The Scourge Of Racism
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Obedience is a distinctive character trait of the aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Jesus Christ I write about in my book, “The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics” (view, like and share “The Strong Man Of God Book Trailer” now on God Tube). God is so serious about obedience, all disobedience is sin (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6-11, 17-19)! Not even the Son of God got a pass on being obedient (Hebrews 5:8). Yet, many professing Christians are in rebellion against God’s Word and order as though He that is immutable has changed His mind about obedience. Over the next few weeks, I am re-posting a blog series that challenges such deceit and continues God’s call to repent in His house for the sake of restoring men and saving rebels that obey (Jude 20-23)! Originally Posted July 28, 2013
I know well the pain of disobeying God not just long ago but this past week. Every day in some way I come short of God’s glory and miss the mark of His perfect righteousness and on some days willfully disobey a clear directive of His Word. I also understand very well the continuing struggle faithful believers have to resist being selective in our obedience to certain spiritual, moral and ethical demands of Scripture such as loving neighbors or forgiving our brothers when you don’t feel like doing so or it is culturally acceptable to ignore them (“nobody obeys that”). However, the aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Christ has no option but “to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” even after failure upon failure (Philippians 3:14, NKJV). Indeed, it is our heartfelt resolve to please God and do His will (Colossians 1:9-12)! We are called to obey the whole Word of God as it concerns His commandments, spiritual, moral, and ethical imperatives as well as principles, precepts and exhortations. We cannot pick and choose what we will obey as it suits us. To be purposely selective in our obedience to God’s Word as so many have throughout Christian history, is to set ourselves up as superior judges of God passing judgment on His perfect righteousness. The Lord Jesus rebuked Israel’s religious educated elite for practicing selective obedience and no one will convince me He at any time has given His followers a pass (Matthew 23:23). The apostles presented us the “whole counsel of God” in Christ and we are to honor it in our lives by obedience even stumbling and fumbling in sin weakness through the flesh as we go for He has provided help through the Holy Spirit and continuing forgiveness upon our proper confession in genuine repentance (Acts 20:26-27; Romans 8:1-4, 26-27; 1 John 1:5-9, NKJV). Willful, selective obedience has stunted the spiritual growth of so many professing Christians as well as hurt their witness and the cause of Christ on earth from the first century until now. Truly, enabling societal racial double standards is among a long list of many permitted ungodly attitudes and behaviors that have been carried on with impunity by professing Christians in direct disobedience to the teaching of God’s Word. We try to pretend like all of this has really done no harm, but according to the apostle Paul speaking to proud and failed law keeping Jews, we are deceived (Romans 2:24). As one case in point, over the past century we have had many pastors willfully and defiantly disobey God’s command through the apostle Paul concerning the role and conduct of our sisters when the church is before Him in the worship assembly. One falsely held reason for this is that these men act as owners of God’s house rather than the stewards like Moses in it they have only been called to be since God in Christ is the Builder/Owner (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 3:1-6)! And like Moses, pastors too as stewards are to be found faithful in their Master’s house obeying His commands without deviation (Luke 12:42-48; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Paul teaches that our sisters are not to assert any form of leadership--preaching, speaking, teaching, leading worship etc.--in church assemblies out of reverence for God’s long standing command in the Garden of Eden that transcends the legal code given to Israel and was honored by Christ since there is no recorded instance in the Gospels where He put women in authority over men (Genesis 3:16b; Matthew 5:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 14:33-38). No matter how they arrive at giving themselves permission to do it, pastors and churches that put women into the exclusive leadership roles and responsibilities of men in whatever other ways they are obedient, have selectively chosen to disobey the consistent instruction of the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation not to do so. And now, as a result of this disobedience, churches not only showcase women Scripture readers, worship leaders and preachers, but have graduated to allowing them to serve as pastors along with those that are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender! As I write in The Strong Man Of God, many churches are today so compromised as a result of this particular act of disobedience, they are also seen as an ally to the world in its all out rebellion against God and are proud of it. To the women that truly love and would please God: do not follow after the way of selective obedience that is finally leading to severe judgment in His house (Isaiah 1:10-20; 1 Peter 4:17-18; Revelation 2:18-29). Also, do not let anyone lead you into disobedience whether it be a so-called apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, theologian, other teacher--no matter how credentialed, father or husband (Matthew 10:34-39; John 12:26, 14:15, 15:9-11). To the pastors and all professing Christians that willfully practice selectively obeying God’s Word: repent! For neither God nor His Word changes nor did He suddenly in the 20th century begin to look favorably upon disobedience (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Also, selective obedience is not the mind nor does it in any way honor the example of Christ who was “obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross,” (Philippians 2:5-8, NKJV). Do not be deceived. The Lord does not treat our sins as they deserve, but is longsuffering and patient with us (Psalm 103:10; Romans 2:4). Finally, however, if we will not repent, He will deal with us as our Lord Jesus declares in Revelation 2:21-23. I know these truths personally, intimately and painfully as I hope I made clear in the opening of this blog. Too, as an aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ, I also know the joy of pleasing God with faithful obedience in the strength He supplies.
Confusion in God's house is of such an extent in these latter days, many no longer preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as commanded much less that soul deep repentance from sin and faith in the message is required (Mark 1:14-15). It is impossible to make the Gospel any simpler and easier for people to digest than the way it is plainly stated in the written Word without corrupting it. The same holds true for God's one and only way for already saved folk to get right after we sin. Again, the written Word contains God's simple and easy direction for what a professing Christian that is guilty of sin must do. Without soul deep repentance from sin, there can be no forgiveness for anyone! So, first, what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? According to the apostle Paul through whose preaching of the message we Gentile believers exist, the Gospel is "that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, NKJV). It is not enough to believe Christ died on the cross. One must believe He died "for our sins." It was our sins that separated us from God and condemned us. But Christ, "The Lamb of God" came to endure God's wrath on the cross for our sins and make possible through His blood their removal by forgiveness (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 1:29, 3:13-21, NKJV). When the New Testament speaks of believing in Christ in the context of salvation, it is not only belief that He is a historical Person, but always with the understanding that men believe the Gospel in which He and His sacrifice are central. Just believing Jesus is a real Person cannot save you. Our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ centers on His sacrifice to save us from our sins. This faith is preceded by a conviction we are guilty of sin before God and stand in great peril since we have no remedy unless He should act to save us (Isaiah 6:1-7; Romans 7:14-8:1). Leaving sin out as the key issue of the Gospel is another, false gospel and condemns its preachers (Galatians 1:1-10)! Soul deep repentance is spawned by the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins that have offended God and include heretofore refusing to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 16:5-11). In the midst of guilt, shame and an overwhelming regret accompanied by real sorrow in the depths of the soul, the sinner turns from rebellion against God to Him and His help in the Gospel. Hence, in accord with Christ’s command (Luke 24:46-49), at Pentecost Peter answered the men of Israel in their anguish of sin guilt, "Repent…," (Acts 2:36-39, NKJV); Paul assuming conviction of sin and soul deep repentance as immediate antecedents to faith writes Romans 10:6-17. After becoming Christians, we continue to sin against God as He foreknew. In His infinite wisdom and unique greatness, God moves in several ways at once to help us from the moment of salvation. Through the Holy Spirit we are set apart as holy and holiness is worked in us daily as an intended lifelong process leading to glory (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). The Father begins to father us with loving instruction and discipline (Hebrews 12:3-11). Among the things we are taught is to reflexively confess and repent from our sins trusting in God’s faithful and just character to forgive us because of the finished sacrifice and continuing advocacy of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 1:5-2:2). Christians can and many of us do stubbornly resist the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in refusing to confess and repent from our sins. We have varying reasons, but the bottom line is we are loving and preferring our sin to God. The Holy Spirit in grief continues to reach out to us while we shrug Him off in resistance with all manner of deceitful rationalizations and justifications for our sin (Ephesians 4:30). During this time which may be many years, we are certainly in rebellion and not walking by faith. Also, in love the Lord painfully chastens us to the end of finally bringing us around to a “godly sorrow” and soul deep repentance like David (Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, NKJV) leading to a purge of sin from our hearts as Josiah purged Israel if we will (2 Chronicles 34:1-7). To see such godly sorrow and soul deep repentance among professing Christians currently in rebellion against God, His Word and order is my hope from the heart of God in writing and speaking with directness (Ezekiel 33:1-9). For the immutable God longsuffering and merciful does judge His people though He desires not to (Ezekiel 18:23, 30-32, 33:10-11; Hebrews 10:26-31; Revelation 2:4-5, 14-16, 20-23, 3:1-3, 15-20). Therefore, let the disobedient of God’s house carefully consider that Daniel voiced prayer in soul deep repentance on behalf of his people from the judgment of captivity looking toward restoration (Daniel 9:1-19); not so for you, but eternal disgrace and ruin await unless you repent now (Hebrews 3:7-19, 12:12-17; Revelation 13, 14:8-11, 16:17-19:4)!
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