God’s forgiveness is like a unilateral pardon.
Even though we are guilty, He does not hold it against us.
Being reconciled to God, however, is an entirely different matter.
It only happens when we respond with repentance.
You’ll never find viable “organic” or “simple” church among its post-modern hucksters, spinning their existential failures to gullible groupies.
But you sure gotta give them credit for something, because they do know how to tickle those itchy ears …
If it’s not real …
I’m not interested.
The Gospel works for none of us …
Unless it works for the worst of us.
But it’s only through Godly repentance …
That it works for any of us.
When people are used to build up a ministry, rather than the ministry being used to build up people …
It’s no longer ministry.
People with true gravitas make hard things seem easy because they’ve spent years quietly learning how …
By actually doing them.
Trendy “influencers” with media platforms …
Not so much so.
How can some say they believe in the authority of Scripture …
When they keep reading post-Biblical meanings, presumptions and traditions back into its original words and contexts?
I’m more interested in going and sharing Christ as He uniquely brings life and builds “His church” among you and your friends …
Than always expecting you to come and find Him in “my church” among me and my friends.
Such is the heart of the Great Commission.
Wolves twist the saying “all Scripture points to Christ” …
To subjugate all Scripture to their concept of Christ,
Rather than subjugating their concept of Christ to all Scripture.
If history proves anything, it’s that God’s people change history when they refuse to go along to get along …
And God’s not yet done with history.
Because He loves us, Jesus affirms in Romans 13 – and elsewhere – the State’s obligation to stop evildoers and protect innocent lives …
Through the judicious use, if needed, of deadly force.
Some deny this by elevating their own sensibilities above Christ and His Word …
While reducing love to distorted sentimentalities.
I have yet to see Christ entrust authentic spiritual power …
To those who dismiss His plenary authority of Scripture.
You can’t know the power of His Name …
If you reject the power of His Word.
Choosing the lesser of two evils, at a certain point, is more about rationalizing what is wrong …
Than making an imperfect choice for the greater good.
Tolerance without discernment …
Is like the blind leading the lost.
When corporations use their growing power over speech, commerce and social interactions to oppose virtue …
They become as much a threat to faith and freedom as any totalitarian government.
There is a place where gratitude and sorrow merge …
And we touch the heart of God.
Expediency destroys our witness …
When we no longer speak truth to power.
For-profit non-prophets peddle their wares to naïve Christians …
Because there’s always a market for playing on fears and tickling ears.
Making Jesus all about that one thing,
Which happens to be your thing,
Denies His Lordship over all things,
Including the many other things,
He does through others.
The older I get …
The more I realize how much the Kingdom of God depends on hospitality.
Good values and good choices don’t always produce good results …
But they sure do prevent a lot of bad ones.
The Great Commission isn’t about coming in for prepared messages …
But going forth as prepared people.
When we replace prudence with expediency …
We lose our moral witness.
Feed your faith carefully, because only fools consume fruit …
They haven’t first inspected.
Real love doesn’t just affirm what is good and right, but also opposes what enslaves and destroys.
Those ministering authentic grace to folks who are lost and know it …
Understand this.
Those peddling an abstract faith that’s never put into practice …
Don’t.
Plumbline Faith 