News stories you should be praying about

There are serious issues Christians and churches are facing. They may not affect you now, but that does not matter. We need to pray regardless even if the issue does not touch our lives.We will only be giving snippets here so please click on the links to get the full story. Also, these requests should be giving ideas to those who live outside of the United States on what to pray for and who to pray for.

Copy and paste if the link does not work

#1.Has California Lost Its Mind?–  https://www.christianpost.com/voice/has-california-lost-its-mind-shane-idleman.html

Google “California school district says parents can’t pull kids from new LGBT sex ed,” and you can read the alarming article for yourself. A “toolkit” that offers kids tips on using sex toys and doing things that cannot be written in this article is one of the controversial aspects, and parents may not be able to opt out. Our arrogance as a state, and as a nation, is appalling. School districts throughout California should be held accountable

#2.Atheists Looking to Impose $1B Taxes on Churches as Pastors Warn of Devastating Impact– https://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-impose-1b-taxes-churches-pastors-ministerial-housing-tax-exemption-223302/

A group of Chicago pastors are speaking up on behalf of clergy everywhere in America in their latest federal appeals court effort fighting against a lawsuit that they say could cost houses of worship as much as $1 billion in new taxes.

The non-profit law firm Becket explained in a press release last week that Pastor Chris Butler of Chicago Embassy Church went before an appeals court on Thursday in the latest chapter of the Gaylor v. Mnuchin case, looking for a reversal on an earlier decision that went against the clergy.

The case is significant, because the Freedom From Religion Coalition is suing the IRS in the hopes of ending a 64-year-old federal tax provision, the ministerial housing tax exemption, that allows faith leaders to receive tax-free housing allowances

Why is this the FFRC’s business? They go too far in their hatred of religion.

#3.Atlanta Pastor Says He’ll Make Aerialists Regular Part of Worship; Some Say He’s Gone Too Far— https://www.christianpost.com/news/atlanta-pastor-says-hell-make-aerialists-regular-part-of-worship-some-say-hes-gone-too-far-223319/

An Atlanta pastor who announced on social media that he plans to make performances by aerialists a regular part of his church’s worship service has raised concern among some critics who believe the gymnasts might be too distracting for the public.

The pastor, Apostle Bryan Meadows who founded Embassy Church International five years ago, made the announcement on Instagram on April 9 where he posted both photos and video of an aerialist performing at a Christian conference during a worship service.

Do pastors and churches realize who they are worshipping? Do they understand what worship really is? This article serves as an example  only.

#4.Courts and the Cause of Christ: Why Christians Need to Care– https://www.christianpost.com/voice/courts-and-the-cause-of-christ-why-christians-need-to-care.html

Sometime between now and June, the U.S. Supreme Court will render its decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. This is the case in which owner and cake artist Jack Phillips was taken to court because he could not in good conscience design custom items that celebrate events or express messages in conflict with his religious beliefs. Jack Phillips is motivated by his Christian beliefs and is attempting to faithfully fulfill his deeply rooted religious beliefs. He is seeking justice in the arena of law.

We need to pray for our court system and that God’s justice and wisdom prevail. This case is also an example, as all courts and judges, lawyers etc., need prayer.

#5.Youth, Schools and Violence: Where Has Society Gone Wrong?— https://www.christianpost.com/news/youth-schools-and-violence-where-has-society-gone-wrong-222811/

As the United States has by far more deadly shootings occurring in its schools than any other developed nation, many are left wondering if there are elements of today’s American society that are partially to blame, or at least play a factor, when it comes to the troubling influx of deadly school massacres.

“Where has our society gone wrong?” some might ask.

The sincere prayers of parents go a long way in preventing youth problems. Let your kids hear you prayer for them. Show them that you care by praying for them all the time. Not just for good grades or protection from violence ptray for their spiritual health

#6.Pastor Tim Challies Warns Christians Against Using Virtual Reality Porn– https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-tim-challies-warns-christians-against-using-virtual-reality-porn-223300/

Pastor Tim Challies of Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, has said that virtual reality pornography is the “next frontier” in technology, and is warning Christians about its harms.

Challies said on his website Monday that he’s had many opportunities in the last few years to talk about pornography and technology, and the risks that have emerged.

“The rise of the internet provides a ready example. When the internet first came along, we all dutifully signed up for accounts and began to explore this new medium. We surfed and chatted and downloaded and shopped,” he wrote.

Men you need to get your sexual desires and lusts under control. You need to learn some boundaries, especially those pastors who like to touch women who are not their wives. Let God help you resist temptation. It is not okay to look at the menu when you are married or involved seriously with a woman.

Women, how you treat your husband or boyfriend either makes this issue worse or it can help make it better. The choice is yours on how you treat your loved one.

#7.Pastor Jailed and Tortured for Preaching Shares Horrors Christian Prisoners Face in Vietnam— https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-jailed-and-tortured-for-preaching-shares-horrors-christian-prisoners-face-in-vietnam-223166/

Evangelical pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh will always have the scar on top of his head to remind him of the years that he was imprisoned, beaten and tortured for daring to advocate on behalf of indigenous people groups being denied human rights by Vietnam’s communist government.

Having been arrested over 200 times for his human rights advocacy over a span of three decades, it wasn’t until Chinh was jailed in 2011 and sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for “undermining national solidarity” by violating a preaching ban in the Central Highlands that his persecution started gaining international attention.

Another example touching on a broad subject. But remember being persecuted and martyred does not make one a Christian. Salvation is only through Jesus.

#8.GQ Editors Bash Bible as ‘Foolish Book’ Not Worth Reading-– https://www.christianpost.com/news/gq-editors-bash-bible-sententious-foolish-book-you-dont-have-to-read-223223/

GQ magazine editors have published a list of 21 books they say aren’t worth reading despite them being seen as the great books. The Bible is listed at No. 12 because, they claim, it’s “not the finest thing that man has ever produced,” and it’s “self-contradictory” and “foolish.”

“The Holy Bible is rated very highly by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it,” the editors write in an article titled, “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read,” published this week.

People’s attitude concerning God, Jesus, the Bible and the Christian faith. Both Christians and non-Christians need these prayers.

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In The News 27

Time for that broad look at certain events that have taken place recently. Let’s get right to it.

#1. Megachurches— https://www.christianpost.com/news/are-megachurches-biblical-evangelical-professor-explains-what-is-non-negotiable-223190/

Are Megachurches Biblical?

It is a good question and the simple answer is the size of the church does not matter. You can have biblical megachurches or you can have biblical smaller ones. God does not limit biblically qualified churches to a certain size. Now the more difficult answer. When churches stray from biblical doctrine, teach that God and the Bible are wrong, embrace sin and allow it to flourish, misuse scripture, teach false doctrines and more negatives than any church that does those things cannot be considered biblical.

You have to obey God and follow his instructions to be considered biblical. Culture does not dictate to God’s word and is not a light unto God’s word. Biblical churches do not have women pastors and so on.

#2. Sexual Abuse– https://www.christianpost.com/news/survivor-of-rape-incest-shares-how-church-can-come-alongside-those-sexually-abused-223200/

Survivor of Rape, Incest Shares How Church Can Come Alongside Those Sexually Abused

While certain information is important to minister to the needs of those who are sexually abused, the church must take its marching orders from God. The church cannot violate God’s definition of justice, ignore his instruction to use mercy, nor can they blindly take the word of the abused. The truth has to come out first without emotional influence.Forgiveness must be a part of the justice process.

This is what we have found to be lacking in the metoo movement. Not one of the women has stated that they have forgiven theirs supposed abuser. They are looking for revenge, have hatred in their hearts, tell lies and other sins. Justice cannot be done when sin is influencing the procedings. We have no evidence that any of the women are telling the whole story or even the truth. More than 1 or 10 witnesses does not mean the truth is being told.

To help the abused, the church cannot take anyone’s side except God’s. One of the forgotten people in this movement is the abuser. He or she needs God’s help not just punishment, scorn, etc. If you want to follow Jesus you need to see that he gave to those who sinned as much as he did to those who did not. e.g. Zachias, the thief on the cross, and others.

Everyone gets treated properly or there is no justice, just more people sinning against those who violated the law.

#3.Replacing Spiritual Giants— https://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-laurie-talks-who-can-take-over-billy-grahams-mantle-ahead-harvest-america-2018-223138/

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Irvine and Riverside, California, has said that no one can take over the mantle of the late evangelist Billy Graham

There was a Facebook post about the long chain in spiritual conversions of great evangelists. The post showed each link in the chain, and we do not have the right order here–Spurgeon, Moody, Sunday, Graham and others. The church did not pick the next spiritual giant or the next great evangelist. God did. God will raise up the next man in his time. We cannot force God’s hand in this matter.

Although we do see Laurie and his church using their own strength to achieve that objective. Churches should not worry or fret about this. They have too much to do right now and worrying about the next great spiritual leader tells us that churches are taking their eyes off God. The church just needs to be ready when that man is sent by God.

#4. It Is Not About Religion or Race– https://www.christianpost.com/news/rohingya-crisis-babies-chopped-in-half-mothers-daughters-gang-raped-223214/

Rohingya Crisis: Babies Chopped in Half, Mothers and Daughters Gang Raped

The Bible tells us that there is only 1 race of humans. Evolutionists have gotten it wrong. Having a different religion is not the catalyst for conflict either. Religions have lived side by side for millennia without conflict. Religion is the excuse but not the cause.

Thus this conflict and so many others are not about race or religion. It is about hatred, lust, greed and other sins. That is what the Bible tells us. When sin controls the hearts of mankind then anything can and will take place. If the church wants to make an impact in these areas,  then they need to stop working on peripheral issues like race. They need to focus on what Jesus focused on– the sin in the hearts of people. It also needs to proclaim the truth.

When Jesus targeted the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Scribes, (possibly the Essenes), he talked about their sin. Not their religion. When he talked to Gentiles, he talked about faith and their sin, not their religion. Any false religion is sin. So target sin not the religion or race. The peripheral issue of race divides the church and tells everyone that the church is not listening to God about human existence. When that happens, the church loses credibility.

Do what Jesus did and focus on the sin and speak the truth. There is a hell and sinners, liars, homosexuals, murderers, etc. end up there.

#5. It Is About Sin– https://www.christianpost.com/voice/will-california-go-from-banning-religious-books-to-burning-them.html

Will California Go from Banning Religious Books to Burning Them?

It is a very good article. If the link doesn’t work, try copying and pasting the whole thing. For some reason are link function did not work well on that article. But it is the sin in the hearts of the members of the California government that is causing this problem. They are being manipulated by evil and true Christians need to pray for those leaders.

Remember what God said– when my people humble themselves and pray… let’s combat sin God’s way.

 

Some Things Cannot Be Corrected

https://www.christianpost.com/news/ohio-sued-refusing-allow-transgender-people-correct-birth-certificates-222422/

Throughout the complaint, the plaintiffs insist that the sex on their birth certificates be “corrected.”

If you read the story, you will see that the arguments do not hold any weight. What makes them worse is that these arguments are not founded on real science but on the 1st ammendment. It is not that we are cherry picking our use of science in this issue. We have long stated that secular science does get some things right. God gave us the tool of science to understand what God did at creation when he spoke everything into existence.

God did not give us the tool of science to say he and the Bible were wrong. Those who do use science in that manner are usually deceived, misguided or misinformed. The arguments used by those lawyers and transgender people have no evidence to support them. Just look at the term ‘çorrected’.  That word implies that a mistake was made.

This is a major problem for the transgender because their gender identity goes by feeling, not by any hard evidence. There is evidence that a gender mistake was made at birth. To continue this line of thinking the transgender community would have to prove that there is a processs in existence that governs who is given which gender at birth. Then they would have to prove that there was a mistake made somewhere in that process. Tha is of course if they could figure out how that process truly works and define what a mistake is in that process.

So far no such proof has been offered by the transgender community. Nor can they show that gender assignment is arbitrarily done by some outside fallible source that is prone to make errors in their gender duties.  To be able to correct something, a mistake has to be actually found and clearly proven to be a mistake. That has not been done by the transgender community either.

They want to skip that evidence part because it gets in the way of their practicing their delusional beliefs. The only mistake that has been made is the supposed transgender believing there was a mistake made at birth.

The government’s position is therefore an infringement on their free speech rights guaranteed by the first Amendment, the lawsuit maintains.

The next mstake taking place is the idea that the 1st amendment  trumps factual record. So far no legal expert has been able to show that it does. Government records are governed by laws, not feelings. As far as our legal studies have shown us, the first amendment does not overrule official recording laws. There is no attempt to violate the free speech of transgender people by recording their actual gender.

This move is just the next step in deceiving themselves into thinking they are something other than the gender they were born as. They want government records to lie so they can continue acting like the fool and feel good about mutilating their bodies.

Lambda and the ACLU also argued that Ohio’s refusal amounts to an “ideological message” that gender is only based on the outward appearance of genitalia at birth and is something that never changes.

Another faulty argument by the transgender’s lawyer team. Oh and if you read up on the ACLu, they are only interested in rights not right and wrong or what is true. They do more to mess up this country than any other law firm. There is no ideological message being sent by Ohio by recording the actual birth gender on an official government document.

The document clearly states the truth of the birth. Their argument that the gender listed on the birth certificate is based on outward gentilia is preposperous because it ignores actual science and genetics. The outward genitilla is a result of the actual genes one has inside their bodies. It is also a result of the interior body parts that reside in specific genders.

A side not here- we are well aware of the issue of cisgenders. BUT cisgenders and other similar abnormalities are a result of the corruption that entered the world at Adam’s sin. They demonstrate that gender issues are not immune to that corruption. It is not an indication of evolution in progress nor that some fallible msysterious process made an error.

Back to topic, in other words, outer genitilla does not determine the gender of a person. It goes deeper than that and includes genes, reproductive organs and much more. Gender identity is not based on feeling. It is based on actual fact.

In February, the group sued the state of Alabama for discrimination, contending that the state’s policy restricting access to driver’s licenses that “accurately reflect” gender identity for transgender people places them “at increased risk for violence and harassment.”

We should mention that when you tell the truth, no discrimination is taking place. By requiring that the truth be told on an official government document is not discriminating against someone. It is demonstrating the fact that the person complaining has a mental or other problem that requires professional counseling. The problem does not lie with the State but with those who reject their actual gender.

The only people putting themselves at risk for violence and harassment are the transgender themselves. They are publicly demonstrating that they reject reality, facts and the truth and continue to force people to accept their disturbed conclusions. No factual record is doing that to anyone. If anything those factual records are making the transgender face reality and that the responsibility for what happens to them is on their shoulers not the government’s.

There is more in that article but we will not address that here. What needs to be addressed is how this applies to the church in general. First, the church should not be siding or supporting the transgender agenda. Transgenderism is wrong, sin and not of God. While we treat the transgendered person according to biblical teaching, we do not support nor accept thir evil ways.

Second, the church should be supporting the government when they stand for the truth. They should not be helping transgenders undermine factual records. Third, the chrch should be helping the transgender face the truth about themselves and gender issues. The church should not be accepting any false arguments or teachings on this or any issue.

Fourth, the church should understand ‘rights’ and how they apply to all people and not just a few. It should also be aware that rights undermine morality, good and evil and right and wrong. Fifth, the chuch needs to use the whole Bible in its ministry and not cherry picked verses which leads Christians and churches to accept and adopt sinful behavior. Loving our neighbor does not mean we love and accept sin. Love does not keep people in their sins.

Finally, the church must stand correctly with God inspite of the backlash that may come from unbelievers. Unbelievers offer the church nothing but destruction. Their preferences do not help the church. The church is designed to help the unbeliever become free from their sins. The church follows God not the secular world.

The church needs to make a stand and be the light to the dark world. It cannotbe the light when thei rlight is darkened by their acceptance of sin.

 

God’s Rules

I John tells us that if we sin yet say we have no sin then we lie and God is not with us. Rules are not meant to be broken. Especially God’s rules. He loves to see his creation obey his words, instructions and commands. David once wrote, ‘thy words I have hid in my heart so I may not sin against thee’.  Yet we see today so many people forgetting to hide God’s words in their hearts as they pursue church offices. Case in point:

#1. https://www.christianpost.com/news/umc-committee-ordered-rehear-case-against-gay-pastor-unfit-ministry-221800/

The 61-year-old Meredith, who has pastored a “reconciling congregation” at Clifton United Methodist Church as an openly gay man since 2012, came under fire within the denomination after marrying his partner of over 29 years in a UMC church in 2016.

Jesus said, ‘if you love me keep my commandments’ and for some strange reason we cannot find in the Bible any of Jesus commands or instructions where it states that one is obeying God if they practice homosexuality and take the role of a pastor. Now some people may claim  that homosexuality is not sin but that would be a gross error on their part. It is a sin no matter if anyone accepts it as such or not.

Sin does not depend on who accepts or dismisses it. Sin is sin because God declared it to be sin. It is we humans who must stop being arrogant and humbly accept God’s declaration and abide by it. We have no power nor authority to change what God  has already declared to be sin.

Although the regional appeals committee ordered the West Ohio Conference to rehear Meredith’s case, the appeals committee reportedly asked that the case not be reheard until after the special meeting of the global United Methodist Church in February 2019.

This provides the opportunity for the case to be considered moot if the UMC is to revise language on homosexuality in the Book of Discipline, the ABC affiliate reports.

Churches can change their rules all they want. Their rules are mostly of human origin and not worth the paper they are printed on. Churches can change rules that govern their denominations but those rule changes do not make God’s rules moot nor do they change what God declared to be sin. If the UMC changes its stance on homosexuality then instead of one man or a few people sinning, you will have many more joining their ranks. Church rule changes, unless the coincide with God rules, do not alter what is sin.

#2. https://www.christianpost.com/news/navy-floats-idea-of-atheist-chaplains-221739/

If there aren’t atheists in foxholes, why should we put them in the Chaplain Corps? Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) can’t imagine. Like most leaders, he’s astounded that the Navy is even considering letting someone who doesn’t believe in God join the chaplaincy. Three years ago, the idea was so absurd that even Obama’s military attorneys went to court to stop it. Now, with Secretary Jim Mattis at the helm, no one can quite understand why the topic is even up for discussion.

There are a host of verses pointing out why this is wrong. How can anyone be a chaplain, Christian or otherwise, when they do not believe that God even exists. How can you help people when  you have nothing to offer them? Atheists may make an argument that their services could help military members who are atheists but it would be a weak defense.

Atheists have no plan of salvation. They have no power to grant eternal life to anyone? And they have no power to forgive sins. And on it goes. What good would an atheist be in helping others? But the followng quote tells us the enemy’s plan

“The Navy has sufficient authority to create programs for humanist or atheist service members,” the senators write. “The Chaplain Corps is not the appropriate place. The Chaplain Corps serves religious needs, not philosophical preferences. Approving a secular-humanist chaplain would open the door to other applicants representing other philosophical worldviews. Over time, this situation would erode the distinct religious function of the Chaplain Corps.

Destroy the chaplain corps and you destroy many people in the military. These are the attacks on the Christian faith we must be on the look out for and take the appropriate spiritual measures to fight against such strategies. The atheist does not belong in the chaplain’s corps because they do not accept nor follow God’s rules. They do not like God’s standards of right and wrong, etc., and would replace those with their own ideas.

Those ideas would do nothing but harm others.

#3. https://www.christianpost.com/news/7-reasons-churches-dont-grow-221380/

After having co-planted and co-pastored a church for ten years in the Denver area and having preached in churches across the nation, quietly evaluating what makes them work (or not), here is my list of non-scientific reasons why some churches don’t grow.

The bold words are why we included that article in this post. They are not God’s rules. They are rules made by someone who wants churches to be they way he wants them and not God’s way. There are many reasons why churches do not grow. Most of them are spiritual ones and different churches break different spiritual rules. God does not bless sin.

That is the main reason why churches do not grow. it is not because the church has organ music instead of drums and a hip worship team. It is not because they are not organized enough and on it goes. It is because too many churches ignore what Jesus commanded or what God commanded and do things their own way. Doing worship and evangelism is fine but there is more to church life than those two aspects and that is part of the problem.Most churches only focus on those two items and ignore the rest of the biblical instructions.

They ignore God’s rules and then wonder why their church is not growing as it should. Jesus said ‘lift me up and I will draw all men unto me’. That is the start, there are more instructions that need to be followed. Sadly, most people just do not listen to God and follow what the secular world wants or they follow their own ideas or they copy others and on it goes.

God wrote the Bible and both he and Jesus gave out rules to be followed. They did not write their rules because they had nothing better to do. Nor did they write them to have them broken. God punishes the disobedient and rewards the faithful. If we want to make an impact for God and Jesus, then we need to get back to following God’s rules honestly. We need to stop playing games, stop playing church, stop playing follow the leader and turn around and follow God.

We are not talking about legalism here. That is a topic for another day. To be spiritually true, there are rules to follow. We will never be free from rules. Read what Paul said about them. Fighting legalism does not mean we do away with God’s rules or change them. To be spiritual and holy we follow God’s rules correctly. If you want to point to Jesus, he followed his Father’s rules when he was on earth.

Jesus said he was here to do the will of the one who sent him and you never saw him break one of God’s commands or rules. We are not better than Jesus and we must make sure we follow God’s rules properly with fairness, justice and mercy. As well as with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Having no rules means we are not obeying God.

 

What is Missing in Education

We are not going to play favorites here as both the Christian school system and the secular one make the same mistakes. Some schools, teachers and officials are good in both systems but sadly, those are overshadowed by others who do not perform as they should. Too often, schools in both systems tend to favor teaching ideology instead of educating the students correctly. This is so in spite of the warning given in the book of James.

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. (NASB 3:1)

We know this as we have seen education first hand and have tracked the misdeeds of teachers, administration staff and education officials for several years. These people, even in Korea, treat students as objects not worthy of the best information possible or teaching as just another job. It is no longer a profession worthy of their best behavior, best effort, or having any character or integrity. It is now a means to an end, hopefully by padding their bank account and pension fund.

Teaching has lots a lot in recent years and there is enough blame to go around. No one group is solely to blame as all have contributed to the demise of education– even in Christian circles.Sadly, we saw this in our own undergraduate alma mater as well.Then when you see stories like the following article:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/teacher-accused-feeding-puppy-snapping-140248186.html

Teacher Accused of Feeding Puppy to Snapping Turtle in Front of Students

{and the title is enough of an example}

You know that something has been lost in teaching. It doesn’t matter the level because all levels have been infected with the same disease. In the book, Hitler Furies, a study on the female Nazis of that era, it was stated that Hitler introduced dumbing down into the German education system. It is much harder to manipulate and control educated people. The most successful educational program in the west since the 1980s has been the strategy to dumb down the students.

We have seen this first hand as well. But it was not limited to just the students who got a lack of an education. The teachers were dumbed down as well. We saw that over the years in Korea as teacher after teacher heading towards that country were not smart, lacked education and some could barely string a sentence together. There is something missing from education. Probably several elements are no longer in the profession. But again, that is not true in all cases.

As we thought about that article linked above, it was brought to our attention what God wanted done with his people. But many believers will probably miss their importance because the instructions are found in the Old Testament not the New. Non-believers won’t normally know these passages unless they read Deut.in their spare time. But then even if they do, will they believe God’s word pertaining to how their profession should be handled? It is highly doubtful.

But the book of Deut. is filled with verses providing God’s instructions on what should be taught in his people’s schools. Here are some of those verses:

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ² You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you (NASB 4:1-2)

See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. ⁶ So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ (NASB 4:5-6)

¹⁰ Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to ^[b]fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’(NASB 4: 10)

 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, ² so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. (NASB 6:1-2)

⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up (NASB 6:6-7)

And on these verses go.

God has said very clearly what he wanted taught to his people and their children. These instructions have not been voided by the New Testament.

As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, (NASB 1 Tim. 1:3)

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you (NASB 1 Tim. 4:16)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (NASB Tit. 1:9)

The firs set of verses has what is missing from teaching that takes place today in both the secular and Christian school systems.

so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God,

The fear or respect of God is what is lacking. No one that we know of, is doing this today. God is not feared and his ways are not taught. While the secular world and some Christians run around looking for human answers to school shootings, we have that answer here from God himself. The fear of God would stop many shooters from committing their evil schemes. Plus, if they were taught the ways of God then they would know that taking a life is wrong and should not be done.

When you make God’s rules appear as human origin rules, then it is easy for people to forget about God and ignore these human based rules. If people are not taught God’s ways, instructions and commands, how will they learn how to live properly? Ho will they treat their fellow human correctly if they do not know the better way to live?

These lessons start in the home where the parents teach it to their children and their grandchildren. Eventually, those lessons will reach politics, science, education and so on. God’s OT instructions and commands are not just for an Old Testament group of people who lived 4000 years ago. We bring the fear of God back to the lives of families, education and so on then we bring back the other missing elements in education.

You may ask what are we doing about this instead of just posting the thoughts God wants us to share on the internet? We have lived these principles in Korea as we taught. We had problems, criticism, attacks, but in the end, because we obeyed God and taught the way he wanted us to teach, we were rewarded as well. Maybe someday we will post some pictures recording those rewards.

We have been preaching in the Philippines using God ways. Now we have been asked to be the preacher of one church full-time as well as start a new Bible College. We opted for the latter. We are working on setting up a new Bible college that will have God’s instructions as the guiding force behind our teaching. Do not worry we do not plan on asking for money. We will need books though, lots of them. We will make that request when the time is right. Eventually we will be looking for teachers but that is a ways down the road. We will need prayer as well.

But we do what we can to practice what we are teaching in these web pages. This means we may not have time to post here but that remains to be seen. Christians need to take action and it is not done by teaching interpretation or ideology. It is done by following the Holy Spirit to the truth. Then accepting that truth and teaching it to others.

If you want a better education system, then it begins with the fear of God.

 

Removing the Beam

We all know the scripture in Leviticus where God is telling his people that those who practice homosexuality are to be put to death. Many believers have used that verse over the centuries to attack and harm those homosexuals outside of the church. But maybe another look at the context will help shed some light on what God is saying to his people and how his word is to be applied.

First, God is creating the Mosaic code, his rules, for his people to follow. He is not creating a rule for all people. BUT if those other people want to join the Israelites this is a rule they have to follow.

Second, God is speaking to his people. He is not granting them permission to go out and harm those violators who belong to another nation. This rule is to guide his people when they find this sin and corruption in their midst. It is permission to cleanse the people of God only. Sin and corruption is not to be found within God’s followers.

Third, the people of Israel are being told by God that this sin is unacceptable.

At no time were the people of Israel to take the law into their own hands and apply to those outside of their faith. The only time it was to be applied was when those within the people of Israel ‘felt’ they preferred this sexual alternative. Or when those from other nations wanted to join the people of Israel. God was and is saying that sin is not acceptabe no matter what.

What does this mean for the church today?

We need to remember that God does not change. What was sin in the OT is still sin today.The NT does not change what God has called wrong or sin. In the case of tattoos, we are told that we are to keep the temple of God, our bodies, pure. Tattoos do not do that, they corrupt the body thus they corrupt the temple of God.In the case of homosexuality, it is as wrong today as it was 3,000+ years ago.

God’s rules apply to God’s church. They are in place to guide us in governing what is God’s. This means that we look for God’s solutions when family members in the church declare they are homosexual.  Obviously, we cannot kill them but we cannot allow them to be part of the church either. This does not mean they are kicked out onto the streets to fend for themselves. They are not allowed in church leadership, lead small groups, and so on.

Second, our rules govern the church. While homosexuality is wrong and we get to declare that it is sin, we do not have permission to go out and force the world to follow our rules. The world already has its death sentence as Paul reminds us in Romans. We are not allowed to add to that punishment. We have other rules that govern our treatment of those outside the church.

Third, if homosexuals want to join the church, they have to give up their homosexuality and other sins to be a part of God’s kingdom. At no time does God say in the Bible that one gets to bring sin or continue in sin when they join the church. The continued practice of sin is a sign that someone is not of God.

Fourth, there is no such thing as a homosexual Christian. That title is a mockery of Jesus redemptive work. He said he would make people a new person not leave them in their old ways. Once Christ redeems them they are not homosexual any more and they do not practice homosexuality ever again. The details of their lives after that redemption will come but one thing is for certain, they do not practice sin anymore but follow Jesus’ commands if they love him. Not one of Jesus’ commands grants permission to anyone to identify with their old selves.

What does the church do?

Besides the fact that homosexual sin is not to be a part of the church, we do not miraculously declare that God has changed his mind and homosexuals can be a part of the church.

Second, we do not change God’s word and allow homosexuals to be ministers, pastors, preachers or whatever title you want to place on God’s servant. God does not allow sinners to lead his people.

Third, while homosexuals may not be a part of God’s church, the believer is not allowed to withhold God’s love and care for them. If the homosexual is hungry, we feed them. If they are thirsty, we give them something to drink. If they truly need help, we help them. None of which legitimizes their sin. These acts are God’s people obeying God’s instruction.

Fourth, we do not condemn the homosexual. God has already condemned them. Our job is to get them to see the error of their ways, recognize that homosexuality is wrong and repent of their sins while accepting Christ as their Savior. We do not get to sin in the process of accomplishing that objective.

Fifth, we do not sin against those family members who declare their alternative preference. As parents, we do not allow their sexual preference to be practiced inside the home. But that does not grant permission for parents to take extreme measures to eradicate the behavior. Jesus has already given us instructions on how to handle sinners.

Sixth, we do not stop declaring that homosexuality is sin, evil and wrong. We can never agree with the secular world and make it normal, loving, good and not sin.

There is an old song that has in its verses the phrase– ‘and they will know us by our love’. That love does not accept sin as Jesus never accepted sin in those unbelievers to whom he was a friend. He still healed them, fed them, and helped them to see the error of their ways. We do not know how many homosexuals were a part of the multitudes he taught, but his message was always clear. Homosexuals had to repent of their sin if they wanted to be a part of God’s kingdom.

We show our love by correctly obeying Jesus’ commands and instructions and apply our Christian behavior to all. By following what God wants correctly, we are removing the beams from our eyes and able to make a better impact for God.

 

In One Accord

We have been reading in the first 11 chapters of Genesis and we came across these words:

The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them {NASB}

As we were thinking about these words, we were reminded of different passages in  Acts. Some of them read :

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers 1 :14 NASB

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 2:46 NASB

The first selection is just prior to the filling of the Holy Spirit. The second selection was just after Peter’s sermon which garnered thousands of converts. But what is interesting aboouot the second passage are the following words:

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

As we thought about these passages, we felt it was the Lord who brought to our attention the question– what if the modern church acted with one mind and were in one accord? Atheists claim that there are over 40,000 protestant denominations all claiming to have the truth. They are correct. There are a lot of denominations and they all cannot hold the truth.

BUT what if they did? Think of what the church could accomplish if were united under Jesus? God added 3,000 people to his church in one day, then he kept adding to the church daily because the people were of one mind. How many would be added today if we could get all protestant churches under the truth and get rid of the division among us.

The early church did not follow after interpretation; they did not use the phrase- that is your interpretation; they did not alter the biblical text; they did not argue over how a word was translated and on it went. What they did was study the truth that the disciples taught. Here is what Acts 2 has to say:

⁴² They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They had found the truth, they were set free from sin and they continued in the truth and stayed free of sin.There is only 1 truth. We know this because there is only 1 Savior, 1 God, 1 body of Christ.  There can only be one truth. God does not change nor does he have multiple ways to get to him. There is only one truth and the modern church needs to get back to it and devote themselves to that and prayer.

How do we get to the truth? We do as Jesus said- follow the Spirit of Truth. This spirit does not lead one group of people to one ‘truth’ and another to a different ‘truth’. He leads everyone who will follow him to the same truth.

To make an impact for God today, the church needs to unite under the truth. But for that to happen, some people will have to admit that they are wrong and correct their thinking and ways. This does not mean we point fingers at others, but we examine ourselves and ask God where we have strayed and to lead us back to the single truth so the modern church can be of one mind and accomplish great things for God.

What it takes to be of one mind? Honesty. The church needs to be honest with itself, and give up all the false teaching, the deception and false doctrine that has crept in over the centuries. The church has to stop following the secular world and adopt real discernment. We can use cars, modern technology, etc. if we want, that is not what we are talking about. What we are talking about are those ideas, etc., that lead people away from the truth and have them toss away their faith.

Another item that is needed is for the church to be unafraid. Fear leads people to do sinful acts and we must not let that influence lead the church to lose its unity. Also, the members of the church cannot be afraid to change.

Again there must be some caution , because everyone who claims to have the truth will not have it. Jesus’ instruction was that we would KNOW the truth… Jesus is telling us that the truth will be evident and we will be able to tell the difference. One obvious clue is that if the proclamation is leading people to go against the Bible, then it is not truth. God does not lie and he did not lie in the Bible.

God did not follow secular culture when he wrote the Biblical books and secular culture does not alter what God has said in the Bible. Secular culture is deceived, blind and in need of a Savior. God is none of those nor in need of help from the lost. Becoming of one mind is going to take some work. We will probably lose some people but that is okay. Jesus lost disciples when he spoke of hard things. We must weed out the bad, (or let God weed them out), so the church can be holy and productive.

Becoming of one mind is not going to be easy as evil likes to work through immature and new Christians or through loved ones to hinder what God wants done. But with constant prayer we can protect the church and ourselves. Evil also works through those who reject the truth and we see that every day as women are given permission to occupy positions of church leadership they have been divinely banned from occupyng. And by the acceptance of homosexual and transgender sinful behavior. These are but two examples. A third would also be the sexual harassment of women or the mistreatment of some men by their wives and others.

For the world to see God, the church has to be holy and act as God wants.

To be of one mind means following Jesus as he taught. We do not make excuses but find the truth, adopt it and implement it in our lives.

One final word, we are not pointing fingers nor think every church member or denomination is acting wrong. That is not even close to what we are thinking. We are not perfect ourselves.We just knew that we had to write this in hopes that the church will start to unify better and work to meeting God’s desire that all men be saved. Then when we win more souls, we teach them the truth so that God has a strong spiritual adult army to continue his work.