Christians in democratic societies have a choice.
We can either insist that elected officials adopt Godly precepts to earn our favor …
Or we can alter our values to earn their favor.
In the long run, the former usually turns out much better.
Category: Simple Truth
Occasionally I come across those who claim – either explicitly or implicitly – that personal “revelation” can equal to even exceed the authority of Scripture.
But does this hold up?
2 Tim 3:16-17 says that all Scripture comes from God Himself and is the standard for correction and reproof – even as against other revelation we think we have received – regarding doctrine, faith and life itself.
Jesus told a story which reinforces this point. In it, a poor servant named Lazarus died and went to Abraham’s bosom, while a rich man died and went to Hell.
The rich man pleads that Lazarus be sent to give a miraculous, personal revelation to his still living brothers to warn them of Hell so they will stop being wicked.
Abraham’s response is very telling: “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets [i.e., the Old Testament], neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:31.
Is it any different today?
Why do some insist on personal revelation where God has already clearly spoken in His written Word of Scripture?
Isn’t it arrogant to expect more from God, while discounting His plenary authority of Scripture?
In fact, aren’t they just like the rich man in Jesus’ parable?
God can do what He wants and speak how He wants …
But in this parable Jesus warns us not to normally expect “revelations” from Him where we have not been willing to submit to His existing, authoritative revelation of Scripture.
It sure seems to me that Jesus, in this story, also establishes the clear hierarchy of His written Word over all other revelation …
While certainly not discounting the fact that God can and does speak many ways.
But in all cases, God stands resolute against any “revelation” contrary to His external Word of Scripture.
Truth in isolation …
Is almost always a lie.
Why is it that white, middle class Americans (like me) …
Persist in acting as though God, His values and His plans for everyone else are white, middle class American?
No matter what your culture …
I have it on good authority that He transcends our own myopic perspectives.
Existential “Christians” use the currently faddish dislike of the word “religion” to peddle a big lie wrapped in half truth …
By claiming that Jesus is all about a “relationship” and not religion.
While it’s true that Jesus wants a relationship with us …
He wants that relationship to include all He has authoritatively revealed in His external Word of Scripture about Himself, us, His creation and so much more.
This includes His propositional truths, moral precepts and objective reality as they apply not just to us …
But also government, church, family, history, culture, economics, and everything else.
Otherwise, for such existential “Christians,” Jesus is all about them rather than Lord and creator of all …
As they seek to define Him on their own terms based on their own perceptions, sensibilities and agendas.
Don’t fall prey to a false Jesus of their own creation.
Instead, find liberty, freedom and authority on His terms, not theirs …
By surrendering all of you to all of Him, as Lord of all who’s over all.
When we capitulate to evil in the name of “peace,” we become the evil.
When we suppress truth in the name of “love,” we become the lie.
When we excuse abuse in the name of “unity,” we become the abuser.
Discernment never confuses:
Charisma for Godly;
Position for credible;
Expedient for eternal; or
Persuasive for truth.
Why is it that those who consistently fail at establishing any real vocation, fail at being part of a functional local church, and fail overall at life in general …
Seem most inclined these days to promote themselves as “apostles,” apostolic “workers” or some such nonsense …
Where they only succeed at reproducing their failures in others?
God heard the cries of His people …
And humbled the proud and haughty.
Now the real work begins.
Let’s be worthy of His mercy.
When your ministry becomes your source of validation …
It truly is “your” ministry.
When faith is reduced to little more than personal piety, then of course our politics are reduced to personal angst …
Because both are all about us rather than the Sovereign Lord of all.
No matter what happens at the polls, it’s not too late:
Learn His ways;
Repent of making it all about our own wants, needs and fears; and
Pledge to never again be embarrassed by candidates who so mockingly reflect our own poverty of spirit.
It’s easy to be naïve …
When others bear the price.
A government that wants the power to solve all of our problems …
Soon becomes the problem.
Idolatry takes many forms …
As does its bondage.
May God’s people have the wisdom to resist both.
Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
True liberty is the freedom to pursue virtue …
Not autonomy to pursue vice.
I think I need to be sent to millennial sensitivity school.
Back in 2016, I was having lunch at a fast food joint with two bros who often ministered with me in the local jail.
We were minding our own business at our own table, talking privately between ourselves about the upcoming elections and the Second Amendment, when a thirty-something dude walked up and told us to stop talking because it was “hurting his feelings.”
Continue readingIf you’re confused about why it takes victims of sex abuse in the church so long – if ever – to build up the courage to speak up …
Look no further than your own reaction when it involves abuse by someone you support, like or know.
Planned Parenthood received birthday congratulations from President Obama and Hillary Clinton today, which is ironic …
Given the millions of babies who will never have a birthday because they were killed by Planned Parenthood.
Those who claim the Bible is God’s authoritative written Word only in spots,
And by implication that they have the authority to spot the spots,
Are not teaching some new revelation but the same old deception …
Which starts by asking,
“Did God really say?”
I get so tired of the lie, repeated whenever someone wants to avoid the hard work of living by their convictions – or even having convictions – that we must not judge.
Where does Scripture make a blanket prohibition on judging?
Continue readingMoral compromise rarely seeks to deliberately advance evil …
But to preserve our own comfort zones instead.
Which, from evil’s standpoint, is perfectly fine also.
Disgusted with the choice of Trump verses Clinton?
The answer is not to wash our hands of “politics” by retreating into a theology of Gnostic dualism – which isolates our spiritual life from the “real” world and all its shortcomings. Jesus never taught that, but proclaimed full authority over both heaven and earth – while sending us out into all the world.
God’s people need to be careful about wide swings between hope and disillusionment. Wisdom seeks to find, instead, the Biblical precepts which stand firm and will remain true even after the present unpleasantries fade into the past.
Let’s be engaged in a world Christ yet loves, but with a renewed discernment that’s been lacking in God’s people.
The problem is not so much Clinton or Trump as much as our lack of engagement and discernment – in disregard of God’s call to be His salt and light in all spheres of life.
This election, more than most, we are paying the price for our own failures.
Let’s learn the right lessons, vote for whom our conscience allows (while understanding there are more issues and offices up for grabs this election than just the White House), and resolve to never let this happen due to inaction and poor judgement again.
The solution to problems caused by our past disengagement from the civic life of our nation, and from lack of discernment, is not more moral relativism and retreat.
That’s entirely the wrong lesson to learn from the current mess we’re in.
Let’s take our lumps, vote as best we can, learn from our mistakes and resolve to never again be reduced to such poor choices.
How do cultish groups, “churches” and movements attract people?
It’s simple:
Feed the need for validation …
Through a false Jesus who reinforces our own hopes and fears.
