Those who reduce their “faith” to what they subjectively perceive God is telling them, filtered through their own sensibilities …
Often reject external Biblical morality, precepts and commands which stand independently true in Scripture.
God can speak however He choices.
But for them, it all comes down to what they individually feel and like …
As they elevate their own perceptions as the final standard over God’s own, objective revelations in Scripture.
The naïve theological relativism and narcissism we see among too many “Christians” lately …
Is rooted in past postmodern, “existential” philosophies of either individualistic or “group-think” autonomy.
Is it any wonder, then, that we see an emphasis on new “doctrines” which try to:
Nonetheless, God is calling forth His own:
Those who truly want to know Him on His terms …
As they worship Him once again in spirit and IN TRUTH with lives of reverent obedience.
Anything less is fraudulent “faith.”
For believers:
Confession, forgiveness and repentance are NOT about keeping our justification …
But finding wholeness.
Just because God is transcendent …
Doesn’t mean our perceptions of Him transcend Scripture.
After all, God is also immanent …
As is His written Word.
Contrast the vulgarity of the recent so-called “Woman’s March” …
With the dignity of yesterday’s March for Life.
One degraded women and the entire human race …
The other elevated women and everyone else.
I choose life because I choose dignity …
For all.
The charm of a charmer …
Leads many astray.
Be careful who you quote, promote, support or “like” online …
Or anywhere else.
Sure, they may say, write or do things designed to make you feel good so they look good.
But that doesn’t mean that they or their agendas are good for you …
Or anyone else.
When leftist elites redefine “love” as vulgarity and virtue as “hate” …
What we saw at the so-called “Women’s March” in Washington last week is the result.
Don’t get upset at the March’s resulting, open display of depravity by regressive “progressives” …
But rejoice that their utter contempt for decency and virtue – which they previously hid in the shadows while working to undermine our culture – is now on full display for all to see.
The more they expose their true ideology of oppression against all that is right and decent …
The more men and women of good faith will be stirred to action against their underlying obscenities.
Make no mistake:
True “rights” are based on virtue …
And lift everyone.
Anything less is a lie.
Rejoice that their lies increasingly are becoming evident for all the world to see …
While resolving to stand firm once again for true rights based on doing right …
For all.
The ultimate temptation exploits your greatest strength …
Not your greatest weakness.
Words have power.
Daily, I see the bondage they bring when misused …
And the liberating freedom they create when of God.
Is it any wonder, then, why “Christians” who reject God’s plenary authority of Scripture as His revealed, written Word …
Inevitably remain stuck in an existential quagmire of self and doubt?
Christian mysticism says we die to self to lose ourself in a mystery beyond us.
Biblical discipleship says we die to self to find ourself as God authentically defines us.
Big difference.
Only when we get to the end of ourselves, can we find ourselves …
As God intended.
Governments that can afford to subsidize the bad consequences of our irresponsible choices …
Can’t afford to let us enjoy the good consequences of our responsible choices.
Sola fide?
Yes, of course …
We are saved and live by faith alone.
The problem, however, is we no longer seem to affirm full faith …
As actually taught and understood in Scripture.
Continue readingThe old legalism said we must always “act good” …
While the new legalism says everyone else must now make us “feel good.”
Seriously, these things run in cycles …
As adherents of each diss anyone and anything that doesn’t feed their own insecurities.
Unfortunately, those who buy into each extreme – while still in it – seldom see how artificial and shallow it tends to be.
Which is why Jesus and His Word are about plumblines …
Not pendulums.
You can either have self rule based on Godly truth and virtue …
Or be ruled by oppressive “progressives.”
But you can’t have both.
Choose wisely.
Christ’s finished work on the Cross …
Doesn’t mean that His work on the Cross is finished in us.
Staged “church” …
Is very scripted, professional and alluring.
But …
Is it New Testament?
“Christian Nationalists” and “Progressive Christians” are just different sides of the same coin.
That’s because they’re both utopian ideologies – even though at odds with each other – which claim perfectibility in the here and now.
Inevitably, this leads to tyranny as they are reduced to seeking unlimited government power to impose their unrealistic goals on everyone else …
Under the rationale that it’s for our own greater “good.”
Ultimately, they can’t allow opposing views to get in the way of creating their perfect societies where everyone thinks, believes and acts like them …
Through coercion if necessary.
In contrast, civil liberty this side of Heaven is only possible if we acknowledge our frailties and imperfectibility …
And give government only enough power to protect us from evildoers – rather than the unlimited power needed to turn us into somebody else’s notion of “do gooders.”
Only then can we be free to pursue true virtue as God directs and intends …
Rather than live under the false virtue of utopian tyranny.
Don’t fall prey to either form of unbiblical extremism …
Because God’s into plumblines, not swings of the pendulum.
To preserve civil liberty in a diverse culture, Christians need a clear concept of what that means.
The First Principle of Liberty is the right to live virtuous lives, and enjoy the benefits, without undue government interference.
The Second Principle of Liberty is the right to live otherwise, and suffer the consequences, again without undue government interference …
So long as it does not violate the right of others to pursue the First Principle.
Even God, with His covenantal blessings and curses in the Old Testament, affirmed these principles.
As the New Testament also affirms, the basic role of Government is to forcibly protect the virtuous against evildoers (Rom. 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-15) …
Rather than forcibly compel us to be virtuous.
Both repressive “Progressive Christians” and repressive “Christian Nationalists” would do well to heed these distinctions …
For the good of all.
Repressive “progressives” cry “acceptance”, “tolerance” and “understanding” for all …
Except those with whom they disagree.
It’s not just that they are hypocrites …
But when they gain power, they use it to oppose virtue and oppress liberty.
Freedom demands that we not ignore either their hypocrisy …
Or their agenda of tyranny.
Without truth, there is no grace …
Because without truth, grace is meaningless.
If your faith never offends, it’s not faith …
But some pseudo-spiritualized comfort zone.
Take away “the Senior Pastor,” his stage, his pews, his “worship” team and his building …
And what’s left?
Perhaps, God willing …
The beginning of “church” as actually taught and shown in the New Testament.
I’ve seen – up close and personal – the devastating reality of the nanny state …
As I’ve gone to minister God’s grace, redemption and discipleship in the woods, in the ‘hood, in the jails, and in other communities of despair where others fear to tread.
It taught me an important lesson.
Being an adult means being responsible for the consequences of our own decisions …
For good or for bad.
Long term, government policies and programs which ignore this principle are doomed to fail …
At great cost to everyone.
Those costs include the rise of burgeoning bureaucracies and the loss of Godly dignity for those being “helped.”
They also include bureaucratic “solutions” that usurp healthy families and local communities …
Thus destroying the relational context needed to actually help the truly needy among us.
Maybe that’s why God doesn’t countenance the idea of a nanny state – by example or precept – anywhere in Scripture.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Plumbline Faith 