As I do in the opening paragraph of this now re-titled, two-part and edited 2013 repost, I write the introduction acknowledging that I am well aware of the continuing news of especially young black males being gunned down by police and citizens white and black.1 Some in foolish retaliation have targeted and murdered police officers. None of this is righteous in the sight of the God I serve, the Lord Jesus Christ, who in accord with His Word is indignant at the needless carnage however it occurs since men can, but refuse to turn to Him for salvation and deliverance from evil hearts (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 15:19; John 3:16-21, 36; Romans 1:18-32; Revelation 6:12-17, 19:11-16).
From the Lord’s impartial judgment, the killing of black males and any retaliation all stem from sin that is common to every human heart and deceptively played upon by the original murderer, Satan (John 8:44). The handiwork of the deceiver is everywhere to be seen in the tragic taking of human lives up to and including his not so subtle instigation and sustaining of the racial double standard born of the sin of racism that exists in every fabric of American society. For truly, at the end of the day as this repost reveals, our nation’s racial double standard has even been falsely portrayed as upheld by God through Satan’s master stroke, Christianity the religion of men. God is not pleased!
Originally Posted July 21, 2013
My first reaction last year after hearing about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin at the hand of George Zimmerman was sadness for the young man and his family followed by the familiar sickening revulsion at how and why he was shot as news reports presented details of the event. Not wanting to be presumptuous and waiting on the Lord’s release, I have held my peace on the matter until now. Let me be clear: the killing of a human being by another whether it is in the womb or the streets saddens me because it also grieves the living God who made man in the divine image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27, 6:5-6). The guilty should repent now before the Judge of all the earth!
There is a sense spiritually originating principally from Satan, that the killing of a man is an attempt to eradicate any vestiges of God displayed through His marred image uniquely resident in mankind (Genesis 3:1-11, 4:1-8, 6:11-13, 9:5-6; Isaiah 52:13-15). Even so, regardless of why finally George Zimmerman (who calls himself Hispanic) for legal purposes says he shot Trayvon, the fact he carried a gun and uttered the contemptible things he did to the 911 dispatcher as a prelude, condemn his subsequent actions on High (Matthew 5:21-26).2 If he has not already, he should repent and turn to Christ through faith in the Gospel for salvation from His perfect justice (Revelation 20:11-15)!
Trayvon’s violent reaction to George Zimmerman’s invasion of his space is in no way being excused here. His is a reaction every black American male in the sinful flesh can empathize with though, most would not carry out; certainly none walking in the Holy Spirit who helps aspiring strong men of God in the image of Christ when called upon (Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25).3 In slavery and Jim Crow America, black parents that wanted their children to live exercised a similar restraining effort in their lives and whipped them to teach the self-control that would keep a white man from killing them. Faithful Christian parents also taught trusting all vengeance to the Lord (Psalm 7).
However, a post-Civil Rights generation in large numbers does not know the Lord of Scripture who brought us out nor do they care to employ the restraint of their careful forefathers. They resent the fact our people were oppressed in such a way that they could not express their outrage at injustice or defend themselves against unprovoked harassment. Trayvon died expressing his angry reaction to George Zimmerman’s irritating racial profile (which shamefully is still a continuing fact of life for blacks and other racial minorities in 21st century America) and all it got him was dead.4 And while he may be a hero to some on earth, he is not to any on High (Matthew 5:38-48).
Just or unjust under the laws of man (specifically, Florida’s so-called “stand your ground law” which is unjust particularly since it wickedly emboldens concealed gun carrying citizens to act aggressively toward those they might not otherwise engage in non-life threatening encounters--Jeremiah 17:9), a jury has given its not guilty verdict in George Zimmerman’s murder trial. No amount of marching or retaliating violence will change it.5 Nevertheless, Trayvon Martin’s death, the Florida law and the trial has started some righteous conversations about issues of racial profiling, the definition of self-defense, criminal proceedings etc. I would like to challenge readers of this blog to also consider one of the larger issues raised in this case, that of our nation’s racial double standard.
1 The police ultimately as agents of authority “appointed by God” have His permission to kill a man in the narrow instance of carrying out their lawful duties (Romans
13:1-7, NKJV) and never as an issue of the sinful heart such as racism. For God Himself holds them accountable. Therefore, our sons must be taught to respect
police authority and refrain from evildoing; trusting that God who gave them their skin color (Acts 17:26a) will deal with any of His agents that make being black a
punishable crime (Psalm 82, 94:1-11, 20-23; Lamentations 3:34-36; Luke 3:14-17; James 2:8-13).
2 Read the December 27, 2015 post, People And Guns under the category, Biblical Worldview.
3 I write about Christian men as aspiring strong men of God in the image of Jesus Christ in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It is available at all major
internet book sellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
4 I fully empathize with the instant anger Trayvon felt and every black American male feels when being targeted for the God given blessing of being us. However, as I
had to begin to learn after becoming a born again Christian in 1977, my anger does not lead to the outcome of God’s righteousness (James 1:19-20).
5 Read my November 29, 2015 blog, When The Glory Comes, under the category, Glory To God! A divinely initiated paradigm shift in the way of the world that shall
stand forever is about to happen. Faithful Christians know that God expects us to wait for it a little while longer in persevering faith and patience (Psalm 37:1-11;
James 5:1-12).
Though it is repeatedly taught in the New Testament that what is called “Christianity” cannot be lived out through the natural will and strength of human effort as a religion, from the first century until now sinful human beings have kept trying in futility and shame.1 Of course, Satan delights in this reality since it helps sell his lie that what God has gloriously accomplished in Christ to save mankind from our sins is really just another of the many equally valid religious inventions of men. Those of us that know and love the truth grieve with the heart of God that a counterfeit form of Christianity exists competing with the real thing either ruining or turning away earnest seekers (2 Timothy 3:1-9).
The Person and work of Jesus Christ crucified, buried, risen, ascended, glorified and coming again to rule this earth forms the biblical core of “the faith” (Jude 3-4, NKJV). He and the Father have sent the Holy Spirit into the earth to actualize the divine will to save souls through the preaching of the Gospel about and witnessing of Christ (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8). Still concerned about how Satan has confused things, I wrote this edited 2012 repost as the Spirit led to stress again how He in life changing residence and power is the central and essential superior factor that distinguishes an authentic Christian from one that is a mere professor (John 3:1-8,14:15-18; Acts 19:1-10).2
Originally Posted March 11, 2012
One of the major reasons the history of the churches on earth is filled with confusion, stained with human blood and pot-marked with evil corruptions of all kinds is the deadly, formal appearance of Christianity as a flesh driven religion not long after the first century eyewitness apostles passed from the scene. In fact, the Lord Jesus apparently deals with a church in the onset of religion first in messages He gives to seven churches of Asia through John, most likely the last living eyewitness apostle (Revelation 2:1-7). The reality that Christ not only has first-hand knowledge of what is going on within, but judges every local church in all generations accordingly should be totally sobering to us.
The once spiritually vibrant church at Ephesus had been nurtured by the apostle Paul who also foretold the devastation that would come by corrupt shepherds (Acts 20:17-31). Still, by the time of John’s recording of His Revelation later in the century, the Lord Jesus commends the church’s resistance of false apostles and teachers along with their persevering labor for His name sake. But He then calls for the individuals making up this church to repent from the one thing He had against them: they had left their “first love”--Him (Revelation 2:4, NKJV)! This matter is so serious to the Lord, He promises to remove the church from among His churches unless they repented! Why?
Is it not because our individual relationship with and corporate devotion to the risen Lord in Holy Ghost fired love is His highest priority for us (Luke 14:25-26; John 21:15-17; Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:19)? And had it not been the loveless, flesh driven works of Jewish religion that put the Lord on the cross (Acts 2:22-24, 3:11-17)? Besides all of that, the Christian life is a supernatural life that cannot be lived in the flesh nor can flesh works please God (Romans 8:6-9). All throughout the biblical record whenever men turn their hearts from God, sin and the rigor mortis of outward religion soon set in to His great displeasure (Isaiah 1:10-15; Matthew 23:1-33).
In my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics,3 Jesus Christ is shown from the Bible as a Man full of the Holy Spirit and power for His service from the time of John’s baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). Having the preeminence in all things and blazing a trail of example for us who would believe in Him thereafter, aspiring strong men of God and the churches they assemble in are all likewise baptized in and live full of the Holy Spirit. This means the Spirit initiates then leads, controls and empowers the aspiring strong man of God’s life moment by moment. It also means God’s power through the Holy Spirit not human effort characterizes his life in all things.
There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. Not even studying and knowing the entire written Word of God can replace the Spirit’s priority and manifold work in the life of a believer. Indeed, it is of the highest form of futility to know the Word, but have no power to do it (Romans 7:14-24). But now, fully related to Christ Jesus in faith, the aspiring strong man of God is able to love, obey and serve Him in power through the agency of the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:25-8:5)! This is the Christianity of the apostles and New Testament of the Bible. Anything else is an empty knock off of manmade religion destined to destroy its practitioners and be destroyed (Revelation 17:15-19:4)!
1 See the August-September 2016 posts on Christianity as a powerless religion of human invention beginning with the two-part, Christianity The Religion Of Men on August 21st under the category, Instruction.
2 Read my March 1, 2015 post, The Mark Of A Genuine Christian and those that follow through March 22nd under the category, Instruction.
3 The book is available at all major internet book sellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
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