Plumbline Faith

Simple Faith, Simple Truth, Simple Virtue

Simple Faith — May 31, 2017
Simple Truth — May 30, 2017
Simple Truth — May 28, 2017
Simple Love — May 26, 2017
Simple Truth — May 24, 2017
Simple Virtue — May 23, 2017
Simple Truth — May 22, 2017
Simple Virtue — May 20, 2017

Simple Virtue

Seldom will evil fess up to its own culpability …

Which is why it is unrealistic to expect closure from an evildoer on an injustice they caused.

Instead, find closure by fully expressing to the Lord the hurts and wrongs your heart still carries …

Then forgive by releasing your need for justice to Him.

Not to excuse the evil or those who did it …

But to acknowledge the wrong, find freedom and move on.

BEING FAITHFUL — May 19, 2017
LEAVING OUR BAGGAGE BEHIND — May 14, 2017
FALSE RELIGION — May 11, 2017
UTOPIAN TYRANNY — May 10, 2017

UTOPIAN TYRANNY

Every utopian ideology and agenda starts with lofty ideals that ignore human nature and God’s sovereignty.

When its zealots inevitability fail to create their perfect society and transform human nature, however, frustration sets in and they begin to rationalize coercive means to achieve their goals …

Which is why they always end up, if left unchecked, creating tyranny instead.

GOD’S FIERCENESS — May 9, 2017

GOD’S FIERCENESS

In Western cultures, Christianity has lost sight of God’s fierceness  …

Instead wanting only His comfort and affirmation.

When we define God’s attributes by our own sensibilities, however …

We lose the ability to be effective salt and light not just to individuals, but to whole societies and nations.

May we repent, before it’s too late.

MERCY — May 3, 2017
INCONSEQUENTIAL — May 2, 2017
WHOSE KINGDOM? — May 1, 2017

WHOSE KINGDOM?

God distributes different gifts and abilities among us to advance His Kingdom …

By calling us to serve and prefer one another above ourselves as a waiting world watches.

Today, however, many use those gifts and abilities to advance their own kingdoms …

By creating positions, titles, and hierarchies over one another as a disgusted world watches.

FADS AND ETERNITY — April 28, 2017

FADS AND ETERNITY

I tire of all the fads constantly being peddled to Christians in some new book, ministry, podcast or program.

Instead, just go and do what Jesus commands, as He’s called you to do it.

When you do, it certainly will look different than the latest hot new distractions making the rounds on social media.

So don’t be diverted by “Radical,” “Christocentric,” “Deconstruction,” “Eternal Purpose,” “Insurgence,” or whatever.

Because once someone brands God and His purposes with some new label and convinces everyone to hop on board …

It’s likely so saddled with egos and extraneous agendas that it’s already way off track.

Instead, learn to discern what’s good and eternal and leave the rest behind, because God’s into plumblines …

Not pendulums.

CHRIST IS ALL? — April 25, 2017

CHRIST IS ALL?

Existentialism is a philosophy which claims that our own perceptions are the ultimate criteria for determining what is true, real and right.

As such, it rejects external, transcendent standards of truth, reality and morality in lieu of individual subjectivity.

Thus, for example, so-called existential “Christians” dismiss God’s plenary authority of Scripture as His authentic, external written Word.

For them, how they feel or react when reading Scripture is higher revelation – and ultimately more authoritative – than Scripture itself.

But they are crafty folk.

They call their subjective perceptions a revelation of “Christ,” or otherwise try to recreate Him in their own image, then proclaim that “Christ is All.”

In reality, their “Christ” is simply all about them.

For them, when you cut through the rhetoric, Christ and His written Word are at odds and stand divided.

As such, their muddled philosophy dares to judge God and filter Scripture through their own individualistic sensibilities …

Which leaves them stuck with themselves.

They are, in a word, fools …

Peddling deception to other fools who pay them heed.

THE PROBLEM OF SIN — April 24, 2017
LOVING WARNING — April 23, 2017
EXPOSING CORRUPTION — April 21, 2017

EXPOSING CORRUPTION

I am aware of NO instance where Scripture condones cover ups …

When those claiming to be leaders of God’s people use their positions to do wrong and harm others.

In fact, the Biblical approach – both Old and New Testament – is quite the opposite.

Furthermore, truly repentant leaders will not try to hide their leadership sins, but openly confess and publicly repent.

Absent that …

They remain a danger to all.

Which is why 1 Timothy 5:19-21 specifically commands us to investigate and publicly expose church leaders who abuse their position …

As a warning to all.

NEO-ORTHODOX RUBBISH — April 19, 2017

NEO-ORTHODOX RUBBISH

God’s authoritative Word is not some fleeting inspiration you feel when reading the Bible …

But the Bible itself, as originally given by God Himself as His external standard for what is true, real and right.

It takes great hubris to claim otherwise …

By those who elevate their own subjective perceptions over the eternal, God breathed words of Scripture.

FALSE PROPHETS — April 18, 2017
HEART DECEPTIONS — April 17, 2017

HEART DECEPTIONS

The great lie of our times is that we should follow our heart.

All it has produced, among God’s people, are carnal Christians.

God never said that what we feel is the standard for what is true, real and right.

In fact, God says that the heart is deceitful, foolish and exceedingly wicked …

But His Word endures forever.

Which is why God seeks to redeem our heart …

But never puts it on par with Scripture as our standard for life, doctrine and maturity.

GRACE AND EGO — April 16, 2017