Oh man of God, what the heck are you doing? God’s adversary has you in his grip. He parades you in public places like a ragdoll, to make a spectacle of you. He says, “See for yourselves! This is man who claims to be a Christian.”

Oh man of God! Like Judas Iscariot, who sat in the presence of the Son of God and yet betrayed Him for a few pieces of gold, so you have betrayed your heavenly Father for fleeting glory, power and influence. Judas Iscariot realized his moral error and could not live with the gravity of his betrayal. That was then-this is now where grace and moral turpitude exist in the same reality. I wanted to elaborate on this a bit, but rather than doing it myself, I ask AI to expand on it. I was curious whether AI would even do it and what it had to say. I was pleasantly shocked. Here it is – from across the AI world. To every source that contributed TY.

That was then; this is now. We live in a time when grace and moral turpitude are often presented as existing within the same reality. A person’s failures may be serious, public, and deeply damaging, yet appeals to grace can quickly shift attention away from the wrongdoing and its consequences. This tension raises an important question: Is grace being embraced as the power that leads to repentance and restoration, or is it being used to avoid honest judgment and accountability?

Moral turpitude and grace must not be confused or treated as though one cancels out the other. Grace does not deny the seriousness of sin, erase the need for repentance, or remove responsibility for harm. Rather, true grace confronts wrongdoing honestly, calls the offender to turn from it, and makes transformation possible. When grace is separated from confession, accountability, and changed conduct, it becomes a convenient excuse. But when it is received with humility, it offers a genuine path toward forgiveness, restoration, and renewed faithfulness.

I found AI's take rather interesting.

The Scriptures command us to “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” The scripture is pretty straightforward.

The Lord is gracious. He instructs us in the ways we should go. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. In return, we constantly turn our backs on Him and His ways. What the heck is wrong with us?!!

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

This scripture does not mean to hide the word in your heart to use it as a weapon of condemnation.

When the word of God becomes entrenched in a man’s soul he cannot but speak the truth of the Lord in love. He cannot but express the love and grace that has been bestowed on him by the most gracious loving Creator. This grace he bestows on others. His mercy is not consumed. No form of hate can live in the heart of man surrendered to the God of the heavens.

Choose ye today… Faithfulness or Popularity?

Being people of God is not a popularity contest (Think about that for a minute.) It is not about being number one, or top gun, most handsome, most beautiful, richest, poorest, most humble, much less the most prideful. It is not about power or control. Influencers seek, followers, celebrities seek admirers, motivational speakers seek audiences. Best-selling authors seek readers and book reviews. Mega pastors seek mega crowds. The gist is clear. The flesh’s only desire is to be elevated. To desire the public light of popularity is to denounce humility. If anything, the more popular one is – the more likely, one is to pursue self-glory. Do not be deceived, Christians fall into this trap as well and probably more so than they ever admit to themselves. Think about why you and I blog. I use my blog to share what the Lord shows me, just as I do in my journal. People are free to read what I post online. No one reads my journals.

Any evangelical or Christian who believes themself and leads others to believe, they are doing the work of the Lord in public office, on television, as a prophet or apostle, or trying to save the nation from the evils of men, even if, or especially if they find success and support – merits the highest scrutiny. If they claim to be defending Christianity, etc. the Old Testament scriptures, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 20:4 tell us we do not have to fight for the Lord. He fights for us.

1 John 2:9-11 NKJV
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

My question is always the same as the apostle Paul’s.

Romans 11:34-36 (NKJV) “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Job 11:7 (NKJV) “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

The cost of following Jesus Christ is very real. And persecution is a huge part of that calling. But nobody in any church, much less any church in America, wants to be persecuted or is prepared to face persecution for believing or following Jesus Christ. The desire of the church is to be the persecutor, judge, jury and executioner. That is the definition of the Pharisee in bed with the world. Ready and prepared to support and watch a public execution.

Who are among the most hated people in Christendom today?

It is not necessarily Christians who merely conform to the traditions of men, protect American customs, or use religion/the name of God to preserve their standing. Such outward religious behaviors are quite acceptable, if not, the 21st century norm, because they rarely challenge pride, exposes hypocrisy, or disrupts the values of the surrounding culture. There is no way that God’s adversary would ever allow for that to change. Well, did you guess correctly? The answer may be more surprising.

Answer: It is often the sincere followers of Christ who extend grace and mercy to others just as the Lord Jesus Christ has extended grace and mercy to them. The Pharisees did not appreciate the works and forgiveness that Jesus offered freely. Jesus was considered a heretic. A modern name for Christian heretic today may be liberal, progressive, or other colorful names. (Persecution: Matthew 10:17; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; John 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:12; Revelation 2:10)

Today, compassion can be misunderstood as weakness, compromise, or approval of wrongdoing, even when it is rooted in truth and accompanied by a call to repentance. Yet genuine mercy does not ignore sin or abandon accountability. It refuses to answer hostility with hostility, remembers the forgiveness it has received, and seeks the restoration of those who have fallen.

Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In showing undeserved kindness while remaining faithful to truth, these believers reflect the character of Christ-and-that witness can provoke resistance, if not utter hatred from those who prefer condemnation, self-righteousness, or religion without transforming love. And they would believe they were hating the things that God hates. And you know what God hates? The pride in man’s heart. And He alone knows the heart of all men.

American patriotism and the righteousness of God cannot live in the same temple as equal partners. Next time.