Tag: Christianity

PC is Thought Control

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Say that “Bestiality Is Wrong” or “Polygamy Is Wrong” and it’s not considered hate speech, at least not currently.  However if you have the opinion that “Gay Marriage Is Wrong,” watch out!  It is going to feel like the whole world is jumping up and down screaming “racist” “bigot” and “hater” at you as they call for someone to grab a rope so they can deal with you. [hashtag, love wins], of course.

This is becoming the politically-correct norm, but no matter what one argues, this is the suppressing of free speech by hate-filled fascists.  Yes, they are very fascistic in their so-called “tolerance” which is tolerant of only those who think exactly like they do, hence they are fascists pretending to be open-minded.

No one targeted pro-gay bakeries, but gay activists target Christian bakeries for extermination. “Support Gay Marriage” is what one Christian bakery was sued for because they dared to refuse to put that slogan on a cake for an event to support the gay agenda. Yes, Christian bakeries that refuse to make pro-homosexual marriage cakes because of their deeply held religious beliefs are getting sued for being “intolerant.”  They get fined, they get death threats, and they lose their businesses.

One person decided to ask thirteen different gay bakeries to bake him a Pro-traditional-Marriage cake and he was denied service by all of them.  This experiment proves beyond doubt that the militant gay agenda is not just about their freedom to practice a sexual orientation, but the suppression of free speech.

On the other hand it is even worse than that:

The folks at Shoebat.com decided to call some 13 prominent pro-gay bakers in a row. Each one of them denied them the right to have “Gay Marriage Is Wrong” on a cake and even used deviant insults and obscenities against them.

Several Christian bakeries were sued in the United States with several who lost their businesses and we said enough is enough.

One baker even said all sorts of profanities against Christians and ended the conversation by saying that she will make me a cookie with a large phallus on it.

It was all recorded. It will stun the American people as to how militant and intolerant the homosexual bakers were. Even after we completed our experiment we got a ton of hate messages saying that we were “hateful” for simply giving them a taste of their own medicine. They argued that the slogan “Gay Marriage Is Wrong” is not the same thing as “Support Gay Marriage” as [though] an opposite view of a view is hateful. This would mean that the majority of Americans who oppose gay marriage are “bigoted” and  “hate filled”. “Support Polygamy” or “Polygamy is Wrong” are views, yet the first which the Muslim supports and the second most Americans would never support, but both are opinions and are considered free speech.

The above quotations are from the shoebat.com website.  There are many examples of the hate-filled intolerance from the militant homosexual community which could be presented in this particular blog and the ultra-bigots seem to be totally blind to their hypocrisy.  George Takai, whom I used to follow on social media, was a little overboard at times but he seems to have gone full-bore psychotic post SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage.  “Hey, George, your side won; why are you so angry?” got me blocked.  No problem, it just shows how ridiculous that “#love wins” thing is.
Someone else had something to say about the insanity from the “tolerant” left:
 A gay baker and chef has come out in support of Christian bakers who have come under fire for refusing to make same-sex wedding cakes, labeling those individuals and activists who are trying to force them to do so as ”Nazis” who are using “bullying” tactics.

Jesse Bartholomew uploaded a two-minute video to his Facebook page earlier this month, expressing his frustration with some of his fellow gays and lesbians who have gone after bakers who decline to make cakes for gay ceremonies.

 The clip came just days after it was announced that Oregon bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweetcakes by Melissa, would be fined $135,000 for refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.

“Hi guys, my name is Jesse and I bake wedding cakes for a living, and I cannot tell you how disgusted I am with my fellow gay and lesbian community — that they would stoop so low as to force someone to bake a cake for them who simply doesn’t agree with them,” Bartholomew said. “And before you can go and blame me and say that they have to — no, they don’t have to. They don’t have to bake a cake for you.”

Bartholomew, who did not explicitly name the Kleins, went on to explain that wedding cakes cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and questioned why gays and lesbians would want to pay that much money to make someone bake a cake against their will.

“Are you stupid? That is your personal piece of your wedding. Your guests eat that,” he said. “That cake is involved in your photos. That cake is taken in your mouth, and you eat it in your stomach.”

Bartholomew went on to accuse some of bullying — and worse.

“There’s no other bakers out there?” he rhetorically asked. “It’s plain and simple: you are bullying someone, you are forcing someone, you are being a Nazi and forcing someone to bake a damn wedding cake for you when there are hundreds of other gays and lesbians that would gladly have your business. Shame on you.”

— theblaze.com, “Are you stupid?”: Gay baker lashes out at his fellow gays and lesbians for “bullying” Christian bakers who declined to make same-sex wedding cake, Billy Hallowell, 20 July 2015

Be careful, Jessie, the PC fascists are going to come after you and try to make you get your mind right, but I do pray that God will protect you from them

The left can never tolerate resistance to it’s tyranny, that is why they resort to death camps, to gulags, and to ridicule and bullying.  If they tolerated dissent their agenda would receive proper scrutiny and therefore would never be implemented.

though control
 No one who came to Jesus in humility seeking His mercy was ever turned away, while those who came to him in their arrogant self-righteousness were immediately denounced.
 The self-righteous left may enjoy some successes in bullying Christians and intimidating them into silence in this day but they will never succeed against Jesus Himself.  In that day, when they have to stand in His presence, He will point to the Holy Bible and inform them that His Word has condemned them and they will be reminded of every opportunity which they had to repent and accept Him as their Savior and which they rejected.  Then they will be told “You’ve made your choices, depart from Me and make your abode with the demons.”
  Today is the day to make sure you are in full obedience to Jesus, The Christ.  Today is the day to let Him begin to equip you for Heaven.  Tomorrow may be too late.

No one can beat Israel

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israel

Stand in opposition to Israel and you are needlessly putting your very own soul in jeopardy.  Many centuries ago God declared He would put the Jews back into the land; not because they deserve it but because of who He is.

The wise move is to stand with Israel because the one true God has already chosen sides.  Don’t like it, don’t whine to me about it; take it up with God.

It is in times like this that we need to strengthen ourselves by reading and all the more carefully studying the book most hated by liberals which was penned by their greatest enemy, whom they can never defeat.

1 Peter 1: 19-21  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Culture War

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young uncle sam

A word of encouragement to our pastors, who, now more than ever, are on the front lines of the culture war given the assault on marriage and religious liberty.

John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence, was a pastor and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775, he preached a sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1 — “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with these words:

“In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.”
He then removed his clerical robes and revealed to the congregation that he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army.

Pastor Muhlenberg’s example of a man of God fighting for our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should give increased fervor and devotion most especially to those who lead us in the fight for faith, family and freedom.

Like few times in our nation’s history, this is a time to fight for the values we cherish!   — Gary Bauer

If anyone wonders whether the founding fathers thought the federal government should define marriage and not the states, and whether it should interfere with our religious beliefs, here is what Thomas Jefferson thought:

Thomas Jefferson letter to Samuel Miller

Date: January 23, 1808

I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from inter-meddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the States the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in any religious discipline has been delegated to the General Government. It must then rest with the States.

It is times like this that we need to strengthen ourselves by reading the book most hated by liberals which was penned by their greatest enemy whom they can never defeat.

1 Peter 1: 19-21  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

SCOTUS – Christian religion is the established religion

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What This Supreme Court Justice Ruled About Christianity in 1799 Isn’t Taught in Public Schools Today
http://conservativetribune.com/supreme-court…/…

Samuel Chase was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and served on the U.S. Supreme Court. While not as famous as some of his contemporaries, he’s still important for a number of reasons.

One of them, a ruling in a 1799 Supreme Court case, will drive liberals nuts. Needless to say, you’re not going to hear about this ruling in public schools.

Back when Supreme Court justices would also serve on lower courts, Chase would write the opinion for the Massachusetts Supreme Court case of M’Creery’s Lessee v. Allender.

The case involved whether an Irish immigrant by the name of Thomas M’Creery had become a naturalized U.S. citizen and whether he was eligible to leave his estate to a relative in Ireland.

“Thomas M’Creery, in order to become … naturalized according to the Act of Assembly … on the 30th of September, 1795, took the oath … before the Honorable Samuel Chase, Esquire, then being the Chief Judge of the State of Maryland … and did then and there receive from the said Chief Judge, a certificate thereof. … ‘Maryland; I, Samuel Chase, Chief Judge of the State of Maryland, do hereby certify all whom it may concern, that … personally appeared before me Thomas M’Creery, and did repeat and subscribe a declaration of his belief in the Christian Religion, and take the oath required by the Act of Assembly of this State, entitled, An Act for Naturalization,’” Chase’s opinion read.

Not only that, in another 1799 case — Runkel v. Winemiller — Chase opined that Christianity was America’s established religion.

“Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty,” he wrote (H/T WND).

Chase’s words aren’t oft repeated by liberals, and for good reason. It completely destroys their myth of church and state separation.

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t remind them of Samuel Chase’s bold statement about Christianity’s place in American life.

Demokrats 2

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Justice Thomas

Call it the Dred Scotting of religious liberty.

The SCOTUS is making an attempt at writing gay marriage into the Constitution just as once there was a Supreme Court decision that attempted to write slavery into the Constitution.  In 1857 the Democrats on the bench deliberately attempted to write the institution of slavery into the Constitution.

The arguments haven’t changed much.  Those who were opposed to the SCOTUS ruling then were called “intolerant,” “against the freedom to choose,” and other things similar to what they are today, once again, calling us.  The righting of the wrong then was expensive and it may prove expensive once again.

It is time to pray or prepare to pay dearly.

Time to help intolerant Muslims learn civility

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isis threat

Inspired by the Draw Muhammad Contest in Garland Texas, where two Muslims tried to gun down the attendants and were killed by the police a new draw Muhammad rally was organized in Phoenix Arizona in front of the same mosque the Garland gunmen used to attend.

Hundreds of bikers attended the May 30, 2015 event, carrying their guns, availing themselves of the 2ndAmendment, in case their 1st Amendment came under attack.

The Muslims portrayed themselves as peaceful citizens and they even handed out free bottles of water to the media. One can only wonder, if these Muslims are so friendly and nice, who are those who shoot at the cartoonists, bomb, behead, rape and burn people.  Is it possible that the two from this Mosque were the exception, rather than the rule?  Not likely.

A bit of research shows this Mosque has a history of “radical” attitudes and activities.  Therefore, while they are acting civilized for the time being, you can count on them causing more trouble in the future unless people are prepared to challenge them the next time they start their bullying tactics.

Many people condemned the Drawing Muhammad contest arguing that it had no other objective than to provoke. They completely miss the point.

Cartoons neither prove nor disprove anything.  So what is the point?  The point is that if we act like cowards and censor ourselves, like after Muslims killed the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo, we would be submitting to their bullying, which only encourages them to do more and worse.  We send the message that we are afraid of you; that all it takes to make us do your bidding is to kill a few of us and the rest of us will be frightened to death.  Not only we will no longer offend you, we will even attack anyone who dares to.  In this way we would acknowledge that terrorism works and all Muslims have to do to make us comply with their whims is to kill a few of us and we will bend over backwards to appease them and make sure it won’t happen again.

Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Islam means submission. You don’t “have to believe in Islam,” but you have to submit to it.  Non-Muslims are “not required” to convert to Islam.  Those of us who are paying attention know that that is a lie but it is what they like to claim in order to practice their stealth attack.  “There is no compulsion in religion,” said Muhammad. However, they must accept their second class status (dhimmitude) and pay the jizya tax as a sign of their submission. Their women must cover their heads and walk around looking like mobile trash-bags. They are not allowed to carry arms to protect themselves, serve in the army or government, display symbols of their faith, and build or repair places of worship. They must wear distinctive clothing wherever they go. The dhimmis are forbidden to ride horses and camels, and may only ride donkeys, and only on packsaddles. They must dismount, as the sign of respect to Muslims when they meet them. And their houses cannot be higher than the houses of Muslims. Rebelling against these laws entails punishments, such as slavery (under which rape is permitted), and execution.

Whether they are the minority or the majority, the Quran prohibits Muslims accepting the rules of unbelievers. “O believers do not take your fathers or your brothers as your guardians if they prefer disbelief to Islam. Whoever does so is a wrongdoer.”( 9:23) The only status acceptable to Muslims is that they should rule over others. “We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over the people.” (2:143) On the other hand, Koran commands them to obey the rules of unbelievers if they do not have the strength or numbers to terrorize those they deem unbelievers.  It is when they think they are strong enough to bully that the ugly side of Islam exposes itself for what it really is.

Muslims start imposing their mastery as soon as they can. When Muhammad migrated to Yathrib, a Jewish town with substantial Arab refugees, (who were displaced due to the flooding of their country in Yemen), he had barely 200 followers. The population of the town was about eight to ten thousand people. However, his small band of followers managed to subdue the entire city, banish and massacre its indigenous population and changed its name to Madinat al Nabi (Prophet’s town) in just five years. How they did they do that? Through terror!  At Muhammad’s order, they assassinated the poets who composed critical verses against him.  People began to fear speaking against Islam lest they be killed.  Bullying works. He bragged, I have been made victorious with terror. [Bukhari 4:52.220]

Muslims follow the examples set by their prophet to try to conquer the world.  Countries that were not conquered through warfare were won through migration. Today Muslims migrate to the west and even though they are a small minority they cast terror in the hearts of the locals to make them submit. They assassinate the critics and the cartoonists. The spineless politicians, the shameless media and the clueless intellectuals are all showing their true cowardice and are telling Muslims that terrorism works; that we are afraid of you and will submit to your rules; that your barbaric blasphemy law is more important than our freedom of speech. We will sacrifice our freedom of speech, the very cornerstone of our democracy, vilify and prosecute those who offend you as longs as you threaten to kill us.

Phobia is an irrational fear. Muhammad wanted people to fear him. He said, “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.” (8:12) How can then we say the fear of Islam is irrational?   Islamophobia, as someone has pointed out, is a word invented by fascists, and used by cowards to manipulate morons.

Then we have Barak Hussein Obama’s outrageous statement that “the future must not belong to those who criticize the prophet of Islam.” This man who rarely speaks truth was at least truthful in his biography where he wrote: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” Americans read it but hid their heads in the sand much like the Germans who read Mein Kamph hid theirs.

Obama is a Muslim who hates America. Anyone who doubts that needs to open their eyes and pay attention to the facts.  Unfortunately the corruption is widespread. Nidal Malik Hasan the Palestinian-American convicted of fatally shooting 13 people and injuring over 30 others in the Fort Hood mass shooting in 2009, shouted Allahu Akabr while executing his terrorist act and maintained that his motives were religious. Yet, the Department of Defense, supported by law enforcement, politicians, journalists, refused to make any connection between Islam and Hasan’s action despite his own assertions.

Daniel Pipes pointed out, “Were the subject not morbid, one could be amused by the disagreement over what exactly caused the major to erupt. Speculations included “racism” against him, “harassment he had received as a Muslim,” his “sense of not belonging,” “mental problems,” “emotional problems,” “an inordinate amount of stress,” the “worst nightmare” of his being deployed to Afghanistan, or something fancifully called “pre-traumatic stress disorder.” One newspaper headline, ‘Mindset of Rogue Major a Mystery,’ sums up this bogus state of confusion.”

There is no confusion. This is called dhimmitude. The two factors that promote it are fear and greed. The people, and those in power, including the media and the academia, are largely afraid of Muslims although some have been bought.  Many Universities receive donations from Iran and Saudi Arabia to create departments for Islamic studies that advance their agenda.

Therefore it is time for all Christians to stand up and say, “You shall proceed no further,” to the death cult of Islam and all of its enablers.  It is time for all freedom loving Americans to stand and stop the advance of the barbarians.  There will be a clash of civilizations but once the Islamofacist bullies see that we mean business they will suddenly decide to leave their 7thcentury behavior and become part of the civilized world.   …at least for a time.

  • Pastor Ward

Pray, pray and never give up

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prayGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, our homes, our state, our country?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

P – Pray

U – Until

S – Something

H – Happens

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us, among others, this promise:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God gives us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding regarding the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that this is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we really should pay closer attention it than we otherwise might have.

Jesus gave us the model prayer and then on the night that He was betrayed He gave us a strong guarantee regarding the efficacy of prayer.  Some people wind up wondering why their prayers don’t seem to be as effectual as those of some other individuals.  For those who wonder why their own prayers don’t seem to have much of an effect as they should according to promise perhaps this particular blog entry may be of assistance.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Scripture got it right….again. 

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Scripture got it right….again. .

The most recent estimate of stars in the universe is 300 billion trillion. That’s a 3 followed by 23 zeros. (The number is constantly growing as we find more).
Fourteen billion years (the evolutionists theory of how old the universe is) isn’t nearly enough time to explain so many stars, unless it was an everyday occurrence, which we do not observe.
Save yourself the headache and stick with Gods Word which is unchangeable. Secular scientists will catch up eventually….

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As it turns out, not even Jesus Christ has a Christ-like attitude

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When pondering “WWJD?” do not forget that brandishing whips and overturning tables is not out of the realm of possibilities.  Jesus was not afraid to get right in someone’s face and offend.  He was much more concerned with God’s will than making friends.  Even when He had a large group of followers He didn’t try to avoid offending them in order to keep them from “unfriending” Him.

Jesus reproved and rebuked people because He genuinely cared and He wanted them to do right and wasn’t afraid to do what was needed whether popular or not.  Sometimes I snicker when someone on social media tries to tell me that I don’t have a very Christ-like attitude:

As it turns out, not even Jesus Christ has a Christ-like attitude.

From the blog “Hope Stands” (link above)

After quoting Tony Campolo, Brandon Robertson writes, “Dr. Campolo has been an advocate for a more Christ-like and loving posture towards LGBTQ people in the church for many years now.”[1]

Right away, that stopped me in my tracks, regardless of what the rest of the article said.  As soon as you use the language of a “more Christ-like posture,” all my red flags go up.  Are we reading the same Bible?  This smells like legalism.

Yes, predictably, Robertson goes on to exude his support of the LGBTQ community, but no matter, because he’s already lost me.  Whatever else he said about LGBTQ makes little difference now, so long as he began with those words “a more Christ-like and loving posture.”  That snide remark showed me that he was about to parade the Messiah out in front of us in order to use him for his agenda and take us on a little guilt trip.

But Jesus won’t be paraded around.  A more Christ-like attitude?  What does it mean to have a “more Christ-like and loving posture?”

Does it mean that Jesus would never call anyone names?  He once called a woman a dog (Mark 7:27).  He regularly called people hypocrites, which was a huge insult in his day (Matthew 7:4).  Here are some other names he swathed onto people: blind guides (Matt. 23:16); fools (Matt. 23:17); white washed tombs (Matt. 23:27); snakes (Matt. 23:33); hidden tombs (Luke 11:43); children of hell (Matt. 23:15); and—particularly biting—“Your daddy is the devil!” (John 8:44).

And Jesus wasn’t just harsh with the religious leaders.  He was an equal opportunity offender.  In fact, he called one of his closest followers “Satan” (Matthew 16:23).  Then check out what Jesus said to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.  He gave a very candid and clear assessment of each church, helping it to see where it needed to shape up or ship out.  “You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Why is Jesus so harsh?  He gives the answer, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).  Reprove?  Discipline?  Tell them to repent?  Is that what you call an un-Christ-like posture?

But there’s more.  Speaking through the apostle Paul, Jesus said, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  Unless, of course, they are washed, sanctified, and justified (11).

Again, Jesus spoke through Paul, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, and idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:5-6).

I could list many more examples of Jesus’s “un-Christ-like” posture.  My point is that the way of Jesus is to expose the sin and forgive the sinner.  There is grace and forgiveness for every sin named in these verses.  His radical tactics pave the way for his radical love.

There’s no place in Scripture where Jesus calls a person to himself without asking him or her to change.  In fact, by calling us to change, he’s letting us know that change is now possible because of the grace he first gives.  Jesus never validates a person’s natural condition, whether good or bad.  He only asks them to do whatever it takes to follow him.  Pluck out your eye.  Cut off your arm.  Leave your father and mother.  Sell you possessions.  Circumcise your hearts.  Don’t look back.   Take up your cross.  Lay down your life.  Sin no more.

He’s often hard with us because that’s what true love is.  True love is not validating who we are, but true love is helping us to love God more.  True love will wound us in order to heal us.

Please stop equating a more Christ-like and loving posture with only hugs.  Because if that’s the case, then Jesus Christ was one of the most un-Christ-like people who has ever lived.

In fact, I would go so far as to argue that the kind of “love” that some are asking for today is not love at all.  It’s something much worse.

If My people…seek My face….

pastorwardclinton1 Comment

Featured Image -- 18One of the sad realities within the local church today centers on the fact that numerous born-again Christians have little or no knowledge of the spiritual warfare that takes place all around us. The Bible is crystal clear in proclaiming that there is a battle raging in the heavenlies as the forces of evil continue to wage war against not only the Creator, but also against all who trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. Islam is just one of the examples of that warfare.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our spiritual enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

As Genesis 3 shows us, Satan’s desire is not only to destroy our lives, but also to weaken and sever the relationships we hold dear. We might all agree that Adam and Eve were both at fault for their disobedience and rebellion against God’s commandments. But a careful reading of Genesis 3:12 shows that Adam blamed his sin not only on his wife, but also on his Creator by saying to the Lord, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Without question, Satan is still using the same tactics against our marriages and homes today. He seeks to divide us from our spouses and our children as he plans his strategies to destroy the unity God has designed for us. Just as he was successful in breaking the unity Adam and Eve shared with their Creator, he is still achieving an alarming number of victories in the modern-day Christian home, as the sins of pride and selfishness are often all too prevalent.

I have often talked with numerous people who have had serious questions about the origins of evil and sin in the world. Many may wonder, “How and when, did sin begin?” As the Bible teaches, Satan sinned when he exercised his free will to rebel against his Creator.

Over my years in pastoral ministry, I have encountered far too many believers who lack the knowledge about who they are in Christ. I am completely convinced that unless we acquire a solid biblical understanding of our “in Christ” position, we will be unable to fully counter the attacks of our enemy as he tempts us to exercise our free will and rebel against the commandments of God. As believers, we have a tremendous responsibility to study God’s Word so we can be better able to stand firm with the knowledge and power our Lord has provided for us as we face the devil and his forces of evil.

Without a doubt, it is time that we, as the children of God, woke up and begin living as strong advocates of the cause of Christ Jesus.  May our awareness be so quickened that we will begin recognizing the attacks of the devil when they come our way but not be distracted or deterred by the superfluous stuff.

Would you agree that Satan has been achieving his victories for far too long?  Will you join with me as we literally claim the power of God Holy Spirit against the one who seeks to divide and destroy our marriages, our homes, our churches, and our country?  As the people of God, we can praise our Creator for all His abundant promises as we literally stand in the strength He provides.

2nd Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

  • Pastor Ward Clinton