Category Archives: Worldview

Social Justice And The Gospel

19 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in The Gospel, Worldview

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The Scripture

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – (1 John 5:19 ESV)

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..” – Luke 4:18 NIV

“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” – (Luke 5:32 NLT)

The Issue

The whole world lies under the power of the evil one. That’s why Jesus came; to set spiritual captives free. The perfect life, atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all of this good news. In fact, its great news when we consider that all of us, except for Jesus, are broken and sinful people. No one has ever been able to deliver themselves from sin – we all need a Savior for that. We are not capable of doing enough good works in our own strength to earn our own salvation. Being born into this world without sin makes Jesus uniquely qualified to reconcile us to God.

This good news, that seems to be too good to be true, comes with a catch. Or better yet a commitment. This commitment starts on God’s end. By His divine power, he enables us to grow in godly character. He is committed to us. But, regardless of what some may say – Jesus requires total commitment to his Lordship to inherit his Kingdom. I’m not talking about works-based righteousness, actually, its grace empowered living. He clearly taught that those that lose their self-absorbed lives, will find true life in Him. In other words; you can’t receive his forgiveness, without acknowledging his Lordship. This is real and radical Gospel-centered Christianity.

As subjects of the Kingdom of God, we must take on his worldview – all of it. We are all terribly flawed people, but God is patient with us. Jesus is not asking for perfection from us, just a desire and willingness on our part to obey him.

I contend that both liberal and conservative politicians use the name of Jesus to manipulate sincere people to advance their political agendas. It’s imperative that we ask the Holy Spirit for discernment to know when we are being used for political purposes.

In the Bible, we see the social justice side of Jesus that demands justice for the poor and the oppressed. And the fact is; if you don’t see this side of God in the Scripture, you have been blinded by a materialistic and distorted view of God’s Kingdom.

On the other hand; if you champion the cause of social justice for the oppressed and overlook what the Bible teaches about sexuality and the taking of innocent life,(through abortion or any other unjust killing) you are living in deception also.

The fact is; taking up our crosses and following Jesus on the narrow road of life, involves suffering and self-denial.  Jesus bought us with the price of his own life. So, we don’t have the right to live sexually immoral lives anymore. Nor do we have the right to ignore the plight of those in poverty.

God is gracious to forgive us when we ask him, as long as we don’t justify the kind of behavior he forbids. We are now a new creation in Christ and are called to do good works. Which means we seek to alleviate the pain of humanity in the power of the Holy Spirit and live holy lives as we work in his name.

Prayer

Father, help us to be who we say we are – real Christians. In Jesus name, Amen.

When The World Will Be As One

25 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by in Spiritual Warfare, Worldview

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The United Nations, the European Union and the power elites behind the corporate and political leaders in the U.S reject the exclusive claims of Christianity. In fact they consider biblical Christianity as a major hinderance to achieving their goals. These power elites that desire for “the world to be as one” as the late John Lennon sang, have no use for Jesus Christ or those who adhere to his teachings.  There is a very real conspiracy by those who are seeking to enslave the masses in the name of globalization. Borders need to come down and only a hand full of Technocrats (in their view) need to rule the world. Patriotism will become a thing of the past as we focus on the redistribution of wealth and our global citizenship.

Many in the western world have fallen under the spell of these power elites and have abandoned their belief in traditional values. The entertainment industry, the news media and those in higher education have become the high priest and mouthpiece for this new order. They can’t think or speak independently because they are bought and paid for by the power elites behind the scenes who actually call the shots for the rest of us. This is a movement empowered by the spirit of antichrist.  And, the same voice that whispered in Eve’s ear that “you will be like God” still speaks to some of the most powerful people in the world today.

“We the people” become the ‘useful idiots’ of those who seek to enslave mankind as they promise us a socialistic false utopia. In the book of Genesis Chapter 11 God effectively stopped Nimrod’s globalization plan by confusing the language of what had been a people of one language. They were seeking to build a tower that would come to be known as Babel (which stands for confusion) and to make a name for themselves.

Scholars believe the tower under construction was a pyramid-shaped ziggurat. This tower allowed them to have access to various deities. These people were seeking an ungodly unity with evil motives apart from the God of the Bible.

Had God not scattered the human race and confused their language they would have achieved a one world government and a one world religion at that time. This dream is still alive today in the digital age as the internet has become a tool of Globalist to achieve what Nimrod couldn’t. The movers and shakers in high places today seek to enslave the masses using technology, economic, political power and counterfeit religion.  New Age spirituality which has been growing in America since the 1960’s is an important part of the globalist strategy to replace biblical morals with new age thinking.

We know that God is sovereign over all Nations and their leaders. But, Jesus taught his followers to “watch and pray.“ Prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel are how we participate with his purposes on the earth. Jesus ask a question: “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”(Luke 18:8) I believe he knows the answer to that question, and he was asking the question to challenge our faith. The question we must ask ourselves is; will we be faithful to the end?

 

 

 

 

Cultural Warfare

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

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For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us,what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? – (1 Peter 4:17)

 

The United States of America is currently on the brink of another Civil War. We’ve seen many skirmishes – everything from shots being fired at congressman to attempts of character assignation. While most think our fight is between the political far right against the far left – this battle is spiritual in nature.

Being a Republican isn’t proof you are on God’s side. And it isn’t enough to believe in the constitution and the rule of law, as important as those things are. Conservatives can often believe the right things while having hearts devoid of compassion and with little desire to actually follow Jesus. Those of us who name the name of Christ need to come in line with the Kingdom of God and all that means, and repent of our earthly perspectives.

The Bibles’ teachings on sexuality, marriage, and abortion are clear. But, as Evangelicals we must take a hard look at ourselves and ask; are we more patriotic or Kingdom minded? If you are pro-life and pro-marriage according to the biblical pattern you are presently considered to be an outsider in western culture. We are living in times of such spiritual apostasy, that to believe many of the teachings in the Bible is to be considered culturally irrelevant, in the western world.

For many decades spiritually dark forces in the U.S. have worked through the political, social, educational, entertainment, and religious spheres of society to deny the teachings of Christianity. Some who live in opposition to the morals of our current culture have lost their jobs while taking a stand for truth. If America stays on its current spiritual trajectory, we will look more like China than the America in the not so distance future.

I believe God is calling his people to prayer and living lives that honor his son, Jesus. We must remember that judgement begins in the house of God. So, pray for the renewal of the Church in America so that we can become effective witnesses to a post Christian America.

Resisting Shallow Christianity

07 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by in Discipleship, Spiritual Theology, Worldview

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I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!  I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!  (Psalm 119:31-32 ESV)

As finite human beings we are limited creatures and it takes an infinite Holy God to enlarge our hearts. We don’t have the capacity to grasp God and all his fullness. We need God by his Spirit to open our hearts to reveal his thoughts and loving intentions that he has for us – to us. This love surpasses human knowledge and understanding – it’s experiential in nature.

When God enlarges the heart our response is spiritual hunger. This hunger can only be satisfied by God’s Word and his presence. To be a people of the Word and not a people of His Presence makes us angry spiritual consumers of knowledge that doesn’t produce spiritual fruit in our lives.

American evangelicals have a right to hold conservative political views but when patriotism and politics becomes the main focus – the cause of Christ suffers. Our lack of spiritual depth in both conservative and liberal Christianity, has become evident for the whole world to see. Both sides use God to push their agendas. America as a whole is morally bankrupt and divided to the point that reconciliation of the right and left seem impossible. Just look at the anger and division on Facebook and Twitter.

Prayer and repentance is our only answer. God resist the proud but gives his grace to the humble. So as a proud, corrupt and political people – God is resisting us. Many of us (not all) have become spiritually shallow and our lack of internal spiritual transformation is being exposed.  Thankfully there are still Christians that are growing during these days and are bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God, but in most cases we rarely hear their voices among all the political bickering.

Prayer: God please enlarge our hearts so that we can have the capacity to love you and our neighbor as ourselves. Pour out your Spirit on your people so that we will run after your commandments with humble hearts and demonstrate the love of Jesus to a confused and conflicted culture. – Amen

Conformity To Jesus

06 Wednesday Dec 2017

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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17, ESV)

These words of the Apostle John are calling Christians to radical devotion and conformity to Jesus. This is a clear call to counter-cultural living and to discipleship. Debating theology can be a good and healthy thing as long as our understanding helps us grow closer to God and to love our neighbor more. All believers should desire to immerse themselves in the truth with the understanding that true knowledge leads to God, himself. But without a genuine love for Jesus and a worldview that seeks to experience the Kingdom of God (God’s sovereign rule) we will become cold and legalistic.

Our lives are like vapor and are much too short to allow ourselves to be conformed to the latest ‘spiritual’ fads and ‘pop theology’ of the world, or carnal preachers. Celebrities are the new ‘priest’ of western culture and most of them have a anti-biblical worldview that doesn’t leave room for conformity to Christ.

Our society values the spiritual  views of entertainers and politicians more than godly theologians. Many television evangelist teach their followers the love of money in the name of Christianity, while those that teach conformity to Jesus are often ignored. God has given us many things in this life to enjoy, but obsession with people, places, and material possessions, will ultimately lead to idolatry.

 What the  skeptical and unbelieving world needs is to see a Church that demonstrates the love of Jesus. When we practice what we preach – we will grow in our conformity to Jesus.

Grieving God And The Culture Wars

01 Wednesday Nov 2017

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“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” –  (Ephesians 4:30 ESV)

Some say that most of the violence in American is caused by guns, others blame it on prayer being taken out of public schools. This is all part of the current culture war being fought in America. A war of words, thoughts, and ideologies. I believe when people become arrogant and refuse to acknowledge their Creator – spiritual darkness and violence increase. The United States is experiencing an evil spiritual invasion which has sought to desensitize  both young and old alike through exposure to images of violence and all sorts of perversions. God is grieved by so much evil.

During the 1960’s the U.S. experienced a spiritual invasion from the east. We are all ‘gods’  is what the eastern mystics told us. That view of spirituality combined with self-centered western materialism make for a really bad combination. The new ‘priest’ of our society are psychologist,  university professors, the news media, and those from the entertainment industry. Many of their ideas form the minds of the American public. And science seems to have the final word on everything in the western world. A Christian worldview doesn’t reject all science, because God gives knowledge to the world through many different sources. But followers of Jesus understand that the supernatural cannot be explained scientifically.

Holding to a strict scientific, naturalistic, anti-supernatural worldview grieves the heart of God. We saw the results or the fruit of this atheistic worldview from the communist regimes of the twentieth century. Education, counseling, and passing better laws can be helpful, but until the human heart is changed we are only putting a band-aide on a terminal wound. Religion without the love of Christ doesn’t work either, that is why Jesus told Nicodemus “you must be born again.” When Jesus returns to the earth  to set up his kingdom those that follow him will experience the Utopia that so many long for. But until then we must share the life transforming truth that only Jesus Christ can give.

Avoiding The Spiritual Cliff and A Quote From Ravi Zacharias

05 Thursday Oct 2017

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But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 
(2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV) 

The U.S. and the whole western world is slowly moving to the edge of a spiritual cliff – the love of many seems to be growing cold (Matt.24:12.) We have become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The sins (and yes I said sins) of pride, materialism, and self-indulgence  have made deep inroads in our nation as well as the Church.  Paganism has become the main philosophy by which much of the media and our entertainers live by. They have become the voice of our culture, replacing the Church. And, it seems that much of organized or politically motivated religion is presently losing the moral high-ground.

There seems to be no end to the loss of innocent lives through terrorist acts, abortion, and families are under relentless attack by dark spiritual forces. Many of us have felt like giving up on our society, but change is not impossible. So, how do we avoid the spiritual cliff? It’s really simple; those of us that consider ourselves to be followers of Jesus  need to seek intimacy with Him. One person, family, and Church at a time can radically transform the culture by living surrendered  lives – through the power of the Holy Spirit. And we must focus on making disciples, not just “church-goers.”

I have hope for a better future. God has raised up young (and some old) pastors in the land who are not afraid to proclaim the truth of the Gospel. While some in the apostate church are casting doubt about the reality of  hell and the value of Christ’ death on the cross and his resurrection,  others are faithfully proclaiming these truths. They are not condemning people for living ungodly lives, but are offering Christ as the answer to the spiritual bondage that so many struggle with. (You don’t have to be a ordained preacher to proclaim the Good News.) Pray that we in the west would turn back to God and avoid the spiritual cliff.

” We all remember the old story of the frog that is gradually boiled to death. When placed in a cauldron of cold water that is gradually heated to boiling, the frog continues to swim in comfort, oblivious to what is happening. If, on the other hand, the same frog is dropped into boiling water, it immediately leaps out for its safety. The gradual change went unnoticed, accommodated beyond reason, while the drastic change met with self-preserving common sense. Undeniably, being part of a culture brings about a level of comfort with the ways and means by which people live. But that familiarity does not guarantee sensitivity or objectivity. Proximity is not synonymous with understanding. Indeed, the very nearness we experience through modern technology may make us more vulnerable to distortion and victimization. The ideas and personalities the media thrust upon our imaginations subtly condition our consciousness in ways that even political totalitarianism cannot accomplish. We are unavoidably beguiled, in this so-called postmodern world, to an unprecedented degree. The constant bombardment of images shapes the perceptions of a whole generation and results in altered beliefs and lifestyles that make even the aberrant seem normal. The double-edged tragedy is not only that we are in such an environment but any warning that we are being molded possibly for the worse is contemptuously mocked as insane.”

Zacharias, Ravi. Deliver Us From Evil (pp. 19-20). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

 

The Nations Are In Chaos

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, Worldview

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“The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.” – Psalm 46:6 – 9 (NLT)

Satan does not have control of world events – God does. The devil has neither the authority or power to change the course of history. In fact God has given his people the Kingdom, and with it, power to be change agents in the earth. God is calling his slumbering church  to wake up,  and embrace a life of prayer.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17 NIV)

No world leader has the answers to our current, national, or global problems, and without divine intervention, things will not get better. The spiritual, political, social, and moral chaos we see in America, is the result  of our rebellion against God. God’s judgement begins with his own people (the Church). Judgement is actually an act of grace to wake us up.

Much of the chaos in our society could be halted, if believers would repent from allowing the culture to shape our thinking and actions. And maybe the world would see in us, the Jesus we preach about. Jesus came to bring peace and reconciliation between God and our neighbor. But, if we Christians, harden our hearts and refuse to be the salt and light, Jesus called us to be, our society will continue to unravel.

The Weakness Of Church 

03 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Spiritual Warfare, Worldview

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The picture above is the Primitive Baptist Church my Great Grandfather who fought for the south in the Civil War, belonged too. And now,  over a century and half later, I’m a member of a racially diverse church  in the deep south.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. – (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)

“The  church  was  first  known  as  the people  of  the  Way  (Acts  9:2).  The  “Way”  these  people  embraced  was the  way  of  Jesus— the  way of  power in  weakness for the sake of  love. This  was  not  a  loosely  connected  group  of  individuals,  a  social club  of  sorts,  but  a  family  united  in  Christ  (Eph.  2:19).” 1

While many in our culture have given up on the  Church,  God hasn’t. The Church as flawed as it presently is, is God’s vehicle to bring the Kingdom of Heaven  to earth.  The Church is where the people of “the way” live out the life of the Kingdom together. Gathering together with a group of imperfect people  is God’s plan to help us to grow up in Christ. And one of the fruits of a gospel-centered church is racial reconciliation.

Gathering together with a community of believers is a demonstration of Gods power to form a supernatural people. That is why both Jesus and Paul urged us to gather in corporate worship.  As we gather in Jesus name to sing songs, hear the public reading  of  Scripture, we are testifying to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies  to Satan’s ultimate defeat.(Eph. 3:10)

Holy Communion is the most neglected part of church life among many Evangelical churches. The power of the Lord’s Supper is not fully grasp by most.But this seemingly weak act,  celebrates the death, and resurrection of Jesus, which defeated Satan and his evil cohorts. Every time we  partake of the elements the devil is reminded of his fate. If we could see what happens at the weakest church service in the spirit realm,  we would desire to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus even more!

“A  rejection  of  the  church  is  a  rejection  of  Jesus’  way.  Christ  made this  known:  His  way  of  power  continues  to  pour  forth  in  this  world by  the  Spirit  through  the  church.  When  we  come  to  think  that the  Christian  life  is  about  our  own  development  rather  than  about our  calling  in  Christ  as  a  family  of  God,  we  inevitably  confuse  the church  for  a  secular  entity.  The  church  simply  becomes  the  sum of  its  parts,  which  need  to  be  slick,  skilled,  and  led  by  a  guru  with a  strong  vision.  Too  often  people  give  up  on  the  church  because,  as a  secular  entity,  it  is  impotent!  But  the  church  is  a  different  sort  of venture,  on  a  different  sort  of  mission,  with  a  different  power  system  up  and  running.  People  reject  the  church  because  they  have failed to grasp what it is.” 2

Source:

(1) The Way Of The Dragon Or The Way Of The Lamb, Jammin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, page 167.

(2) ibid, page 166.

The Un-Created Creator

03 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Apologetics, Worldview

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See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Colossians 2:8-9, ESV)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3, ESV)

 

To see Jesus is to see God himself. He is the exact imprint of the heavenly Father. Jesus is the source of all that is in existence. He is the un-created Creator. All genuine revelation and knowledge has its origins in God. Jesus has no equals among those who have founded the other world religions.

Those philosophers who speak the wisdom of the age have all received their intellect from the very God that they mock. They only have enough wisdom to observe the natural order of things. They are blind to the unseen realm where the un-created trinitarian  God dwells in perfect light, wisdom, might, and power. God is manifest in three distinct persons. Not three ‘god’s’ but three individuals living in perfect harmony making up the one true God.

As we experience God as our source of truth and life we see the vanity of following the rebellious ideologies of fallen men with minds that are not informed by Scripture. Buddhism and New Age philosophies that are growing in the west offer a false self-centered enlightenment apart from the Creator.

Self-centerness is pervasive in the western world both in Christian and non-Christian movements. The trinitarian God is anything but self-absorbed. Each member of the Trinity points to the other members and desires to share their glory and love they have together with humanity.