Separate Yourself

Today, as I sat in church, the gravity of our place in history hit me right between the eyes.

Never before has the United States of America faced such a dim and horrible choice as what sits before us in this election season. That is why I'm here to offer a word of hope. Before you deride me, know this; I believe Christians should be involved in government and should actively seek office at all levels of government.

This is where my message of hope comes in. As it currently stands, there are no candidates for president worthy of a Bible believing Christian's vote. I believe a vote is an endorsement of what a candidate brings to the table. We are left with wicked and vile candidates. Christians should choose None of the Above. Instead, Christians must start living everyday for Jesus, just like it might be our last day on earth and what we did that day would have a lasting effect on who made it to heaven, because it just might.

Be understanding to the person waiting on you in the store or at a restaurant. They might just need someone to offer a word of encouragement. Be patient with those around you. Offer a helping hand. Pray unceasingly.

In the way of activism, I believe we must never stop speaking publicly to the truths put forward in the Bible. When worldly and godless people deride you, step up your speaking, don't back down. When civil government threatens to push back the teachings of the word of God, be prepared to offer up a message of love(not squishy, emotional love, but love of truth in Jesus). Don't be afraid of what may be said about you. Be consistent in your message. Don't be worried that you may offend someone. That person who takes offense to your words is likely the person who needs to hear the message the most.

Too many times, as Christians, we've decided that being kind is being what ever the world wants us to be so as to not offend anyone. We must stop this way of thinking. Being kind involves being firm in our reliance on God's plan even when it runs contrary to what the prevailing culture says is the way to go.

What I'm trying to get across is our need to take the message of Jesus to the world while living in a way that isn't of the world. We must be separated from the culture of vileness and wickedness. We must be willing to walk the narrow path even when we are told we aren't cool or hip. Just because some people have decided to replace God with anger, pride or envy, we must resist the temptation to do so. Be firm in your reliance on God.

Finally, pray for our nation.

Evil in the World

It is quite clear that we are living in a time where evil is becoming more personal. No longer are our battles fought across an ocean or around the world. Our battles are now being fought at home.

An American citizen of Southwest Asian descent with ties to ISIS, killed 49 people in the early morning hours today. The FBI knew of this terrorist from previous intelligence obtained through standard anti terrorism means. Political correctness killed a most politically correct group of people.

Today, a clash of progressive leftist causes occurred. The progressives have been radical Islamic apologists, all while promoting homosexuality. The two ideologies are as different as oil and water. In many theocratic Islamic states, like Iran, members of the LGBT community are regularly killed for being a part of a homosexual relationship. At the same time, progressives seek to absolve Islam of its global roll in perpetuating violence against non Muslims.

If the tolerance police seek to shut down Christians, who happen to disagree with this homosexual lifestyle, all while making excuses for Islamists engaging in terrorism, they have effectively pitted love against hate and they are on the side of hate.

True Bible believing Christians do not hate people who engage in sinful lifestyles because we are all sinners, but we do recognize that unrepentant sin separates us from God. We wish no one to be condemned for their sin, but we seek to bring them to Jesus Christ and a life of salvation through grace by faith in a resurrected Lord.

On the contrary, when a Muslim says that he disagrees with homosexuality and he believes the Koran, he then thinks that it's OK to kill homosexuals for doing what they are doing. The contrast couldn't be more stark. A Christian wants to bring the person separated from God to the knowledge of Jesus so they can live a life of victory in the Lord. An Islamist seeks to kill what displeases Allah. We hate sin but are called to love the sinner. Muslims hate the sinner and seek to kill the sinner for non obedience to Koranic law.

While I don't agree with the lifestyles of the people killed in Orlando, I choose to pray for their families. I also pray for the victims still in the hospital. There is no reason that any man or woman can't choose to turn away from sin. Any one of the people engaged in the lifestyle can call upon God to save them through faith in Jesus, repent and live a chaste life.

Islam, on the other hand, is a cult. I'm done playing around with this radical ideology. Islam is a political and social construct to keep people in a daze. If you follow the tenants of Islam, you are agreeing with the cult and all of its evil. I recognize there are nonviolent Muslims. If they truly thought they were the correct portion of their faith, there would have been a reformation event where they break away from the centuries old ideologies like stoning women, cutting off hands and throwing homosexuals off of buildings. That hasn't happened. The problem is Islam.

I recognize there are other evils in the world but there are over 1.5 billion Muslims. This issue must be dealt with. It is clear that war only changes things for a temporary amount of time. This isn't to discount the fact that groups like ISIS need to be dealt with justly in the near term but we must find a long term solution. I truly believe that a relationship with Jesus is the only thing that will solve the evil and hate in much of the Muslim world. True Bible believing Christians know that sin is wrong but we also know that love is the only way sin is conquered. I'm not speaking of the "feeling" kind of love. I'm referring to the love of Christ. Christian love is conscious decision to love some one and sacrifice for that person. Jesus sacrificed for all of us. He was the ultimate sacrifice. We need to tell people about Him. There is no substitute for the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Let This Week Be A Reminder

This week is Holy Week. This is the most important week in the calendar of the Christian Church. While Easter is the goal and the triumph, I think we can all learn something from the events that lead up to it. We all are like Judas from time to time. We deny Jesus. I am guilty of this as much or more than the average Christian. No matter how much each one of us tries, we will never live up to Him. I need His grace and the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday serve to remind us all that we all need Him. He has Risen. Thanks be to God.

From one sinner to another, in Jesus' name,
Amen and God Bless