Once again there is some controversy surrounding the Inauguration and the preacher to give the invocation. Last year it was Rick Warren and many believers had apoplexy over it. This time a preacher who has said homosexual behavior was a sin was pressured to remove his invitation. What kind of nonsense is this?
Let us be frank here. The millions upon millions of dollars that will be spent on all the pomp is a disgrace, and yet they will ask God to bless it? And when Joshua prayed to God about the defeat at Ai the Lord told him to get up because there was sin in the camp. Does anyone with any kind of Biblical knowledge really believe God could bless America? We as believers should weep over these lost sinners as they attempt to live for themselves and still have God sanction their sin.
And the conservatives will be offended that this preacher was forced to exit, and the liberals were offended that he was asked in the first place. But all the while God Himself is offended at all of it. In essence and in spiritual reality, when a preacher of any kind stands and offers a prepared prayer text at such a hedonistic event which is supposedly to beseech God's blessing upon a godless nation, it is a profound affront to everything we know about God. But then again, it makes us feel religious.
I am blessed to be learning more and more just how to view things like this; with a Biblical world view. Discernment ministries are all over this issue to call out the preacher. This preacher is being tousled from both sides, and if he hadn't allowed himself to be seduced in the first place we would not have heard about him at all.
ReplyDeleteI am still working out my salvation and learning not to be riled by discernment ministries anymore. By studying the Word of God my view is changing, and my prayer life is growing and I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed this sinner to actually grow. He has led me to places where I can truly see the difference between them so as not to get caught up and distracted. I have found a few that are okay, but we still needs to go back to God's Word before deciding anything, and be doctrinally sound period.
The Word calls us to judge, but not as a carnal mind would judge. My prayer for this preacher is that he get on his knees and repent to get right with God. Not because of his dis-invite, but because he has compromised his calling to preach the Gospel. I tell you, the more I see these events, the more I cling to Jesus and His Word. White knuckled am I on Him. Standing for the Faith is not a call for protest or petitions, it is a call to prayer and meek steadfastness. One discernment ministry actually said that if Christians do not speak up about this they are on the side of the left. Nice huh? A brother in the Lord says that if I do not publicly denounce what happened because of this (mainly the administration not allowing those who believe sin is against God (all sin not just homosexuality, All sin)are basically not Christian. Not pray for this guy, but publicly come out against what he calls a State Religion. Discernment ministries have their place, but when did they stop praying or calling for prayer? They are so caught up in catching the heretic, they forget to pray for them.
Well, that is my two cents for all it is worth. I say, pray for this preacher because his eternal view is askew for 15 minutes of fame with the so called American Christian groups. His compromise has backfired on him, and the only one who can help him now is Jesus. Pray for him. No I am not publicly coming out against what they say we should come out against. I going to seek the Lord in my prayer closet, and I think we all should for this man. To God be All the Glory.
Cherie c.
Hi kelli,
ReplyDeleteI responded to your post. God bless.
Cherie c.
So so true. These past year's events in the political realm have really woken me up as to how tepid the church, including myself, have become.
ReplyDeleteWe just went along all these generations, years, trusting we were in good standing in God's eyes because there was prayer in schools, the word "God" on the coin, and the incorrect belief that the nation was founded on Jesus Christ.
This is a season where our false beliefs are being exposed. It's incredible to be living in a day when we, as a church, experience the days where prophets spoke of.
If parents pray with their children at home, and before the children leave for school every morning, isn't that enough? Why do christians feel that prayer in schools in a collective way, by force, are more effective? It was so saddening to hear a minister quoted as saying removing God from schools was the reason rampant evil was everywhere and that schools were no longer divinely protected. I can't imagine how parents of the children in Sandy Hook might have felt hearing that minister say that. There may have been many parents who prayed for their children's day at school. To place unnecessary guilt on a secular system for such tragedies is foolish.
So true. Inaugurations, coronations, worldly celebrations don't really have God in mind. It is just an exercise in futility in asking for God's blessings. However, sometimes each individual who participates in these inaugurations, might be true believers, and will really pray for all participants that they some day come to the full realization of who Jesus is and are saved. So, on the one hand, a secular event can be touched by God's hand, or it can be just a carnal display.
One thing I've learned here and these past few years, is I have to stopped reacting shocked at it all. I should expect that we're spiraling down to the end days and to expect governments to not exceed my christian expectations. I understand some christians who still want to make a difference in protecting the unborn and such, but when ministers then blame carnage and stuff to happen because of abortion, in my view, it's not biblical. God judges each individual on the day of judgment; I don't believe that he judges and pours wrath collectively on the just and the unjust. It's not His will that any man should perish. And, it's getting to the point that my expectation of the church to be wise and discerning in these days isn't happening on a grand scale.
The angel said to Daniel about the last days, Dan. 12:4 "But you Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase." 9: "And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealing till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand".
I just pray for all of us here that we will be given that understanding. Amen.
Good thoughts all. After theSpirit enlightens you to just how carnal and futile these things are, are you shocked that you could not see it before? I was.
ReplyDeleteOne reading this should now be able to understand what Paul experienced as recorded here:
ReplyDeleteAct 25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."
Act 25:23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
They expended quite an expense to bring Agrippa and Bernice in the audience hall with "GREAT POMP" notwithstanding the expense to have the military tribunes and the prominent men of the City stop what they were doing to attend?
I read somewhere that for the President to go anywhere it exceeds a million dollars and then some depending on where he goes and comes back from?
Anonymous, you wrote:
ReplyDelete"This is a season where our false beliefs are being exposed. It's incredible to be living in a day when we, as a church, experience the days where prophets spoke of."
Just think about how long, at times, the children of Israel went without a Word from God? I thinking of the time between Malachi and Matthew for an example.
We should rejoice God is giving us such clear Words so we too can see and understand!
Is this correct, Rick?
ReplyDelete"I don't believe that he judges and pours wrath collectively on the just and the unjust."
What about the verse that says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust? and that judgment starts at the house of God?
I would appreciate your clarification. Thanks.
Kim
"It rains on the just and the unjust" reveals that trouble comes to all of us. But God's wrath is never for the believer, only correction in love.
ReplyDelete