Jesus who was perfect and sinless was offered up as a sacrifice for our sins. We sinned and Jesus paid the price. Do you see the irony here? Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What exactly is fair about that? Do we demand equality and fair treatment in regards to our sin? Do we want to demand fairness in order to receive what we deserve, God’s wrath? Or do we dare believe that we can cry out for mercy and receive His forgiveness, thus avoid our “due wages.”

The unfair treatment of Jesus is an example of why this post is titled, “What’s good for the goose may not be good for the gander.” Who would volunteer to say that they want to receive the same torture, punishment, ridicule, and execution on the cross that Jesus endured that led to His death? Who would want to experience the most horrific death imaginable, and then have the weight of their sins placed on their shoulders and die a spiritual death? Jesus endured spiritual death and, as a result, was separated from God the Father for a period of time; who would want to experience that for even a millisecond?

There’s another reason why we shouldn't think that since something works for one person that it should be the same for everybody. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul writes something about this regarding the treatment of believers within the church. He tells us that among believers we shouldn’t assume that we’re all the same in terms of maturity and spiritual development. Instead of arguing that we should act as if we’re all equal, Paul assumes that the more mature Christian should take the responsibility of caring for and being sensitive to the less mature believer.

Maybe what Paul is talking about in Romans is not necessarily only about maturity. It’s more about caring for our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what spiritual path we’re on. Consider what Paul has to say in these passages:

Romans 14:13-23

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

What Paul tells us in these passages is that the Lord God has provided everything to us for our enjoyment. Don’t misunderstand this statement. What God has provided for us to enjoy, man has taken and perverted it in many ways. So, for example, drinking a beverage from the fruit of the vine is something considered good initially. However, man found a way to take something good and use it in excess and therefore become drunk and influenced by wine. That is not good and is not an example of what Paul would say is acceptable behavior.

What, then, is Paul talking about? Let’s take the example of wine as an illustration. As Christians, is it wrong for us to consume alcoholic beverages, such as wine? One could argue that it perfectly acceptable, according to Paul’s statement. But what if there’s another believer that takes issue with it? That believer may have experiences in his or her family history that the thought of consuming alcohol causes problems spiritually and may cause him or her to stumble. Paul would exhort the Christian that finds alcohol acceptable to refrain from drinking if it causes division or other problems within the church. What Paul says is that we should make every effort to be at peace with each other and do what is edifying for the church’s spiritual growth and development.

As Christians, let’s not get caught up in the world’s ways of doing things. Political correctness seems to be the driving, and dividing mechanism that governs how the culture conducts itself. But instead of thinking what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, let’s think instead of what we can do or say that will benefit others and bring about their edification. It’s far better to be deprived of something, and even endure unfairness for a while, if in the end love wins out and promotes healthy relationships among the brethren. Hopefully, this kind of attitude and approach will help someone along their spiritual journey and draw them closer to Christ.

Equality is not everything. Unless, of course, you’re one of those who wants to be fair and get what you deserve. Who out there is standing in line for God’s wrath?

We Are All Hypocrites

Meme by http://www.funnymemes.net/funny-ecards-still-a-hypocrite.html

                I admit I do get frustrated more and more these days.  I really must temper my feelings toward the world.  Read the newspapers, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, or whatever news source you read and you can see how the world is becoming more corrupt by the day.  Evil is running amok.

                No matter what position you hold toward Israel or Palestine, you probably have very strong opinions regarding either side.  If you side with Israel, you probably think that the government there and its citizens are completely innocent of any bloodshed or any wrongdoing.  If you side with Palestine, you surely are incensed at the lives lost, many of them children.

                What is your position on the world’s religions?  Be it Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or even atheist you likely have a strong opinion on what you believe.  Throughout history, as I understand it, most wars have been waged because of religion.  Let me expand on that thought.  I googled this question about wars being caused by religion and one website states that is not the case.  They explain that wars are waged primarily because of sin.  So let me just argue my opinion that religion is still a factor because man is waging war in his heart against God.  Is it religion or not?  If you’re someone who’s raising his fist against God and say you’re atheist, agnostic, or whatever, it’s a conscious decision to follow and be loyal to that belief.  I argue that in itself this kind of belief system is religion.  But I digress.  Right or wrong, these are beliefs and traditions that run deep throughout our culture.

                And of course there’s all the political games being played out in Washington and throughout the country.  I might as well say throughout the world.  You may be one of the few who still believe in any of the promises that President Obama makes.  You may actually like the Affordable Care Act, want the IRS to harass citizens for political motives, and have the EPA radically change business and the economy.  However, even if you disagree with the president and his policies, what are your options?  Are you trusting in the Grand Ole Party?  (I know, it’s supposed to be Grand Old Party but I don’t care.)  This party is resembling the Democratic Party more and more.  Can any politician put the country and its citizens before his or her own self-interests?  One can become increasingly cynical as to believe anything positive can come out of any government.

                These are only a handful of examples to get across a point.  We all have strong beliefs.  But while we maintain them, do we betray those beliefs?  Are we hypocrites?  Let me explain.  Let’s say that you feel extremely strong about the United States being exceptional, that it’s a Christian nation and that it defends weaker nations and so on and so forth.  You’re likely to point out all the positive aspects of the US and avoid any of the negative parts of its history.  You can be very loyal, even to a fault.  I consider myself to be part of that camp.  However, we should be totally honest in that the US is not perfect.  It has skeletons in its closet.  There are the obvious moral lapses such as slavery, the slaughter of American Indians, the civil war, the discrimination against race, the oppression of women, etc.  But what about today?  My beliefs on abortion, immigration, and homosexuality run deep.  While I maintain those beliefs, though, how are my attitudes toward those with opposing views?  I have to admit that in my anger my behavior often is rude and antagonistic against the opposition.  Obviously, these are subjects that evoke strong emotions on both sides.

                One of the definitions of hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.  The key here is “does not actually possess.”  I believe I have higher virtues and moral beliefs.  And you may think you have higher virtues and moral beliefs, even though our views are in complete contrast with each other.  In pursuit of our stated beliefs, I think all of us at one point pretend to take some higher moral ground.  We think our position is superior.  In while I love to argue and debate, there will always be someone who thinks differently and will point out obvious flaws in my positions.  And in debating, I tend to ignore the gray areas or the parts where there is some bad truth that can be exposed.  At that point, it certainly is hypocritical to carry on as actually possessing a higher moral ground when I’m aware of its flaws.  Perhaps we can state there is no position that is absolutely perfect.  That’s why we’re all hypocrites.  No one or no idea is without flaw.  That is the human condition.

                But…

There is One who is perfect and without flaws.  There is One who can say that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He is forever consistent in His actions, promises, and behavior.  Jesus is the only One who can say that He stands on high moral ground that is superior to anyone else’s.  By saying this I realize that there are many who don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God.  Their opinion of Jesus is going to be far different.  However, this is the one position I would argue to the death.  There is no one else that can compare to Jesus.  He is the central focus in all of history.  He is the God and Creator of heaven and earth.  He is the author and perfecter of our faith.  I may be a hypocrite in many ways and in following Jesus I may do and say things hypocritical.  But that does not change who Jesus is and He is in every way perfect, without spot or blemish.  The Bible says in 1 Peter 1 that it was by His blood that He shed on the cross that saves a person.  Peter says Jesus was a sacrificed lamb, without blemish or spot.

                It is because of this fact that Jesus is perfect, and was perfect when He was sacrificed on the cross, that He stands alone as Judge.  Jesus pointed out our hypocritical natures.  But despite our sin, God loved us.  Romans 5:8 says “ …God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  This is why we can have hope for our hypocritical nature.  We don’t have to be perfect because Jesus was and is.  Since Jesus fulfilled the law of God, He did what we couldn't do.  He died for our sins, the penalty for sinning against a holy God.  He acted as a substitute and bore our sins.  He was the Judge and then became the defendant accepting our conviction of death.  So what then?  He in exchange offered His righteousness so that we can be made holy before God, justifying us who deserved death.  Again, in 1 Peter 1, Peter points out how we live foolishly.  But because of Jesus we can live differently.  We will not be perfect, or glorified, until we reach heaven, but we can become more like Jesus if we put our faith in Him alone.  As Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  The only thing is is that the choice must be a conscious decision.  You can choose life and you can choose death.  In choosing life, you must be born again.  That is, “… to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)  I pray you choose life.

(NOTE:  I want to thank my wife, Shelby Spencer, for being co-author with me on this blog.  If it weren't for her meticulous attention to detail and being editor of these posts, my writing would indeed be often incoherent and difficult to read.  Thank you Shelby for all that you do.  I love you!)