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• Flavorless Salt Is Worthless, Pt. 1

              I trust God last month’s trilogy of posts presenting and exploring His future promise to us who are the meek, His faithful saints and eternal sons were a source of encouragement and uplift.¹  This is a major purpose of Bible prophecy besides glorifying God who knows all things and the reason it along with the whole of His Word should be treated with the utmost reverence and care in objectively reading, interpreting and applying it as the Holy Spirit leads (Isaiah 41:21-24, 43:8-13, 44:6-8; John 13:19, 14:25-29; 2 Peter 1:16-21)!  For our best days are not found in this present life and world, but all that God has yet planned for us in Christ Jesus contrary to popular teaching today.

   

              Popular teaching today focuses primarily on what “God wants to do for you materially now.”  But while God with Fatherly love and wisdom provides all of our needs and some wants according to His will (Matthew 6:24-34; Philippians 4:19), our salvation completed and glorious eternal future with Christ is the major thrust of the Bible’s New Testament all hinged on His finished work on Calvary, death, burial and resurrection (1 Timothy 6:6-16).  The apostle Paul is very direct and clear on this when he writes defending Christ’s resurrection and empty implications of a future without it: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable,” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NKJV).

   

              The apostle Peter, who writes in his second epistle to condemn and warn about false teachers along with scoffers, also exhorts us to be guided in our living by God’s planned future following the fiery end of this present creation in the “day of the Lord,” (2 Peter 2:10-13, NKJV).  He writes, “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless,” (2 Peter 2:14, NKJV).  The Lord’s “longsuffering” “is salvation” (ours, having already come to Christ and those still to come the Lord foreknows and waits for) he writes, which the apostle Paul too, wrote about and “untaught and unstable people twist” (2 Peter 3:15-16, NKJV).²

   

              Despite Peter’s solemn warning that such people distorted Paul’s writings “to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (saying this, Peter elevates Paul’s writings to the level of Scripture as he earlier does his own--2 Peter 3:1-2), has not been enough to deter others from doing so to this hour (2 Peter 3:16, NKJV)!  Knowing the end of such people “beforehand” he has written and warned about starting at 2 Peter 2:1, the eyewitness apostle further soberly warns: “beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.”  Instead, “grow in the grace and (true, biblically sound) knowledge of Christ,” (2 Peter 3:17-18, NKJV).

   

              It is purposefully corrupt teaching that the Lord has had me crying out against and calling the guilty to repentance from with true revival; teaching that has spiritually ill-equipped a generation to face biblically foretold times such as we are in right now, and that will only grow progressively worse until the glorious return of our Lord.  Indeed, because the guilty from many different ethnicities and socio-economic groups profess so loudly to be bona fide Christians, it has been amazing to see their incredible obstinacy I have witnessed during most of the thirty-five years of this Ministry the Lord led me to found and that officially came into existence on August 12, 1985 in Fort Worth, Texas. 

   

              Surely, if God has used any man as a prophet among the churches to hew the unfaithful with His Word since the prolific pens of the reformers, I am among them by His will as many in Dallas/Fort Worth for twelve years and here in the Northwest throughout the past twenty-three can attest (Hosea 6:4-6)!  Over three hundred posts since 2014 in this forum alone; closing in on seventy “Call To Repent” posts that include several this year before and after God’s Coronavirus judgment and this two-part post.³ And why is this so?  The Lord who gifted and called me loves you, is gracious, merciful, forbearing, patient and eternally consistent in His actions (Luke 3:7-9, 11:47-51).⁴

   

              In obedience, I have sounded the Lord’s call to repent and will as often as He directs going forward to deliver the willing from judgment (Jeremiah 7:21-27, 8:18-22, 25:1-7, 26:1-6; Ezekiel 2:1-3:7, 33:1-9; Jude 20-23)!  As I spent all of these years warning with the Lord’s leading, the days of His escalating warning judgments have come with the Coronavirus and there will be no going back to “normal.”  Still, many remain obstinate as was ancient Israel; the Lord sending plague after serious plague upon His stubborn, unfaithful people who refused to repent as He speaks through the prophet (Amos 4:6-13).  How long though, will the Lord hold back greater judgment upon guilty professed Christians who are supposed to be “the salt of the earth,” (Matthew 5:13a, NKJV)?

   

  1 The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth posted on July 12, 2020 under the categories, Black History and Encouragement.  It was followed July 19^th by Ruling The Earth Un-

     der Christ and on the 26^th, Earth As An Eternal Inheritance both under the category, Bible Prophecy.

  2 Many  Bible teachers today regularly distort Scripture by reading into and using it out of context to support their own ideas rather than going to it to objectively pull out 

     what  is  there in a straightforward manner.  Beyond this is their accurate reading of Scripture, then, corrupt explaining away of the plain truth or command in it to justi-

     fy  their disobedience.  Our  Ministry  offers a sound Bible Interpretation summary document for free download in the Strong Man Store to help those who want to pro- 

     perly interpret “the  word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV).

  3 Read the April 5, 2020 post, God Is Speaking and Does Anybody Repent Anymore? posted on April 19, 2020 both under the category, Call To Repent

  4 I can only shake my head with sadness when I hear renowned conservative pastors and Bible teachers arrogantly dismiss the spiritual gift of prophecy and ministry of

     prophets  from  operation today in the Body of Christ so plainly taught by Him and His apostles in the New Testament.  If this gift was only for the first century and until 

     the  cannon  of  Scripture  sealed as they presumptively supposition with no support whatsoever from Scripture itself, then, tell me why is church history filled with pro- 

     phets  (to include many reformers) if not in name, function to this hour?  Also, tell me how to escape the move of the Holy Spirit to speak and write what He puts in my 

     mouth  of  things  present and future completely consistent with the Word written--not that I want to escape since His Word is joyful fire in my belly, but I call out the in- 

     ferred slander that I am self-called and deluded (Jeremiah 20:7-10; Matthew 10:27; Luke 24:30-32)?  Scripture does declare when prophecy will cease and God stops 

     using prophets: at the Second Coming of Christ (Zechariah 13:2-6; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12)!

• Confusing The Issue

              An ancient, diabolical method that has been used to side step obedience to divine commands is to confuse the issue as the Bible shows.  For example, Satan immediately confused the issue with Eve on God’s command about not eating from one tree in the garden by asking did He really say ‘“You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’.”  Then, he accused God of lying about the consequence of disobedience after Eve sought to clarify His command with her own embellishment.  Finally, the wily serpent also accused God of deceitfully trying to hide the actual beneficial end of eating from the tree He had forbidden.  Eve ate from it in disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6, 13, NKJV).

   

              After God introduced His Law through Moses, Satan influenced the Israelites that were guilty to use an inventive way to side step obedience by again confusing the issue.  God had commanded Israel, ‘“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…You shall have no other gods before Me.’”  He further commanded they were not to make any ‘“carved image,’” ‘“bow down to…nor serve them,’” (Exodus 20:1-6, NKJV).  Later, however, while waiting on Moses, “the man,” they said, “who brought us up out of the land of Egypt” to return from talking with God on the mountain, the people urged Aaron to make them gods to “go before us,” (Exodus 32:1, NKJV).

   

              Had not God plainly and audibly in His own voice declared He, not Moses or any other god had brought Israel up out of Egypt?  But since they were waiting on Moses and not God as they should have been, they assigned the Egyptian exodus to Moses as its architect.  And from that confused conclusion in their impatience and spiritual dullness, they blamed Moses for the long delay and possible abandonment of them.  The confused issue over who was the actual driving force behind the exodus led to their blatant disobedience of the first two of God’s Ten Commandments in making for themselves gods (associated with demons) to lead them going forward.

   

              Even after all of God’s Law was written down, the deceiver was able to entice Israel to sin through confusing the issue of who their true God was.  For by the time God judged Judah through Babylon in 586 BC, the protest of obedience to His Word by a renegade group of survivors that had fled to Egypt summed it up for all that had gone before.  They gave the glory for their provision to the false gods they served (Jeremiah 44:15-30).  When Jesus Christ came as foretold, the issue was confused over rightful authority and God’s Law after more than 600 religious rules had been added; Israel’s leaders had Him crucified (Matthew 5:17-20, 15:1-9, 21:23-27, 22:15-46, 26:1-5, 27:15-54).

   

              From the first century professed followers of the risen Christ as pastors, bishops, popes, elders, deacons, other church, sect and cult leaders have done it; spouses, parents, slaveholders, business owners, royalty and some American Presidents have done it too.  All that are guilty have purposely quoted or misquoted, misinterpreted or misapplied Scripture to confuse the issue of obedience involving sin in their personal, religious, political, social, economic and educational agendas, opinions and ideas.¹  While some deliberately distorted Scripture, most simply lifted passages out of context and willfully read into them what they wanted to accomplish their ends.²

   

              In these latter days many deceived professed followers of Christ and their leaders have sought for ways to legitimize biblically defined sins they have with Satan’s help decided God has changed His mind on.³  From sexual immorality to feminism that tears down the morality, roles, rank, responsibilities and order of mankind as God designed, the Bible is corruptly used to carry out their ends.⁴  True to satanic method, a number of male church leaders and professed Christian feminists have attempted to side step obedience to the thoroughly plain biblical instruction on the roles of women in the home and God’s house by confusing the issue on the grounds of equality in Christ.⁵

   

              They falsely assert that since all are equal at the foot of the cross, this obliterates all role distinctions and cite Galatians 3:28 out of context as their main proof text--another classic case of confusing the issue and corrupting Scripture to do so!  But in Galatians 3:19-25, the apostle Paul has been talking about the purpose of the Law until salvation by faith came.  He launches from that to express in verses 26-29 how all are sons of God who have placed faith in, been immersed spiritually into and put Christ on; where also regardless of whether being Jew or Greek (Gentile), slave or free, male or female all are one and belonging to Him, heirs.  Verse 28 is about spiritual equality in Christ and does not destroy God’s mortal roles, rank, responsibilities and order of mankind!⁶

   

              Indeed, this same apostle Paul was used by God to affirm His will from creation that though equal in person, men are His assigned leaders over women beginning in the home, His house and if it was willing, the world (Genesis 3:16b; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:33-40; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Timothy 2:8-3:13; Titus 2:1-5).  But alas, the world is in active rebellion against God and His Word on this as are clearly many professed Christians who in having their way are willing to go to the extreme of purposely confusing the issue by corrupting God’s Word.  Woe to the guilty for while you may not treat God’s Word with fidelity, He forever does!  Therefore, He calls you to repentance.  Unless you do repent, you will suffer the deadly consequences of your iniquity (Romans 1:28-2:11; 2 Peter 3:9-18). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"

   

  1 Read the May 14, 2017 Mother’s Day post, Mother’s Day Joy And Sadness, under the category Holidays and the two-part post beginning May 21, 2017 that follows,

     Beware False And Deceitful Brethren, under the category, Bible Prophecy.

  2 A  very  important  principle  of  sound Bible interpretation is “context conveys meaning.”  Though there are many verses of Scripture that can stand alone and apart

     from  surrounding  verses, we must be careful to read them objectively in their natural larger and immediate contexts to properly interpret and apply them as well as

     use them as references.  Take advantage of the free document download, Seven Principles Of Bible Interpretation, in the Strong Man Store.

  3 The Lord leads me to challenge this lie first in a three-part article entitled, Is God Doing A New Thing? I reference in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Ba-

     sics  and  also  in  its  second  Appendix  from another article answering the question, When Did God Change?  Both articles are available at the FSTVEP Web Site,

     https://fromslaverytovictory.org/Journal-Archives.  A  print  copy  or digital download of my book is available at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes &

     Noble, ChristianBooks.com, Apple (digital only) or in the Strong Man Store.

  4 See the July 28, 2019 post, Roles, Rank And Responsibilities, under the category, God’s Creatures.

  5 An  excellent  academic  resource  I  recommend for seeing how this has unfolded in the past century is Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem,

     Multnomah  Publishers,  2004,  which  I  reference  in  my  book.  Interestingly, while professed Christians seeking to legitimize same sex relationships corruptly use

     God’s  Word  to  confuse  that  issue  talking  of love, they speak of equality to promote women into leadership over men and make God and those that stand on His

     Word as it is written prohibiting this out to be sexists.  Read my May 8, 2016 post, God A Sexist?, under the category, God’s Creatures.

  6 Colossians  3:11  is  a  similar passage missing only a reference to male and female.  Here too, the apostle Paul in the context that begins at verse 1 seeks to stress

     the  spiritual  equality  Christians  have  in  Christ as we see out of a heavenly perspective and embrace its resulting responsibilities to include living and treating one

     another  right.  Again,  however,  this  teaching does not destroy God’s assignment of male and female roles, rank, responsibilities and order which reading further in

     the passage will confirm (vs. 12-25).

• A President’s Social Vision For America

              As the Lord led, I offered this related, edited post-script in this Ministry’s newsletter that immediately followed the February 2013 main Commentary I posted on February 3, 2019 entitled, “Christianity In Black And White,” under the category, Black History.  The intent then was not to bash President Barack Obama (as it is not now) with some worldly, partisan political agenda in writing the brief post-script.  But as even those who fully disagree with things the Lord leads me to write certainly know by now, my intent was to faithfully represent the God of the Bible’s view from His Word in this case of a social vision for our nation that does not line up with it in any form except by corruption!

   

              Every American President is rightly expected to lay out his vision for America when he takes office.  If--as will eventually be the case--our Presidents offered an entirely secular vision for the nation devoid of any even implied reference to a Judeo-Christian moral underpinning, it would be one thing.  But nearly all have attempted to curry divine and Christian favor by incorporating a social component in their national vision that includes a show of sensitivity for the less fortunate and those challenged in some way.  President Johnson had his “Great Society” to address poverty and racial injustice and H.W. Bush “A Thousand Points Of Light” for community service as notable examples.

   

              No longer in office, Mr. Obama and those sharing his social vision of equality are still pushing black Americans to adopt it even though it involves accepting sinful behavior practiced within a coalition of allies falsely claiming God approves.¹  No, folks; be students of biblical and world history to see how such a move in rebellion against God ends in disaster every time (2 Kings 17:1-12; Isaiah 30:1-5, 31:1-3; Jeremiah 17:5-6).  You cannot be an ally with evil and expect righteousness to result; you are being deceived (Galatians 6:7-8)!  Labor for what has been morally right in the Lord’s eyes forever (Malachi 3:6) while waiting on His return to reign (Isaiah 11:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12).²

   

  Originally Published February 2013

   

              How appealing is the second term social vision for America laid out by our nation’s first African-American President, Barack Obama.  For the descendants of slaves,³ such a vision of inclusion, fairness and equality speaks directly to the heart of everything our forefathers endured their plight to realize except for one thing.  Those that were truly born again, faithful Christians would not embrace Mr. Obama’s inclusion of rebels against the divine order in their own vision (John 14:15).

   

              The hope of freedom, racial equality and justice faithful black Christians from slavery through the Civil Rights Movement suffered for was completely in line with God’s moral order as presented in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  However, to implement Mr. Obama’s vision of social justice and equality, one must trample upon God’s Word to accept immoral feticide and same sex marriage.⁴

   

              Black Christians faithful to God know “we have come this far by faith leaning on” not slapping away the succoring arms of the Lord in rebellion.  Therefore, in faithfulness, our President’s social vision must be rejected as an affront to God and mockery of our forefathers’ suffering (Psalm 40:1-4).   Racial and all other loyalties of this present age end where divergence from God’s Word begins!  Already the Lord challenges this abominable vision with increasing severity to come (Revelation 8-9).

   

  1 Read the May 14, 2017 post, Mother’s Day Joy And Sadness, under the category, Holidays.

  2 This is the heart of every 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.

      It is available at all major internet booksellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.

  3 This Black History Month, make it a point to visit https://fromslaverytovictory.org the official Web Site of the From Slavery To Victory Education Project presenting a bib-

      lical worldview of the black American experience.

  4 See the January 20, 2019 post, The Unborn Cries For Social Justice, under the category, Biblical Worldview and Developing Men: The Equality Trap, posted December

     10, 2017 under the category, The Cause.

• The Racial Double Standard, Pt. 1

              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 21^st 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).

• When Ability Is Not Enough

              The recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain along with our nation’s high suicide rate which counts a few of my relatives too, are reminders of how precious hope is as a soul resource.  For this reason, there should be no doubt why Satan works hard as a lion to capture and drag so many to his lair of darkness to deceitfully convince them there is no light; no hope such that death is appealingly the only false escape.  Hopelessness, loneliness, emptiness and despair can be dark and dangerous places that not even money and fame can overcome--though popular culture continues to feverishly sell the lie that these accomplishments will solve everything. 

   

              While she did not commit sudden suicide, the 2011 tragic death of Amy Winehouse I briefly wrote about in this edited repost follows after and precedes too many others of the rich and famous who died from slow death lifestyle choices that included the abuse of alcohol and drugs.  Among these were the stellar entertainers Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Prince all demonstrating again that not only money and fame, but superior talents and abilities are not sufficient to resist the destructive forces of this world system waging war against human souls (Ephesians 6:12).  For the record, nominal Christianity or other religions which many have cannot deliver in the war for the soul ether!

   

              Praise God for the light of “a living hope” those of us truly in and sold out to Jesus Christ by faith have and need to be more deliberate about witnessing to others that do not know Him regardless of their status in the world (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV).  Not only does the Gospel--that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day--save our souls through faith, but we begin what is intended to be an eternal relationship with Him!  This relationship with the risen Christ supplies all that a human soul needs to overcome everything that the world system uses against us in the unavoidable war of this mortal age (Genesis 3:1-15; John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5).

   

              Sudden or slow lifestyle suicides then, are very tragic since they are preventable by the simple, child-like decision to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all one’s heart!  While God has allowed for each soul to make a personal decision in this matter, the Lord Jesus is clear that those that reject Him will die in their sins to face the fate worse than any problem or issue one thought so bad in this life: His judgment seat (John 3:16-21, 36, 8:21-24; Revelation 20:11-15).  For this reason, the Lord’s love in me motivates me (and I pray you too, O, Christian) to zealously preach the Gospel to the lost whatever their life station so that they can at least hear of the life giving hope available in Him alone!  For truly, this life gets no easier going forward (Luke 21:25-26).

   

  Originally Posted July 31, 2011

   

              I with so many others all over the world was deeply affected by the death of Amy Winehouse this past week.  Though I had never bought one of her CD’s or even heard a full song of hers on the radio, her death was tragic to me on so many levels.  Most moving for me is the pathos that the talents of this musical giant as sizable as they were, were not enough to stave off the inner torments of her soul including despair.  We have encountered this so many times throughout history among the great and those whose names will never be known except by grieving and bewildered family and friends.

   

              Many commentators brought up the age 27 as notable for such talents of recent memory to abruptly exit from the world stage.  Among them are Jimmie Hendrix and Janis Joplin of my youth.  While I had only begun in those days to really pursue an interest in music and barely knew their names, I remember the sadness in pondering why they had died since they were such excellent musicians.  This all came rushing back to me with the death of Ms. Winehouse.  I still do not have any answers as to why now, so young with so much life potentially yet to live--nor does any other mortal.

   

              However, as a Christian, I do now understand that our abilities, no matter how great, are not enough to give light or minister healing to our souls.  The soul belongs to God and only He has the spiritual remedies we need to cope and effectively navigate through a sin darkened world.  That is the first lesson for the aspiring strong man of God I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.¹  Unlike those outside of Christ, we draw our strength and every other spiritual resource from Him!  As such, while it is true we will all depart this world through one cause or another, despair--an affliction of the soul--is not to be one of them for the aspiring strong man or great woman of God in the image of Christ.²

   

  1 The book is available at all major internet books sellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.

  2 If you or someone you know are wrestling with thoughts of suicide or other self-destructive behaviors or want help with any number of the spiritual, mental or emotional

     issues of our day, visit this resource for an important listing of hotlines some of which are Christian operated.

• Christian Singles Having Sex, Pt. 1

              Covert sexual promiscuity among black Americans and the paradoxical moral conservatism that developed along with it from slavery through the Civil Rights era is well known.  However, what is now, quite overt sexual promiscuity has evolved with the “sexual revolution” of the wider culture since and is plainly seen consequentially, for example, in the high number of single parent households many have mostly attributed to the unsaved and nominal Christians.  But as I was shocked to learn and wrote about in this edited two-part 2012 repost, a growing number of sexually active young blacks are boldly declaring their faith in Christ while also openly practicing what they fully know is sin!

   

              Deeply troubled about this very apparent misunderstanding of who He really is, I also wrote to this group as the unchanging God full of grace and mercy led to give warning and helpful instruction.  I make this repost hoping again to be heard at a time when the wider culture is attempting through media to make all manner of sexual immorality normal.  So much is this the case, that in the January 30, 2018 episode of a new black American themed CW show called “Black Lightning,” the main character’s lesbian daughter is consoled in a hospital setting by her mother over the break up with her lover while the Gospel Music classic, “Mary Don’t You Weep,” plays in the background.

   

              Surely, all of us over fifty remember either our mothers and/or grandmothers weeping to this song a generation ago not only as they thought hopefully for Mary overcome with grief for her dead brother, Lazarus, but cathartically, the plight of their own children facing the sometime deadly challenges of growing up black in an oppressive and segregated America.  For the show’s producers, the network and black cast to allow this mockery of Christianity and the Christian black experience in the cause to further sexual immorality is wicked beyond words and marks the arrival of the next clear consequence of trying to have God and sin too!  The guilty must snap out of satanic delusion and repent before it is too late; realizing the immutable, holy God never embraces, but judges sin. 

   

  Originally Posted September 16, 2012

   

              One more article published in the May 2012 Ebony Magazine that caught my attention focused on Christian black American singles and their attitudes toward having sex outside of marriage.  Entitled, Single, Saved--and Having Sex, the article written by Chevonne Harris appeared in the Love And Relationships Connect section of the magazine.¹  A set up tag line reads: “A Majority Of Young Christians Are Foregoing Abstinence, Even As They Keep The Faith.”  While a few men are cited in the article, it is written with a decidedly female audience in mind right down to the graphic art seemingly showing two females embracing on a bed while in shadow a solitary woman is draped over a pew in apparent sadness.

   

              This article showcases again the liberalizing trend of especially many young black Americans away from the historic faith of the Bible and our faithful Christian slave forefathers.  To struggle with sex as a Christian is not new.  I confess my own struggle (key word here is “struggle”) with living celibate as a young Christian in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.²  So, let no one read me as unsympathetic.  However, it is one thing to struggle and another to just flat out go for it without concern about biblical prohibitions or consequences.  This is a new attitude among historically morally conservative blacks claiming to be Christians the article is reporting on as a current trend.

   

              Citing Relevant Magazine as its source, the article states, “As many as 80% of young, unmarried Christians have had sex.”  In Ebony’s own polling at one Ohio church, 54% of 192 single Christians were practicing abstinence while 46% were not doing so even as they retained their belief that sex before marriage is a sin.  The attitude of the Christians represented in the new trend of unapologetic sexual promiscuity is expressed well in the article by 34 year old Yolanda Jordan when she is quoted as saying: ‘“Just because I have a Bible on my nightstand and condoms in the drawer doesn’t mean I love God any less or that He doesn’t love me.’”³

   

              Professed Christian John Fitzgerald has “ended relationships because of the woman’s decision to remain abstinent.”  He adds, ‘“Yes, it’s wrong, [but] I’m still doing it.’”  Author, Sophia Nelson, admits the Bible’s clarity about abstinence until marriage, then offers, ‘“that is not the reality of what’s going on.”’  Moreover, she says, “‘It is unrealistic in the 21^st century to expect celibacy until marriage.’”  She cites how sexualized society is, the trend to marry later and the “double standard” of tolerating Christian male sex outside of marriage that is unfair to women to support her claim.

   

              Ebony’s article did reference a Creflo Dollar publication explaining the world’s turn away from honoring God’s Word on abstinence until marriage as due to “selfishness.”  I would generally agree with this assessment and remind struggling Christian singles as a result, it is not about you.  God knows all about your physiology--He gave it to you!  He has also given you ready access to His power to be the master over your own body (Galatians 5:22-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).  God has given Christians no commandment that He has not also given us the power through the Holy Spirit to obey (Ephesians 3:14-20; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:9-12).

   

              However, you must have a made up mind as an aspiring strong man or great woman of God to please Him in obedience, not yourself in sexual gratification.  As it concerns the times, you have been called out of the world to Christ and no longer are to follow its thinking and practices (Romans 12:1-2).  Regardless of the culture or century, the will of God in Christ remains the same.  Every type of sex outside of marriage between a man and woman is sin for all time and all who willfully practice disobedience to this, will eventually be visited by God with judgment (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 5:1-5, 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 13:4, 8).  Why would you foolishly put God to the test (Acts 5:1-11)?

   

  1 Find the article at Ebony.com.

  2 The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics is available through all major internet booksellers, by order from your favorite brick and mortar bookstore and in the Strong Man
     Store.

  3 A footnote informs readers names in the article had been changed.