Political Cancer: Lies, Fraud and Deception

My 8^th grade English teacher, Mrs. Keane, taught us how to diagram a sentence. While language is made up of words, it is the structure of the sentence that enables those words to communicate meaning. But apparently, the education of today’s mainstream “journalists” didn’t include the proper use of language. Rather, they were taught to propagandize, deceive and convince through emphasis and repetition of lies and silencing the truth.

On Sunday December 4^th the mainstream media began making their indignant fuss over a statement by former President Donald Trump, accusing him of “calling for the suspension of the Constitution”. Consistent with their pattern over the past 6 years, this accusation was universal among the news outlets, who reported it with zeal, as if it were indisputable fact. Those who hate Trump and are predisposed to believe every accusation made against him will eagerly swallow this story. Nevertheless, it is not true. It’s just another lie from the enemies of freedom.

Referring to recent election fraud, Trump said, “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution…Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone False and Fraudulent Elections!” There are two parts to this statement. Diagraming the first part shows that Fraud is the subject and allows is the verb (fraud allows). This clearly means that fraud creates the opportunity for the termination of all legal rules, including the Constitution. In other words, when elections are fraudulent, they are open to the breaking of all regulations, and therefore represent the destruction of democratic government.

Trump’s statement absolutely does not call for the suspension of the Constitution. It’s calling for honest and open elections and warns against the destruction of constitutional government that will result from fraudulent elections. This fact is underscored in the second part of his statement. Our founding fathers would never have condoned the false outcomes of fraudulent elections, and our government cannot survive as the Constitution designed it unless our elections are honest and open.

But the fraud deniers hate Trump and his supporters so much, they can’t stand the fact that we are concerned about election fraud. And they will not tolerate any opinion that questions the validity of the election that put them in power. They want no discussion or investigation because it threatens their hold on political power. They don’t want the real kind of democratic freedom that allows for debate of critical controversies. They only want compliance to their Leftist agenda. Objecting to their abuse of power, their shameful politicization of the FBI and Justice Department, and their disregard for equal treatment under the law gets you labeled as an evil person and a “threat to democracy” – no longer deserving of civil rights — those originating from our Creator and enshrined in the Constitution.

Speaking to Christians, if you hate Trump so much that you believe it’s justifiable to spread poison about him, just remember that Satan is the father of lies. Satan is the accuser. Who are you standing with? He wants to sift us and he loves it when we lean on our own understanding, rather than trusting the LORD. He opposes wisdom by playing on our pride. So, we’d better walk humbly and circumspectly.

Still, God is greater than this difficulty! He can heal us (Psalm 103:3) and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). That is my prayer. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” We should not take things at face value. Proverbs 18:17 warns, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” Test everything and hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). May God be merciful.

Open Letter To Bible-Believers

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. ~ Psalm 1:1-2

God calls Christians to be morally principled in a way that separates us from secular society (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). So, why do so many of you who claim to be Bible-believers go along with popular thinking that accepts lawlessness and abominations as natural “rights”? Many believers today seem to have a form of self-righteousness – everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. But true righteousness can only come from God. We need to seek him. And we can find him in Scripture.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of those passages that has been referred to so often we may take it for granted and even become desensitized to what it says:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This verse motivates many believers to pray, but are God’s people paying attention to the fact that this passage is addressing “their wicked ways”? Or do we point the finger of blame at the unbelievers whose godless worldviews are driving today’s secular society? They aren’t the ones this passage is about. We are. It isn’t the heathens or pagans God is talking to. It’s those of us who claim to be godly. We are the ones who need to humble ourselves, pray, get face to face with God and repent of our sins.   

You may be asking, “How have we sinned against God? What wicked ways are we guilty of?” Or you may be thinking of all the good and religious things you do to serve the LORD and love your fellow man. Don’t get me wrong. We should not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13). But our focus should not be on ourselves or what we do. Our focus should be on God and what He does. Why? Because Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

We are called to humble ourselves before our awesome LORD. Yet, in our pride we are tempted to think higher of ourselves than we ought. And if so tempted, we may begin to assume a position of authority in dealing with social/moral issues, rather than looking to God’s authority and following him.  

If that is the case, is there anything more essentially evil than rejecting God’s authority over us? Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). How does he convey his authority to us? Through Holy Scripture, of which he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).

Yet even believers have rejected God’s authority. With our lips we call him our Creator, but feel free to exercise our own authority over what he has created. What I am saying is this: The Bible tells us, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). But when human beings add their own “non-binary” genders they are saying God is either flawed or nonexistent because his binary choices do not suit them. In so doing, they place themselves above God and usurp his authority. Equally, when a person chooses to change his or her birth gender they are rejecting God and what he has created, opting instead to be their own creator.

Many of “God’s people” are swallowing the lie of gender fluidity and rejecting the authority of Biblical teaching when it comes to sex. In many churches it is no longer taught that every human being is accountable to the authority of God’s standards. Instead, they teach that each individual has the right to decide for themselves on issues of sexuality. Bible authority has been replaced by the so-called rights of individuals. Same-sex marriage has been legalized and every Biblical teaching against homosexuality is now considered bigoted and hateful.  

In short, society has said God is optional or however you choose to see him. As a nation we no longer consider ourselves morally “under God”, but under the “diverse” preferences of certain protected groups. Instead of “In God We Trust”, our motto, should be “Demand Your Group’s Rights”. And it is no surprise that abortion is seen by some as a “right” or a “choice” – just a birth-control option.

They no longer see that every child – born or pre-born – is a sacred life. Without the authority of God and his word, they cannot grasp the fact that the developing baby inside its mother is God’s creation.

To abort that life is to say to God, “You don’t have the authority to create this person, whether or not you even exist. But I have the authority to destroy it.” All this wickedness comes from denying the authority of God over our lives.

If you are a Bible-believer or claim to believe in the God of the Bible, how can you not be outraged at the willful murder of unborn human beings created in the image of God? How can you support such godlessness? Are you not walking in the counsel of the wicked? Are you not standing in the way of sinners? Are you not sitting in the seat of scoffers?  

Hear what God is saying to you: “If you pray and seek my face and turn from your wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive your sin and heal your land.” Eternity is waiting.

Going Along To Get Along

Recently, Sean Feucht posted on Facebook: “Christians SHOULD NOT be using preferred pronouns. ‘Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them’ – Ephesians 5:10.” 

I am amazed and disappointed that so many Christians seem to be going along to get along. That is, they seem to have the idea that if they are “nice” to everyone, then others will be attracted to them and want to know more about why they are so nice, giving them an opportunity to share their faith. This attitude is based on “lifestyle evangelism”, which, rather than simply finding ways to share the gospel, has the goal of reaching people for Christ by establishing relationships with them where we can demonstrate our Christ-like character in how we live, serve and interact with others.

The inherent danger in this approach to reaching the unsaved is that unless we clearly articulate our own faith values, non-believers are likely to interpret our “being nice” as a tacit agreement with or acceptance of their unbiblical values. So, it is crucial that we as Christians make a clear distinction and accept the person while rejecting the sin. We are all called to repent of sin, not to tolerate it or accept it – certainly not to encourage it. Yes, we have forgiveness in Jesus. But we are not to continue sinning so that God’s grace would abound (Romans 6:1-2). Though we are forgiven, we still need to daily put on the new self (Ephesians 4:17-24).

Yet our present tolerance for sin, under the banner of “inclusivity”, has caused the Church to lose her voice. Secular society in general (the majority of our culture) isn’t paying much attention to how “nice” we may be acting. When it comes to Christians proclaiming the gospel, or just basic Biblical values, they mainly want us to shut up in public. Beyond that, they demand that we adhere to their values. They are already forcing across-the-board acceptance of same-sex marriage, the changing of one’s sex, the choosing of one’s own gender, far beyond the binary male and female. Many churches now fly the rainbow flag to welcome and show solidarity with those who would defy God.

Going along to get along, the Church has forgotten the power God wields to enforce his authority. Being “nice” to those who defy God is not the same as loving our enemies. There comes a time when the truth must be spoken in love and we stop allowing ourselves to be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14-15). The truth of the gospel must be preserved (Galatians 2:5). It has to do with God’s infinite love and mercy, not us being “nice”. It has to do with God’s authority, God’s power and his plan for us. 1 John 1:14 says we love him because he first loved us. It doesn’t say we are nice because he first was nice to us. There is a big difference. 

Jesus once told the Sadducees, who, as a religious group, spoke with an air of authority, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). The same can be said of those Christians today who believe we can win people over to Christ by “being nice”. The gospel is God’s power for salvation (Romans 1:16). And the gospel is the message that we are called to proclaim, as witnesses of the truth. Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:27-28). Who are we fearing when we go along with the values of secular society?

Has the Church today forgotten these things and become so influenced by the wisdom of men that we no longer rest in the Spirit and power of God? (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)  Do we focus on our appearance of godliness, but deny its power?” (2 Timothy 3:5)  It seems to me that boldness to proclaim the gospel has been replaced by eagerness to please – eagerness to “be nice”. Even when legitimate needs are met through the services Christians offer, if they do not use their service as an opportunity to share the gospel, they are no different from any other altruistic group. And there are many non-Christian groups who help people. Charity, in and of itself, is not uniquely Christian. Only the message of salvation in Christ is unique to the Church. In that sense, what we say should never be separated from what we do.        

Genesis 1:27 tells us God created man in his own image – male and female. Those who have their sex surgically altered are rejecting what God has created. They likely do not believe in the God of the Bible or the Bible itself. Many who call themselves “Christian” no longer revere the word of God, but simply pick and choose what parts they will believe and what parts they will reject. But the only true authority for the Christian faith is the Bible. So, if they reject the Bible, they have no authority for what they believe.

The same is true for those who claim there are multiple genders from which each may choose for oneself. They reject what God has already chosen and designed for them. They are usurping God’s sovereignty by acting as if they are their own God, rejecting the truth and choosing a lie. This is an abomination and the ultimate sin of pride, which Satan used to tempt Eve by saying, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).

Christians who try hard to “be nice”, are complying to woke LGBTQ+ demands to refer to them according to their preferred gender. If a man says he is a woman, they must refer to him as her. So, they choose to speak the approved pronouns because they don’t want to offend. But in their efforts not to offend people, they have offended God. They have aided and abetted those who reject God and his authority in their lives. Thinking they were just “being nice”, they have become useful idiots, going along with the devil’s deception.

Referring to letters authored by Paul, Peter said, “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:16b-18, emphasis added).

As Peter acknowledged, this is not so much about us, but it’s about Jesus. To him be the glory. We are called to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23), which has the implicit sense that we also are to allow others to deny themselves. We must not cooperate with them in fantasies that replace God’s purposes and designs with ungodly indulgences. Representing Jesus to others should include lovingly saying the words that God is greater than their self-willed illusions of identity. Christians, give this question serious consideration: How can going along with a deception in order to get along with those who are deceived ever be pleasing to God?   

A Righteous Nation

There are many godly principles to be found in the Bible. But for some, understanding the significance of principles and how they work may be difficult these days, as more emphasis is placed on change, itself, rather than on which principles may be guiding that change.

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, “If at any time I declare concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from it’s evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it” (Jeremiah 18:7-10).

To begin with, this principle applies to all nations at any time. Secondly, it lays out a pattern for change: God has plans for nations, that are subject to change, according to how each nation acts, whether they listen to his voice and turn from evil, or ignore his voice and practice evil.

This is a general principle for all nations, but it has a specific application to believers. The LORD spoke to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14, saying, “…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This message is particularly given to the nation of Israel during the time of Solomon. But because it reflects a principle, it is also true for us – here and now.  

246 years ago the Continental Congress of the British colonies in America ratified a document, declaring to the king of England that they were rejecting his authority and establishing their independence. This Declaration of Independence is what we celebrate every 4^th of July.

The purpose of this celebration isn’t simply to remember the birthday of our nation. It isn’t just to glory in rebellion or “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air”. It isn’t for the pride of besting our former British masters. It’s for a principle that’s based in Scripture: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

This idea comes from Romans 13:1-7, which states among other things, that governing authorities should be feared by evil doers but not by law-biding citizens (vs. 3) because they are supposed to be “servants of God” (vs. 4). Verse 7 says we should honor and respect those to whom honor and respect is owed. Implicit in such instruction is that those who are foolish or wicked – even those in positions of leadership – do not merit our honor or respect.

Because in America the people are sovereign, we have the constitutional power and authority to remove bad leaders and replace them with good leaders. This is because the same principle applies to  human authority as it applies to God’s authority: As lawless nations are punished by God, and lawful nations blessed, so too, our leaders should be held accountable to the people whom they serve.

So, as you celebrate this fourth of July, take a moment to think about it. Lawlessness and godlessness are rampant. The controversial and highly suspect election of 2020 changed our federal leadership. Before, we were controlling our borders. Now, illegals from all over the world are pouring into our country in record numbers, including many hardened criminals and those on the terrorist watch list. Fentanyl from China, being smuggled into our country, is now the number one cause of death in America. Violent crime in New York, Chicago and other big cities is totally out of control. As a direct result of executive orders by the President, we have gone from energy independence to begging for oil from dictator nations, while the cost of gas keeps skyrocketing. Those who hate the Supreme Court decision to end Roe v. Wade are calling to pack the court, in order to make it a political tool of the ruling party, while laws prohibiting demonstrations at the homes of justices are not being enforced.

There are lots of other issues weighing down on our nation, but I hope I’ve made the point. We the People have the responsibiltiy as citizens to hold our leaders accountable to our will. But what is that will? Can we expect to have righteous leadership if we oursleves prove to be unrighteous? The LORD says if a nation listens to him and turns away from evil, he will not destroy them, even if he had previously planned to.

The nations will be judged according to the will of God. How America will be judged will depend on how well Americans are listening to the LORD. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Pray for this nation by praying for the people of this nation – that they would abide in his word, truly be his disciples, know the truth, and that the truth would set them free (see John 8:31-32).  

A Shared Reality

We live in distorted times. The televised hearings on the so-called “insurrection” of January 6th, 2021 would be better described as a show trial by the Politburo, AKA congressional Democrats. They have their “reality”, but it doesn’t square with evidence I’ve seen of people ushered into open doors and calmly walking in cordoned areas in the presence of Capitol security personnel. Nor does insurrection describe the non-violent behaivor of the vast majority of people who entered the building that day.

So, I refuse to drink the KoolAid. I’m ignoring this show trial. Very rarely are photos of the assembled crowd outside shown. That is because the numbers were record-breaking. Huge numbers of Americans that day showed up becaused they believed in the Constitution and hoped that the Congress would do its constitutional duty to see that the illegal tally of votes in a handful of states would be nullified and that a true and accurate vote count would take place. To ignore and disrespect such a great number of everyday Americans is to disregard the will of the people.

So, I’ve decided to post an article I wrote back in 2017, but never published, about science vs. politics. At issue is a concept I heard in an interview of Justin Folk, regarding his movie, What is a Woman? The point was made that society no longer as a whole has a shared reality. The fact that there is disagreement on such basic things as defining a woman is proof that everyone has his, hers, or its own reality. And we can’t even begin to discuss any topic until we can agree on its fundamental reality.

This is true of sexuality, abortion, climate change, evolution, you name it. So, one approach to understanding life (at least the physical aspects) is science. I’ve written my opinion on what I think about science. Some people seem to consider it a religion. Their mantra is, “Science is real.” Perhaps we can share this reality. Constructive comments are always welcome.

If science is real…

The news headline read, “Scientists hold protest rally in Boston”.  

Think about this for a moment. Science is objective.  The language of science is mathematics.  That’s how exacting science is.  Scientific knowledge can be precisely quantified.  It is rational and predictable.  Scientists may disagree on hypotheses or theories that have not yet been proven.  And such disagreements should serve the purpose of motivating scientists in their efforts to prove their points.  It’s straight-forward: hypothesize, experiment, discuss, repeat as needed until you can demonstrate what you postulate.  Holding protest rallies isn’t part of science.

The problem with the public’s idea of “science” today is that due to governmental financing of research, “science” has now become a tool of the political agenda of those in power, thereby losing all claim to objectivity.  

Scientifically speaking, the idea of “scientists” holding a protest rally is irrelevant nonsense.  That doesn’t represent the interests of scientists, it strictly represents political interests.  Any demonstration done by scientists should be done in the laboratory, written about in scientific papers and objectively debated.  

Political demonstrations are by definition, unscientific, designed to sway public opinion.  Science is not a matter of opinion.  Science is not a matter of consensus.  Scientific questions cannot be settled politically.  Yet these protesters are seeking a political resolution of “science” through consensus.  Whether or not they actually were “scientists”, they were not acting in their capacity as scientists, but in their capacity of political activists.

Are they not free to do so?  Absolutely.  But are they being “scientific”.  No.  They are being political.     

Supposedly, climate change was the main “science” concern of these protesters.  Current politically correct wisdom says that human use of carbon-based fuels is significantly influencing global climate change.  This hypothesis is the basis for wanting to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing our use of oil, gas and coal and developing alternative fuels, resulting in major economic impacts such as increased government regulation and taxation.  

But what if that hypothesis is false?  Al Gore — a politician — has convinced many that the question of climate change is “settled science”.  However “settled” it may seem to those who push the progressive globalist political agenda, the scientific questions as to the real threat posed by global warming (or cooling) and the degree to which it is influenced by human activity are far from answered by science. 

Highly qualified scientists do not agree with the popular “wisdom” that blames human use of fossil fuels for global warming.  Climate science is far from “settled” and remains debatable as long as experts such as  Dr. Sallie Baliunas question the popular “sky is falling” dogma.  Until it is settled, scientific inquiry and debate need to continue.  And until then, any action society takes to impact climate will be based on politics, not science.   

If “science is real,” then by its very nature, science must be objective, not politically correct. Scientific questions should always be open to debate.  Freedom of speech is as important in science as it is in civics.  Political correctness destroys objectivity and debate.

The movie, “Is Genesis History?” is an intelligent presentation of creation science from the perspective of the Biblical paradigm.  Del Tackett interviews a number of scientists holding PhDs in a variety of disciplines who give reasoned explanations as to why they see evidence differently from popular “approved” thinking.  They argue that the evidence points to a much younger age for the Earth than the billions of years put forth by popular theories.

These men are not protesting or demonstrating.  They are being scientific.  They are positing arguments based on evidence, and that’s what scientists do.  Their science is real.  Regardless of whether or not you agree with their conclusions, they are being scientific.  The politically driven attitude of those in power in the scientific community is not scientific.  Rather than scientifically demonstrating the so-called superiority of their deep age paradigm and its implications for theories such as natural selection, they sneer at any scientist who disagrees, and vilify creation scientists in particular. Apparently, they are threatened by any thinking that contradicts their orthodoxy and they lack the confidence that their own theories will stand up to objective scrutiny.

But I believe eventually open inquiry will win out; the truth will win out.  And those scientists who have not stopped questioning the evidence but persisted in the face of political intimidation will clearly demonstrate a better understanding of the world in which we live.

Are You a Child of God?

Recently our Sunday school class has been studying how we think, beginning with the well-known Scripture passage, Philippians 4:8-9 and examining how current scientific understanding of how our brains work illustrates and “fleshes out” Biblical principles. One focus of our study has been on establishing good mental habits, and it is one particular mental habit I wish to address here. Call it the “either/or” habit.

Many of us, in order to make a point, will say, “It’s not that; it’s this,” or, “Don’t do that; do this.”  We set up an either/or proposition in order to direct our thinking toward a desired goal by directing us away from another, usually less desirable goal. This mental approach can be very helpful in some situations, for instance when we speak of repentance as a choice of turning toward God by turning away from sin.

Over the years I have heard preachers apply this technique to any number of issues. However, it is my opinion that most issues in life are much more complex than a simple either/or choice, which is probably why we tend to reduce our thinking to easy, black or white choices. In the process, I think we miss out on some meaningful nuances in how we look at our lives, and in some cases, we risk straying into error and even heresy.

Let me clarify by stating that there is a clear line separating right from wrong. Sin is sin and righteousness is righteousness. When it comes to truth, I do not believe in “shades of gray”. In this regard, the either/or habit of thinking is right on target. However, this way of thinking doesn’t always work. Let me illustrate:

Scripture teaches both that God is in us (those who believe in Jesus) and that we are in him. This defies an either/or proposition. Several verses establish this tenet, but John 14:20 is perhaps the most succinct: “…I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” This represents two of the mysteries of our faith: the Trinity or Godhead, and the relationship we have with God as a result of our salvation. We are “in Christ”, he has seated us with him (who also is seated beside the Father) in heavenly places, and his Holy Spirit is in us.

This theology is beyond the grasp of human thought. But as God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, we are not required to understand them. We are called to live by faith, not to subject God’s revealed truth to the authority of our own understanding.

In my devotional this morning, I read the statement, “All people are God’s children”. The author uses the title Reverend, and belongs to a mainline Protestant denomination. This doctrine (the Brotherhood of Man) is long-established and quite common, though it does not stand up to the light of Scripture. While it is true that God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance, he does draw the line. John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Being his children is something we become. We weren’t always co-heirs with Christ. We must be born again. Once we were children of darkness, now we are children of light. And the one requirement given is to receive Jesus – to believe in his name. So the statement, “All people are God’s children” is patently false.

We are living in a time when theology becomes vague and ambiguous as we move away from the Bible  as the authority for our faith. We (unconsciously?) are swayed by society’s secular values to think of Christianity as being “inclusive”. We read Galatians 3:28 and focus on, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one…”, forgetting the most important part that points out our unity is “in Christ Jesus” and not in ourselves.

Scripture is clear. Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and Revelation 7:9 describes a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb. That paints an inclusive picture. But what else does the Bible say about the children of God?

Revelation 20:15 says, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Some today reject this Scripture as being authoritative. They say it reflects a malevolent god, not the God of love, mercy and forgiveness. They ignore the fact that it is not God who is causing their utter destruction, but their own spirit of rebellion against God. Revelation 16:9-11 mentions the unrepentant: “…they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory,” and, “People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.” These are people who when confronted with and punished for their sin refuse to humble themselves before the Almighty God of all creation. They are not children of God.

Again, if you do not consider Revelation to be authoritative, in John 8:42-47 Jesus himself pointedly told some Jews who claimed that God was their Father, “If God were your Father, you would love me…You belong to your father, the devil…He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” Those persons were not children of God because not everyone is a child of God – only those who have received Jesus. All others are excluded.

So, is the Church inclusive or is it exclusive? The answer is, “yes” because both are true. It’s not an either/or proposition.

Victory In Jesus

In anticipation of the mid-term elections, many of us are hoping and praying for political victories that will serve to bring our nation back from the many social problems that currently plague us. The reason I have titled this article, Victory In Jesus, is that America cannot and will not solve any of her problems outside of the will of God. Yet, we can bank on the promise of Scripture: we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Romans 13:1-7 (ESV) begins, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Some legalistic Christians believe this is an absolute command. But as you study the text it becomes apparent that this command is conditional. The very next sentence is, “For there is no authority except from God,” which means we are to submit ourselves to our governing authorities because their authority comes from God. By obeying our governing authorities, we are indirectly obeying God. The condition of our being subject to those in authority is this: their directives must follow God’s will and character, as revealed in the Bible.   

Verse 2 states, “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” But when those in authority go against God, resistance against them is no longer against God, but against those who defy the authority of God. God is not capricious. He does not appoint those in authority only to allow them to make laws and policies that go against his values and standards, nor does he expect his children to submit to such leadership. How can we believe that this Scripture is telling us we must not resist those authorities, even when they go against God?

Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination of the LORD.” An abomination of the LORD cannot be an agent of God’s authority. Regardless of any human authority that is represented, there is no longer any justification for God-fearing people to submit to auhorities who flout God’s authority. Is it not clear that when they abrogate their own fiduciary responsibilities to God as his agents they are no longer worthy of that sacred trust? They no longer represent the authority of God, to which we reasonably submit.

A question may arise as to whether or not this idea represents a theocracy. I don’t consider it such because no theological or religious requirements are mentioned in Romans 13 or other Biblical passages on submitting to authority. In fact, the reason for submitting to ruling authorities appears to be essentially pragmatic. Verse 3 states, “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Rather than addressing a religious system, it addresses proper conduct – rules for any peaceful, moral, orderly society.

Shockingly, today our ruling authorities are choosing to encourage and support bad conduct while being a terror to good conduct. Thieves and rioters go unpunished, abortion and infanticide are considered “rights”, sexual deviancy is being normalized, same sex marriage is permitted, freedom of speech for conservative and traditional Christians is under attack, public schools are being used to inculcate LGBTQ values and communist-inspired Critical Race Theory in our children – all of which qualify as bad conduct from a Biblical view, and all of which come under the imprimatur of our ruling authorities.

There is a bill currently in Congress (H.R. 536) called the New Way Forward Act. Our own federal lawmakers have designed this bill to decriminalize illegal immigration to this country. It stops the practice of restricting entry into our country to individuals who have criminal records. This policy does not just apply to minor offenders, but to dangerous, convicted felons. The bill even provides funding for bringing back offenders who have already been deported. Simply put, our elected officials are trying to make laws that help aliens and criminals while endangering their own, law-biding constituents who will have to pay the taxes to fund policies that threaten their safety and well-being.    

Objectively, one can only conclude that many of those in positions of authority over us ARE a terror to good conduct, but not to bad (from the Biblical perspective). The Christian should therefore not feel constrained to submit to such false, ungodly authorities, but rather resist them as they are in opposition to God. For the present circumstances we find ourselves in are not those of verses 3 and 4 which explain, “…do what is good, and you will receive his [the one in authority] approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid…”

We find ourselves in an upside down, inside out world where good means bad and bad means good. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…”. Romans 14:16 tells us not to let what we regard as good be spoken of as evil. So, when those in authority over us impose laws that reverse the moral polarity, treating evil things as if they were good and good things as if they were evil, they are not in fact being God’s servants for our good, but rather perverting justice and enforcing evil.

As I write this, the nation awaits the formal announcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which has the potential of overturning Roe v. Wade. As everyone knows, this represents a huge, heavily politicized issue: Abortion. Those who are pro-life hope and pray that Roe v. Wade will be reversed so that lives will be saved. Those who are pro-choice see the reversal of Roe v. Wade as women losing their “right” to end an unwanted pregnancy. I have heard the arguments on both sides for over half a century and I have yet to see a resolution to the issue.

That is because the two sides are looking at this issue from entirely different world views. The pro-choice side uses worldly wisdom and sees a woman’s “right” to make decisions that affect her body. The pro-life side is focused on the sanctity of all human life, including the unborn child inside the mother’s body. The pro-choice side sees a woman’s “right” to choose the life or death of their unborn child as more fundamentally important than their baby’s right to life. But the pro-life side believes that worldly wisdom does not justify going against God and ending a life God has created.

Even if Roe v. Wade is turned around, the practice of abortions will continue. The only difference will be that it will no longer be a federal issue, but subject to each state to make its own laws regarding abortion. The question will remain, as to how we should submit to those in authority over us. If we value the word of God when it says, “…whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment,” then in our representational form of government we should elect righteous representatives who are responsive to God’s will and dedicated to sound principles.

Can we expect the leaders of our nation to be righteous when the people they represent are not? In our representative form of government there is no “ruling class”. We elect our leaders from among us. That means if we want righteous leaders and righteous laws the onus is on us to be a righteous people. Pray for your nation, your state, your city, your neighbors. We need large-scale revival and a turning back to God. Nothing short of that will ensure that our leaders will be God-ordained servants for our good. Please pray about this. And please take the time to study those names on your ballot – and then vote. Let’s not worry about whose side God is on. Let’s be on his side!   

See You In Heaven

This morning I got the call I had been expecting from Peggy, telling me that Bob’s battle with cancer was over. He passed away after being in hospice care for only a short time. He was 74. It was less than a week ago he was unable to talk when I called – too sleepy from the pain medication. Before that, it had only been a couple of weeks since our last conversation. He was shopping with Peggy, and at first, when he said, “I’m on the way out,” I thought he meant out of the store. But soon I realized he meant out of this world.

Bob was a man of faith. He knew his body was dying yet was not terrified by the prospect. He knew where he was going. He trusted in the promises of God. I don’t think I’ve ever known a more positive or optimistic person in my life. He was always that way, even when we were kids growing up in the Aragon neighborhood. And when he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he just became more so.

When I think of Bob Rover, one word comes to mind: enthusiasm. Whatever he was interested in, he was committed to. Whatever he did, he dedicated himself to it. And his dedication and commitment were his joy and his reward. This makes sense when we look at the etymology of the word enthusiasm. From the Greek, it means in God. Bob’s enthusiasm was a real connection with the heart of God. And it always had to do with embracing other people’s lives, their welfare and their God-given worth.

Looking at Bob’s life, it is easy to see God’s presence. Whether it was with his family, his many friends, or in any of his associations and involvements – he was a people person. He made a difference. He was a happy ambassador for Christ. I will miss him. And looking forward, Bob leaves me with encouraging memories and hopeful anticipations of the victorious kingdom of God: love, joy and… enthusiasm.   

Ann Rover, Susie Boyd, Bobby Bouton, Bobby Rover and Connie Addy… a lifetime ago in San Diego

Will You Help Arthur Goldberg?

Almost ten months ago I wrote about Arthur Goldberg and his decade long legal battle with the Southern Poverty Law Center (https://retiredday.wordpress.com/2021/05/03/the-face-of-religious-persecution-in-america/). As co-founder and co-director of Jonah International, Mr. Golberg was targeted for offering a faith-based alternative to individuals who did not want to continue in their unwanted, sexual lifestyles. You can get details from the links I posted in that article.

Yesterday I received an email from Mr. Goldberg saying, “…more than ten years after litigation began and six months after we filed a petition for review with the NJ State Supreme Court, the Court summarily denied our petition to review the lower courts’ decisions. The Court stated, ‘A petition for certification of the judgment in A-001076-19 having been submitted to this Court, and the Court having considered the same; It is ORDERED that the petition for certification is denied, with costs.'”

He added, “The trial court and the Appellate Division errors were so glaring, and the monetary penalties imposed so severe, that the State Supreme Court should have granted review under their “interests of justice” standard. Nevertheless, more than six months after filing the petition for review, the State Supreme Court issued the one line denial set forth above and did so without providing any reasoning whatsoever.”

To my mind this court desision is a gross miscarriage of justice, particularly because it tramples over the concept of the free excersise of religion. It is a dark day for Bible believers when they are punished for providing services and information according to their convictions. But obviously, the courts consider all sexual proclivities to be sacrosanct, whether or not they are declared to be detestable in the Bible.

Arthur Goldberg is a moral and decent man whose life has been ruined by the godlessness of our judicial system. For his moral rectitude and desire to help those struggling with sexual sins, he now faces severe financial penalties. Please look into your heart and see if you can help him out by using the crowd-funding site www.lifefunder.com/therapy or send a check to Mr. Goldberg at PO Box 313, Jersey City, NJ 07303.

Social Justice?

The over-used, politically correct term, “social justice” is a misnomer. Justice is justice, regardless of the context in which it is applied. But “social justice” as it is played out in the political arena always gives special consideration to certain groups or categories of persons at the expense of the rights of others. 

Justice, by definition, must apply equally to each and every individual. It is not justice to give benefits to some, while restricting the same benefits from others — which is exactly what “social justice” does. In short, “social justice” is not justice at all. It places a wedge between people groups and is a precursor to socialist thinking.

As a God-ordained principle, true justice is universal, designed for and applied to every individual equally. The rights and liberties afforded by our system are not derived from a person’s particular category or group, but from the presumption that we all are equal before God. 

Charges that our constitutional republic is racist (white supremacist) are not based on the actual principles of our founding documents, but on the failure of humans to fully implement what is written. Even with those failures, as a result of the real justice that our constitution represents, many of the social wrongs in our history have been corrected, and continue to be corrected. That is because our society has always believed that justice is due to everyone.

The idea of universal justice in American culture stems from our Judeo-Christian ethic, a tradition rooted in Biblical teaching. Those who would change the way we think about God-given justice, making us open to socialism, are working hard to rewrite our history and erase the memory of our founding traditions. They want people to believe the lie that America from its inception has always been cruel, racist, sexist and unjust. So, they put forward socialist-inspired solutions, such as “social justice” to make reparations for perceived injustices. It’s all a lie and it’s not about justice. It’s about government control and loss of personal freedom.

Romans 13:1 begins, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Notice it does not refer to groups or categories, but to persons. The individual — not ranked or categorized by what group he may belong to — is given the responsibility and reward for socially responsible behavior. The second part of this verse adds that these governing authorities are from God.

What that means is that governing authorities are accountable to God to represent his values and uphold his standards of justice. It does not mean that however a governing authority chooses to act, that ipso facto represents God’s will or God’s approval. To quote from the Declaration of Independence,

…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 

This means that those in authority are charged with ruling according to God’s purposes, not their own. Continuing in Romans 13 (verses 2-4) we get the Biblical model for justice in government:          

…whoever resists the authorities resist what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. …do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrong doer.  

God’s design for government is based on individual accountability, not group identity. In God’s view, social justice holds individuals to account for their behavior while offering opportunities and blessings to all who live according to his precepts. 

Opposed to this concept is socialism, which, like a form of tribalism, divides people into approved groups and unapproved groups, and places more emphasis and value on a person’s group identity than on their unique individuality. Socialism replaces individual liberty with group privilege, while lying that they want to help those who see themselves as “oppressed”. 

The first and most basic premise of socialism is that the needs of the State outweigh the needs of the individual. No longer do the ruling authorities act as God’s agents to see that everyone’s unalienable rights are protected. Just the opposite. Under socialism, the people are required to set aside their freedoms in order to support whatever the State says to support. Serious dissent is not allowed. There can be no freedom of speech. Even what you think and believe is subject to State approval. Political correctness becomes a command, and failure to toe the party line is a criminal offense. 

Without the God-given freedom to live our lives as God created us to do, under socialism everyone must live according to the dictates of the State. That is what woke attitudes like “social justice” are leading to. This is happening because fewer people look to God as their authority, while increasing numbers of people are trying to replace God with government. And when God is no longer in authority over government, government shows no restraint.

The Bible says we are to submit to ruling authorities, with the presumption that they are representing God’s purposes. But it doesn’t say we are to submit to any dictatorship, regardless of how godless they are. Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery.”

But the Church in America today has strayed far from Biblical teaching. Repeatedly, throughout Scripture, the believer is admonished not to go beyond what is written; neither to add to nor take away from the word of God. Yet that is exactly what we are doing when we try to incorporate the idea of “social justice” into the ministry of the church. Sadly, many Christians seem to be caught up in the lie that somehow “social justice” is helping the poor, needy, oppressed minorities. 

Thinking they are are being religious and doing good, they have actually turned from their supernatural calling. Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit of God, they are following secular wisdom that rejects God as our authority. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:5, they are, “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

When a government treats rioters differently, depending on what groups they belong to; when a government targets parents as terrorists if they refuse to be bullied by autocratic school boards; when a government seeks to control medical care and pushes a one-size-fits-all philosophy; when a government gives “free” housing and medical care (paid for by the taxpayers) and in some cases, even the right to vote to those who have come into the country illegally; when a government allows thieves to openly steal merchandise from stores without consequences; when a government allows rioters to be bailed out without investigation; when you see a government perpetuating all forms of injustice while calling loudly for “social justice” you know that God is not in charge of the government. Rather, the people have turned their backs on God. 

Yet still, the governing authorities will be held accountable by God. There will be a judgment, and it will be a righteous reckoning. Thousands of years ago when Israel was prosperous and powerful, they turned away from the authority of God. They did as they pleased while continuing to make an outward appearance of being religious, thinking all they had to do was perform the formality of religious rites, without living righteous lives. The prophet Amos spoke to this in Amos 5:21- 24:

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.    

True justice and righteousness comes from God — not from the State. Because American government is “of the people, by the people and for the people,” it is up to We the People to see that God’s justice rules our land. On our own, we can do nothing of eternal value. But if the people return to God and the Church abides in Christ and walks in him, God’s justice can govern in America. Jeremiah 3:16 says, “The LORD is our righteousness.” 

May we return to the LORD and know his truth. May we expose the lies by the light of his truth. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~ John 8:32