The Scourge Of Racism
E-Book Availability 4/12-26
Released January 5, 2024
Download Your Copy
Now In The Strong Man Store!
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.
So tragically, lawless, mass gun violence struck again this past week in our nation. I pray for the healing and salvation of the grieving families who lost loved ones along with survivors that do not know Jesus Christ. In the same week the evil concocted theme, “Battle Of The Sexes” is in theatres, I was greatly impressed former NFL player, Ray Rice, sat with his wife, Janay, here in Portland to speak out against the more common domestic violence. When the 2014 video of him hitting his wife in an elevator made national news, I hoped for this day and said so in radio interviews. Domestic violence concerns me because contrary to the slander of some, I am not a misogynist as anyone who reads my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics and the blogs I have written will see.
My God inspired cause to restore men as His appointed leaders in the home, churches and larger society (if it would receive it) does not equal toleration for or condoning male abuse of anyone. In the image of Christ, the aspiring strong man of God understands abuse is evil. In my book and Strong Man Minute radio spots such as “Girls,” and “Women: God’s Gift To Men,” I transparently share my shame over being violent out of anger issues in my youth before becoming a Christian.1 After becoming a developing believer, I still struggled with the anger fed tendency to be too physical as many men in the churches until the Lord set me free (another benefit of restoring men) as I write about in this 2012 Commentary I am posting for this week’s blog.2
Originally Published October 2012
No honest discussion of violence in America, indeed, the world, could be conducted without also including the tragedy of violence against women by men. While as a matter of addressing domestic violence, women do assault men, the number of such incidences is very small compared to male on female assaults and murder. Interestingly, even in this epoch of the woman created and championed by feminists from all persuasions, violence against women has continued unabated. God is not pleased about this nor should any aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ! Truly, we are required--as did our Lord--to protect our weaker partners (John 12:3-8; 1 Peter 3:7).
Before getting too far into this Commentary, let me quickly state that I come to this subject with the due humility of past guilt and shame in having been a male starting as a teenager, that has unleashed violence upon females. No, as I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God, Back To Basics, I have never hit my wife of over thirty years. However, I have experienced the kind of anger that as a teenager with little self-control led to my striking a few of the females I was coupled up with. Also, in complete transparency, out of that same often, quick anger I have fought other males and struck or disciplined my children as a father. Much of what is behind violence is anger.
My quick anger is one of many personal flaws that are the result of a sinful nature and “type A” personality inherited from my mother in particular. Even so, I watched helplessly as a little boy while my father beat up my mother after repeated warnings to stop assailing him verbally (and sometimes physically) on a number of occasions including holidays where alcohol fueled things. I became very angry with dad for hurting mom, but reserved my greatest anger for her because I clearly saw how so often she provoked him. It was not hard for me thereafter, as a seething hot head and bully, to start fighting males and dealing out violence upon females.
Violence and murder are the next recorded displays of sin after Adam's original fall in the Bible. Cain rose up violently against and murdered his own brother, Abel (Genesis 4:1-8). For all we know Cain's act was premeditated (examine Genesis 4:6-8 carefully). Regardless, note that Cain was angry (vs. 6). Again, whether it is quick rising, simmering or buried internally as bitterness, anger plays a major role in violence; some of which leads to murder. This is why that when alcohol and/or drugs are added to the mix loosening inhibitions and self-control, violence is a natural result. Cain's anger driven murder brought God's judgment and left a legacy (Genesis 4:9-24).
The Lord Jesus Christ also made the connection between anger in all of its forms and violence as He gave greater light behind the command of God not to murder in Matthew 5:21-22. The Lord places the person angry without a cause in the same peril of divine judgment as the murderer. However, even with cause (provocation), acting on that anger in just calling folk names was subject to judicial reprimand and/or dispatch to the lake of fire. In other words, sin influenced human anger in the divine assessment is very serious because of how it can lead to escalating evil including violence and murder (Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32). Truly, violence does not easily arise from a tender heart.
As sinful creatures, separated from God, it has been easy historically since Cain for men to bully, batter and murder women. Since they are naturally physically smaller and weaker generally speaking, bigger and stronger men in sin use violence or the threat of it to impose their will. It has been an oppressive, tyrannical headship sinful men from all cultures have exercised over their female partners and in the natural, I understand why given the opportunity in these last days, women have risen up in protest and rebellion. However, as rising domestic violence reports confirm, this, or jails are not fixing men or women as sinners, which is the real problem according to God's Word.
The remedy for reducing domestic violence is life change through the power of God in the Gospel and the Holy Spirit as well as teaching men from His Word their proper roles and responsibilities. As aspiring strong men of God in the image of Christ, for example, we men are to cherish our wives as our own bodies. No sane man harms his own body (Ephesians 5:28-29). Those with anger issues like I had own them to God in repentance and seek deliverance along with renewal through the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:12-13, 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25). Also, let aspiring great women of God respect their husbands at all times (Ephesians 5:33; 1 Peter 3:1-6). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 Listen to the Strong Man Minute Web edition here.
2 I speak a little more about the Lord’s work to deliver me from anger bondage in part 2 of the March 6, 2016 blog, When The Messengers Are Bound, under the categories, Black History and The Cause.
In what is intended to be the celebratory start of Black History Month was this year tragically marred days before on January 27th by the Memphis, Tennessee Police Department’s release of video showing the vicious beating of twenty-nine year old black male, Tyre Nichols. The beating took place earlier in the month on January 7th. Nichols later died from his injuries on the 10th. In the ensuing weeks five black male police officers shown in the video images from various angles doing the beating were indicted of second degree murder among other charges, arrested and fired from their jobs. Protests around the nation have been mostly subdued as the Nichols family requested.1
In black history, black on black violence has run parallel to white on black violence since slavery. Many masters beat their slaves and other whites could assault them for any notion of offense. Slaves also often violently assaulted each other if not over the petty issues that frustrate social cohesion more widely in every gathering of sinful mankind into the close quarters of community, then, from acting out of the oppressive suffocation and rage of bondage (Exodus 2:11-15). After slavery, hate groups, mobs and virtually any white man could violently assault a black man with rare serious consequence until after the George Floyd murder by a white police officer in 2020.
Meantime, black on black violence through domestic incidents, neighborhood street and school fights, bar brawls and gang warfare has also been taking place with rare serious consequence by the white dominated justice system because after all, these are just blacks harming each other. Indeed, culturally known and feared is the rage of innumerable black males who uncontrollably exercise violence to vent it.2 While I do not assume to know exactly what was in the hearts of the black male police officers that beat Nichols, I have seen this movie enough to recognize the possibility that besides abuse of authority, rage, black self-hate and bitterness driving it may have been at work too.3
Clearly, beyond the normal pressures of life that causes males from all hues to take it out on others, untold black males carry rage as such a burden that not even assuming the responsibility of law enforcement removes it. Now, in what many blacks stand amazed to see is among the swiftest moves ever to hold police officers accountable, the five black officers that mercilessly beat Tyre Nichols to death were charged, arrested and fired. In the sight of the God I serve who shows no favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17), this is righteous and should be the case in every instance the police are guilty of unwarranted force. These black males also need His deliverance from any inner rage, self-hate and bitterness I too, know from personal, painful experience and am a witness He can do!4
1 Information was taken from an AP News article.
2 Black male rage especially is so widely known in American society, policing authorities expect to see and brace for it in most any confrontation with us. The media and entertainment industry (to include sports) exploits and even makes fun of the “angry black man” while the average white citizen lives in terror it will find them.
3 Read the February 21, 2016 post, Ties That Bind Black Male Souls, under the category, The Cause.
4 I give testimony in many places about my own struggle with anger including my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics available at your favorite internet book- seller or brick and mortar bookstore and the Strong Man Store. As well, the FSTVEP Resource Store on The From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site has the newest of my audio single message releases, Freedom From Bitterness. I introduce this timeless 2007 message relaying how bitterness caused me to maltreat a former band mate, Kennard Jefferson. He gave me permission to disclose his name because now, reconciled as brothers in Christ, we jointly want anyone (and partic- ularly fellow descendants of slaves professing to be Christians) captive to the sin of bitterness to let God set you free (Ephesians 4:25-32)! Get the CD or download it.
Let no one believe I spoke of the death penalty for gang bangers found guilty of murder in some cold, heartless religious detachment in my 2012 Commentary “Curtailing Gang Violence,” under the category, Call To Repentance posted August 12, 2018.1 In the warmest love of God, I am for human life and fervently preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to see dead souls live (Ephesians 2:1-7)! However, urban communities across America are lawless killing fields where too often those not involved in gang conflicts such as children going to and from school are murdered. We all cry and cry and cry, but our sons and some of our daughters too, continue to hurt, maim and kill one another.
As I write in this edited, 2012 follow up Commentary, God has authorized human government to punish evildoers to include putting to death those that murder. This is because human life is of high value to God and He wants us to share His view of ourselves. God knows the horrible track record our nation has with minorities in its justice system and I do too. So, I am surely also calling for reform that brings it into line with His Word and the engagement of revived Christians in advance of prosecuting our sons in death penalty cases. It is hypocritical for us to insist to the world that black lives matter and we do not care enough to turn in and righteously punish our sons that cheaply murder them. The bloodshed in our streets as judgment proves God does not share in this hypocrisy!
Originally Published September 2012
I am not unaware of how those without a biblical worldview among professed black Christians processed advocating the death penalty as a means to deter and curtail gang violence in my August 2012 Commentary. Say what you will about the way of suffering our people have endured, self-destruction through murder as victims is not an appropriate response. This may be what is happening for many, but any so-called Christian and preacher that is only content to rationalize the slaughter rather than preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and enforcing the divine value placed on human life to curtail it is in complicity! Still, the death penalty is to be done God's way also.
It is true that the devaluing of human life in this land has been going on since the colonizing of what was called a “New World.” Violence played a major role in subduing the Indians and turning captured Africans into slaves. These souls were treated with the utmost contempt in violence and murdered with impunity. After this came the dehumanizing Theory of Evolution and Margret Sanger who wished to control population by way of eugenics. Through the deceitful advocacy of women’s reproductive rights, feticide became national law and blacks now murder our own children in the womb at a higher rate than other groups. Survival in a harsh, often violent urban setting is daily life.
Daily too, is the saturation of violence in the media. Contrary to what a real "Christian nation" with a biblical worldview would look like, America has a history and culture of violence, murder and death that serves as a broader context and contributing factors for gangs among its many outlets. While there is always an outcry when an increase in gang violence and murder occurs, a couple of arrests and short prison terms later rather than being deterred in the main, these men are released morally unchanged to do it all over again. This is a vicious cycle that must and can only be broken when faithful Christians get involved with the Gospel, God's Word, power and accountability.
God Almighty, who declares in His Word without equivocation that He is man's Creator (Genesis 1:26-27), made him and all of creation at the beginning "very good," (Genesis 1:31, NKJV). Made in the image and likeness of God, human life is esteemed by God as the most precious of all since man is to be an eternal son. When man sinned, God, the Son of God and Word wrapped Himself in flesh to effect man's redemption that men of faith may even be raised from the dead to live with God forever (Psalm 49:1-15; John 1:1-5, 14, 10:10, 11:25-27; Hebrews 2:5-18).2 The death of Jesus Christ on the cross thunderously exclaims human life is of inestimable value to God!
Having such esteem for the life of man, after destroying a world of evil and violence (like our own) in Noah's day (Genesis 6:5-22), God gave him and all mankind an irrevocable edict. Man's life is so precious to God that not an animal or any man is to willfully shed his blood. If either creature does kill a man, as governing authorities men under God are to shed that creature's blood; that is, take the responsible animal or man's life as a statement of absolute opposition to the willful killing of a human (Genesis 9:4-6). Later, God in the Ten Commandments declares, "'You shall not murder,'" (Exodus 20:13, NKJV) which Jesus affirms and expands in application (Matthew 5:21-26).
God gave Israel just commandments, laws, statutes and ordinances (and thereby all mankind as a blueprint) for righteously dealing with those who murder. All persons accused of murder must first be given a trial where the facts of the case are determined. Given the historical and blatant corruption of American jurisprudence in the cases of minorities, every jury of peers in murder trials must include a fair number of the accused person's ethnic group or other minorities. There must also be a minimum of two eyewitnesses to consider the death penalty. All penalties must be handed out consistently to be an effective deterrent. Accountability and deterrence are the Lord's goals in the death penalty for murder (Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 19:15-21).
It is now far past the time for Christians to have a biblical worldview on crime in general and gang violence in particular. Our compassion for the community ought to be displayed first in proclaiming the Gospel and God's Word on sin in unity. Our church ministries should be proactive in reaching our boys before they are introduced to gangs.3 They must be taught the truth that a holy God loves them, but hates their sins. Also, they are to value human life as God does or face man's justice and without repentance, His eternal condemnation (1 Peter 2:13-14; Revelation 21:8, 22:12-15). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 Have I not confessed to murder in allowing the death of my unborn children as an unsaved youth? Back then I would not have understood why I merited the death
penalty for my crime against humanity, but I do now and appreciate to the fullest measure the grace of God that did not treat my sin as it deserved in the midst of a
society that had legally and falsely decided aborting the unborn is not murder. I did not get away with anything since until my last breath, though forgiven, I must
endure public shame while with others, fighting to persuade our society to return to God’s view of murder in the face of His staggering judgments for refusing!
2 As the Lord leads, I present the reality of the divine eternal purposes and destiny of man as God’s redeemed creature 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.
3 Our Ministry is doing this through our Urban Radio Campaign and its Strong Man Minute Page as well as the Strong Man Academy. We welcome Kingdom dri-
ven Christians and churches that want to support us in the work! This can be securely done on the Give Page of our Web Site.
I close this year out as the Lord leads offering a biblical worldview on the topic of gun violence which so tragically dominated the headlines. It was the violent headlines of 2012 and early 2013 that are noted in this edited blog repost. There is at least a tempering solution to gun violence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns if even professing Christians will embrace it since many are proud gun owners for protection contrary to His warning and instruction. Thank you for taking the time in your busy life to read and reflect on the things written in this blog the past year. In spite of all of the evil in the world, I wish you and yours a blessed New Year!
Originally Posted February 17, 2013
The debate raging over what to do about gun violence in the wake of the rash of high profile incidents including the murder spree ended this past week by the decease of former police officer, Christopher Donner (and now the charge of murdering his girlfriend facing celebrated Olympic athlete, Oscar Pistorious of South Africa) centering on gun control alone does not go deep enough. While limiting access and availability to guns along with their capacity to fire bullets may frustrate those bent on gun violence, gun control alone will not address the problem of people killing people that as a matter of divine foretold lawlessness in these latter days, will continue to increase (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 6:3-4, 9:21).
As an aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ, I am convinced of Him that gun ownership is not needed for personal or family protection (Job 13:15a; Psalm 27:1-3, 59:1-4, 118:5-9; Matthew 5:38-48, 26:51-56; Romans 8:35-39, 12:18-21; Philippians 1:27-30).1 Though I am not an advocate of our nation’s Second Amendment to the Constitution, I agree with those supporting this position that guns do not kill people, people using guns do. The existence of guns and other weapons (or for that matter, mental illness) does not drive violence according to the Word of God, sin in the heart of man does! Indeed, weapons or how they were used (along with mental illness) are not even mentioned in the biblical narrative laying out what brought about God’s decision to destroy the world of Noah’s day.
However, the narrative does say, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). And again, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” (Genesis 6:11, NKJV). Evil in the heart of man due to sin led to a world filled with violence and all manner of other corrupt behavior not weapons (or mental illness). Therefore, in the divine assessment, violence and murder with guns or any other weapons must be addressed at its root: sin in the heart of man (Mark 7:20-23)!
Only God has the free fix for man’s heart in His Son, Jesus Christ, that breaks the power of sin in man and also addresses another source of his encouragement to violence, Satan, the original murderer (John 3:14-21, 8:43-47; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 8:1-4, 10:6-13, Colossians 1:13-14, 2:11-15). Even so, further proof that sin in people is the real issue with gun and all other violence is given by God in His prophetic Word. It presents us with an advance look into the thousand year reign of Christ to begin at His Second Coming. Of His many initial acts in the cause of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, Satan, that great instigator of violence among men will be removed from the world (Revelation 20:1-3).
The Lord will also order the nations to transform all swords and spears into peaceful tools (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-3); Israel will destroy the weapons of Armageddon by fire (Ezekiel 39:9-10). Access to manufactured weapons of violence will be eliminated. Any sinful, mortal man that murders in that Day will do so with whatever is at hand including his hands. He will also face the swift, sure and severe judgment of King Jesus (Psalm 2:7-12; Isaiah 11:1-9; Malachi 3:5; Revelation 19:15-16). Yet, after the end of that millennium, Satan is released and instigates mortal man’s final revolt against God complete with weapons (Ezekiel 38:1-17; Revelation 20:7-9a).
This final satanically instigated human revolt is permitted by God to show one last time His eternal wisdom and righteousness that necessitated the cross of Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant for sinful men who have believed. For in that Day even under the perfect rule of Christ, sinners will do what sinners do and would do it forever if the Lord allowed (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 31:31-34; Hebrews 9:11-10:18)! He also shows how because of His holy character, it is impossible for sin and evil whether in angels or men to peacefully co-exist with Him in His Kingdom. Sin and sinners which are unnatural to God’s eternal existence must be completely removed from His presence.
He, therefore, in response to the revolt after the end of the Messianic millennium and close of this mortal age, pours out the consuming fire of His holy wrath upon all revolting flesh as well as the entire physical creation; thereafter in judgment consigning everyone and anything not destined for eternal dwelling with Him to the lake of fire (Isaiah 24:17-23; Ezekiel 38:18-20; Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:9b-15)! It is only after this that the prophets and the apostles declare that we will see God create new heavens and a new earth “in which righteousness (alone) dwells,” (Isaiah 65:17-19; Malachi 4:2-3; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-8, NKJV).
In the meantime, the only realistic hope of temporarily curtailing gun violence by people against people during these latter days is to help as many as possible become followers and aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Jesus Christ! I’m game; what about you?
1 So foreign to the culturally conditioned American Christian mind is the biblical basis for living a gun free life today, it is bitterly rejected by many pastors and professing
Christians across racial and socio-economic backgrounds as if it were bona fide heresy. However, the right to bear arms codified in the U.S. Constitution is one of
the earliest examples of rights granted by our nation’s legal apparatus that knowingly supersedes biblical instruction and paves the way for others such as are found in
slavery, segregation, abortion and same sex marriage to name a few. For the man serious about living to please God and doing His will even in your protecting respon-
sibility, I urge you to get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics in the Strong Man Store to learn more about how to do this.
Following up my last post in the Good News and compassion of Jesus Christ who judges and is coming to judge (Psalm 96),1 I see fields of men in our nation still ripe for harvest at this hour!2 The lack of laborers He observed in first century Israel remains valid in our land today as does His remedy to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,” (Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 10:2, NKJV). The Lord immediately appointed laborers He sent out to the harvest (Matthew 10:1-16; Luke 10:1, 3-16). However, in our day not only are the laborers few, but biblically sound churches where men made Christ’s disciples can be sent for proper equipping as men and laborers of God’s design!
This is a great evil! Like the literal fields of ripened produce that rot where they stand because of not being harvested, so, many men in our nation marginalized by secular society and numerous local churches following after it rather than Christ are perishing daily where they stand. Where I live here in Portland, Oregon is no exception. Our city is globally known for lawless streets not just due to a lack of police officers who are doing their best in the situation, but the widespread darkness that fills many hearts separated from the “light of life” in Christ Jesus (Mark 7:21-22; John 8:12, NKJV). This reality is “spiritually discerned” and why unsaved city leaders don’t get it (1 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV)!
I will never be made to understand why so many professed Christian church leaders within the city limits don’t get it either and are powerless in the face of the darkness having its way except to the extent they are afraid or part of the problem. Jesus is Lord of His Church! Since when do those assembled to Him as Lord fear the darkness or look to “an arm of flesh” for leadership to stand against it (2 Chronicles 32:1-8, NKJV)?3 They do not look to the Lord as they ought because they are alienated from Him through their corrupt compromises with the darkness or how is it that the biblical Gospel of repentance from sin and faith in Him is no longer preached for salvation by not a few?
How is it too, what Christ has commanded His followers to do in the Bible is not done (Matthew 28:18-20) or God’s creation of man as male and female and order of mankind in roles He designed abandoned (1 Corinthians 11:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)? I know of not one church in this city that I can safely send men and boys led to Christ that will teach them biblical manhood; their roles and responsibilities in a biblical worldview.4 If you are out there, reach out to me with men for the sake of working together under the leadership of Christ to help deliver men in our city from hearts overcome by darkness through preaching of the biblical Gospel and witnessing of Him!
Using men as laborers to reach men and the world with the Gospel is the example and intended enduring primary methodology of Christ recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-51, 20:19-23). He hand-picked no women to represent Him as apostles nor were any displayed in all of the rest of the New Testament. The Lord’s exclusive use of men in the apostolic mission and leadership of those assembled to Him as His Church had nothing to do with chauvinism or any notion of innate male superiority, but their suitability according to His election of order and roles of His design from creation as sovereign Creator (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7-8, 18-25; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9, 14:34-37; 1 Timothy 2:11-13)!5
While the foregoing offends the rebel feminist men and women in and outside of professing Christianity who have abandoned the Lord’s Word and its purposeful examples during these latter days, it and He remain unchanged (Psalm 119:89; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)! Therefore, without repentance by guilty professed Christian leaders and churches, as the Lord led me to write similarly in another post their labor in cooperation with secular allies will continue to be ineffective at diminishing the lawless violence and murder by those with sin darkened hearts prevalent in the city.6 Meanwhile, let any churchless or otherwise interested Christian man in Portland reading this that is zealous for the Lord and His causes reach out to me for instruction, fellowship and ways to serve Him with us!7
1 Read the August 7, 2022 post, Saving Souls Not Nations, under the category, The Cause.
2 My phrase, “still ripe for harvest” reflects all of my Holy Spirit led intentional labor to restore men beginning with preaching the Gospel and witnessing Christ to them since 1998. See the July 9, 2017 post, Laboring To Restore Men, under the category, The Cause.
3 Consulting with and relying on human wisdom, efforts and power to engage the darkness as only the Church of Jesus Christ has uniquely been equipped and empowered by Him to do is a sure sign of spiritual impotency at best, apostasy at worst; either is characteristic of those practicing Christianity as manmade religion (Luke 10:17-20; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)!
4 The subtitle of my book, “Back To Basics” is a summons to return to and gives biblical instruction on God’s mortal order of mankind as well as male and female roles from creation! The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics is available with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, at your favorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore.
5 Read the June 2017 posts presenting the value of men.
6 See the August 12, 2018 repost from 2012, Curtailing Gang Violence, under the category, Call To Repent.
7 We are always on the lookout for Christian men on fire for the Lord that are wanting to serve Him outside of the limiting box of manmade religion that exists in too many churches! Express your Portland area interest in connecting with this Ministry to me using our information e-mail address, info@thestrongmanofGod.org.
Once again the anniversary of the 911 terror tragedy is upon us as we remember the many lives lost and hurt to our national ego. Beyond its use by the fictional film character, James Bond, referring to how he wished his martini drink made, Collins Dictionary states, “If you say that someone has been shaken but not stirred by an experience, you mean that they have been slightly disturbed or emotionally affected by it, but not deeply enough to change their behavior or way of thinking.”1 While there was a disruption in the national comfort zone Americans enjoy from the threat of foreign invasion, within a few weeks of 911 most were back to their regular routines--shaken, but not stirred!
Since 911, numerous school, other mass, gang and police shootings killing many have again and again shaken our citizenry, but not enough to stir folks en masse into adopting any new ways of thinking or behaving that would mitigate such violence. Sure, there is always the initial emotion in the face of the tragedies that causes marches calling for gun control and government hearings. Laws are passed as they were after the recent Uvalde, Texas school shooting, but as before, things quickly settle down and Americans return to their usual patterns. Few seem to consider that as the Bible declares the problem is ultimately the evil of the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23).
Mankind has a medical fix for most everything these days, but has none for the resident evil in the human heart. However, the God of the Bible does have the fix through the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ! If a man will only confess and repent from the evil in his heart through sin and believe the Gospel that Christ died for his sin, was buried and rose again on the third day God will forgive him. He will also fill him with the Holy Spirit who is able to give him a new heart! However, since everyone claims to be good contrary to God’s assessment, many will not accept His fix (Romans 3:10-12, NKJV). So, our unsaved citizens especially are left being repeatedly shaken, but not stirred.
This is the case even in the face of seeing what God in His Word also foretells about “evil men” (with Christian impostors) growing “worse and worse” in these latter days (2 Timothy 3:13, NKJV). It is at this juncture that faithful Christians and students of the Bible2 should be fully understanding of the how in our Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy of these times when He declares: ‘“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold,’” (Matthew 24:12, NKJV). Repeatedly being shaken by lawlessness to include violence and murder without being stirred, eventually leads to cold, dead hearts that are completely unfeeling and uncaring about it. May remembering the evil audacity of 911 today, at least stir us Christians in love to continue proclaiming the Gospel to our lost citizenry!
1 See the phrase definition on the Collins Dictionary Web Site.
2 Such ones include 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 with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, at your favorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore.
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