LIVING IN THE LAST HOUR

We could all be living our last hour.

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  • Really Christian!

  • Rich Mullins 1955-1997

    Rich Mullins

    Compassion International

  • What color is your sin?

    Bear with me here.

    So, last week, I was in attendance at the Texas Democratic convention in Corpus Christi. I walked away with the impression that not much was going to change in Texas. Not because democrats are not doing the work but because they do not know how to support each other. Everyone one wants to be catered to. That’s the totality of American society. For democrats their vote is the carrot they dangle in front of candidates. So, unless Texas statewide candidates can woo their fellow democrats, they can pretty much count their race a loss. But we all know, it will take a lot more than democrat votes, for a democrat to win a statewide race in Texas. 

    Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
    Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

    There was a lot to take in during the convention. My focus was on looking beyond this political divisions, racial, ethnic and even gender and not just among democrats but the whole gist of partisan politics. As a believer (in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of all things, the King of kings) my biggest question was this, “What does the Lord say of all this?” I am so exhausted with Texas conservative politics. It is a cesspool of adulterous, religious-political rhetoric that serves no purpose. This is the reason you need boots and tall hats here. Lots of poop and big egos. Isaiah 65 speaks to this as a stench to the nostrils of a holy God.

    Well, after that a bunch of other questions came to mind. “What does God think of Texas Republicans calling Talarico all sorts of names? Does God care about Texas politics or politics in general? No. You want to know why?

    Scripture says that men make all sorts of plans, but it is God’s will that prevails. Every single time, God’s will, will prevail. I can pray and pray and pray and beg God for life, for healing of a loved one to no avail. And what can we do after He has chosen to take a life? Nothing. If anyone believes in God (the living God, in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of all things, the King of kings) he or she believes that God is the giver and taker of life. Period. If you read about King David when he had taken Uriah’s wife, had him killed and then married his wife, they had a child. The child was taken ill. David was distraught. He would not eat. He would cry out to God night and day. And the child died. David got up, washed up. He got dressed, went to worship and he ate. And his people came and were amazed at his transformation and they had to ask.  “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

    King Davids responds with, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” All his efforts and pain did not change God’s will. And what was God’s will?

    After King David’s adulterous actions to the point of murder, God sends the prophet Nathan. And Nathan lays out his sin. So, “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

    And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” David sinned against God. And he gave God’s enemies the opportunity to mock him. Sin has consequences. God is not mocked.

    There are many false teachers, false doctrines, fake Christians (CINO). Fake Christians are people who grew up knowing and learning about God, but never more than that. They went through the motions, but that’s it. The name stuck. It’s the same way with Catholics. I grew up as a Catholic but never embraced the belief. I was a Catholic in name only. When I joined the military, I was asked if I had any religious affiliation or something like that. I just checked Christian. Not because I called myself a Christian either. I had yet to meet the Lord. Much later I learned the difference.

    When the religious right attacks your character and tries to discredit your witness, how should you answer? Do you go, tit for tat, tuck your tail between your legs and walk away, feeling stupid and humiliated, or turn the other cheek?

    Then it hit me…

    As I reflected on my experience at the State Convention, I felt my spirit quickened. I realized, Texas Republicans are not against adulterers, or pedophiles, or even LGBT. It’s ok to be LGBT so long as they are Republican. They have no problem with adulterous behaviors, corruption in leadership, and on and on. So, their war is not against sin. Oh, they call out the sins of others and let their followers define the rest.

    This incessant war is not about protecting American freedoms. Whichever way, the right justifies its need to wage war on democrats, or any political party, it is not over morality. It’s not over Christianity. If Christianity is about anything, it is about morality. God wishes everyone to be saved, but He knows the heart of all men too. Lust begins in the heart. And it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a man.

    Republicans have no desire to be a good Samaritan. At the cross, Jesus cried out to His Father “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” The religious leaders were condemning Jesus. They were ok, with crucifying Him. They were ok with persecuting the apostles. Do you remember, Saul had Stephen stoned? They also dragged the adulterous woman to the feet of Jesus, hoping He would condemn her. But they did not bring the adulterous man. The Jewish leaders were ok with freeing a known criminal. And still, Jesus cried to His Father. “Forgive them they do not know what they were doing.” He was their mediator. Today, religious leaders do not know what they are doing. Jesus is still their Mediator, but take note, God is not mocked. Period. I do not have to rack my brain any longer trying to understand the hate of the religious right. God is gracious. I serve a living God. And He will not give His glory to anyone. 

    Galatians 2:11-13 NKJV
    Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

    The biggest threat to the body of Christ is the Pharisee.

    More later. Blessing.

  • I start many a post…then

    I change my mind. As a Bible believing woman, I am fully persuaded that God is who He says He is. The enemy enjoys casting doubt on that truth. So, as much as he frolics in his folly, even more so I remind myself of the reality of God. I do not expect anyone to believe as I do. It would be great if everyone did. And the Scriptures tell me that God desires the same thing. He wishes everyone to be saved. But He knows not everyone will. He even says that not everyone who calls on His name will be accepted, because He never knew them. And every Bible believing Christian should understand the why’s of people who do not believe. And churchgoers are not saved because they are born into the faith. And the shameful reality for believers is that the majority are faithing under false teachings. Who has not contributed to any false teachings? There is a greater chance that most believers have heard a false gospel spread by reputable bible teachers, than not. How did I come by that conclusion? The Scriptures say the gate to heaven is narrow and few find it. But many more will go through the wide gate. Jesus said we should strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many will seek to enter in and shall not be able. Jesus Himself, said that many would claim to have done things in His name, but He is going to tell them to depart, because He never knew them.

    Matthew 7:13-14 KJV "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

    Give it up folks. There is no exclusive worldly label that defines believers. And let’s face reality all labels are worldly. Conservatives Christians, progressives Christians, Christian nationalists, white supremacists, and all other groups who claim to be doing work or battling in the name of God are done in the futility of the carnal mind. When I consider the work that Jesus accomplished during His time on earth, I do not see any 21st equivalent. The wide road is not the path any believer wants to be on. But, since that day in the garden, man has been doing what is right in his own eyes. Let the Scriptures be true and every man a liar. Mind you, there is a plethora of rationalizations to justify the current state of Christian divisions. Christianity has become us vs them. And it’s not believers, vs, unbelievers. It’s believers, vs believers. So many forget that our battles are not against flesh and blood. And worse, they engage spiritual battles with worldly weapons. Jesus was the Son of God, so who should we be, if not brothers and sisters, adopted into the kingdom of God. When we attack one another over doctrinal differences, we have already lost the war.

    "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 KJV

    Today’s Christian and evangelicals are still quite the conundrum. My husband and I had to drive to NC for a funeral. It a long haul to and from. We were having a conversation on the way home about the pandemic. COVID changed our world, and not for the good. It made us a paranoid, bipolar generation. Think about how many generations are living today. From those still living from the Greatest Generation to Generation Beta. Generation Beta was not yet born, but they are being raised by a generation that lived through the pandemic. How we interact, commune, shop, even read has changed since the turn of the century. If technology had not already shaped our world, COVID definitely left its mark on a society already fractured by a past it has not been able to shed. How long did the pandemic last? It lasted long enough to revive generational deep-seated mindsets.

    The ills of society are not the result of any one people, but the heart of all people. The church shares blame. The Creator of man said the heart of man was continually evil. So much so, he had to destroy His creation. But He did find one righteous man who could carry on. The man Noah. Noah and his family. And even after he saved Noah and his family, one son did what was right in his own eyes. And here we are. And when God asked Jonah to go preach to Ninevah because He wanted to save the people there. Jonah disagreed. He felt strongly that the people should be destroyed.

    God is always willing to save, to forgive, to show mercy, and He only asks one thing. He asks that man turn his heart back to Him. Think about that. He asks that one little thing of those – He calls His children. Sadly, His children do not obey Him. And that is their history. God’s people are obstinate and disobedient. They can’t even begin to keep His laws. To this day, the most rebellious people are the children of God. And His children know too well that judgment begins with the house of God.

    So, while the trolls laugh, the Lord laughs louder. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” So, I try not to do this.

    But …. “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Sometimes I am compelled to respond. But when I do, these Christians feel a greater need to defend their stance. They dig their heels in and start hurling insults and callings their critics, children of Satan. That’s the pattern. They have taken their lead from their leader. The father of lies.

    The harvest is now. The tares must be removed to bring in the wheat. The tares have mixed with the wheat since forever, and their presence is visibly noticeable. So here we are. The tares look too much like the wheat. They have sapped that which was for the wheat (Jeremiah 12-13). But the good wheat is ready.

    May God have mercy on our souls.

    I added an AI Generated image below, just for effects. It is my first time trying this feature. It looks nice, but I think I prefer my own images.

  • Why our social world continues to decline…

    really needs a historical review. I don’t know if I would take that research on. It’s not difficult to see that our world, social and otherwise has changed. Some for the better, some not so much. The not so much, cost of living has gone up, but so have wages, although they do not keep up with each other. We are less patient, less tolerant, less optimistic, less free. There are more cars on the road and more aggressive drivers. Americans are more cynical, critical, sarcastic, and pessimistic about the future. And those are just people in my circle and comments I read on my social media. Nextdoor is crazy! There is no doubt everyone knows someone that has one or more of these traits.

    Why are we less free? Well, we are more fearful. I live in Texas. Just about everyone carries. I figure if folks feel a need to pack a weapon of any kind they must anticipate or expect danger. That’s the world we live in. That’s bondage to fear.

    During the COVID months, I found it difficult to understand the fear evangelicals had with persecution. There was no threat. The fear, for what they did not understand, drove them to the arms of conspiracy theorists. They feared those things which Jesus told us to expect. They fear worldly influences will seduce their children to the dark side. They teach their children to fear. The Scriptures are many – many -that speak to our journey in Christ. What to expect. What not to fall for and on and on.

    • “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
    • “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
    • “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4 (Our American identity and our identity if Christ are in conflict.)
    • “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (Every person that enters politics must win the approval of fellow human beings -if they are to be elected.)
    • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
    • “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31 (So, if you bully, you can expect to be bullied.)
    • “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-4
    • “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

    I am not surprised by the pastors standing firm on the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These days defining the true gospel even seems impossible. But it really isn’t. Under the current administration our social world has been dramatically flipped. When laws once divided Americans by skin color, life was significantly harder for those with darker skin. Even after all the laws changed for the better, for people of color, many Americans held on to their prejudices and stereotypes, keeping people of color out of their orbit. So, white Americans created their own communities. And still the laws continued to change. People of color, for the most part, remain marginalized, but who would acknowledge it?

    Clearly, the cost of intolerance was more and is more than some folks were willing to pay. And the church rather than being the instrument of change, peace, and forgiveness, grace, well – we know how that went. Being tolerant of differences – had nothing to do with accepting sinful behaviors as the norm. Yet, taking that route, for many evangelicals some sinful behaviors became more normalized, more forgiving, than others. They took sin and put it on a gradation scale. Not God. He has not changed. Sin is sin. The scripture says, everyone who sins is a slave to sin, does it not? It does not matter what the sin is, big or little, subtle, or obvious. Most of us may have one or more sins we do not give much consideration to. No Christian can deny that truth.

    We were born into our circumstances.

    We all had to undergo socialization into our various communities, for the good or the bad. Our social world can only decline as it transforms into whatever it will be next. History has shown us how this plays out. It’s like cleaning out a closet. You have to take everything out to clean and organize it. It gets messy.

    The Jim Crow era was intact in the United States from the late 1800’s until century, around the mid-1960s. Here is where racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans thrived. White Americans were in their element and they loved it. Then came the Civil Rights Movement and our world slowly came out of the color divide. It still had, has a long way to go. The last few years we have regressed.

    Encouragement is found in the Scriptures.

    Through all this mess our social has experienced (Even though I know God is at work here and there are multiple factors involved, today’s evangelicals created this mess, because of their lust for power and control over a people they judge. Like Jonah did. This is a picture of the children of God turning away from God.) I have learned the need for spiritual discernment. This world is what it is. It is not my home. I do not expect the world to change for me, or my faith. The world cannot change if the hearts of man are not changed. Scripture says the heart is continually only evil (Genesis 6:5). But though we may have an evil heart, we do good. I would pray to the Lord to save me and mine from the evil influences, from the evil one who walks about looking for whom he may devour, from Karen, and the hooded and masked of this world. But, as the three Hebrew children proclaimed, even if God chose not to save us, I would not turn away from Him, and I would not cave to the gods of this world. Do I want God to save me? Yes. But persecution is not a possibility for those that believe. It is a biblical reality. We will face persecution. Read the Scriptures. It’s in there. When? Well, the Scriptures only provide signs to watch for.

    Let’s get scripturally real here. No earthly law, or biblical law, no earthly leader is going to change the heart of man. “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).” It is the work of the Holy Spirit to change the heart of men. God does not reside in temples made by human hands. The apostle, Paul wrote, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying (1 Corinthians 10:23)” We have freedoms in Christ. We have freedom in this country. But our American freedom, that which we cherish and protect, with the lives of our loved ones, does not give us permission to do, say, or act any which way we want. I recall a saying. I have not heard it for decades. “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.” Freedom of speech, basic. Well, neither does our freedom in Christ allow us the freedom to sin at will.

    The church is infested with false teachers and doctrines of demons, and the traditions of men that sound genuinely biblical. That is nothing new. It sounds cool too. It is what itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). And church folk eat it up like manna from heaven. The Scriptures tell us to expect as much. So, all this, is every man doing what is right in his own eyes. He holds himself accountable to no one, not even God. This is typical behavior for the children of Israel. Can we expect anything good from them? Nope. God will deal with them as He always has.

    So, I pray. I trust God to work things out for our good, according to His will. I read the Scriptures. I am not turned away from the church, the body of Christ, nor does it shake my faith in God. Locally, and out there, many Christian leaders I once saw as godly, have lost all integrity in my eyes. It’s like Joshua 9. They spew religious – political verbiage, they do it in the public square, and deny God His glory.

    This fallen world is full of false gods, idolatry and all sorts of lusts, pride, arrogance, and hate. The end game, to lead God’s people away from Him. And it is working.

    If I believed that being anti-abortion, pro-life, anti-LGBT, anti-left, or a republican, if I believed holding any of these labels made me righteous, or holy, I would be deceived. If I thought wearing these labels were a straight shot to heaven, I would be deceived. These worldly labels only make me politically minded. If I was commanded to deny Christ and live, I would be persecuted and possibly put to death. I expect that would come to pass. When? Your guess is as good as mine. I keep my eyes on the Lord.

    Jonah did not want God to save Ninevah. He knew God was a forgiving God. He wanted God to destroy a people that had destroyed much of his world. So, does the evangelical not want God to forgive certain people? The evangelical church made its bed when it mingled with the world.

    Scripture says “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls (Luke 11:17).”

    God will judge our deeds. The God of the heavens likely laughs at the futility of men trying to do what it feels they have to do to feel good about themselves. May God have mercy on our souls.

    Be blessed.