The Glory of the Cross

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS

Who in this modern, enlightened day and age can believe such a thing? I mean what kind of ancient superstitious nonsense actually believes a man who died on a cross almost two thousand years ago is the path to eternal life? Let us be reasonable here. People long ago proclaimed that this Jesus died for the sins of the world, but since then we have come a long way baby. We live now in a technologically sophisticated world where we know much more than did they who lived before the Industrial Revolution. Yes, some of us believe there is a higher power, maybe even a higher being, but the story of the cross has been long since abandoned and is now only a source for ridicule. It is little more than barbarism. 

Yes, this is the unspoken and even spoken view in this world. In fact, by its tepid approach to the cross and many times by its silence, the church which claims to be Christian practices a cross-less form of religion. Take inventory of the many sermon series posted around town and very few if any will be on the cross. Why? The cross is an insult to our intelligence. And the church so desires to have the approval of the world that it downplays the cross so as not to offend. In fact the church seeks to draw people to its doors without the gospel and it has been most successful in so doing.

People want something new and different. They seek something intellectual that makes them feel smart and “with it”. New is the synonym for truth. And somehow the cross does not fit into this new kind of Christianity. Men would much rather hear a “how to” message that gives them steps to their own success than to hear about Jesus dying on the cross. They have heard that story before and it is now stale and out of touch with today’s issues.

But the cross is the greatest event to ever occur in time and space. This is no fairy tale or some medieval talisman. This cross where Jesus died is the totality of God’s redemptive love and power displayed openly in the space of 6 grueling hours. Yes, this bloody spectacle is God speaking through His death. And just what is God saying? Well, He is saying many things which I may touch on, but taken as a whole God is saying, “I love you”. And please do not process that word love in human terms. This kind of love goes much deeper than any human love can. This kind of love offers life through death. This is love which soars above our own reality; this is love which gives everything; this is love which suffers for its enemies; this is love which will not diminish for eternity.

If you do not recognize the presence and power of sin then this cross will be meaningless. It will only be one of many martyrdoms throughout history. And if you do not see your sin you cannot see His redemption. I do not mean that you must fully grasp the totality of your sin, but you must see a need for your own soul. And this need cannot be met by another mortal. You and I will need someone who is above a mere man, someone who has no sin. And if and when that someone comes forth, we will need him to voluntarily pay for our sins in order that we may know God. You see, because of sin we can only know there is a god, but we cannot actually know God.

This question of sin is no light matter. Sin is the destructive force that not only entered the world through Adam, but placed the death sentence upon ever human born. I know it seems like so much Dungeons and Dragons, but do not be deceived. It is the ultimate war which is either won at the cross or lost in hell. And the cross, although seemingly a nondescript and ordinary crucifixion not unlike thousands of others, is the only source of eternal redemption for any and all of mankind. It is the place where God the Father offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. And although we can never know the depth of the sacrifice as it pertains to the Triune God and that mysterious relationship, we can glean some understanding by just the terms “Father” and “Son”. Even in an earthly setting that would be almost unthinkable.

And then to imagine that only through death can we find life is a mystery, however this was not just “a” death. It was THE death. You see our fallen nature desires to earn our redemption, and even if we accept the premise that Christ died for our sins, we still desire to have some part. But the cross was the absolute completeness of God’s requirement. He, Christ Jesus, took our punishment upon Himself. And now instead of the futility of attempting to earn favor with God, we only have to believe. It is still the greatest miracle of God’s limitless love ever offered.

As the days go by and as the fallen nature of mankind finds wide venues of exhibition, it will become increasingly difficult for we as believers to cling to the cross. The western evangelical church has by and large discarded it as it pertains to following Jesus. Instead professing believers now follow capitalism, democracy, and many forms of conservatism while the cross may find some insignificant place in a statement of faith. But it is only in the cross where a sinner can find life. Everything else is just dead religion regardless of how exciting, innovative, and relevant.

I have tasted of almost all kinds of sin. I have been thrilled by some things in this world. I have had more money than I needed and I have had less money than I needed. I have loved and I have been and am loved. I have been healthy and I have been sick. I have been happy and I have been sad. I have been praised and I have been ill spoken of. I have wept while watching people die on television, and I have held the hands of people who have died before my eyes, including my own mother. I have had goosebumps as I watched the birth of my own children. I have baptized my own children and I have baptized many more children of others. I have seen sinners respond to my very incomplete messages. I rejoice that many who came to Christ through this poor instrument are still serving Jesus.

But I will never get over, nor can I ever compare, the glory that I have found in the cross of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Before we were born again the cross was a story. It was jewelry. It was a picture. I cannot remember even giving it a second thought before I was saved. But now people consider us unbalanced and religious fanatics, not because we wear the cross or rub it for good luck, but because we believe it is the source of our redemption and because He who hung there is our very life. And since that is eternally true, the word “fanatic” does not apply. In fact, in the truest sense of the word, we are not fanatics…we are dead, and the life we now lead we live by the faith of the Son of God who gave Himself for us. And that surpasses any fanaticism known to mankind.

Babylon on Display

BABYLON ON DISPLAY

I watched the first quarter of the Super Bowl and then I fell asleep. I present that so no one will believe I am pristine in the matter about which I will address. Let me say that I would not have watched the half time show, however if it were Paul McCartney or something along those lines I may have. But I want to expose the entire event as a colossal display of hedonism along the lines of the Roman coliseum spectacles. Let us be honest here unless we wish to disregard God’s Word: Things like the Super Bowl come completely unapproved by the Spirit.

All of us have been on some level affected and even infected by the culture. And the Super Bowl is as Babylonianish as it gets. It is a carnival for the flesh even without the halftime strip club routines. Man’s devotion to his own abilities and talents is almost measureless, and even the poor love to watch millionaires play games. It is a multi-billion dollar industry arriving at the summit when the Super Bowl arrives. Almost the entire nation is mesmerized by the game itself. But even the commercials have become carefully crafted spectacles.

But the event provides an unobstructed view of how far a fallen culture has gone. Money is no object when it comes to entertainment, thrills, and just the pleasure of distractions from the mundane. Excitement and the thrill of competition is a narcotic in our humanistic culture. And then some believers who purposely do not watch the Super Bowl will use that as a platform for self righteousness. The entire issue is a melee.

But even though some of us may have watched the game, how is it that churches could show it? It was the third most watched Super Bowl ever, and to say that things like that do not desensitize people to sin is simply untrue. But we have all been systematically desensitized to sin by the culture. And things like the Super Bowl including the halftime show would have almost been illegal a few decades ago. And to think that Beyonce began singing in church as did many of these modern sex symbols. And many of these athletes profess to be believers even though their lifestyles say anything but being a follower of Jesus.

If this Super Bowl had been televised in 1962 we all would have been shocked even if we were not a believer. We as believers must realign our hearts and minds with God’s Word and in so doing we would most definitely be shocked by what we see. We live in a culture that is absolutely at odds with God and His Word, but because men love darkness, we ourselves have been desensitized. Let us be painfully honest here. The entire spectacle, including the football, is at odds with spirit of the New Testament and the Person of Jesus Christ, and as I said, I watched part of the game.

But this should, this must reveal to us just how assimilated we have become inside the culture. Things that we accept and even enjoy would be considered worldly in the 1950’s. So that either means that believers in the 50s were legalistic prudes, or that we have been infected and desensitized by our surroundings. The word “Babylon” when used like I do means a system that is constructed to elevate man and his pleasures and is against the Spirit of God.

And in times past a believer could be tempted and then receive strength and correction by the man of God and the church he attended. But not only is that no longer the case, but most evangelical churches in America have bought into this Babylonian system. And some will rail against the half time show in order to show how pure they are, but they refuse to examine to totality of both the culture and their own ecclesiastical construct. The church at large is now dead to Christ and alive to Babylon. It may be impossible for any of us to fully realize the depth of the compromise and even apostasy.

So this year’s Super Bowl can be used by the Spirit not just as a target for our self righteousness, but as a rod of correction for our own spiritual condition. If a display as outlandish as the half time show is what is necessary to elicit our disapproval, then we are without remedy. Our spiritual plight requires much deeper and more penetrating repentance that is far greater than throwing stones at the unsaved. We ourselves need to pursue personal repentance on a scale that will bring forth many tears and produce much fruit. Do not pacify yourself with a detached review of the world’s sinful ways.

If you are waiting for a church to lead you, you will have a long wait. If you do not take up a radical spiritual journey of your own you will stay where you are. The question remains, do you desire more of Jesus? Yes the world around us is in full decay mode, and yes these kinds of displays will only increase. But what about us? Are we prisoners of the culture who cannot do anything but float along with it? Or can we set our faces like a flint toward Christ and seek to humbly come under the totality of His Lordship?

Make no mistake, we live in Babylon. But make no mistake, our lives are in Christ. From which well will you draw your water? The situation is desperate. Are you?

Spiritual Treason

SPIRITUAL TREASON

On August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay dropped a nuclear bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Almost 50,000 people died that day and approximately 40,000 or more over the next several years. Or in spiritual terms we love to say we believe - tens of thousands of souls went into a Christless eternity. Estimates concerning the injured were well over 100,000. Mankind had produced a weapon that could kill massive amounts of people in the space of less than an hour. Today nuclear weapons can kill many millions in the same amount of time.

But within the last decade America has produced unmanned aircraft that can be operated from within an air conditioned room. A trained person can maneuver the aircraft with just a joystick while looking at a computer screen and enjoying a coffee latte. Killing has become impersonal and assassination style through an electronic vehicle. This trained drone operator can kill several people, still go to the gym, and then meet his ex-wife at his son’s Little League game. It is so very American. We have now come up with a system of killing that does not even interfere with our everyday lives.

Long ago we have been able to bring the war in real time right into the American home. While munching on chips we can watch all the pretty antiaircraft tracers and we can hear the explosions of the bombs. While carnage is occurring we get to watch it in 3-D color. People are being blown to bits and it is brought to you in living color and sponsored by Toys-R-Us and the Vitamin Shoppe. The American ingenuity has once again prevailed. I mean think of what could have happened if we had this technology many years earlier?

We might have seen firsthand a major Indian battle and went to bed with the knowledge that the white man continues to win. Some investigative reporter could show us the skulls of freshly scalped soldiers and that could inflame us further concerning our outrage at how savage these Indians are. I mean come on. Scalping? How primitive. Hand grenades are much more civilized! And who do these Indians think they are anyway? Why would you kill people to defend and protect your way of life? Again, uneducated savages.

We could have watched live as slave ships docked in South Carolina, and there may have even been an online auction. Mastercard and Visa accepted. We could have watched a live lynching as they hung some poor black man. Perhaps Bob Costas could have interviewed the executioner before and after and he could express his desire to become a better executioner. We could have watched live the Battle of Gettysburg and seen thousands of men killed and their bodies strewn all over the battlefield. They would have had an on screen counter as they attempted to number the fallen. We could have also TiVo’d it for future watching.

The average American household could have watched El Alamein or Normandy or Iwo Jima. I mean we could switch back and forth between shocking carnage and the Word Series game. And it might have been interesting as we dispassionately watched utter mayhem with our chair in recline, but we quickly stand to our feet and point to the TV because of a bad call at second base! Wow, densensitized to the core.

And in the midst of this new antiseptic drone technology, and true to form, the politicians parade all sorts of hypocrisy. The Democrats who would normally throw a tantrum about things like this are a bit more restrained since it is President Obama who has made drones a major military force. And the same Republicans that were cheerleaders for the Iraq invasion are now acting as if they have a conscience about killing. Yes, the American political scene appeals to the partisan nature of people and ears hear what they want to hear.

But we have now reached greater heights as it pertains to killing without being inconvenienced. And in a stunning display of America cunning, the practice of what they call a “double tap” is sometimes employed. That means that when people hear a bomb and normally rush to see what happened and help those in need, we sometimes drop another bomb in order to elevate the level of terror. Wow, now that’s American exceptionalism at its very best! And all this directed from the comfort of a padded chair and within driving distance from your home. Many who rail against violent video games have no objection to drone strikes. In fact, the greater the buffer zone between killing people and knowing who they are the better. And if it means entering a sovereign nation’s airspace with whom we are not at war, so be it. Heaven help any nation that attempts to enter our airspace to seek out their enemies.

Ok, if you don’t get the picture by now you probably never will. But what is my overall point? I am openly and forcefully suggesting that all this is fallen and can never be the way of Jesus. But look how we have invented our own convoluted message that takes the words and teachings of Jesus and renders them ineffective and even irrelevant as it pertains to the greater interactions of men. In fact, we openly suggest that being an American trumps being a follower of Jesus even though we attempt to create some sort of dispensation that allows for killing and mayhem and still claims to follow Jesus.

And instead of the Old Testament being a prophetic portal that leads to the ultimate revelation of Jesus Christ, we take the Old Testament and use it as a template for behavior when it is associated with nations. But if the teachings of Jesus are not absolute, and if they can be ignored under certain circumstances, then they are of no greater value than those of Mark Twain. If we can pick and choose which truths we obey at which times, than instead of Jesus being God, we are. And in reality when we treat His teachings with such personal subjectivity we conveniently remove any real sacrifice for obedience.

So the “love your enemies” stuff can be confined to personal interaction? Of course its value and strength is even severely lacking in those circumstances. But “forsake all” is just a Hallmark Card saying? “Do good unto them which despitefully use you” stops at the Declaration of Independence? “Lose your life for My sake and you will find it" is just some ethereal anecdote? This is spiritual treason at its zenith!

It costs something to follow Christ. And if that is so, then how can tens of millions of professing believers be so comfortable and so unremarkable within a culture of darkness and death? Well the answer is painful and almost inconceivable. The expression of Christianity widely accepted in America is not Christianity at all.

Matt.7: ²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
²⁸ And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
²⁹ For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Now it is no coincidence that these words were spoken right after these:

Matt.7: ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Throw out all the rest of Scripture and just commit to unconditionally obeying the Sermon on the Mount and you may well be ostracized from fellowship. But if we all just did that the world just may see some light. If what the church practices today is authentic Christianity then so be it. But please do not quote Jesus anymore. So what am I saying? What does it matter what a nobody like me is saying. What is God saying. Selah.

Hypocrisy

HYPOCRISY

Hypocrisy is always a meal which brings indigestion. When running for president Barak Obama charged President Bush with shredding the Constitution and not believing in congessional checks and balances. But now we find out American drones can kill American citizen without due process and with collateral deaths, and without even consulting anyone in congress.
Do you see? We can make the law say anything we deem necessary. I hope you can see why I posted this. Let us not be Republicans or democrats. Let us be humble followers of Jesus and not be swayed by the back and forth of politics.
All presidents have feet of clay. Jesus alone is Lord.

The Killing Fields of the Female Womb

THE KILLING FIELDS OF THE FEMALE WOMB

From slavery to many wars to bigotry to hedonism to the unfair economic system to all kinds of prejudice, America has always had a demonstrable manifestation of a fallen culture. The suggestion of a Christian nation is laughable if it were not so sad. But nothing can match the horror of the outright slaughter of millions of unborn babies. We as believers are called to preach the good news, however the issue of abortion has many implications as it pertains to the inconceivable notion of America being anything close to Christian.

The leaders openly suggest that we need to protect and preserve the American way of life. But let us as believers step back and actually see what that actually means. When America drops a drone bomb on a suspected terrorist it is designed to keep that person from planning to attack us and thereby place our way of life in jeopardy. And are we as believers really suggesting that God is interested in protecting a system which slaughters tens of millions of unborn babies? Just what are we supposed to be protecting here? The hedonism, the drugs, the drunkenness, the sex, and the overall debauchery is bad enough, but how can anyone who follows Jesus believe that Christ wants to protect the continuing horror of the killing fields within the womb of women and even young girls?

I do not often address such things but when I do I want to make it perfectly clear just how vile and antichrist the entire system is and always has been. It is unimaginable to think of the continuing carnage within the female body, but do not ignore the fact that doctors charge money to perform such antiseptic horror. This is not just some political perspective that can be tossed back and forth like we were discussing where to build the next sports stadium. This kind of bloodbath reveals the sinister nature of a fallen nation and yet sees millions who profess Christ pledging allegiance to that same murderous construct. And when millions of gallons of blood from innocent children are spilled and washed away in sterile environments, do not suppose God does not see.

Yes, we still live in the gospel age, but one day there will be a reckoning. And I exhort anyone who knows Christ and reads this little blog, do not give your loyalty or allegiance to a nation which legally and systematically engages in such butchery.

These drone strikes to which I alluded to in a previous post are designed to eliminate people who may place our way of life in jeopardy. Can you even imagine such a thing?! It isn’t enough to preserve and protect the invisible killing fields of the female womb, and it isn’t enough to make millions of dollars while committing such butchery, but we will kill those who may seek to upset that system? What kind of idolatry has the church bought into? This goes way beyond borrowing money so we can own a car that is more expensive than we need. This goes way beyond the gay marriage debate. Every day the hands of doctors armed with the weapons of death reach into the sacred place of life and chop arms and legs and eyes and ears and heads into serviceable pieces in order to be conveniently carried to the nearest landfill or incinerator. And this is what believers join in to protect? And all the abortion doctors support the drone strikes since that continues to protect their money making holocaust.

I have desired to make it as uncomfortable and stark as I can so you can understand just what you are protecting and to what you are paying homage. Any system that allows for a legal way to murder the unborn is an antichrist system. Can you imagine God building a house and including a door which leads to the fires of Molech which can be opened if the democratic system so desires? This nation was built by man not God, and we as believers must awaken to the fact that it is not our kingdom and not our system and not our home. Please, my brothers and sisters, can you not see the diabolic nature of nationalism and the profound compromise it presents?

So when placed in an accurate perspective we can see that the war on terror is to protect another place where terror is treated as a capitalist endeavor. Oh yes, how deceived we can be when we blindly see Iran as evil and America as good. God sees no such thing. And America buys its influence through foreign aid and foreign battle. But all the money given around the world isn’t green, it’s red. It is stained with the blood of infants too young to cry, too young to run, to young to see, and too young to be protected. In fact, the rights are given to the licensed capitalist killer  while the dismembered infant can only find his rights in a Hefty bag.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. Has there ever been such a lie that finds a voice in the lips of professing believers? The next time you pledge allegiance, perhaps you can cover your heart with a dismembered arm retrieved from the body parts of precious infants chopped up and discarded just minutes before the doctor has cocktails paid for by the same infants.

But if you do, remember there is no white and blue…just red.

The Killing Fields

THE KILLING FIELDS

 

From the New York Times, Feb.5, 2013:
 

Late last August, a 40-year-old cleric named Salem Ahmed bin Ali Jaber stood up to deliver a speech denouncing Al Qaeda in a village mosque in far eastern Yemen. It was a brave gesture by a father of seven who commanded great respect in the community, and it did not go unnoticed. Two days later, three members of Al Qaeda came to the mosque in the tiny village of Khashamir after 9 p.m., saying they merely wanted to talk. Mr. Jaber agreed to meet them, bringing his cousin Waleed Abdullah, a police officer, for protection.

As the five men stood arguing by a cluster of palm trees, a volley of remotely operated American missiles shot down from the night sky and incinerated them all, along with a camel that was tied up nearby. (SOURCE)

This is just one example of what the United States is involved in as it pertains to drone bombing attacks. This cleric is the sort of Muslim that should be applauded because he publicly decries Al Qaeda but he was “incinerated” along with his cousin by an American drone guided by a man sitting in an air conditioned room with a joy stick.. And this is the action of a “Christian” nation? Is it any wonder why Muslims hate the Jesus of our faith? Is it because so many have made Jesus a conservative America wearing battle fatigues and armed to the teeth?

Pin the bomb on the terrorist has become somewhat of a video game, and it seems liberal and conservative politicians have common ground in this. But we as believers should be horrified. And where are the Christian voices that are still active in politics? Where are the demonstrative voices blaring down from evangelical pulpits? We decry people who strap bombs on their person but we support people who watch a screen while sipping coffee and kill people? Which of those two scenarios depicts the braver person?

But even more penetrating is this question: How can a follower of Jesus Christ support and pledge allegiance to an earthly entity which murders unborn babies and innocent people around the world? The answer is that you can only pledge your allegiance to America if you sin against Christ. The western church is little more than an American religious organization

Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus has left the building.

The Blood of the Martyrs

THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

 

In the late fourteenth century a man named John Huss began a missionary movement which became known as the Moravians. They were located in central Europe and their calling was worldwide evangelism. All over the world there are believers who can trace their original roots to Moravian missionaries.

In the early 1700’s the Moravians established missionary outposts within the American colonies. It was through their witness that the Delaware Indians were reached with the gospel and many came to faith in the Lord Jesus. Because of the hostility between the Americans and the British the Delaware Indians became somewhat confused over which side to take. But those Indians who became believers slowly realized they should take neither side and true to Scripture they were neutral pacifists who lived by following the teachings of Jesus.

But some of the unconverted Delaware Indians sided with the British while some sided with the Colonies. But the British and the Americans were suspicious of the Indian converts and in 1781 the Americans forcibly removed them from their camps and moved them to a camp that they established. The white Moravian missionaries were tried for treason and found not guilty. By 1782 the Delaware converts began to starve and approximately 100 returned to their former villages and began to harvest the crops they had been forced to leave. But the Americans wanted to destroy those camps in an effort to keep the British from getting the food.

But the Indian converts had relocated and were once again living and working in those camps. The American militia told the converts that they had come to protect them and that they should gather together with their belongings. But they had lied, and although these Indian believers were well know as pacifists, the American militia made plans to annihilate them. Here is a short account:

On the evening of the 7th, the Indians spent their last hours praying and singing, knowing that their spirits would soon be in the presence of their God. They did not resist, they did not struggle. The next morning the slaughter began. The women were killed in one building, the men in the other. The old, the young and the infants were all massacred. The lists of the victims contain the names of infants and toddlers who were killed. As the victims were brought into the slaughter houses, many sang hymns, others prayed. The word of God was on their lips as the mallet or tomahawk crashed into their skulls. (source)

It is stories like this one that are recorded in heaven and which make all the modern church wrangling seem like sacrilege. Where oh where are believers like that today? These Moravian converts from the Delaware tribe were faithful to the Lord Jesus even unto death. But today’s believers must demand their rights and become entangled with the secular cesspool. But brothers and sisters, we have not learned that from Christ. And lest anyone be deceived, this nation was never formed as a Christian nation. The blood of these Indian believers still stains the ground where they were massacred.

May their martyrdom redound to the glory of God, and may it be a challenge to us all to serve the Lord with contrition and humility. He who would be first must be last, and he who is abased will one day be exalted. Amen.

FYI - In 1810, Tecumseh reminded William Henry Harrison, "You recall the time when the Jesus Indians of the Delawares lived near the Americans, and had confidence in their promises of friendship, and thought they were secure, yet the Americans murdered all the men, women, and children, even as they prayed to Jesus?"

The Sin of Loving Human Freedom

THE SIN OF LOVING HUMAN FREEDOM

Jn.8: ³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Let us place all our cards on the table up front so there is no misunderstanding. Earthly freedom is not only a mirage, but it often is a platform for carnality, hedonism, and a general atmosphere of self centeredness. People demand it; people leverage it; people use it; people abuse it; and earthly freedom is a source of pride and self righteousness. Just the phrase “the land of the free” is fraught with self righteousness and an open suggestion of superiority and exceptionalism. It fills the bosom with pride and expands the patriotic chest, but does it represent Christ? Of course if that does not matter, or even if that is just one of many considerations, then we need not go any further since we have already maligned Christ and rejected His Lordship.

But if you are a believer who professes Jesus Christ as your Lord, then you are not faced with a choice. You have no choice at all. The so called freedom supplied to you here on earth is not only meaningless and irrelevant, it most often presents itself as a competitor to Christ and His freedom. This is an eternal paradox since we are free in Jesus Christ and yet we are bondslaves as well. And although the world can never understand it, but we find our freedom in being His servants. And in that we are free indeed. When you live under His Lordship most decisions have already been made. You need not weigh any financial or political considerations. Jesus is Lord and what He says is what is truth for you. And that is pure freedom.

But the church has strayed so far from Christ that it now carefully embraces, defends, and even loves the freedom provided by a secular government. And in so doing we reject the freedom afforded us in Christ. You can only serve one master. And when we attempt to have one leg in the world and one in the Spirit we in realty only have a leg in the world. God will not share His glory with another, and He will not be in competition with anything. It is not wrong to make use of an earthly freedom, but it is sinful to defend it and complain when it disappears. Let us examine this phenomenon.

I guess the most recent revelation is the controversy concerning the 2^nd Amendment. This is a freedom or a right granted by the Constitution of the United States, however it does not come from Scripture. And even though you as a believer may legally own a gun, and depending on your view of New Testament truth it may not be wrong, when a controversy arises we must never be drawn into such things. And if that earthly freedom is taken away, we should rejoice in Christ and not lament our circumstance. These earthly conflicts do not belong to us. We are completely free in Jesus Christ and all these earthly freedoms should never be our source for joy or protection or anything.

But at the core of the gun issue or all the Constitutional amendment issues at large looms the double minded sin which in reality places the freedom found in Jesus Christ in competition with the freedom found in manmade documents. And this is no minor distinction. This is a grave issue which has the capacity to deeply compromise the spiritual lives of individual believers as well as set the church on a course of spiritual shipwreck. And we have seen the evangelical church in America sell its spiritual birthright for a mess of pottage called nationalism. And issues like free speech and gun ownership and voting rights and a variety of other political issues have been like an undertow as it sucked the church into demanding and defending rights as if we are not completely and absolutely free in Jesus Christ. If we cannot be humble and content and even filled with joy based solely on our freedom in Christ then we as professing believers still do not know what freedom in Christ actually is.

Freedom in Jesus Christ transcends space and time. It is not just reserved for one day in heaven. His freedom begins when a soul is born again, and then through spiritual growth that saint begins to walk in that freedom through knowledge and experience. And we who walk in such freedom gladly release our rights and freedoms here on earth. That release is not an elective; that is a necessity if we actually desire to walk in His freedom. It is painful to watch as believers clamor for earthly freedoms, even to the extent of demanding they be allowed to own guns and even assault weapons!? And at the very heart of that is an ignorance of the freedom found in Christ.

But many of us who cannot believe what we see were once a part of it on some level. So I hold out some hope that many will be awakened to their sin. But the longer one refuses to take a serious look at their views the more entrenched they become. Years ago when some of us were led out by God’s grace and God's Spirit, there were not as many voices as there are today. And let us also rejoice in the fact that there are many believers who are throwing off the weighted grave clothes of politics, nationalism, and even violence.

The western culture will continue to grow worse in its love of itself and the church will continue to buy into much of it. But we, as followers of Jesus Christ, must hold fast to our profession. We are not of this world, and any attempt to brighten its future or sanitize its present is not only futile, but it is at odds with the gospel. Will we ever return to an eternal perspective through which we see everything? When will Jesus become the Chief Cornerstone of everything we say, think, and do?

The devil is very slippery. He doesn’t use exorcisms to fool the western believers. No, he isn’t limited to supporting moral evils. No, he has adjusted his game and now he uses that which seems right and thereby appeals to the self righteous flesh. It is most ingenuous as well as diabolical. He knows most evangelical believers will rush to be pro-life and support traditional marriage, so he deceives them to allow their support of such things to become their spiritual obsession at the expense of the gospel of redemption. And who can be against earthly freedom, especially the freedom of religion? So believers by the millions have been subtly lured into joining forces with unbelievers and defending earthly freedoms through political battles, legislative maneuvers, and outright armed conflict. And there again the gospel is all but gone and is at least obscured by the forest of the cares of this present world.

And so the love of earthly freedom is not just unwise, but for the believer it is a sin against God. When President Bush suggested that the United States had a divine mission to spread freedom around the world he was deceived. The calling for the church always has been and always will be spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and then teaching new believers God’s Word. And that commission is in effect for believers whether they live in a democracy, a communist country, a totalitarian country, or unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Amen.

Political Paradox

POLITICAL PARADOX

 

The political paradox is quite astonishing. The same people who castigate President Obama because he is pro-choice are the same people who applaud him for indiscriminate drone strikes. Ok, here is a question:

If you could know that an unborn baby would grow up to be a terrorist, would you be in favor of an abortion and cut out the middle years or would you have to wait?

 

(Hint: If you are a follower of Jesus you should be against killing across the board.)

Innocent Blood

INNOCENT BLOOD

Prov.6: ¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

We as believers are bound to oppose the killing of innocent people. Of course there is a discussion about all killing, but this post is not about that. Among other things, this is why we as believers are against abortion. We are against killing the innocent. And even though our calling must always be the gospel of redemption, sometimes our view of things within the culture helps to let people understand that we now see all things differently because of Jesus.

The United States does not speak or act on my behalf. I am a citizen of heaven and God’s Word speaks for me. But the United States is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with as it pertains to drones. A drone is an unmanned airplane which can do surveillance and then drop bombs. Now I would like to reveal something to you.

Drones have killed thousands of innocent lives because of “collateral damage”. That means that when the military believes a terrorist is living in a certain neighborhood they drop a bomb on the house they believe he is in. They hope to kill only him, but that rarely happens. Innocent people usually die including women and children sometimes.

What level of intelligence is the threshold for giving the go ahead for a drone strike? Is it fairly sure, very sure, almost positive, or perhaps? And if we are almost positive that a terrorist is in a certain house, and if we drop a drone bomb on that house, and if the terrorist is killed along with other innocent people, does that cause us such concern that we abandon the practice? Obviously we still are dropping drone bombs so the killing of innocent people has not been an obstacle that would stop us.

Now here is my question: If we received intelligence that a terrorist had been smuggled into the United States, and if we received positive information that he was hiding in a house in a neighborhood in Chicago, would it be alright to drop a drone bomb in that neighborhood? Why not? The answer is because we would be risking the lives of innocent American citizens. Now what does that tell you, class?

That openly reveals that Americans feel their lives are worth more than say Pakistani or Afghani lives, or if we are honest, any other lives that are not American. But the pertinent question for followers of Jesus is this: Is that the way and heart of Jesus? You see, even though no one can be saved except through faith in Jesus Christ, sometimes what we as His followers believe makes a difference. To the world it sometimes accentuates our differences and hopefully makes men curious as to why.

 

But obviously the problem is that we have too many who claim to follow Jesus but who in practice follow George Washington.

There is One Lord

THERE IS ONE LORD

 

Eph.4: ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

If a person said they believed in polka dotted dragons, would you call that a legitimate faith? Why not? It is because they believe in something that does not exist. And so it is with spiritual faith. There is only one God, and He is not defined by what men believe. He was and is and always will be just Who He is.

The prevailing spirit within the church and across the world at large is one that has millions turning away from Christ. Even those who have professed His name and preached His message are not only softening, but many are preaching and teaching a different message altogether. It is a tale of sadness and woe, especially considering what the Christ has done for us all. I mean spiritual treason is not only the most dastardly sin of all, but it is heartbreaking as well. And to hear ordained men stand and speak lies about our wonderful Lord grieves the Spirit and should grieve our hearts as well.

But even in the midst of our grief we must stand tall and humble and continually proclaim our love and loyalty for Christ publicly and privately to His face. There is only one faith and only one Lord. This has always been the bedrock of truth and regardless of how wicked men attempt to manipulate it and expand its exclusive parameters let them all be liars and let God alone be true. This end time reality in which we live is seeing demonic activity flourish. But do not fear, God has triumphed in spite of what our eyes and ears try and tell us. The glorious end to an inglorious history is culminating for all who believe. And on that day it will be clear that it is God’s victory He shares with us and not ours. And all we who have tasted of His redemption can testify of His power and grace and love will be made partakers of His eternal kingdom.

And at the very heart of this faith is Jesus and the mystery of His sufferings. Please do not attempt to modernize those wounds with metaphorical applications about earthly self images or even overcoming personal troubles. People of all stripes have glowing reports of personal triumphs in the face of adverse circumstances which they accomplished without Jesus. Oh but these sufferings are much greater and much deeper than those. This is the open spectacle of God Himself suffering for the sins of the world. Even that description is a profound mystery, for not only are we incapable of comprehending God’s sufferings, but we are completely incapable of knowing the full weight of our sin. In fact, we seem completely incapable of fully understanding the meaning of sin itself except for a few antiseptic doctrinal definitions.

But within the mystery of the Incarnation came the mystery of divine suffering. Oh my, how can human lips provide any understanding worth its profound truth? God Himself hangs on those Roman planks, bloody beyond recognition and tortured even before He arrived at Golgotha, and now He writhes in agony. Many men have tasted the agony of human torture and pain, but this event captures infinitely more than that. This man, this God, is feeling, experiencing, and enduring the pain and punishment for sin. That is a profound mystery in and of itself.

Men know what bodily pain feels like. But who can tell us what pain feels like when it comes as a substitute, a punishment for sin, and more specifically, for the sin of others. I mean what can that feel like? Surely in the midst of human sufferings in the flesh the Lamb experienced the agony of spiritual pain as well. And let us ask ourselves this question: Just how much pain would a sinner have to endure in an eternal hell separated from God? Of course it is inconceivable and past knowing. So what kind of pain would Christ have endured to take on our entire punishment, and all in six hours? You see, how can we even pretend to know such sacred sufferings?

But even though our minds know the doctrinal specifics of the cross, we must never allow our hearts to remain aloof from the spiritual and emotional effects that must change our entire beings. We have too much dry eyed Christianity which presents a doctrinal thesis rather than broken hearts as proof of our love for our Redeemer. And instead of being compelled to enter into the fellowship of those sufferings we seem to gloss over them in favor of all sorts of earthly endeavors and battles. How can we complain about our circumstances when we have seen His blood and heard His groans and felt His pain? How can we dare suggest we do not deserve any persecution or derision or mocking when we have been to His cross and seen what He endured for us? And when we have been bathed in the mystery of His redemptive blood that gushed from those lacerations, how can we consider ourselves anything more than His humble and undeserving servants?

All the gospel narratives and all the specific events and all the word pictures culminate in one Lord and one faith. And herein lies the insidious plan that seeks to complicate the truth and appeal to the intellect and philosophical creativity of man. Instead of a pure and simple and yet utterly profound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, man has constructed a new and more relevant faith which makes man the lord and Jesus his servant. In essence, God exists to aid in the happiness of man. But hidden from view by that lie is the eternal truth that man’s happiness can only truly be found in humble servanthood and worship of Jesus who is Lord. So instead of being served, we become servants, and in that can be found eternal happiness.

There is only one faith, and there is only one Lord. And in the Lord Jesus alone can be found eternal life and eternal happiness. And it is no coincidence that all who believe in Him will spend eternity with Him. Because even with all the heavenly accoutrements He alone is life. Heaven is no spiritual hotel which provides luxuries to all who come there. Heaven is His dwelling place and in His presence there is life everlasting. Yes, there is one Lord and everything centers around and through and in Him. Believe on Him and release the grave clothes of your own understanding and you will find a freedom which will never end.

There will come a day, and perhaps much sooner than anyone knows, when all creation will bow before Him and openly acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. And on that same day all who denied Him before will be cast away, while all who embraced Him will be ushered into an eternal reality about which the human mind has never dreamed.

The Power of Persuasion

THE POWER OF PERSUASION

 

I love it when a political party laments and says “We’ve got to find a way to reach out to many different demographics.”

Let me translate: “We have to manipulate our beliefs in a way that all the demographics actually believe we believe as they do”.

But, sadly, many churches behave in the same way. They downplay their beliefs and package their church in a way that appeals to a broad scope of people, regardless of what they believe. In so doing, they deny the power of the gospel in deference to the power of persuasion.

Open Blasphemy

OPEN BLASPHEMY

Can you be arrested? I use the word “arrested” not in the sense of being arrested, but can your being be arrested? Can you feel or sense the fear of God anymore when you see and hear what is taking place this very day around the world? I am going to provide you with two evidences of overt demonic activity, both from different genres, but both which have the same source. One may arrest your being while the other to which we have become insulated. One is disturbing while the other we can just disagree with over coffee. One seems incredulous while the other may not move us as much. One may shock you while the other may provide a forum for doctrinal disagreement.

But I identify the difference between the two examples I will provide only because I want us all to see how easy it is to feel a sense of doctrinal outrage without it having a life changing impact upon us. And the other will seem so far out and so demonic that we may be shocked. However both are demonic in nature and both should open our hearts to the Spirit’s voice in these last days. However both revelations of the demonic seem to have no observable affect upon the church even though many could provide ample exegetical evidence that Biblically refutes these demonic manifestations.

And using Scripture to confront error must always be our foundation, however it must not end there. But for this study let us proceed further.

I Tim.4: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Matt.24: ⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Remember these teachings as you watch this first video. Fast forward to 15:48 and watch for a few minutes HERE.

Now does that send chills up your spine? Do you think that is an isolated case? There are literally hundreds if not thousands of cults such as these fully operating around the world. Could you feel the demonic presence in that so called festival? Oh yes, we all can agree with something as blasphemous as that. Someone pretending to be Jesus Christ reincarnated is an easy target for our discernment antenna. You can feel the demonic in an event such as this. But can you sense the same level of demonic activity in this next video? Fast forward to 23:00 and listen for a few minutes HERE.

 

The man being interviewed is a pastor named Shane Hipps. He was hired by Rob Bell as an assistant and subsequently took over as pastor when Bell left. He is no longer the pastor at Mars Hill Church. But let us dissect his assertion that just because he is a Christian does not mean he is closer to Jesus than a Muslim. Do you know that the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not believe that Jesus was crucified, and that much of Islam teaches God presented someone else who looked like Jesus on the cross? Did you know that? Hipps I’m sure knows that.

So in an open interview Hipps maligns the crucifixion of Christ and counts it as nothing as it pertains to being close to Jesus. Can there be any greater blasphemy? All these pretenders are nothing more than religious philosophers. Men like Hipps and Bell have millions of followers, and Bell’s materials have made him wealthy. But to be sure, all who support them are partakers of their evil deeds. And their blasphemies are every bit as diabolical as the man who pretends to be Jesus. Both are presenting another Jesus.

Now who is more dangerous, the man pretending to be Jesus or the man pointing to a false Jesus? Yes, they are both blasphemers, however the man being interviewed is having much more influence and is embraced by much of the evangelical community. The man in Siberia is affecting a few thousand while Hipps is reaching millions. And unless you believe in predetermination the stakes here are for the souls of men.

Surely the end as prophesied by Jesus is upon us. And the evangelical community goes about its business with no more concern that they show for higher gas prices. The wolves have not snuck in; they have been invited in. And the video shares a discernment group's review of Hipp’s blasphemy, however they fail to ask this penetrating question, “How could this have happened?” Why is the church in America, yes our church, so benign and powerless that heresies like this can be spoken openly and publicly without even blushing?

This kind of theology is nothing more than a works salvation that doesn’t even need Jesus anymore. The Scriptures are now irrelevant. All religions lead to God now. And yet even with this kind of open blasphemy who will lose any sleep? Tens of millions of people will file out of church today smiling and shaking hands and heading for the football festivities. Look around, you may have seen the last breath of the evangelical church. Weep now if the tears will come.

Marinated Christianity

MARINATED CHRISTIANITY

A long, long time ago a baby was born on this earth. He grew up to be a man who was like all the rest of men. There seemed to be nothing special about this man. However, this man began to perform some local miracles. A handful of people were very interested in his miracles. But this man also taught things out of the Torah that were unlike anything the Rabbis and Pharisees had taught. I mean he used some of the same words, only he had some kind of attraction, or even authority.

His miracles began to expand in depth and geography, and word of his so called power began to spread throughout Judea. More people came to see and hear him. But something he said seemed to give a hint about his own nature. Since it was preposterous, most people would not believe he was suggesting what some were accusing him of. But soon he openly and unambiguously suggested, of all things, that the Father God, the Creator Himself, was him. And when confronted about this, he seemed to reinforce the perception that indeed he was saying that very thing.

Some people left him because now he seemed unbalanced and self centered and even a bit crazy. How could a man be God? And further this man said he would be killed and rise from the dead, which again was preposterous but if true would substantiate everything he had said. But even his closest friends could not believe such a thing. But then something very curious happened; something, that if placed in context, seemed to prophetically materialize his teachings. This man was crucified, everyone agreed with that. But after he was placed inside a tomb and was without question dead, he was seen alive by hundreds of people.

The word began to spread that this man had risen from the dead, and if that was true then what about all the things he had said and taught? Thousands believed that he was indeed God manifested in the flesh and that his death, which took place on Passover, was in fact the culmination of all the blood sacrifices. In essence, this man, Yeshua, had paid the sin offering not just for a year, but for all time. And people who would embrace and follow him would gain eternal life.

Well, those who actually believed such a thing had an incredible transformation of their lives. I mean, if you really believed all that then your life would dramatically change and become absolutely remarkable in a cookie cutter culture that retained a small and self serving veneer of religion. In fact, many of His followers became so fanatical about their message, and so loving and giving and humble and peaceful that they became enemies of the earthly governments where they lived. Their loyalty to Christ openly interfered with their loyalty to their earthly leaders, and that became a problem.

It wasn’t long until these government officials became paranoid about these people and had them arrested. Many were imprisoned and many were killed just because they followed Jesus. But instead of wiping them out it had the opposite effect. This group of Jesus followers began to grow, partly because their lives were so remarkable and partly because they endured persecution with such grace and an unwavering commitment to act like Jesus even while they were being killed. It was a miraculous phenomenon and a spiritual revolution began to sweep the known world.

Fast forward two millennium.

 

Marinate definition: To give or undergo lengthy exposure: to be exposed to something for a long time, or cause somebody or something to be thoroughly immersed in something

For two thousand years Christianity had marinated inside a cauldron of earthly culture and that process has eventually made this remarkable faith appear innocuous and unremarkable and even culturally assimilated. While the first community of faith seemed to humbly eschew the pleasures of the culture, this new breed seemed to embrace them. And while the earliest followers of Jesus remained humble even under the severest of persecutions, this modern day church fights fire with fire and complains loudly at the appearance of even what would seem to be a harmless secular slight against them. No longer would they pray and fast for their enemies and trust Jesus to take care of them. Now they would do verbal, legal, and political battle with those in darkness.

And something quite remarkable happened. Although their numbers were in the tens of millions now, they had no observable power. Even their gatherings which were once a spectacle of prayer, communion, and life changing events were now little more than a redundant religious event which seemed literally to be designed to begin and end within culturally accepted time parameters. Even the Lord’s Supper was only observed infrequently and when it was it seemed like a well crafted event that would not significantly alter the set schedule. This new and modern gathering appeared nothing like the gatherings of Jesus followers at the beginning.

Again, after centuries of marinating the church had come to taste like its surroundings and not like the Lord Jesus. And this taste was alluring to many who saw an opportunity to be religious, gain a promise of eternal life, but still sacrifice nothing. In fact, this evangelical expression of the faith would benefit them in many ways. The local church had great ways to help their children, many conduits through which they could find friends, wonderful and moving music, and even a place where their sons and daughters could eventually get married. And with all these earthly accoutrements, who could resist?

And so the marinating process was complete. But a few believers began to feel uneasy about something. And these believers began to question some things, especially since many things seemed to go against Scripture, and the overall practice of the faith seemed completely unlike what the early believers lived. Now these questioning believers were not the most intelligent, nor the most discerning, or even the most spiritual among the rest. But something very clear and very real was happening within their hearts. They had begun to see the church as being transformed, not by the Spirit of Christ, but by the power of the culture. And those that saw these things were devastated, sad, and very confused.

But even in the midst of emotional and spiritual uncertainty and even pain, they still could not deny what the Spirit was saying and doing within them. In fact, they themselves were in the midst of great personal repentance even while seeking diligently the leading of the Spirit. “How can other people not see this?”, they thought and sometimes asked. They would come to realize that only the Spirit can enlighten a person’s heart and mind. And they would also come to realize what a demonic battle they would fight as it pertained to being self righteous or a feeling of superiority.

Layers of culture that had marinated within the faith would have to be washed off through prayer and God’s Word. And just when they washed one layer off, the Spirit would reveal another. And many layers were personal and literally had nothing to do with the church. Yes, it was a real and authentic spiritual journey. And it was not very long into this journey that these believers discovered that the journey would not end here on earth, and that few would take their journey. Again, they battled judgment and frustration and even their own frequent stumblings.

Marinate definition: To give or undergo lengthy exposure: to be exposed to something for a long time, or cause somebody or something to be thoroughly immersed in something

But as one of those questioning believers, I have found one immutable Rock about this journey with which everyone who is on the same journey, regardless of how long or how deep, should identify. If we wish to continue on this journey and press on through all the disappointment, the ups and downs, the continuing slide of the church, and our own failings, we must…we must keep our eyes upon Jesus. Unless we do that with great humility, love, and sacrifice, the marinating process will begin again within our own hearts.

Life and Death or Lawsuits and Telethons

LIFE AND DEATH

or

LAWSUITS AND TELETHONS

There is a book floating around called “The Harbinger”. It is written by a man named Jonathan Cahn who calls himself a rabbi. It really is a logical continuance of nationalism and the rampant idolatry living within the American church. In short, Cahn takes a verse or two from the Old Testament and pieces together a story, which he claims is true, that says God was warning us (“us” being America) on 9/11 and that we failed the test and self righteously rebuilt another structure on the site instead of repenting and turning to God. You can read about it HERE.

So now this book is selling like hot cakes and many of the television evangelists are flocking to have Cahn on because, you guessed it, it peaks interest and more importantly elicits donations. It’s all too predictable, as if we have not seen this scenario before just with a different arresting topic du jour. I mean these men and women on television are always searching for another golden goose in order to increase viewership and offerings. And when you include America and when the author calls himself a rabbi and has a beard, well then you have an eye popping exposé.

This, again, is nationalism all dressed up as sensational prophecy. The elevation of America as the apple of God’s eye continues to be a blatant lie which is centered in self righteousness and takes “American exceptionalism” to a new and blasphemous level. But many have written about their objections to this book as evidenced by my link. There are literally hundreds of men and women who have taken the time to carefully dissect this book and its faulty premise. Ok, nothing new here.

But wait! How can you tell when something has become the proverbial golden goose? How can you tell when the money is flowing in? Well carnal people will do whatever it takes to protect it. And in the lineage of the giant chasing Jack as he absconded with that golden goose, the people behind the book have threatened lawsuits. You can read about it HERE.

THIS is a site which I visit and found this information.

The world must rightfully scoff at any of our Biblical convictions since we so easily discard those when necessary. Humility is worthless when there is money at stake. The same people, like Cahn, who are delirious over the Constitution refuse to allow others to use the 1^st Amendment? Such hypocrisy and greed. If these men saw an uptick in sales because of articles that confronted their premise they would beg the discernment sites to write more. In the end it’s all about money and influence and money and sensationalism and money, money, and more money.

And now I once more ask this rhetorical question: Does anyone even believe the Bible anymore? It has become a destructive circus which is more applicable for a late night talk show monologue than a powerful expression of Jesus Christ. Lawsuits? It’s a shame that the martyrs did not have some legal recourse. Let this be a warning to us all. There may come a time, and in many places already exists, when people like us are ostracized by the organized church. And as the organized church becomes more and more compromised, and as it befriends the world, we may be persecuted for our faith by friend and foe alike.

But let us stay humble and with our eyes firmly fixed upon the Lord Jesus. Whether it be in our own house or the church house or even the jail house, let us never allow our lips to grow silent in our praise of Him and our sharing of His truth. John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, was required to take a state license before he could preach publicly. He refused because his allegiance was to Christ who called him and not the state, and he was summarily sent to prison. His wife and daughter sometimes almost starved and were forced into selling things in the street.

When state officials saw such a pitiful sight they went to Bunyan and told him how his family was suffering so terribly. Once again they told him that if he would only take a license he would be released and could help his family and preach as well. You might think that it was such a little thing to take a license, but in those days your spiritual integrity meant something.

Bunyan looked through the bars and said to the officials, “If I ever thrust my hand through these bars to reach for that license, please cut off my arm”.

Yes, in those days the commitment to Christ was life and death, not lawsuits and telethons.