The Scourge Of Racism
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God warns ancient Israel about their sinful and evil ways in rebellion against Him because He does not want to punish them (Ezekiel 33:7-9). He shows this in a heart rending response through the prophet to their complaint. ‘“Say to them: “as I live,” says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel,’” (Ezekiel 33:10-11, NKJV). The same holds true today for backslidden and rebel professed Christian Black Americans because the holy God does not change in nature or character (Malachi 3:6). It is repent or die in His judgment and approaching wrath!
Thirty years later, the 1993 From Slavery To Victory: One Man’s Journey (FSTVOMJ) Radio Special continues to bear the heartfelt appeal of God for the guilty among black Americans professing to be His people to repent from every way He calls sin in His Word as it is written!1 The Bible is still the final authority for the faith and practice of it by Christians when we read and apply it objectively. Thus, for quick examples, worshipping anyone or thing besides God, having sex outside of marriage between a biological man and woman, feminism, stealing, lying and murdering transgresses, sins against and perverts God’s spiritual, moral and ethical Word written (Romans 1:18-32, 13:8-10).2
Now, I know that Satan has craftily incited some rebels to throw God’s Word into confusion during these latter days by questioning if it is still relevant thousands of years after being written and brazenly corrupting it through subjectively reading into and changing its words supposedly for a better understanding.3 But even if every Bible on earth were corrupted and cast aside, not to be outsmarted by any of His creatures God put a conscience in man that acts as a moral compass either affirming or condemning our actions in this life and which are also recorded on high for the day of judgment all must face to give an account as the apostle Paul instructs (Romans 2:12-16; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11).
From His commanding position and authority as the “Prophet” to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, NKJV), the Lord Jesus Christ out of His overflowing love for the nation and righteous indignation at their religious leaders for their hypocrisy, spiritual blindness and hard hearts publicly and severely upbraided them (Matthew 23:1-36). Among the things He declared to them that day was He would “send” them “prophets” with other gifted men they would “kill,” mistreat and “persecute” to “fill up” their cup of guilt before God (Matthew 23:32-35, NKJV). From the first century until now, He has done the same within professing Christianity with similar results (Revelation 1:9-3:22, 17:1-6, 18:24).
Indeed, as with Israel of old the Lord has even punished His followers for their sins to the end the guilty might repent (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). No one is saved from sin to “live any longer in it,” (Romans 6:1-14, NKJV). So, the Lord calls the guilty to repent from not only personal, but corporate sin too, such as the practice of Christianity as religion manifested in various powerless manmade forms or that becomes cold and mechanical apart from Him like it did the first of seven churches He sent a message by the apostle John as a prophet. The church at Ephesus had “left” their “first love” and this was enough to destroy them as it is guilty churches today (Revelation 2:1-7, NKJV)!
Therefore, it is high time for professed Christian black Americans that are guilty to sober up about the worsening state of our community the Lord led me to warn about thirty years ago in spite of the sincere and dedicated labor of some to reverse our self-destructive course. It is the holy God that must be approached in the ancient, biblical way prescribed for any hope of a temporary reversal (His foretold end is even nearer today than thirty years ago!).4 In all humility and brokenness, the guilty must seek God in prayer fully confessing and repenting from every kind of transgression, sin, rebellion, iniquity and wicked backsliding. Confession too, must acknowledge God has been right to judge and will be apart from His professed people doing as He wills (Nehemiah 9:33; Hosea 14:1-3).
Though the hour is late, spiritual revival from God among those that turn back to Him will save many lost souls as in obedience, His people again proclaim the Gospel and witness the biblical faith to family, neighbors and even haters; joyfully fulfilling the original assignment He gave us as His slaves during and after being shackled by men.5 Newly restored fathers would turn back to their children and their children to them. Females restored would no longer use sex as a means to get a male’s interest, bear children without husbands or murder them because of inconvenience as they renounce feminism.6 Self-destruction by any means would again be taboo. Otherwise, it continues as God’s judgment who brings His wrath after there is “no remedy,” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16, NKJV).7
1 The start date and time for the Webcast of the radio special will be announced soon in select media and on social media. Interested contributors can make designated gifts for the Webcast at https://fromslaverytovictory.org/Donate and receive one of the last number of collectible Commemorative Cassettes.
2 Read the March 5, 2023 post, Thirty Years Later, Still One Last Hope, under the categories Black History and Call To Repent.
3 Even so, I stand by my Holy Spirit directed exhortation to seek Him with the Bible open to learn in what ways one that is guilty has gone away from God’s spiritual, moral and ethical instruction. See the January 9, 2022 post, Easier To Read Bibles, under the categories Bible Prophecy and Instruction.
4 Read the two-part commentary beginning May 2004 in The From Slavery To Victory Monthly Journal Archive, Come Let Us Return To The Lord.
5 Our Christian slave forefathers left us and the world more than 4,000 spirituals and work songs testifying to their faith in the Bible’s God and His Son, Jesus Christ, while non-violent souls during the 1955-68 peak of the Civil Rights Movement did the same through their courageous examples. Should we, their descendants as Christians, be doing any less?
6 In hope of such a day as the Lord has led, I have written The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics along with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study to help equip restored men and women to function as He designed. These resources are available in the Strong Man Store, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
7 God is not unjust to “destroy the righteous with the wicked,” (Genesis 18:22-25; Psalm 145:17-21; Romans 5:6-11, NKJV). So then, those unsaved or professed Christian individuals now, in sin that repent and turn to God through faith in Christ will live eternally with Him. This is as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prophesied in his final sermon be- fore his death. After declaring he had been to the mountain top and seen the Promised Land, he said: “I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” Those black Americans who are faithful Christians will be among all of the redeemed of God just as I am also led by Him to as- sure concluding FSTVOMJ.
On this day marking the sanctity of human life beginning in the womb and eve of the nation’s holiday remembering slain Civil Rights leader and martyr for Jesus, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am challenged afresh about doing God’s will. Dr. King made it clear this was his life aim in what would be his final sermon before being assassinated. He said, “I just want to do God’s will.”1 This conviction does not originate with Dr. King, of course, but is pleasantly consistent with my own heart and multitudes of persons that have through time enjoyed relationship with the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who preeminently expressed and carried it out (John 6:38, 17:4).
Pleasing God and doing His will is the heart of the Lord Jesus and what makes Him the Strong Man of God (John 8:29)! From eternity it was known what the will of God would entail for the Lord: a cross (John 3:13-16, 12:27, 32-33). In His perfect Humanity He, even He struggled with this part of God’s will for Him and prevailed through Self-denial (Matthew 26:36-46). The Lord unambiguously charged all that would be His followers to line up behind Him in self-denial to live on purpose to please God and do His will too (Mark 8:31-38).2 This has been the heart of aspiring strong men and great women of God in His image to the point of martyrdom beginning with Stephen (Acts 7:51-60)!3
What is God’s will for Christians since despite the corrupt laxity of Christianity as manmade religion, doing His will remains a biblical requirement (Matthew 7:21)? Continuously Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:15-18), faithful followers of Christ understand God’s priority will for them after salvation is to cultivate relationship with Him through a growing faith and love even through much tribulation (Romans 5:1-5; Ephesians 3:14-21). His will linked to this is our character development and spiritual growth (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 2:1-4, 5:12-14, 12:3-11; 2 Peter 1:1-11). We are to also fulfill our assigned familial roles while loving and serving fellow saints (Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 4:7-11).
Finally too, we are to be engaged in the mission Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). In light of the two-part post, Revelation’s Seven Churches In Time, beginning January 5, 2020 under the category, Bible Prophecy, we know with certainty God’s will is for us to continue faithfully doing all of the foregoing. These together are the “works” of Christ we are to diligently keep to whatever end He has permitted for us (Revelation 2:26, NKJV). By His grace and in His strength, I daily press to do God’s will to include my assignment through this Ministry to restore men in the Kingdom cause of the Gospel, revival and the strong man of God among the willing.
Indeed, it is absolutely imperative that men be restored at this late hour because individually they are equipped to walk in the four distinctive characteristics of Christ as aspiring strong men of God in His image. In accepting the roles God has assigned, being willing to obey His will and Word to the death, relying on and trusting in Him for vindication they stand in the evil day. Very importantly too, in their roles as husbands and fathers they appropriately lead their families to stand as persecution and God’s judgments in the earth intensify and going to corporate brick and mortar churches are increasingly not an option.4 Resisting the Lord through me in this cause and work is evidence of your need for repentance, salvation or revival! Otherwise, stand with me in it!5
1 The statement was made in the I’ve Been To The Mountain Top portion of his sermon on April 3, 1968 at the Bishop Charles Mason Temple Church Of God In Christ,
Memphis, TN, while in town to support the city’s striking sanitation workers.
2 Read my two-part 2019 post that begins August 18, Lined Up Behind Jesus, under the category, Instruction.
3 I write and instruct about aspiring strong men and great women of God in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. Get a print copy or digital download of
the book at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only). You can also get a print copy in the
Strong Man Store.
4 Read the July 30-Sept 3, 2017 six-part series Restoring Men In The Two Minute Drill, under the category, Bible Prophecy to get a sense of the urgent need to restore
men now!
5 Contribute to my salary support in the work at https://fundrazr.com/salarycampaign1. Give either to my support or the ongoing work of the Ministry or both at
https://thestrongmanofGod.org/Give.
Having considered the question from a personal male perspective in last week’s post,1 the Lord now, leads me to pose His question to professed Christian females that are influenced by and/or ardently hold to feminist ideology. Though many professed Christian females and cooperating males over the last half century have sought to corruptly baptize this ideology into the Bible, feminism manifestly originated from outside of it.2 At its core, feminism rebels against God; His will, way and Word as it is written in the Bible! What especially chafes die-hard feminists is patriarchy that originates with God as Father and has been practiced by most human cultures from ancient times.
Despite the willfully ignorant, corrupt and self-destructive efforts by some Bible translators and teachers to remake God over into a non-offensive Being that is gender neutral to appease feminists, from Genesis to Revelation God is revealed to be masculine in nature as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; three distinct Persons, One God (Matthew 28:19)! Except for the Son who later added a human male body to His eternally pre-existing spirit form (John 1:1-2, 14-18), God has always been masculine in nature apart from created male physiology. Truly, man derives his inner masculine make up from God who created him in the divine image and likeness (Genesis 1:26, 2:7; Zechariah 12:1)!3
Their spirits distinct from yet, intertwined with their bodies in the marvel of divine creation, human male and female bodies are designed as they are to fulfill the purposes of God on this earth made for them (Genesis 1:27-28; Psalms 8, 115:16). And having chosen males to lead beginning with the first man and his family (Genesis 2:15-25), God speaks to males as the first audience of His Word throughout the rest of the Bible unless speaking to a female. This is not because males are superior, but responsible and accountable to God for their leadership. Even so, when God speaks His Word to males of first accountability, it is also for females as Eve showed she understood (Genesis 3:1-3).
This reality of male responsibility and accountability first to God as His chosen leaders is also plainly seen in the fact sin is not charged or its pre-announced consequence asserted until God judges Adam though, Eve the female was the first and original human sinner (Genesis 3:4-6, 17-19, 22-24; Romans 5:12-14; 1 Timothy 2:13-14). God honors His set order of mankind and male election to lead as family initiators (only men through their seed can initiate, beget--father if you will, children) and patriarchs from creation to the end of this mortal age! The Bible affirmation of this truth is overwhelming from Adam (Genesis 5:1-5, 17:1-14; Exodus 3:13-17; John 8:51-59; Acts 3:11-26).
God is not unaware of the historical treachery of sinful males toward females in a fallen world caused by sin (Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 19:1-12). However, rather than change His perfect order of mankind set like the order of the present cosmos (Genesis 1:14-19)4 as feminists have sought to do, God the Father made a way to transform the hearts of fallen males and females through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53; Romans 3:10-26; Titus 2:11-14, 3:3-8)! If any male or female will repent and believe this Good News--that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, God will forgive and give them new birth by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8).
Professed Christian females are supposed to know the foregoing and that rebellion against God can never bear the fruit of righteousness (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Isaiah 1:18-20; Hebrews 3:7-19). Still, many have joined the rebellion against God and His set order of mankind anyway led out half a century ago by a Jewish woman, Betty Friedan, who also defied what she knew;5 reared as she was with other famous Jewish feminists such as just deceased Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in the biblical instruction of Judaism. This is tragic since on this Yom Kippur as all others, Jews are confronted about God’s view of sin and need for atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34)! Having suffered dispersions and so much for rebellion, this one in part led by women will not end well either.
Indeed, the majority of Jews historically until now, have rejected the once and for all atonement of Christ (Romans 9:1-5; Hebrews 9). As a result, they experience the divinely imposed spiritual blindness that gives rise to acts of rebellion and is leading to the final foretold severe judgment which unless God preserved a remnant, none would survive (Psalm 69:22-28; Isaiah 1:9, 10:20-23, 29:9-12, 65:2-12; Jeremiah 30:1-9; Romans 10:21-11)! Professed Christian females supposedly knowing the veracity of the prophetic Scriptures too, should therefore, fear since Christ’s question to you in your rebellion remains: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul,” (Mark 8:36, NKJV)? Are the realized ungodly aims of worldly feminism really worth your soul?
To you too, O Christian female, Christ declares: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes...,” (Mark 8:38, NKJV). Will you really reject God’s unchanging Word in apostasy to hold to the latter day deceitful doctrine of demons extant in feminism who are the original rebels and not afraid to lie on or accuse Him of evil (Genesis 3:4-5; John 8:44; 1 Timothy 4:1-2)? As with the men, I urge you sisters that are guilty to repent before it is too late! Return to God’s Word as it is written and objectively understood knowing it means what it says. Your design, position in God’s order, roles and responsibilities are noble, satisfying and sufficient in Christ if you are willing to submit to Him!6
1 Read the September 20, 2020 post, What Will It Profit A Man?, under the category, The Cause.
2 See the May 6, 2018 post, The Value Of Women To Families, under the category, God’s Creatures.
3 See the June 19, 2016 post, Eternal Sons Of God, under the category, Instruction.
4 Aside from shortening days “for the elect’s sake,” for this obvious rejection and suppression of the truth about God as Creator and testimony of His orderly creation,
among the soon coming severe warning judgments will be earth-wide seen disorder in the luminaries impacting time (Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 8:12-13, NKJV)!
I write about this and the ensuing chaos that righteously reflects the disorder of human rebellion against God’s set order of mankind in the July 27, 2014 post, God Of
Order, under the category, Instruction.
5 The Value Of Women To Families. What began as a liberation quest from the historic roles and responsibilities of females Friedan is credited with launching has now,
mushroomed into a full on revolution for independent female standing, authority and dominion that not only challenges God’s set order of mankind and patriarchy, but
obliterates them!
6 The cause of this Ministry is to restore men as a first priority, then, their families. This means their wives and children are next in priority. To this end, the Lord has led
me to write blogs addressing women. Type “women” in the blog search engine to pull up the many posts. Also, in the context of helping men teach their wives and
daughters about God’s design of and assignment for them, the Lord led me to introduce the great woman of God in two chapters of my book, The Strong Man Of God:
Back To Basics. Now, I am pleased to announce that on October 8, 2020, The Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study drawing from and expanding on the con-
tent of those book chapters will be released and available as the book and the first of our Group Study print resources, The Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study in
the Strong Man Store as well as at all major booksellers. Learn more about the Women’s Group Study.
Over the past thirty years mainly, I have been on a God stirred quest to understand myself as a fallen mortal man that was created in the divine image and likeness and with assignments from Him I knew very little about. I have written about how teaching on the topic was quite limited in the churches I had attended from the time of my full surrender to the Lord in February 1979 until the early 1990s when my then, pastor, in a small Fort Worth, Texas church, began a purposeful presentation on the family. At about the same time I was introduced to Promise Keepers and a growing national movement of men on a similar quest I later found had issues that I have also written about.1
The major crippling issue of our national Christian men’s movement and in the churches that welcome the associated ministries in to teach and train their men is the hypocritical attempt to fit the square peg of the Bible’s instruction on God’s order, the roles and responsibilities of men into their round hole of practice dictated by feminist ideology. I was never comfortable with this burgeoning situation, but had included women in the incorporation and oversight of Open Door Communication Ministries for example, in an effort to be open-minded. Meanwhile, I also continued my personal quest to learn from God’s Word what a man is for my own need and to teach men as a pastor.
Illuminating instruction from the Lord through His Word brought me to the inescapable conviction that man and womanhood were not just some add on church discipleship topics, but essential doctrine that flows powerfully out of God’s purpose to save mankind both in time and for eternity! In the grip of this conviction in 2002, I felt led by the Lord to write a little booklet titled, Man, published by the Ministry’s Publishing Division. Shortly thereafter in May 2003 though, I was brought to a spiritual crisis by not being able to reconcile the biblical doctrine on men I was learning with the church practice I and other pastors were hypocritically allowing as I later wrote in a 2007 article.2
Confiding my dilemma to a pastor mentor, he confirmed the need to make a decision about what I would do since I was so deeply conflicted. I went home that day and prayed; finding myself once again in another of those true disciple, cost counting moments that test the depth of our commitment to Christ as Lord and the Word of God as the final authority of our lives. He honestly warns anyone that would be His disciple up front it requires a willingness to deny self to the point of suffering and death and urges “count the cost,” (Mark 8:34-38; Luke 14:25-33, NKJV).3 For those that are initially willing to follow the Lord no matter the cost, crisis comes when that cost gets painfully real!
Especially before me that day was His question: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul,” (Mark 8:36, NKJV)? Too, His soul piercing charge, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes...,” was potent in the moment (Mark 8:38, NKJV). I repented of my compromise, unwillingness to teach, contend for or implement the “whole counsel of God” in His Word as it is written concerning men (Acts 20:27, NKJV). Deciding to proclaim and teach only biblical doctrine on men led to the establishing of Strong Man Ministries on October 1, 2005.
I was also led by the Lord to write The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics first published in 2011.4 Many men to this hour have been reached with the Gospel and instruction on biblical manhood to the glory of God! However, none of this has taken place without cost. Not only have I had very few invitations to speak at or bring instruction to Christian men’s events or churches, but I have also been purposely rejected from serving as a pastor because of holding true to God’s Word as it is written. Humanly speaking it hurts, particularly as professed Christian folk as the unsaved try falsely and carnally to make it something about me when they are the ones guilty of compromise (1 Peter 4:1-5). I stand firm there is no temporal worldly profit worth being unfaithful to God’s Word for!5
Now, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I challenge every professed Christian man, pastor, elder, church and men’s ministry leader who have corrupted yourselves through compromise of the Word of God and what it says about His order of mankind, the roles and responsibilities of men to repent! Truly, are you really willing to gamble your eternal soul on the patently false supposition that the immutable God, Christ Jesus our Lord, has changed His mind about anything written in the Bible as His words (Matthew 5:17-20, 24:35; John 1:1-5, 14; Hebrews 1:1-4, 13:8-15)? “Yeah, but look at all of these mega and other large church pastors; their success clearly says God is okay with this,” someone will say. Get in your Bible sir; success is not necessarily an indication of God’s approval!6
Indeed, in His Coronavirus judgment God has shut down the churches of even the most successfully high flying pastors. He shows no favoritism! Pastor, I know the pride and fear that wells up in you to even think of having to admit you were wrong, misled and hurt people who trusted your subjective conviction that God was okay with your disobedient compromise of His Word. But this you must do if you will please Him and do His will since you already know remaining proud, defiant and stubborn in the face of His Word and call to repent will continue to be resisted by Him with more judgment (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:31-35; James 4:4-10).7 You cannot prevail against God! The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 Read part one of the three-part post, In God’s Revival Men Are Restored, under the category, The Cause that begins on January 8, 2017.
2 See the part two conclusion of the September 2007 FSTVEP Journal, If Not The Church, Then Who? 3 Read the two-part post beginning August 18, 2019, Lined Up Behind Jesus, under the category, Instruction.
4 A print copy or digital download of the book published by the Publishing Division of Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. with fresh editing in 2019 for greater clarity
and updated web addresses in the footnotes is available at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only).
You can also purchase a print copy in the Strong Man Store.
5 This does not mean I cannot be (and have not been) tempted to evil compromise--only God holds that distinction (James 1:13)! Satan, the tempter is wily and relentless
in his attempts to get me to sell Christ and His Word out (and you too, if you are truly in Him). The truth is, we all have been tempted by the satanic deceit of feminism
from whatever weakness or desire of the flesh to believe the lies God is no longer honoring His Word as it is written, biased males from Moses and to include Christ for
centuries have misunderstood or purposely misinterpreted the Word to subjugate females or blasphemously, God made a mistake and is wrong (Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah
29:16, 45:9-10; Romans 9:20; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; James 1:14). And now, having ignored the Lord’s warnings not to be deceived in these latter days and without repen-
tance, many guilty are enduring the consequent fruit of their sinful compromise (James 1:15-18).
6 Large numbers and the majority can be wrong in God’s economy as was the case with Israel’s ten out of twelve spies when they assessed their prospects of taking the
Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). Also, as it concerns success as an absolute standard of divine approval, read how successful Solomon was and how God dealt with
his disobedience in the end (1 Kings 9-11). Finally, for anyone that would suggest “The compromise has existed a long time” (over half a century intensely). “Surely, God
has not waited until now, to actually do something about it?” Please read of His longsuffering shown to Israel in sin over extended periods beginning in Judges before
bringing remedial judgments. He waited in the case of king Manasseh’s sins over a century before finally bringing severe judgment upon Judah; in the meantime, send-
ing His prophets unheeded to warn and call the people to repentance (2 Kings 21:1-18, 23:26-27; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16).
7 This means that unless those sponsoring calls to prayer, repentance and revival at this time or going forward are willing to confess and repent from all God considers sin
including capitulating to feminism and the related compromise (and in many cases, serious corruption) of His Word to justify it, their efforts are in vain. Again, someone
will say, “Those who have corrupted themselves do not wish to repent from what they believe is right.” Then, the Lord from His Word has already made clear neither will
He relent from carrying out His foretold judgment (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 15:1-9; Ezekiel 14:12-23)!
Restoration of the Kingdom of God on earth at Christ’s coming and victory at Jerusalem is only the initial roll out of the promised and long awaited “restoration of all things” the apostle Peter speaks of during his second sermon to fellow Jews after Pentecost (Acts 3:18-21, NKJV). As he attests, restoration of Israel as a sovereign nation and kingdom led by Christ, Son of David along with all creation is the prophetic future theme of the Old Testament (Isaiah 49:8-26; Amos 9:11-12; Acts 3:22-26); a theme the Lord Jesus never refutes, though, He redirects concern about the timing of fulfillment to the present Kingdom priority of restoring men (Matthew 17:11, 19:27-30; Acts 1:4-8).
The restoration cause of God in Christ has focused on man first as the object of His love, grace, mercy and plan for him to rule as His highest creature. The physical universe has held a secondary, subordinate priority place in the restoration work of God even though it came to be ahead of man (Genesis 1:1-26). This is because the heavens and earth exist for man and is his as a dominion. He is, therefore, preeminent in the creation! As a result, man’s fall into sin negatively affected and brought death to the creation (Genesis 3:17-19). But God sent Christ a second Adam to save the willing and restore man’s rule with the physical creation (Colossians 1:9-23; Hebrews 2:5-9).
Thus, restoration of willing mankind from this present age in Christ is completed first at His Second Coming (Romans 8:14-23; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57)! Then, beginning at Jerusalem He will restore the whole land of Israel (Joel 3:18; Zechariah 14:8). All the land will be purified by the burning of weapons and burial of all the world’s armies slain by the Lord in the war for the city and land; those not buried will have been eaten by birds and animals (Ezekiel 39:9-20; Revelation 19:17-21). As promised by God, Jerusalem, its Temple and the land will be restored with people, beauty, bounty, order and the divinely ordained borders (Isaiah 60:1-18, 61:4; Ezekiel 39:21-48:35; Zechariah 8:1-15).
In all the rest of the earth (not excepted by divine decree) new mountains and valleys will appear; salt and fresh waters along with their creatures will be regenerated. Deserts will bloom; the winds and rain will cleanse and restore the atmosphere. Seedlings and the green grass will sprout; birds, flying and other insects will again delight in their natural habitats to include forests with lush vegetation. Ecosystems will function in perfect order and balance in the Day of the Lord and the earth yield her abundant crops in season (Isaiah 35; Joel 2:18-27). The darkened heavens will be uncovered and once more declare God’s glory (Isaiah 13:9-10; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Malachi 4:1-3)!
The Lord as King will uphold His Word and judge among the nations that survive God’s wrath and His coming (Zephaniah 2:4-10; Matthew 25:31-46). There will be no other gods or religions since all demons are on lockdown. The Lord alone will be worshipped (Psalm 22:27-29, 86:9-10; Zephaniah 2:11; Revelation 15:3-4, 20:1-3)! All of the Lord’s spiritual, moral and ethical instruction along with law and order informed by His Ten Commandments will be restored. Mortal life expectancy will be restored for the obedient; premature decay will show in the sinner’s body (Isaiah 65:20-22). Justice will not be delayed and judgment of the rebel wicked occurs quickly (Malachi 3:5).
Hallelujah! This day of rebellion against God is shortly coming to its end! For the Day of the Lord will also restore His design, order and purposes of mortal mankind! There will be no more male and female confusion. Marriage until death between a man as head and his female wife will be restored as the Lord instituted in Eden. Married fathers will act responsibly. The sanctity of life will be upheld and mothers will no longer murder their unborn. Indeed, all women will desire and submit to the Lord’s purpose and blessing for them to bear children in abundance (Isaiah 65:23; Jeremiah 30:18-20; Ezekiel 36:37). Respect for and submission of children to their parents will be restored and families will prosper under the Lord’s reign (Isaiah 51:3; Amos 9:13-15; Micah 4:4).1
Professed Christians and their churches across the earth are now supposed to be faithfully upholding the will, way and Word of God as it is written; the restored Kingdom reality under Christ in that Day very near. But because many are false, love or fear this present world governed by Satan more than the Lord, they are “falling away” from Him and the truth as foretold (2 Thessalonians 2:3a, NKJV)! In joyfully declaring and longing for Christ’s restoration of all things, I am not angry with or hating anyone. However, I declare what is certain concerning the reign of the Lord in accord with His eternal Word (Psalm 111:7-8, 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33)! The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, “Who is on the Lord's side?”
1 Truly, the Lord’s restoration in that Day will vindicate everything I was led by Him to write in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics concerning what a man is and does! Since it is all like that, I urge you to get your copy now in the Strong Man Store to know what is bound up in the Lord’s will to restore men and their families.
On this Palm Sunday 2016, the Lord has directed me to repost this edited 2013 blog that as it turns out was a prelude to important posts on apostasy He led me to make in February 2014. After reading this blog, I encourage you to follow it up by reading “The Falling Away” and “The Man Of Sin” under the category, Bible Prophecy as well as “Is There No King Among Us” under the category, Call To Repent. Concerning this repost, I am certain that in the midst of all the outward display of religiosity by professing Christians beginning today through this upcoming Resurrection Sunday--my 39th spiritual birthday, the Lord is giving us a reality check (Luke 6:43-45). Hear the Word of the Lord! In honor of the occasion, this post will stand until a new one is made on April 3rd. Hosanna!
Originally Posted March 24, 2013
It is Palm Sunday 2013 and who could have imagined that a major issue in the churches of Jesus Christ at this hour is the rising tide of apostasy in Western Christianity? Contrary to the position of some that Christian apostasy is impossible, the Bible not only says it is possible, but foretells it with deceit as among the evil features of these latter days before the return of the Lord (Matthew 24:3-4, 9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:1-2). Now, if God in His Word says something is not only possible, but will occur, what man is there filled with the Holy Spirit and coming to Scripture ready to be taught solely by what it says that will teach otherwise?
The same Scripture teaches only men devoid of the Holy Spirit or quenching His fire that come to the Word with their minds already made up, who refuse to accept its teaching and impose on its sacred verses their own doctrines will teach other than what is written. These are impostors, false prophets and teachers, carnal men and apostates walking about in cynical unbelief creating divisions; men of which as well are members of Christianity the religion’s educated elite who arrogantly exalt and cite themselves as wise authorities and blindly lead one another into the ditch of divine displeasure (Matthew 15:12-14, 24:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:1-4, 18-23; 2 Peter 2; Jude 3-19).
For the sake of clear biblical definition, apostasy is in subsequent unbelief to willfully forsake, turn from following, deny or renounce the Lord or the faith outright or to practice sin without repentance after having first truly believed (Ezekiel 18:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Titus 1:10-16; Hebrews 3:5-19). It is silly to interpret Bible passages that speak of apostasy as referring only to persons that never believed and are later exposed as impostors. An impostor is a fraudulent pretender from beginning to end, while Scripture teaches the apostate actually believed God’s message and enjoyed its fruit but after a time, completely turned from Him and His Word in unbelief. The only things the impostor and the apostate share in common are unbelief and where they will spend eternity after the judgment of God (Luke 12:42-46; Romans 11:19-22; Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:26-31).
Apostates are of two kinds: willful and de facto. One that is willful openly turns from the Lord. A de facto apostate is one such as the apostle Paul refers in Titus 1:15-16 that professes with his mouth to know God, but actually denies Him by his corrupt doctrines and unrepentant lifestyle. To this hour, such have been the greater number of apostates since the first century who discover too late in Hades that God does not judge us by a one-time profession of faith, but by deeds that demonstrate faith’s continuing vitality in and to the end of our lives (Matthew 24:13; Romans 1:16-17, 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21, 6:7-8; Hebrews 3:5-6, 14, 10:35-39; James 2:14-26).
The tide of apostasy in Western Christianity has been slowly rising for the last five centuries since the failed reformation attempt of Catholicism and splinter groups of every kind formed under the umbrella of Protestantism. All manner of heretical instruction has infiltrated the post-Reformation daughter churches of Catholicism not just by patently false uncredentialed teachers, but as already mentioned, those calling themselves scholars, theologians--the religious educated elite.
As the Lord leads me to discuss in the final chapter of my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics directed to pastors and churches, the last hundred years have been especially devastating in the churches as under the guise of academic freedom and theological discourse, proud professionals as cynical unbelievers and de facto apostates have churned out or upheld any number of false, confusing and conflicting doctrines in a not so funny comedy of errors that often has persisted even after being challenged. As I point out in my book, for example, this evil state of affairs has led to churches not upholding the biblical worldview of marriage, family and men as God’s appointed leaders.
Now, with worldly political correctness, tolerance, truth and moral relativity added to the mix in the churches along with related entities, there is a free for all where men and women with credentials from esteemed institutions hold any viewpoint and spout any kind of doctrine that can no longer be challenged from the Word of God because that is his or hers expertly held personal theology. Those that challenge these de facto apostates anyway in earnestly contending for the faith are considered intolerant, divisive, out of touch and “holier than thou.”
Meanwhile, willful apostates are not only found in the Bible colleges and seminaries of Western Christianity, but in steady increase church pulpits. This growing apostasy will continue to flower until it reaches the near at hand foretold culminating event in the face of severe global persecution and before the Antichrist’s appearing followed gloriously by the Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:3)!
Nevertheless, as the Gates documentary unabashedly shows, taking cues from their former masters and dominant white culture, black Americans too, created their own forms of Christianity, churches and various denominational entities.4 Common to many including the Church Of Christ without instruments is the uninhibited expression of emotion that God winked at in the most painful of historically oppressive times. But if all you have and come away with from church is an emotionally cathartic temporary experience, you have missed God and His help in the eternally satisfying qualities of life and transforming power of the Holy Spirit through biblical Christianity (John 10:10)!5
As portrayed in the film, the driving force behind the Christianity of black Americans is their native West African religious traditions to include a nod to Islam. Out of the severe adversity of capture, transatlantic transport and enslavement, blacks “made a way out of no way” for themselves! Furthermore, absent a biblical worldview of the black experience, the Gates documentary fully incriminates black religionists and the utter failure of their manmade religious construction to measure up to authentic biblical Christianity by admitting and reveling in such heretical acts as reinterpreting the Bible in their own image and making purposeful cultural adaptations.
Not the least of these reinterpretations and cultural adaptations as a deliberate theme throughout the four hour film is freeing women and gays from oppression by whites and stuffy blacks operating out of a Christian conservatism ostensibly beyond biblical Christianity in its restrictions. Ever for the oppressed no matter what, God is presented as working in all of the circumstances and black self-efforts through the engagement of their churches and many well known leaders to free not just our people, but women and gays too, from the tyranny of conservative oppressors. Gates himself tearfully returns to the presently white woman led Methodist church he grew up in to end his film.
Educated experts and cultural icons notwithstanding, Christianity and churches as a religious invention of black Americans may be a pride-filled marvel of sinful mortal flesh, but not the God of the Bible (Matthew 7:21-23, 15:1-20, 23:1-33; Luke 16:15)! As with all other forms of Christianity corrupted and dominated by culture as manmade religion, that of black Americans is counterfeit too; a knock off of the real deal prophetically foretold would be extant in the “perilous times” of these “last days,” (2 Timothy 3:1-9, NKJV). Clearly from this prophecy, no counterfeit form of Christianity by anyone is acceptable to God who judges and calls His faithful out of the harlotry (Revelation 18:1-8).6
Also, since most of our people can now, read the Bible to know what it says for themselves, ignorance of its content is no longer an excuse. Because of this, God has not for a long time been winking at what can only be described as willful ignorance waiting for the guilty to see the light and repent (Acts 17:30-31; 1 Timothy 1:12-14; James 4:17). The disproportionate ruin and God’s remedial judgments widely seen in our community are evidence of willful ignorance in rejection of biblical Christianity starting with the Gospel as salvation from sin defined in His unchanging Word as well as many choosing to be victims in rebellion and refusing to fulfill His good ends for our people’s capture, transatlantic transport, enslavement and freedom (Hosea 4:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)!7
That God, the living God of the Bible would allow people to suffer being slaves on purpose is unapologetically presented therein (Psalm 107:10-16). Seeing so much of our experience in the Egyptian bondage of the Jews, we should also see that God did not just show up afterward to deliver them in surprise it had happened, but ordained it beforehand (Genesis 15:12-16; Exodus 2:23-3:8)! Moreover, the Lord later punished Israel with slavery by many nations, most prominently Assyria and Babylon. Of the Jews that came out of Egypt, many perished in the wilderness and never reached the Promised Land because of unbelief fed rebellion. For while God is for the oppressed, it is only the “humble” faithful who trust in and obey Him that are blessed (Psalms 9:10-12, 10:12-18, NKJV).
For this cause the writer of Hebrews warns all professed Christians about unbelief fed rebellion and being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin,” (Hebrews 3:7-19, NKJV). Certainly, Satan, sin and self has deceived and they are thoroughly deluded who believe God has set aside His Word in these latter days to uphold rebellion against Himself (Psalms 2, 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; 1 Timothy 4:1-2)!8 Such willful ignorance is destroying our people as it once did Israel in the land. As it is written, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” And because they rejected knowledge, God rejected ancient Israel from His purpose and does so today among our people; the lively worship in invented religious forms and churches drawn from them dead before Him (Hosea 4:6, NKJV)!9
Therefore, if the Gates documentary is the final answer to God by black Americans practicing their own form of counterfeit Christianity and sin to include stealing His glory while resisting His call to repentance, then, know He is about to turn your “glory into shame,” (Proverbs 14:34; Hosea 4:7, NKJV). As it is written, “My glory I will not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8, NKJV) and ‘“he who glories, let him glory in the Lord,’” (2 Corinthians 10:17-18, NKJV). With hearts set on sin and "iniquity," God will “punish” you for your “ways” and “reward” your rebellious “deeds” of “harlotry.” Not repenting, your obstinate persistence in willful ignorance is proof of apostasy from which there is no return and only His wrath (Job 36:5-21; Hosea 4:8-10; Romans 1:18-2:11; Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:26-31, NKJV).
4 Read the September 4, 2016 post, Christianity The Religion American Style, under the category, Call To Repent.
5 See Strong Through God, Not Religion. Also, read especially part three of the post that begins February 28, 2016, When The Messengers Are Bound, under the categories,
Black History and The Cause. It was God that was the true “refuge” for our “oppressed” people who were looking to Him, not the place of assembly (Psalm 9:9, NKJV)!
This truth should be abundantly clear by now, to all that are willing to see it after over a year in some cases of not being able to assemble in church buildings due to God’s
Coronavirus judgment.
6 Read the January 26, 2020 post, The Spirit Of Harlotry, under the category, Call To Repent and the two-part post that begins June 7, 2020, Days Of Separation, under the
category, Bible Prophecy.
7 Read the two-part post beginning June 7, 2015, 150 Years After Slavery and beginning February 26, 2017, the four-part God Of Restoration And Judgment both under the
category, Black History. The biblical worldview of the black experience in the From Slavery To Victory Education Project the Lord led me to present is firmly built on the foun-
dation of His foreknowledge and sovereign will! The enslavement of our West African forefathers could not have happened without God knowing about and permitting it.
Visit the project Web Site, https://fromslaverytovictory.org to consider something other than the false narratives of victimization through content such as The Journey and in
the Journal Archives, The Renewing Of Our Minds.
8 The delusion God has set aside His Word encompasses what is written in it condemning all instances of sexual immorality and establishing His order of mankind with men
as His elect leaders from creation in the home and churches loyal to Christ’s Headship (1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 11:1-12, 14:34-40; 1 Timothy 2:11-15). Rather than belligerent
defiance, professed Christian feminist rebels and their male supporters ought to be in fear of the ongoing judgment upon them the Lord had me proclaim in the October 25,
2020 post, Women Pastors: Rank Rebellion, under the category, Call To Repent!
9 See the February 9, 2020 post, Reputation And Reality, under the category, Call To Repent. If “lively worship” is so important to God He is willing to overlook sin in the midst
as many contend, then, plainly this thinking during the Coronavirus church shutdowns has been exposed as false as it also is in the post (Isaiah 1:13)!
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