The Scourge Of Racism
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No doubt some professed Christians are upset with me and others of God’s faithful prophetic voices at this hour for exposing and calling out their corruptions in word and deed along with holding all of the great number of guilty responsible for His judgments upon our land. They want a false hope and future rooted in this present world proclaimed to them. My telling the truth from God’s Word keeps messing that up.1 Be assured O professed Christian corrupting yourself in all of your wicked ways, the children of Israel before you were also infuriated with God’s faithful prophets whose words from Him were thoroughly vindicated in their punishment (Jeremiah 26; Matthew 23:29-39)!
Did anyone take heed to what the Lord had me to write in the final two paragraphs of last week’s post?2 God would certainly know if His people have been disobedient to His Word and care or do you actually believe God does not see you and what you do moment by moment of every day? If you do not really believe that God sees you, then, you must not be serving the God of the Bible who is omnipresent and your imagined god very small. Indeed, God sees you to the core of your being as well as your actions before you carry them out (Psalm 139:1-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24)! Israel often failed to consider this truth as God had to continually send prophets to cry out against their sins.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, for example, God queried the people of Judah about their sinful ways carried out before they assembled at the Temple, then upon arriving, false belief that being there protected and enabled them to keep practicing those sinful ways. He declares, ‘“Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’” (Jeremiah 7:8-11, NKJV). But you say, “It’s not like that with me.” Isn’t it though? You also willfully disobey the Lord’s transcendent spiritual principles, moral precepts and ethics in His Law written in your mind and on your heart throughout the week then, show up to church falsely believing your presence (and for some, work too) is His approval and release from fear of judgment.
Yet, says the Lord again as He did to Judah, ‘“I have seen your adulteries and your lustful neighings, the lewdness of your harlotry, your abominations on the hills in the fields,’” (Jeremiah 13:27, NKJV). But it is not just the wicked corruptions of the people, it is also their guilty leaders the Lord sees and speaks of through His faithful prophets (Jeremiah 23:11-14). He supernaturally takes the prophet Ezekiel on a show and tell of the Temple itself; graphically showing him what He had been seeing the leaders and people in rebellion do in His holy house (Ezekiel 8:1-6). Repeatedly throughout the tour, God directs Ezekiel to “see” what was going on (Ezekiel 8:7-17, NKJV).
Revealing to them by His faithful prophets He had been seeing their sinful conduct, God also reminded all of Judah as Israelites of their covenant obligation to obey Him and called them to repent for failing to do so. But they stubbornly refused desiring instead to follow ‘“the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts and went backward and not forward.’” ‘“They did worse than their fathers’” as they listened not to God’s prophets, but their deceitful leaders and false prophets. Thus, they left Him with no option after long forbearing with their refusal to repent or ‘“receive correction.’” He would and did severely punish them (Jeremiah 7:16-8:13; Ezekiel 8:18-9; Zephaniah 1:4-13, 3:1-7, NKJV)!
The same end approaches for our nation because professed Christians also defiantly will not repent or receive correction from God’s Word and ongoing judgments (Jeremiah 18:1-17)! For God sees the idolatrous exaltation of self, family, the nation, money, material things and success by large numbers of His professed people in America. As well, He has seen the willful corruptions and casting aside of His Word by the guilty to justify their idolatry and rejection of other transcendent spiritual principles, morality and ethics of His written Law. He most certainly sees how many of His professed people have shamelessly taken a stand with the world against His set order of mankind decrying His allowing men to lord it over women as some falsely assert--oh, how deceived (1 Timothy 4:1-2)!3
The foregoing is another confirmation the God who sees is consistent. Our way is not hidden from Him and He is about to punish the guilty accordingly!4 It is also validation of my calling and ministry for good in the American Church as before that day near, I cry out in the midst giving warning (Ezekiel 33:1-9) and calling for repentance (Jeremiah 8:14-17; Zephaniah 2:1-3).5 This is in lockstep with all of God’s prophets of the Bible’s Old Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles in the New as well as my faithful contemporaries. Many honest Christians know I do the Lord’s work, but because of fearing men that claim in persecution I am “controversial,” have not openly stood with me in support (Jeremiah 18:18; Matthew 5:10-12; John 7:12-13).6 God already vindicates me!7
1 Contrary to the instruction of biblical Christianity the guilty love this present world that “is passing away” in spite of their wishes; having not embraced the hope we have in Christ at His return (1 Peter 1:13-21; 1 John 2:15-17, NKJV).
2 Read the July 2, 2023 post, Christians Are To Fulfill God’s Written Law, under the category, Instruction.
3 This latter departure from sound doctrine is very egregious since the guilty leave themselves with no ground for which to stand against the world’s rebellion against God and His Word without hypocrisy; being guilty of the same themselves.
4 The aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Christ live on purpose to please God and do His will as I write in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics and rejoice to live transparently before Him attempting to hide nothing! Get the Hard or Soft Cover or E-Book Edition of the book along 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, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
5 The only deliverance from God’s remedial or more severe judgments is through repentance, not obstinacy. Watch the latest 30 Minute Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, for professed Christians on our dedicated YouTube Channel whether you think you need to or not.
6 Since when is the Word of God controversial except among those who do not know and love Him in faithfulness or wish to be obedient? Labeling God’s faithful as contro- versial for declaring His Word in truth and as it is written is only a clever way for disobedient, compromised and corrupt professed Christian leaders of manmade Christianity the religion to tarnish those they consider opposition. I stand in excellent company as the Scripture references show!
7 As an example, see the two-part post that begins April 30, 2023, God’s Warning To Non-Christians, under the category, Call To Repent. In it the Lord causes me to speak of His “violent whirlwind” in these “latter days,” (Jeremiah 23:18-20, NKJV). The uptick in the frequency and severity of His violent whirlwind along with other incredible weather events that have been occurring and that will not diminish going forward until Christ returns vindicates the truth of His Word spoken through me. I am not anything, but the Word of the Lord by the Holy Spirit and paying heed to His call to repent by His people are very important (Acts 11:27-30)!
It is truly unfortunate, but not surprising that with all else our nation must deal with at this hour, unresolved racial issues have recently come to the surface again through the citizen and police murders of black Americans, freshly proving racism is not a past thing. The incidents and resulting explosion of initial violent rioting, looting, protest marches and rallies not just by black Americans, but Americans from every hue were sparked by the recorded video of a Minneapolis, MN police officer’s murder of black American male, George Floyd. I wrote about this incident as the Lord led June 21, 2020 in a post under the category, Black History, entitled Has Racial Justice Arrived in America?
This time, among the early voices speaking empathy and counsel into as well as engaging with the crisis are a number of especially younger conservative white Christians. Along with the manifold increase of white Americans across the political and social spectrum in general, conservative white Christians as America’s “moral majority” speaking anything but condemnation into a riotous racial crisis is recent. While there have been apologies for slavery and Jim Crow segregation and endless talking by white conservative Christians with amicable black clergy about racial reconciliation since the 1960s, as I have written in other posts, there has not been any real, widespread progress.1
Our majority white society as a once professed Christian nation propped up supposedly by morals and ethics drawn from the Bible, has far too long tolerated the abuse of its black and other citizens of color in many forms that actually run counter to it (Zechariah 7:8-12; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8-10). Not biblical Christianity as the order of the day since the nation’s founding, but corrupt, counterfeit manmade forms of it that even allowed for slave owners to commit adultery on their wives with their female slaves; church pastors, deacons and congregants to brutalize and terrorize blacks using burning crosses as a symbol of hate among many other evil acts.2
Such deeds were done while police, judges, educators, businesses, legislators (often as active participants) along with the larger white society through silent indifference were complicit.3 Over the past hundred years the most vocal champions of maintaining the morality of the Bible among professed Christians has been white Americans that self-identify as conservative in their religious, social and political convictions. Many are also intensely patriotic, devoted Americans who ascribe to the phrase “God and Country” as their motto though, on such issues as allowing systemic racism in their churches and other entities, God’s will in Christ has clearly been secondary (John 13:34-35).
However, at this strategic moment during God’s Coronavirus judgment when the festering sore of racial injustice has ruptured once more, younger conservative white Christians are speaking up perhaps finally perceiving, God Himself keeps bringing up the matter because those professing to know Him among their ranks have not dealt with it in accord with His written Word! After all, as I have offered in other posts, a “biblically conservative Christian” is supposed to be about objectively interpreting, applying and preserving the whole Word of God as it is written! In no place does it advocate for or tolerate hating a brother in Christ for any reason (1 John 2:7-11, 3:10-15, 4:20-21).4
Besides being and presenting the world a corrupt if not outright counterfeit form of biblical Christianity, guilty conservative white Christians (to include those calling themselves “Evangelicals”) have been hypocritical by insisting “our nation” uphold their cherry-picked morals and ethics from the Bible while they undergirded its systemic racism to this hour. This reality has been among the chief reasons many former biblically conservative black American Civil Rights activists searching for righteous allies over the years have abandoned the effort among their ostensible like-minded white brothers. Instead, those that are guilty through lack of faith in and impatience with God have to their shame taken up with rebels against Him for help (Psalm 2:1-3; Isaiah 30:1-5; Philippians 3:17-21).
The guilty among de facto apostate black Americans will give an account to God, but so will conservative white professed Christians who have been more loyal to a humanly invented religious, social and political philosophy that permits such sins as racism under the guise of Christianity than to the Lord who calls all to repent! Indeed, why but for sin am I as a black Ministry leader who has remained faithful as a biblical conservative not fully embraced and supported by conservative white professed Christians? Your sinful flesh built conservative philosophy does not welcome those of any race much less inferior black males who speak biblical truth challenging the wicked status quo; one white church elder once intimating this to me by essentially saying I needed to shut up!5
Now, though, the Lord during His Coronavirus judgment is plainly showing racism is one of the issues He is calling the guilty to repentance from among professing Christianity emptied out of its buildings. The authentic younger conservative white Christians coming forth repentant and in the power of the Holy Spirit to actually take a stand with their black brothers are representative of those I spoke of in my June 21st post.6 May the Lord bless you and all others to follow in what is very likely a last chance for conservative white Christians to get on the right side of the Bible and help forestall the eruption of greater ethnic conflict awhile longer in America; conflict ongoing in many parts of the world that fulfills another of the Lord’s foretold occurrences to precede His soon coming (Matthew 24:7a).
1 See the posts, Moral Pressure Rightly Applied, May 4, 2014, Biblical Equality And Equity, July 5, 2015 and Professing Christian Racism Is Sin Too, December 11, 2016
all under the category, Call To Repent.
2 Read the two-part post beginning August 21, 2016, Christianity The Religion Of Men, under the category, Instruction followed by Christianity The Religion American
Style (which shows how even many black religionists to this hour mimic the practice of it by their former masters so pervasive is it) posted on September 4, 2016 and
the two-part post beginning September 11, 2016, American Culture’s Religion, all under the category, Call To Repent.
3 Read the August 9, 2015 post, Silent Endorsers Of Evil, under the category, Instruction. Whether Christians or not, like the white pre-Civil War Abolitionists, it has been
heartening to see current white protest marchers for racial justice carrying signs with wording like “Silent no more” and “Not silent and complicit.”
4 See footnote #9 in the two-part post, The Racial Divide, under the category, Call To Repent, that begins July 29, 2018 to see how the Lord led me to make a distinction
between “conservative” and “biblically conservative” to avoid any confusion about the Christians faithfully obeying His whole Word as it is written! Also, read the April
19, 2015 post, On The Lord’s Side, under the category, The Cause, cited in the footnote for a discussion of why all professed Christians ought to be standing with the
Lord Jesus as Bible conservatives!
5 Get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics to understand why aspiring strong men of God in the image of Jesus Christ from every hue must be willing to
stand and speak as He commands (Matthew 10:24-33)! 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 purchase a print copy in the Strong Man Store.
6 I invite those that are biblically conservative from all hues to stand with and support us at this like-minded Christian black American founded Ministry! The Ministry is cur-
rently engaged in a campaign to raise my 2020 full-time salary and is 63% there. Learn more at https://fundrazr.com/salarycampaign1. I am also seeking to raise the
funds necessary to license the music used in and Webcast our still relevant 1994 radio docu-drama, From Slavery To Victory: One Man’s Journey that presents a biblical
worldview of the black American experience from West Africa on our From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site, https://fromslaverytovictory.org.
In presenting the final unintended corruption of Scripture sample in last week’s post,1 I noted in parentheses that there are those that intentionally misinterpret and apply Galatians 3:26-29 for their own end primarily to give women their version of equality. Now, I fully understand knowing the intent of the heart is exclusively the domain of God’s judgment which in fear, I also know He carries out (Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:9-10; John 2:23-24; 1 Corinthians 2:11, 4:1-5)! Nevertheless, those that corrupt Scripture typically expose their motive(s) by their supporting explanation(s). We judge their doctrine, actions and persons (Romans 16:17-20; 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Timothy 1:1-11, 4:12-16).
The foregoing statement of course, and the apostolic teaching in the New Testament passages cited flies in the face of the contemporary falsehood held throughout much of Western professing Christianity that there is no place of judgment among believers! However, this being so, where do local church, denominational and ministry leaders get off judging anyone’s doctrine and conduct as they govern, enlist those who serve or hire as examples? Some also wrongly confuse the apostle Paul’s instruction not to judge a brother in things God grants us freedom of conscience as a prohibition to judge at all (Romans 14). Biblically, nothing could be further from the truth! 2
In general, I prayerfully give most Bible teachers the benefit of the doubt about motive when from what I know about their love of Christ and the brethren, denomination (if any) and its tenets, doctrinal bent and broader context of their instruction a passage of Scripture is apparently corrupted by them. With others more knowledgeable that enrich me, I declare God’s Word as it is written in accord with His calling and gifting as a corrective in the course of the messages and instruction He gives me so that if they will, these Bible teachers can repent as I have had to do in my own journey; in obedience striving not to quarrel with anyone (Ezekiel 33:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:23-26).
To the end of doing “nothing against…but for the truth” of God in His Word (2 Corinthians 13:8, NKJV), at His directive I have also at times fervently cried out against what is the blatant corruption of Scripture, rebellious doctrines and deeds that follow. This includes the demonically inspired corruption of and casting aside of Scripture to justify adopting the worldly feminist view of women’s equality that is widely evident among American churches (1 Timothy 4:1-2).3 Besides Galatians 3:26-29, other Bible passages such as Genesis 3:16b are corrupted to tarnish and undo God’s original purposeful design of male headship as I write in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.4
Genesis 3:16b is wickedly interpreted to be God imposing male headship as a judgment upon Eve instead of as a clarifying directive to her and the women coming after. God’s clarifying command is obviously needed and firmly given since Eve ignored the facts from the ground that her husband was created first and tasked to lead! She also willfully usurped him to lead them both into sin (1 Timothy 2:11-14). If Genesis 3:16b is punitive, who authorized it to be revoked? The pastors, elders, churches and other entities that have unilaterally chosen to corrupt or set aside God’s Word to dismiss His order of mankind from creation have committed grave transgression and iniquity.
Tragically for the guilty unless they repent, here briefly are some other intended corruptions of Scripture supporting false doctrines and wicked actions I have called out writing at length about or touched on briefly previously. One is the uniquely American constructed gospel of prosperity and health that falsely assures a Christian is to prosper financially, materially and physically at all times. This false teaching corrupts passages such as Malachi 3:8-12 spoken to Israel from the Law and 3 John 2 by couching it solely in covetous and material terms. A favorite for physical healing is Isaiah 53:5d though, the apostle Peter plainly shows its first priority application is spiritual (1 Peter 2:20-25).5
Many of those that practice manmade Christianity the religion purposely welcome devils into their midst as church members by willfully corrupting the Lord’s interpretation of His own “tares of the field” parable (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, NKJV). He says the field is the world; they say the local church. A growing number of those among my ethnicity cry out corrupting Scripture, “black Jesus!” I understand why you do it after centuries of corruptly having a “white Jesus” shoved in our faces. Do “two wrongs make a right?” Not His typical as foretold 1st century Jew in the land olive complexion saves, but faith in His red blood poured out for all our sins (Isaiah 53:1-6; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 3:1-3)! Finally, believers “left behind” at any return of Christ corrupts His promise in John 12:26 and 14:1-3.6
God graciously calls professed Christian male and female feminists with all of the guilty corrupters of His Word to repent since you cannot serve Him and the world (Luke 16:1-18)! Either God’s unchanging Word is right for all time or it has not been from the beginning. Neither God nor His Word evolves with the times of sinful flesh (Psalm 119:144, 152; Matthew 24:35). And if one believes only certain liked parts, but rejects the rest of the Word haven’t you become an evil judge of God who inspired it all (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? If you are ashamed of biblical Christianity, why don’t you just walk away? Your end as a rebel is the same (Mark 8:34-38; Hebrews 10:26-31)! Therefore, receive God’s grace and repent or in proud obstinacy, His eternal damnation (Mark 9:42-48).
1 Read the September 12, 2021 post, Unintended Corruptions Of Scripture, under the category, Call To Repent.
2 The same apostle of Jesus Christ that instructs refraining from judging each other in liberties God grants us, also teaches in appropriate instances of doctrine and conduct that corrupts or violates apostolic teaching (now, Scripture) we are to judge; meting out discipline in accord with God’s Word as it is written (Matthew 18:15-20)! This is im- possible when a relative few honors God’s Word this way. Hence, the spiritual chaos and conflict that is raging across Christendom.
3 To be sure, the motives I have encountered for doing this by those convinced that God sees things their way in childishness, emotion, experiences and worldly thinking run the evil gambit of supporting justifications (see all five of my May 2015 posts, under the category, The Cause). Most common among the justifications is agreement with the world that Scripture is out of step with the times followed closely by the noble sounding objective of making the local church more acceptable to prospective worldly visi- tors and future members to increase the numbers. Is Christ’s Church about numbers by any means or in obedience preaching the Gospel and letting Him add to it those to be saved (Acts 2:36-47)?
4 You can pick up a copy of my book at your favorite internet book seller and in the Strong Man Store.
5 The better verse in Isaiah 53 for hope in the Lord’s willingness to physically heal is 4a quoted in that sense as “fulfilled” by Matthew as he described the healing ministry of Christ in Israel (Matthew 8:16-17, NKJV). Not everyone was healed back then, nor is this the case today usually due to unbelief, but also the sovereign will of God (Mark 6:1-6; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10). Has the Lord healed folk who were standing on Isaiah 53:5d? Yes and why? The Lord Jesus ultimately honors faith in Him (Matthew 9:18- 22)! His stripes work God’s priority spiritual healing or restoration to relationship with Him and the resulting benefits as Paul celebrates in Romans 5:6-11 and throughout his Epistles along with Peter as cited.
6 If a professed Christian is to be “left behind” by Christ in an any moment, secret appearing as the Tim LaHaye fictional work asserts or His biblically taught one and only globally seen and heard Second Coming, it would mean he or she was not an authentic Christian (Matthew 7:21-23), an apostate or a neglectful, unfruitful and disobedient servant (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, 24:45-51). In the false secret instance of Christ’s appearing, professed Christians that missed the cut are able to go through the “great tribulation” as a sort of Protestant version of purgatory to earn a second chance to be with Him eternally (Matthew 24:15-28, NKJV). In the biblical instance of Christ’s Second coming, there is no second chance; you are either faithfully in with Him at His appearing and Kingdom or left out forever (Matthew 24:29-31, 36-44, 25:1-13)!
Having just spent time giving serious thanks to God for all of His blessings this Thanksgiving, the Lord again directs my attention to the persecution being suffered by my Christian brethren among many nations. Though I do not write a lot about the ongoing persecution of Christians, I stay regularly informed and prayerful for all. The aforementioned “all” includes not just the suffering faces of those in faraway lands such as North Korea and Nigeria, but increasingly, those enduring persecution in this Western hemisphere and our own nation. Truly, growing hostility toward and persecution of Bible believing Christians in America is a reality that can no longer be dismissed as only isolated.
As a supporter of similarly named, but organizationally unrelated Open Doors USA, our Ministry regularly receives their reports on what is happening among our persecuted Christian brethren around the world.1 Not only are our brethren suffering from family and community exclusion within the nations they live, but government harassment, arrests, unfair trials, incarceration, legally sanctioned mob violence and martyrdom. When the Christian men are targeted for incarceration or murder, it leaves their families to suffer. While Communist and Islamic run nations fill the list of persecutors, nations such as Christian Eritrea, Hindu India and Buddhist Bhutan are also prominent.2
It is about to get really real for those of us that profess to be Christians in America too. Intensifying opposition to the biblical faith once on the fringe of American society is going mainstream. Moral tenets of the faith once taken for granted as absolute and bedrock to American society are not only being challenged, but cast down as no longer acceptable. These are not just tenets governing marriage and family for example, but definitions of objective truth, right and wrong, good and evil as well as justice and injustice. In the wake of this swiftly moving river of moral upheaval, Christians that would dare stand firm for the moral tenets of our faith are suffering varying degrees of persecution.
Besides the “in-your-face” government policies and litigations to remove crosses and nativity scenes as public displays of Christianity to implement falsely believed constitutionally mandated church and state separation, some Christians have suffered being demoted or fired from employment because they had Bibles at their work stations or read them on breaks. And because many secular entities have a “corporate culture” now, that does not tolerate religious expression (though, they publicly trumpet “inclusion” and “diversity” as values), being hired a Christian with a social media presence may be very difficult and once hired, witnessing Christ to co-workers is out.3
American secular colleges and universities that have historically celebrated tolerating various viewpoints as a means in the process of vigorous, but polite debate to sharpen the thinking of young minds have in too many instances today, hung out the “not welcome” sign to a biblical worldview. Biblically conservative Christian students are routinely singled out and held up to ridicule for their faith. Christian professors do not escape either.4 The secular media regularly ignores and mocks Christians that hold to a biblical worldview being quick only to report on high profile “Televangelists” and “Megachurch Pastors” whose sins come to light, while social media giants resist them.5
As I have also commented in other posts, a number of American Christians have been purposely targeted and martyred in mass shootings such as the one at Columbine High School in 1999 along with churches as occurred in Charleston, SC in 2015 and Sutherland Springs, TX in 2017.6 In agreement with all other observers here, none of what American Christians have suffered to date compares with the daily egregious and violent persecution our overseas brethren endure--yet! Praying for “the persecuted church” like it is some disconnected entity that exists only in non-exceptional, often impoverished nations of the world is about to change as persecutors intensify their efforts in America.7 And why? It is their “hour and the power of darkness,” (Luke 22:52-53, NKJV).
For this reason, beyond seeking to sensitize us to the ongoing suffering of our brethren wherever they are as a primary reason for this post, exhorting faithful American Christians to spiritually, mentally and emotionally prepare for the kind of hatred fed persecution our overseas brethren experience is an important secondary reason since our Lord has warned it is to occur in “all nations,” (Matthew 10:16-39, 24:9, NKJV).8 Now, is the time to awake from arrogance and apathy to get ready for what our Lord foretells and assures will take place. Among the equipping resources available is my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics and related group studies.9 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 The organizational parent of Strong Man Ministries is Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. I was led by the Lord to found August 12, 1985. Read some of the
stories of persecuted Christians among the many countries on the 2020 World Watch List of Open Doors USA.
2 What many of our brethren overseas “normally” suffer from their persecutors has been intensified during the Lord’s Coronavirus judgment. As we are banding together
with other Christians to help and encourage one another here at home, the Lord would have us remember our suffering persecuted brethren in those faraway lands
with tangible support as well (1 John 3:16-18).
3 Sadly, our military as a work place is no exception. Read about the case of Chaplain Curt Cizek.
4 To learn more about the experience of Christians on American campuses read the following ACLJ, Beliefnet and IsChristianityTrue articles.
5 I can attest to the heavy-handed resistance of Facebook to biblically conservative ministries such as this one among the social media giants. “Likes” to our pages by
Christians mysteriously dwindle after I write blogs or make posts on their platform that are not politically correct, tolerant etc. which the Lord has had me call them on.
They want me to believe that just making better posts and spending more money to “boost” them will remedy the situation though, such has not been the case since
they also limit the reach of the same. For the record, I do understand a to be expected number of professed Christians that formerly liked our Facebook pages are sub-
ject to “unlike” them at any time as a show of disagreement with me. I get that, but not what Facebook is doing which lately has even taken away page likes whenever
someone has liked a post! I urge Christians that have liked our pages and those of other ministries to check back periodically especially if you have not received a post
in your newsfeeds for a time and re-like the pages if necessary. Also, enlist other Christians on Facebook to like our pages after you have done so.
6 Read for example, the June 8, 2014 post, And Then There Is The War, under the category, instruction. Revisit the cited respective church shootings at the following
links Charleston, SC and Sutherland Springs, TX.
7 See the November 12, 2017 post, God’s Throwaways?, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
8 Read the two-part post beginning May 17, 2020, Persecution, Hatred And Betrayal, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
9 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 clari-
ty 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. Too, leaders can teach, disciple and equip through The Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and The
Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study also in the Strong Man Store.
In the midst of 21st century America’s mostly secular, sentimental and commercial celebration of Christmas, faithful Christians continue to labor diligently to rightly exalt Jesus Christ as the central focus. However, even many professing Christians seem to only sentimentally zero in on Christ as “the Babe born at Bethlehem” and not on why. Truly, the birth of Jesus Christ means nothing without the why and I am so glad in this contentious age, God Himself supplied the answer to that question so arrogant and proud men would not have this as a matter of debate with all else. God has also made His answer to why Christ was born so simple and easy to receive a child can understand it!
In the only two birth narratives in the New Testament, Matthew and Luke record angelically made statements that announce from God the name, title and description of the central mission His Son born to the virgin, Mary, would have. Declaring His name and title (Christ) in his narrative, Matthew relays how Mary’s husband by engagement, Joseph, was told by an angel in a dream to name Her soon to be born Son, ‘“Jesus’” which those conversant in the Hebrew language translate literally in shortened form as “Savior.” Joseph obediently did this at His birth. Then the angel tells Joseph why the name, Jesus: ‘“for He will save His people from their sins,’” (Matthew 1:18-25, NKJV).
In Luke’s account too, an angel announces God’s good news for all humanity this time to shepherds in a field. They are told, ‘“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,’” (Luke 2:11, NKJV). As is consistent with God and man from the beginning, names given express something about the function and mission of a person, place or thing. Jesus, Savior is so because His central mission was to save His people (those that would look to Him starting from among the lowliest of Jews and the Gentiles) from their sins. He is titled “Christ” which means “Anointed One” because He is exclusively chosen by God to His work (Isaiah 49:1-7, 61:1-3).
Saving willing mankind from our sins was the first priority mission of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was born into this world over 2,000 years ago. And while He was no doubt a cute, baby Boy sentimentally speaking, His mission is what should occupy the heart of every person professing to be His follower at Christmas. Indeed, He grew up to accomplish His mission on a Roman cross by dying thereon for the sins of all mankind--the innocent One in the place of the guilty all--to bring salvation to the world (Isaiah 53:1-9)! This is the deepest source of the Father and His Son’s joy and ours too who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ as the angel foretold (Isaiah 53:10-12; Luke 2:10)!
The tragic shame of these latter days is how lightly sin is taken by many willfully sinning and falling away from Jesus and the true Gospel that still profess to believe on and love Him (John 14:21-24; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:1-10). Truly, all disobedience and whatever offends the holy, just and righteous God is sin as it is plainly written in His Word (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6-11, 17-19; Exodus 19:10-20:17; Romans 14:23b; 1 John 1:1-6). That same Word declares that God does not change--what was sin in His sight yesterday, is today and will be so forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)! Yet, many professing Christian Americans have pet sins they willfully practice and refuse to relinquish in sincere confession and repentance so that God might forgive them (1 John 1:7-2:6).
Among the willful and continuously practiced pet sins many professing Christian Americans cling to falsely believing God in grace is okay with because He has not yet brought on them the judgment they deserve (Romans 6:1-2) is racism which I wrote about in the December 11, 2016 blog. Another major pet sin is pride that is routine among pastors and other church leaders as if Scripture gives no serious warning about it (Proverbs 16:18-19). Others include unforgiveness with petty vindictiveness and retaliation, idolatry in all covetousness of money, things and selfish ambitions, sexual immorality and heresies that are big among the religious educated elite and pastors who simply invent corrupt theologies at will to justify such sins as oppressing and marginalizing men.
Cue the anger here since I must think I am perfect. Nope, just confessed up and forgiven as well as yielded to the Spirit’s renewing work daily in fear of God (Romans 12:1-2)! No professed Christian who will please God clings to sin as a pet since Christ our Savior died to save us from sin completely--its penalty, power, pollution and ultimately, its presence (Romans 6:3-23)! This is why God consistently, sternly warns the righteous made so through faith in the Old and New Testaments who may become deceived of demons and hardened by sin, unless they do repent from their sins carried out in unbelief, they will die in them and be judged by their deeds (Ezekiel 33:12-20; Romans 2:1-11; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 3, 6:1-8, 10:26-39). God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7-8)!
This Christmas, therefore, I urge every guilty professing Christian reading this to repent now, so that in God’s gracious forgiveness made possible through Jesus Christ, you may have the real joy of the season along with salvation’s many blessings into the New Year and beyond (Matthew 5:1-12)! The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, “Who is on the Lord's side?”
(So that I too may give full attention to celebrating Christ’s coming as Savior to save us from our sins at Christmas and enjoy my family into the New Year, the Lord has granted that this should be my final blog for 2016. The Lord saying the same, my next new blog will appear on January 8, 2017.)
Listening to Bible teachers without really studying the passages being taught in my Christian infancy especially, I like perhaps many of you accepted without question what was being said. For me, it was not that the teacher was a media star or mega church pastor, it was my own ignorance and the acceptance church folk around me granted to what was being taught along with the authority figure--mostly a pastor--teaching it. This is how error is perpetuated even by those who know better as the apostle Paul showed in his letter “to the churches of Galatia;” rebuking Peter for his hypocrisy and exposing the active complicity of Barnabas in the process (Galatians 1:1-2, 2:11-13, NKJV).
As the Holy Spirit deepened my diligence as a Bible student, I began to be more intentional to compare what was being taught to me by whomever with what the Scriptures actually said. My purpose was not to be anyone’s critic, but to protect myself from being led into error and avoid teaching it to others knowing God is deadly serious about the consequences of doing so (James 3:1; 2 Peter 3:14-18). This does not mean I think myself infallible. But fearing God “the Word” who is, I seek to be as careful as possible to say only what Scripture says knowing He will not fault that nor the plain exposition of it after receiving His instruction (Psalm 119:97-104, 113-120; John 1:1, NKJV)!1
No one claiming to love God shown as Christ Himself teaches by obedience in first priority (John 14:15) not emotion (so prevalent in much of post-modern professing Christianity), can long purposely believe and teach error to His people who he is also supposed to love (John 21:15-17)! Yet, having been in biblical error myself, I painfully know how easy it is to unintentionally slip into it as Peter did among the Galatians; whose rebuke from Paul no doubt, snapped him back to spiritual sobriety leading to repentance.2 Or else, how do we have his two letters written after this unless the Lord had inspired and entrusted a forgiven Peter to write them (1 Peter 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:1-2:3)?
Only by his compromising actions in error had Peter not been “straightforward about the truth of the gospel” causing other Jews watching him to follow suit and misleading the Gentile believers in their midst (Galatians 2:14-21, NKJV). What about the many unintended corruptions of God’s written Word that are taught and persist as tradition within professing Christianity today? Do they not have the same negative outcomes in our contemporary churches as they did among those back in Galatia? Yes, and it is worse since all of what the Lord specifically wills for us is written in the New Testament as settled instruction!3 Here briefly are just three well practiced unintended corruptions of Scripture.
First, there is the “Jesus walked out of the tomb” corruption spoken by many preachers waxing eloquent on Easter. This is not minor. The four Gospels are clear that the women followed by Peter and John did come to an empty tomb. However, if the Lord had to wait until someone rolled the stone away to walk out of the tomb, the supernatural character of His resurrection is removed; His death questionable. The stone rolled away or found so reveals the empty tomb and reality Christ was not only raised in power leaving His burial strips intact, but after neatly folding the cloth on His head, “vanished” as He also did later (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-31; John 20:1-10, NKJV)!
A second unintended corruption is repeated by many well known and meaning Bible teachers seeking to give assurance of salvation to believers. They quote only the first half of Romans 8:1 stressing “There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus” and leave the absolutely essential conditional second part “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” unspoken (NKJV). As the immediate context in chapter seven clearly shows, Paul is not attempting to give believers eternal security in Romans 8:1, but begins to triumphantly declare the superior experience we have serving God in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than through the flesh! Condemnation is the only outcome for those who attempt to please God in the flesh (Romans 8:2-17).
Last, Galatians 3:26-29 is unintentionally corrupted by some (others, intentionally) to literally remove all mortal distinctions of ethnicity, social condition or gender among Christians to the end primarily of giving what is called equality to women. It is fitting that we return to Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia where Jewish legalism was also undermining the Gospel to close out this post and call the guilty to repentance. For as the Lord has led me to write before,4 in context, Paul in this passage plainly intends to comfort believers from all backgrounds that we have an equal eternal spiritual standing as sons of God in Christ Jesus! Nevertheless, he recognizes and teaches mortal distinctions to include for example, gender roles (1 Corinthians 11:3). Men are God’s elect leaders!5
1 There is no greater “Exegete” of God’s Word than God Himself! For this reason, the very first principle of sound Bible interpretation and application is prayer. Learn more sound principles of Bible interpretation in summary form by way of a free one sheet document the Lord led me to prepare to help those intent on “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) you can download from the Strong Man Store. Understanding Scripture was never intended to be the exclusive domain of a relative few educated elite, but all and the lowliest among us who will be teachable by God (Psalm 119:33-35; Luke 24:44-45; James 1:5-8).
2 Besides the spiritual and biblical ignorance typical to newborn Christians along with the sin failures, flaws, faults and inconsistencies that have plagued me struggling to grow into maturity, I have transparently written in various places including my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, about my initial fear of obedience driven compromise in error to honor manmade tradition over what Scripture teaches on the role of women in His house. Rebuked by God, like Peter, I repented as anyone read- ing this that is guilty should also do--unless, of course, you are greater than the apostle Peter! Read the September 20, 2020 post, What Will It Profit A Man?, under the category, The Cause. You can pick up a copy of the book at your favorite internet book seller and in the Strong Man Store.
3 The completed written New Testament we have today became widely accepted in the fourth century A.D.
4 See the September 8, 2019 post, Confusing The Issue, under the category, Call To Repent.
5 Paul and Peter are in harmony on this enduring point of biblical doctrine where it plays out first in the home (Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:1-5; 1 Peter 3: 1-7). In consistency, the apostle Paul also teaches how this doctrine is to be manifested and honored secondarily in the local churches (1 Corinthians 14:34-40; 1 Timo- thy 2:11-15). Not by corrupting God’s Word, but speaking and doing all things in accord with His will in it are Christians “salt,” “light” and distinctive in a dying world dark- ened in rebellion against Him (Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 5:8-14, NKJV)!
As the Lord led in last week’s post, we saw how representing God, Jesus Christ by His own testimony came into the world as part of His mission “to bear witness to the truth,” (John18:37, NKJV). As God in eternal unity with the Father and Holy Spirit, He is “truth” and ‘“the truth’” as it concerns the message of salvation He was also sent into the world by the Father to proclaim (Deuteronomy 32:3-4; John 8:13-30, 14:6, NKJV). It is in the context of salvation that He asserts by remaining in His ‘“word’” believers in Him would truly be His ‘“disciples,’” ‘“know’” Him ‘“the truth’” and they become ‘“free,’” (John 8:31-32, NKJV). Only Christ in the Gospel can set men free from sin!1
‘“…the truth shall make you free’” is one of a number of words and phrases lifted from the Bible and corrupted by misapplication while being used in many ways by professed Christians and rank unbelievers (John 8:32b, NKJV). Though it is true having knowledge of the truth in a matter can be very liberating, this is not what the Lord Jesus is speaking of when He makes His statement to the Jewish listeners who had believed on Him. Indeed, they got their hackles up in offense right away at the statement because they did not receive it from Christ as something beneficial. But they correctly heard in the Lord’s statement that they were in some kind of bondage.
In smugly refuting the Lord’s statement they cited their connection to Abraham and did not tell the truth in saying they “have never been in bondage to anyone” since God reveals to him his descendants would be slaves for over four hundred years as they were in Egypt (Genesis 15:12-16; Exodus 12:40-42; John 8:33, NKJV).2 This was followed by localized oppressions in the land as well as the major Assyrian and Babylonian captivities in which they were removed from it (Nehemiah 9:36-37). Following those days, though they were not enslaved, the Medo-Persians, Greeks and currently Rome oppressed them. Even so, the Lord spoke of a deeper form of bondage that is spiritual.
He said, ‘“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin,’” (John 8:34, NKJV).3 Human slavery to sin began when the first man, Adam, yielded to it in Eden and brought upon him and his progeny the promised divine penalty (Genesis 3:1-11, 17-19, 22-24, 4:1-7; Romans 5:12-14). Rooted in the body, sin exerts such power, influence and control in the desires, thinking, attitudes, words and deeds of its hosts that they can be described accurately as nothing but slaves. Sin in presence and its works originating in the heart also spiritually pollute or “defile” a man before the holy God who has no fellowship with it whatsoever (Isaiah 59:1-8; Mark 7:14-23, NKJV).
However, back in Eden God showed how He could cope with sin in man on a temporary basis by shedding the blood of an animal; taking its life instead of man’s (Genesis 3:21). He developed this in the Law given to Israel which when done right gave the people an annual temporary atonement for and release from their sins (Leviticus 16). All along though, God’s plan called for eventually setting willing men free eternally from sin’s penalty, power, presence and pollution as He intimated at another of the great feast days of Israel, Passover (Exodus 12:1-14). What the Jews who believed on Christ yet disputed with Him that day did not realize is He was God’s Passover Lamb (John 1:29-34)!
Christ goes on to instruct His would be Jewish followers the slaves of men do not have a permanent place in the house of their masters, but a son does (John 8:35). They stood in the presence of the only begotten Son of God with an eternal standing in His Father’s house. If He as the Son of God therefore, set them free from bondage to sin through the truth of His finished work in the Gospel, they would “be free indeed,” (John 8:36; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Hebrews 9:22-10:18, NKJV). For it was Christ alone who enabled the Father to remove sin’s penalty through forgiveness; who broke its power, made a way for eternal freedom from its presence and pollution through His cross (Romans 3:21-26, 5:1-8, 6, 7:7-8:17)!
Thus, by remaining in His word, we as those Jewish believers should have been, are to be earnestly seeking to know the truth better and deeper rather than arguing with Him.4 Then we would understand more fully and “rejoice” in all that Christ accomplished for us (Romans 5:9-11; Colossians 1:3-14; 2 Peter 1:1-11, NKJV). This includes having access to God’s forgiveness of our sins through confession and repentance as often as needed (1 John 1:5-2:2). Then too, we will have eternal freedom not only from sin as sons made gloriously immortal, but every evil and hurtful thing that would enslave us; living and reigning with Christ “forever and ever,” (1 Corinthians 15:47-57; Revelation 21-22:5, NKJV)!
1 Read the April 7, 2024 post, Suffering For The Truth, under the category, Glory To God!
2 Many professed American Christians also falsely believe themselves to be grandfathered into salvation because of heritage or parents that were Christians. If you are one of them please take heed and realize you can only be saved by making a personal decision to repent of your sins which like everyone else you have and believe the Gos- pel of Christ. Watch this Ministry’s Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Reconciled To God, on our YouTube channel.
3 Committing sin is the evidence we are slaves to it! Among the sins many white conservative evangelical Christians commit daily is the practice of racism. Learn more by getting my book, The Scourge Of Racism. It is available at your favorite internet book seller and in the Strong Man Store. The E-Book version is also available at major E-Book sellers. Also, please watch another Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, on our YouTube channel to hear Christ’s call for you, O professed Chris- tian, to turn back to Him in obedience and faithfulness to His Word.
4 This is the heart of every aspiring strong man and great woman of God in Christ’s image I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It too, is avail- able at your favorite internet book seller and in the Strong Man Store. The E-Book is also available at major E-Book sellers.
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