The Scourge Of Racism
E-Book Availability 4/12-26
Released January 5, 2024
Download Your Copy
Now In The Strong Man Store!
(Editing of this 2013 repost has included adding content freshly inspired by the Lord and current events most fully seen in the fifth and seventh paragraphs as well as the footnotes of this part two.)
Indeed, it is an awesome marvel of God that He has made it mechanically possible for elements of creation to mimic in any measure what is unique to His own eternal glory; for the light phenomenon called a rainbow is of the signature display of the glory that surrounds His throne (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Revelation 4:1-3)!3 So, now, in these latter days, the signature display of God’s glory that surrounds His heavenly throne; the rainbow meant compassionately by Him to assure all creatures of His promise never again to destroy the earth by a global flood, has been co-opted and corrupted by the small group of sinful men and women that use it to symbolize their part in the growing global rebellion against Him.
According to Wikipedia, while there is a long history of rainbow flags representing various cultures, causes and movements, today the rainbow flag of those embracing the cause of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and now, Q for Queer or Questioning one’s sexual identity) is the best known in the world. It was introduced in 1978 by Gilbert Baker and has undergone some color modification, but remains a symbol of the pride and diversity (the mixed practice of biblically defined perverted sexual behavior) of the LGBTQ movement along with now, its apparent rise to power as societal influencers in causing same sex marriage to become legally accepted.4
That those of this movement should blasphemously mock the rainbow of God by making it their own, clearly is of Satan and shows the depth of their depravity along with why it will be so easy for the Antichrist to rally them to his cause in days soon to come (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-6). Still, God loves those of the LGBTQ movement as all other sinners (John 3:16-21; Romans 5:6-11)! Faithful Christians must continue to proclaim the Gospel and witness Christ to them (that He died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day; whoever repents and believes this will be forgiven and saved--Romans 1:16-17, 10:6-13) during these ever darkening days.
Truly, while the Supreme Court decisions and increasing anti-Christian political environment signal the passing of the point of no return to a welcome acceptance of biblical Christianity and morality by our nation, we are nevertheless, to continue our commanded mission “to make disciples” until the end (Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20; Acts 1:8, NKJV). God’s love of the lost and certainty His foretold end for this present world will be as He says drives us; for while He promised never again to destroy the entire earth and its air breathing creatures by a global flood, He did not promise never again to judge the earth and its sinners (Romans 1:18-32).
This is why I also strongly exhort all that profess to be Christians and cling to sin including the practice of whatever forms of sexual immorality to repent (Romans 2:1-11)! You are operating in complete self-deception to believe you get a pass from judgment by the holy God even if it is “love” as I once foolishly rationalized as an unsaved fornicator with women. “The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God,” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21, NKJV). Authentic Christians5 have been “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified” in the name and blood of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit; being taught by Him to purposely “put off” the old self in deceitful lusts and “put on” the new to walk as imitators and children of God and light (1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:17-24, 5:1-14, NKJV).6
Therefore, as the flood of Noah’s day over several months brought a temporary end to the evil deeds of men, the resurgence of those deeds since in knowing rebellion and blasphemy to include rejecting the Gospel as well as mocking the rainbow among many more in these latter days, is leading to another cataclysmic outpouring of God’s wrath upon evil humanity. It shall come by way of a global storm, earthquake and plague of hail occurring over a few hours in one day with only a small number of elect Jews and unsaved Gentiles as survivors (Isaiah 10:20-23, 13:6-13; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Revelation 7:1-8, 16:17-21)! All of the wicked will meet their final, eternal end at the judgment seat of Christ (Revelation 20:11-15).
It being all like that, from the unsearchable depths of God’s love, grace and mercy I implore all that are guilty once more to repent and believe the Gospel while there is still time; or has not the dramatic uptick in catastrophic hurricanes with major flooding (and rainbows), earthquakes and other calamities so far this year yet convinced you the end of God’s longsuffering with human wickedness is near? This is God’s day of salvation; tomorrow has been promised to no one! Stop listening to “deceiving spirits” seeking your destruction (1 Timothy 4:1-2, NKJV). You are hearing God’s voice right now; don’t harden your heart (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Hebrews 3:7-13). In this too, the risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
3 On this point and explaining other such things from a scientific and biblical worldview is where Ken Ham in his work has done his greatest service to the Body of Christ and the world. As God surely intended, Ken is the scientist par excellence that considers his work not to disprove, but to joyously discover and glorify his Creator in “the works of His hands,” (Hebrews 2:6-7, NKJV). I thank God for and salute him! Learn more about rainbows and other exciting facts about God’s creation from Ken Ham and others at https://answersingenesis.org/answers/.
4 Read the article.
5 See the March 1, 2015 blog repost, The Mark Of A Genuine Christian under the category, Instruction.
6 I understand that sexual issues of all kinds can be very difficult to overcome and empathize with those struggling to be free in Christ. Help is available through various authentically Christian entities and I encourage those dealing with same sex attraction, for example, to visit Focus On The Family for some possible resources to help. Men dealing with sexual addiction can learn about gaining deliverance from the counseling team at Pure Heart Ministries featured as a link on our Ministry And Church Link Web Site Page.
From antiquity armies have conquered lands and signified their triumph by either destroying or parading captured idols as gods or symbols such as flags. While I admire and spiritually stand on principle with both the Creation and Ark Encounter Museum Founder, Ken Ham’s campaign to take back the rainbow which has been for a time triumphantly co-opted and paraded about by the LBGTQ movement as their symbol, I do not believe it in splendid singularity is a hill to die on (2 Samuel 2:24-28). Given the nearness of Christ’s return, I urge to let the Lord reclaim the emblem of His throne!1 For it is sufficient that we who know God love all those who hate Him enough to proclaim the Gospel to and warn them standing firm on His Word, they have gravely erred in defiantly mocking Him!
To that end, the Lord has led me to repost the following edited 2013 two-part blog today. The act to commandeer God’s rainbow is only a tiny fraction of the acts of rebellion against Him and His Word in these latter days; an act that does not actually yet or ever will signal God’s defeat! In the face of such blasphemous rebel conduct God sends us to extend His gracious offer of restoration in the Gospel and cogent explanation of the offense fearfully knowing that the unrepentant will endure His just wrath and judgment. For this reason, we also warn professed Christians in their churches that side in great deceit with those mocking God’s royal emblem (Psalm 50:16-23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22).
Originally Posted July 14, 2013
Denial is a powerful, negative mental and emotional defense mechanism we humans employ in situations we face that are overwhelming, shocking, threaten consequences, our sense of ordered reality or accepted thinking to name some. Many Christians, no doubt, are tempted to retreat into denial again over the recent Supreme Court decisions essentially establishing a legal status for same sex marriage as they once did when the same judicial body a generation ago decided to remove prayer from the schools.
Denial was not the right response back then--look at the anti-Christian attitudes that have been spawned and are displayed in every facet of our society from that one decision after a generation because many Christians were in denial until too late--and it certainly is not the right response now. A hard, cold, shocking reality must be soberly faced by faithful Christians: the once favorable place Christianity had in American society is being systematically destroyed as a result of a full on rebellion against God, His Son, Jesus Christ and the divinely inspired Word of the Bible (Psalm 2:1-3). Moreover, the rallying symbol for a small, but vocal and disproportionately influential segment of this rebellion is God’s own rainbow!
In the aftermath of the global flood He brought in judgment upon the earth for human wickedness (Genesis 6:5-7:24), the Lord who had spared righteous Noah, his wife, three sons, their wives and two of every creature made a covenant of promise with them all. ‘“And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth,”’ (Genesis 9:8-11, NKJV).
After having safely come through the then worst divinely brought cataclysmic disaster in human history, God compassionately seeks to reassure fallen man (see Genesis 8:20-22) and all other earth creatures by a covenant of His making that they should not fear the sight of rain clouds as the coming of another global, catastrophic flood that destroys all air breathing life. Though it was not necessary since it was the perfectly trustworthy and righteous God making the covenant, He chose to provide a visible sign to all of His earth creatures that would remind everyone including Himself of His promise never to destroy the earth again by flood.
He says, ‘“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh,”’ (Genesis 9:12-17, NKJV). Science can say whatever it wants about the mechanics of how rainbows appear by sunlight refracted and dispersed through rain drops,2 but the fact remains God declares the rainbow is His and appears ultimately as the result of His creation of and sovereign control over earth’s atmospheric conditions.
1 See the CBNNews.com article, Ken Ham’s Ongoing Quest to ‘Take Back the Rainbow’ published October 1, 2017.
2 See “How Rainbows Work” on the Web Site, howstuffworks.com.
Once more in 2019 the Lord would have me uphold marriage as He designed it as a first priority to professed Christians who are supposed to be showing the world how it works to His glory (Matthew 5:14-16)!1 But as the world knows all too well, professing Christianity as a “pot” cannot call “the kettle black” on the issue of marriage and divorce. Attempting to obscure the naked reality of the tarnish to Christianity with smooth sounding psychological and sociological explanations that undermine biblical instruction as well as the truth of divine grace in forgiveness does not remove it. Total repentance from the sin of mocking marriage is required throughout professing Christianity!
Oh, or am I now by voicing God’s displeasure as all of His preachers are supposed to do, actually only attempting to destroy someone’s reputation that is guilty? Or is sin still sin as the Bible plainly lays it out no matter who is guilty? Or did Christ come only to die for sin in vain? Or is anyone in the Body of Christ above His Word; possessing a complete pass from guilt just because of who they are and it might make them look bad? Repent those that think so; God shows no partiality and all will reap what they sow no matter who they are (Romans 2:4-11; Galatians 6:7-8)! Let every aspiring strong man and great woman of God who reads this edited 2011 repost answer the Lord’s charge to honor and uphold marriage as He designed it.
Originally Posted November 6, 2011
Not only the strong man, but the great woman of God has a responsibility to uphold the dignity of marriage as an institution from Him. In a day when marriages are ripped apart on the slightest pretext, God’s original design even among many professed Christians is a fading landmark in the rearview mirror of our world’s ever accelerating press toward its own dark, design. Not the so-called stars of entertainment and sports as authorities on the subject, but Jesus Christ the Star of David who is God’s appointed Judge! He has affirmed that marriage is not only of divine origin, but sacred and precious to God until it shall be no more in His plan (Matthew 19:1-6; Luke 20:27-36, 21:33).
Quickie marriages and divorces therefore, are an affront to God and mock marriage as He designed it to be a lifelong relational commitment between a man and woman exclusively. Learn more about the mutual responsibility the aspiring strong man and great woman of God share to honor and treat marriage as holy in living to please the Holy One in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.2
1 Read the March 17-31, 2019 reposts dealing with marriage under the category, The Cause and the April 7, 2019 post, The Glory Of Marital Oneness, under the category,
Glory To God!
2 The book is available in print or digital download formats at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only).
You can also get the Hard or Soft Cover print versions of the book in the Strong Man Store.
As Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. enters into our 34th year and organizational unit, Strong Man Ministries its 14th, my plate is very full with much to do. While it has been so personally enriching and I pray helpful to you for me as the Lord has led to spend a great amount of time writing longer posts, I must throttle back to make room for other responsibilities and activities that are making important demands on my time. Therefore, as of this edited post and until you see otherwise, I will be re-posting shorter, but I believe still very thoroughly thought provoking posts beginning with this one I made as a brand new blogger in another forum back in 2011 when I still had hope our nation might turn back to God.1
Originally Posted September 25, 2011
Thirty-five years ago in my first college Economics class, I was introduced to American-style capitalism and the theory by Adam Smith that an “invisible hand” would mysteriously enable the selfish financial pursuits of individuals to benefit the larger society. That theory is getting a thorough test in our nation’s present economic woes. After becoming a Christian, I learned the “invisible hand” of American capitalism could only be God because only His wisdom and power could pull off the theory’s promised benefits. He is the One that gives man the ability to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:11-20) and blesses the nation that trusts in Him (Psalm 33:10-22). It is time for our nation to turn back to God as I call for in my book so He can restore our economy among other things.2
1 The Lord revealed to me the nation had reached the “point of no return” to Him in 2012 and that I should all the more focus on preaching the Gospel and witnessing
Christ so, many of my fellow citizens might be saved as the natural consequences of a “house divided” and His righteous judgment unfold (Matthew 12:25, NKJV).
Read the first mention of a “point of no return” in the July 15, 2015 part one 2012 repost, Powerlessness Of Being The Minority, under the category, Encouragement.
A second mention follows in the October 22, 2017 part two 2013 repost, Mocking The Rainbow, under the category, Biblical Worldview.
2 My book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, is available in print or digital download formats at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only). You can also get the Hard or Soft Cover print versions of the book in the Strong Man Store.
First it was the humiliation of missionaries coming from the former imperial possessions of Western nations including America in recent years to evangelize them. Now, in a stunning and decisive stand, United Methodist Christians from largely African nations recently stood against the formerly dominant Western denomination’s insistence on sanctioning the ordination and same sex marriage of LGBTQ persons within its ranks.1 Such is the intense spiritual warfare of these latter days as those that would be faithful to God and His Word as it is written not only must stand against a secular world in rebellion, but those that have infiltrated and would foment it in God’s house!
As a Christian descendant of African slaves in America, I am pleased in the Lord to have founded this Ministry and to be leading its Kingdom cause to restore men, families and communities also standing firmly on God’s Word!2 Surely, it was ‘“for such a time as this’” (Esther 4:13-16, NKJV) in the Body of Christ that God has touched many hearts among those once considered of no account and inferior by their former masters to stand with the faithful of all hues against the “madness” of rebellion and apostasy now underway in the West and a large number of its churches as I write of my own labor in the Preface of my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics; with joy replacing a “dumb donkey” for Christ’s sake (1 Corinthians 1:27-29; 2 Peter 2:12-16, NKJV).3
Prior to the book’s first publication in 2011, the Lord led me to write this edited 2010 Commentary contending for lifelong marriage as He designed it.
Originally Published March 2010
As an institution, marriage is under attack as never before as humanity in rebellion seeks to loose itself from all of God's program laid out in His Word (Psalm 2:1-3). Not only is marriage on the decline due to abandoned moral standards that permit temporary relationships of casual sex and living together, but it is being outright corrupted by those who want to legitimatize their same sex relationships. Destroying marriage as the Bible knows it too is the incredible divorce rate both in and outside of the churches. These divorces occur for many reasons beyond what the Lord Jesus Christ has permitted.
Marriage as God designed it is foundational to human existence and the oldest of all forms of human relationship. Indeed, before God introduced marriage, mankind was bottled up in the seed of the first man. The Bible does not glamorize God's purpose in creating the female version of man; it was to facilitate His will that the earth be filled with humanity through procreation (Genesis 1:27-28a). However, as a blessing to humanity and to sweeten the means to His end, the Lord gave us the gift of marital relationship. Thus, marital relationship exclusively between a man and a woman is of the purposeful construction of God, not society or the State since neither yet existed.
In the presence of Adam God declares, "'It is not good that man should be alone,'" (Genesis 2:18a, NKJV). God already knew that He was going to create a female for the man, but Adam had to know that being alone was not good. Adam also had to appreciate the value of relationship with another creature like him. If relationship for its own sake had been His sole purpose, then God was more than enough! However, procreation as He designed it would require Adam to have a suitably created, committed companion and helper with whom he could relate to for life.
God proclaims, "'I will make him a helper comparable to him,'" (Genesis 2:18b, NKJV). This helper God has in mind would not be an exact duplicate of Adam, but correspond to him as no other creature on earth (Genesis 2:19-20). After putting him to sleep and removing one of his ribs, the Lord God purposefully fashioned a woman and presented her to Adam. As evidenced by his joyful words, this woman corresponded to Adam in every way human--spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically (Genesis 2:21-23). They were equal in their humanity, but had different roles and responsibilities as plainly seen in their order of creation and the unique construction of their bodies.
Adam and his wife had a basic and functional relationship built upon their correspondence that would be mutually satisfying and endure for a lifetime apart from the romanticized notions of love we have today in which an estimated 40-50% of marriages fail in divorce.4 This does not mean they would not enjoy romance. However, this was only a small part of a total relationship that would be sustained in the main by a committed love for each other in unity and their Creator whose purposes they gladly sought to fulfill.
The Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator in the flesh declares, "'What God has joined together, let not man separate,'" (Matthew 19:4-6, NKJV). In God's design of marriage, it is permanent! While because of men's sin hardened hearts He allowed the concept of divorce to enter human experience, the Lord makes it clear before sin "'from the beginning it was not so.'" He permits divorce only after sexual immorality, which is already a break in the marital covenant (Matthew 19:7-9, NKJV). The Lord's apostle, Paul, later addresses the de facto divorce that occurs when an unbelieving spouse permanently deserts the marriage (1 Corinthians 7:10-16).
Aspiring strong men of God in the image of Jesus Christ living to please Him and do His will, must labor vigorously to restore marriage as our God designed it. This means that we have to first be sure we are honoring His marital design.5 Then we must lock arms with our pastors that are faithfully holding the line on marriage as God designed it. Unless God's design of marriage is restored, we can count on seeing the rapid fracturing and decay of our society along with its descent into social chaos continue to the point there is “no remedy”6 and in the end, “wrath” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16, NKJV).
1 View the short news story produced by CBN News on its Christian World News program starting 13 minutes and 40 seconds in that interviews a Liberian leader in the denomination.
2 See the April 26, 2015 repost, Obeying God’s Word On His Side, under the category, The Cause and many others among my blogs using the search word, “marriage.”
3 The book is available at all major internet booksellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
4 Google “2018 divorce rate.” Some social scientists actually see a downward trend in divorces driven by millennials for such reasons as marrying later in life (which still
does not conform to God’s will) according to a Bloomberg article.
5 As I discuss in my book, this means among other things marrying “only in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39, NKJV), loving his wife in the sacrificial, constructive and es-
teeming care displayed by Christ for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-33a) and honoring the vow of marriage as God intends for men to honor all of our vows (Numbers 30:
1-2; Matthew 5:33-37). Christian women too, must marry only in the Lord and honor the wedding vow as well as love their husbands as Christ loves the Father and the
Church, Him, in all submission and respect (John 6:38, 8:48-49; Ephesians 5:22-24, 33b).
6 A point which since I wrote this in 2010, the Lord led me to proclaim has arrived! Read the first mention of a “point of no return” in the July 15, 2015 part one 2012 re-
post, Powerlessness Of Being The Minority, under the category, Encouragement. A second mention follows in the October 22, 2017 part two 2013 repost, Mocking The
Rainbow, under the category, Biblical Worldview.
On this thirty-third anniversary since the Lord led me to found Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc., the organizational parent of Strong Man Ministries, He has me continuing to deal with two themes: violence against young black males and folk practicing Christianity as a religion of manmade invention. In this post of an edited 2012 Commentary,1 however, the violence against and killing of young black males comes purposely at their own hands, while it is predominantly black Americans as professed Christians in many churches practicing their own form of Christianity completely powerlessness to reverse this evil to any extent that are addressed.2
Without repentance, total community self-destruction is assured! With repentance and embrace of biblical Christianity in genuine Holy Spirit empowered revival, there is still some hope and a little time left to make a difference for good among our spiritually lost, young black males and entire community. This hope is not a fantasy like that of the fictional, comic book Black Panther king, his other world magical flower and cloaked kingdom of Wakanda. Our hope is fully grounded in the reality of the Son of God, His anointed King, Jesus Christ, revealed from Heaven who died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again to bring salvation and its exceedingly great benefits including His eternal power and Kingdom rule to all mankind now (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8)!
Originally Published August 2012
The mostly Portland, OR area black American men and pastors that walk the streets to intervene with our boys and that recently came together to address how churches should handle gang related funerals are to be commended for their efforts. Formerly in my pastorates and through Strong Man Ministries I have witnessed to gang members. Eight years ago, I also attended a community meeting in the aftermath of yet another uptick in gang violence and was pierced deeply by the statements of one gang member who shattered all of our presumptions about gang bangers. His words made me realize Spirit led Christians can help curtail gang violence, but must be more assertive about it.
Let me be clear that I fully understand the problem with gangs and all forms of lawlessness in our communities are complex and multi-faceted. Even so, at its core, the criminal enterprise of gang banging with all of its associated lifestyle props is a spiritual issue of sin and evil. For example, the gang member that greatly disturbed me and others in the community meeting said that they are not all from single female led homes and poverty. This particular gang member had come from a two-parent, middle class home and was banging for the thrill of it--so much for viewing and solving the problem solely as a matter of political, economic, social and educational victimization!
Secular governments and police agencies are frustrated along with the few engaged church leaders that deal with the gang problem having rejected a biblical worldview and approach to curtailing it. Biblical Christianity is plain that gang bangers are sinners and need the Gospel like all other sinners to face up to the fact that a holy God has condemned them and their wicked behavior (criminality, violence and murder are sin). However, God loves and sent His Son, Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners that will repent from their sins and believe in Him (John 3:16-18a)! Those who believe become new creations with renewed minds by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:17-24).
Sinners who refuse to repent and believe in Christ from the heart remain condemned before God (John 3:18b-21; Romans 3:9-20; Galatians 5:19-21). With our continued attempts to reach gang members in and out of prison,3 they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to include receiving the death penalty when they harm and murder others respectively (Genesis 9:4-6; Romans 13:1-4). Churches mocking Christ's words should not provide a Christian burial service to those killed while banging (Matthew 7:21-23). But such tough love will never happen until pastors repent from not preaching the Gospel and the whole counsel of God with a unified voice into our communities.
Again, in having rejected a biblical worldview, secular governments and police agencies are outwitted and gunned in their struggle with the gang problem while too many church leaders appear to be willfully ignoring or helpless against the reality of the evil that supports it. Biblical Christianity also presents lawlessness as the spiritual outworking of evil (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). According to the Bible, Satan is the original gangster as well as author of gang violence among angels and murder among men (Ezekiel 28:11-16; John 8:44). Because of this reality, faithful Christians or the world will never totally eradicate gangs for lawlessness even increases as the Lord foretold (Matthew 24:12).
However, just as our Lord went about destroying the works of the devil for the love and liberation of oppressed humanity, so must we for the sake of our sons, families, churches and communities (Acts 10:36-38; 1 John 3:8). Aspiring strong men of God in the image of Christ understand that we are not as a first priority wrestling against human beings, but territorial fallen spirits; demons whose mission it is to oppose God by destroying the men of His love (Daniel 10:1-14, 20-21; Ephesians 6:12).4 Therefore, we properly suit up and begin to attack the gang problem where it originates: in the spiritual realm among demonic hordes arrayed against us (2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18).
Such warfare requires that sinning pastors turn back to and lead their churches in the way of biblical Christianity which is routinely the power of God on display (Mark 16:15-18)! And since they have failed to do this until now, much fasting and prayer in revival must precede and bathe the warfare (Mark 9:14-29). Our liberated children will still need to be mentored spiritually in faithful, Bible teaching churches and encouraged to pursue an education as well as positive activities, employment or entrepreneurial opportunities. Our boys in particular must no longer be given mixed messages about what a man is and does as a leader in the home and churches!5 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 This Commentary originally launched a trilogy on violence that ended with Arresting Violence Against Women that posted on October 6, 2017, under the category,
Biblical Worldview. Lord willing, the middle Commentary--a follow up to this one entitled, Valuing Human Life, will post August 19, 2018.
2 The Lord has led me to write many commentaries and blogs over the years to professed Christian black Americans and our churches calling for repentance from re-
ligion and revival because of the sinfully lost opportunities to showcase the life changing power of the Gospel and power of God in our community. Read for exam-
ple, the February 8-15, 2015 two-part post, Strong Through God, Not Religion, under the category, Black History.
3 Since 2005 Strong Man Ministries has been intentionally engaged in reaching young males with the Gospel using media, on the streets, in sports and the prisons.
Learn more about our activities in summary on our Web Site or for our work with youth go directly to the Strong Man Minute Page. This Ministry stands ready to
come along side of and stand with any Kingdom driven church of Jesus Christ to reach especially our males--God’s chosen family heads with the Gospel and make
a difference for good among all of our community members.
4 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.
5 Males are purposely introduced to the Christian faith and taught biblical manhood which includes divinely willed Christ-like character in traits to help them mature in
Christ through The Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study, available in the Strong Man Store. My book also teaches about purposeful mentoring by way of spiritual
fathering. This is spiritually maturing Christian men working with younger men and boys to help them grow in the faith. They also model to and teach them what it
means to be a man by God’s design and walk in His assignment of family headship and church leadership.
Not just the possibility, but the reality of human immortality was powerfully unveiled by Jesus Christ when He unlike anyone before Him, rose permanently from the dead! And because the Father has glorified Him and exalted Him to have all authority in Heaven and earth, He now controls death and the realm of the dead (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:18). As a result, those that put their faith in the Gospel about Him for salvation are promised to be raised to immortality and glory like Him (John 11:25-26, 17:5, 22). The promise realized will entail sweeping changes in the human experience to that time including male and female as they have been known physically in their mortal bodies.
This is the conclusion of a three part celebratory treatise briefly exploring the resurrection to immortal glory first accomplished by the Father in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and promised also to His followers at His return to earth!
Originally Published June 2013
"But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come,'" (1 Corinthians 15:35, NKJV)? These questions appear to reflect the mocking tone of those rejecting the possibility of resurrection at Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 15:12). Still, the apostle Paul's answers are genuine, revelatory and authoritative.
First, concerning the body of the resurrected, Paul rebukes the evident unbelief in God’s power and wisdom any person has that ask such questions by calling them “foolish.” He then draws upon the scientifically verifiable reality of a plant seed to illustrate how it first dies before what is contained in its core can spring forth alive. Also, the form of the seed is not the same as the living plant that grows out of it. The dead seed and living plant both have bodies given to them by God. Similarly, our present bodies die and are buried. Our resurrection bodies spring forth alive from them but are not the same as the bodies that died in God’s will (1 Corinthians 15:36-38, NKJV).
The great apostle reminds us that the outer forms of things are not the same all throughout creation. As purposely intended and designed by God the flesh of men, land animals, fish and birds differ from one another. There is also the God designed and breath taking difference between the celestial bodies in the night sky and the unique form of the earth. Among the celestial bodies of the universe star differs from star and our sun has a very different form than the moon. In context, from these readily observable realities Paul instructs that the resurrection body of a Christian designed by God is going to be vastly different from the body that died (1 Corinthians 15:39-42a).
Our mortal bodies die and are buried; the resurrection body is raised immortal. Our dead bodies are buried in sin's disgrace; the resurrection body is raised in the glory of God's redemption and sinless perfection. Our dead bodies are buried in the weakness of sin's consequences; the resurrection body is raised endued by God with power! We now have mortal natural bodies God made from dust. However, the resurrection body God has prepared us is an immortal spiritual body; that is, a body composed of indestructible spiritual substance while also possessing material properties as we saw earlier in the resurrected, immortal body of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:42b-44).
The differences in the natural and spiritual bodies God has made for man are tied respectively to Adam and Christ. The first man, Adam, was created by God "a living being" with a natural body from dust. All sinful mankind has come from his natural body and bears his image. Christ is the second and final Adam from Heaven! After His death, burial and resurrection in the cause of saving those who will believe in Him, He became a "life giving spirit" imparting eternal life to His followers. We are currently being transformed inwardly to bear His image. At the resurrection, our natural bodies will be transformed to conform to the masculine likeness of Christ's own glorious, immortal spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-3, NKJV)!
Now, the apostle Paul makes it overwhelmingly clear that what the Lord first led me to write in my book is accurate when he writes, "flesh and blood (the natural body) cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption," (1 Corinthians 15:50, NKJV, emphasis mine). Our natural bodies are not fit for what is planned for us as eternal sons. Hence, God reveals a previously unknown fact through Paul that not every Christian will taste death, but "we shall all be changed" in an instant at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, NKJV). The dead are raised immortals first. Then living saints are transformed into immortals and all take flight (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)!
At this point, we that are receiving such knowledge by faith ought to join Paul in his celebratory victory shout of praise and be encouraged to remain "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" assured it is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:54-58, NKJV)! Not only are we to be joyfully laboring to proclaim this good news of salvation, resurrection and immortal glory through Jesus Christ, but "the hope of glory" ought to inform every part of our present, mortal lives; enabling our heavenly perspective on all things and Christ-like living now (Colossians 1:24-29, 3:1-11). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
Join The Strong Man Of God Resources Conversation!
Get Your Copy Of The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics Today!
Your purchase supports restoring men, families and communities through Strong Man Ministries!
Purchase It Now