fencepostdigest

“Smile on your servant. Teach me your statutes! Tears stream down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law.” Psalm 119:135-136.

The 119th Psalm seems to express all that I am, what I wish to do and what I think from one moment to another. Many will shy from and stand aghast at the word ‘hate’ used many times as is the word ‘disdain’ and ‘love.’ However, the commands of God remain the foundations of the righteous and His judgment upon the unrepentant wicked is not lost upon them. “The wicked have no chance for deliverance, for they do not seek your statutes.” 119:155. But, “why do you continue to remind us of the sin and sinful in our world” when the love and grace of God is so…so plentiful?”  My answer is easy: there is much darkness about us and most people live in sin and are in stark denial of the Presence of the Almighty. Most do not wish to hear or appreciate the coming Judgment of God. God called me to proclaim the dangers of sin and the precarious life-styles of the wicked in our world. Most deny this. 

The Lord has placed in my heart the overwhelming desire to tell the world about Jesus, His redeeming love and to forever remind everyone concerning the coming condemnation upon all who remain in denial of Him. And there are more of them who live in denial and in refusal of His invitation to trust and believe Him by faith. Have you not noticed how empty our church buildings and the building you worship in? Great shadows of darkness spill through these edifices even when worshipers are in attendance, and the reason for the darkness when there is Light that overcomes the darkness is simple; more who live in darkness are present than there are those who live in Light. Yes, the Light overcomes the darkness, but the darkness is everywhere creeping in around us. These are in denial and even some of those who are, indeed, walking in the Light refuse to believe that some of their friends are in the darkness and do not comprehend the Light. “And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” John 1:5.

Yes, the Gospel concentrates on the Light of the World…Jesus, but reminds us continually of the oppressive darkness all around us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” John 1:1-5. There are far, far too many who are stranded in the darkness and this darkness prevents them from seeing the Light that overcomes the darkness. Why? Because they are spiritually blinded by Satan and his minions.

The Glorious Presence of God is not to be diminished nor oppressed by Satan because he is a created being of God who is now fallen and awaiting the Lake of Fire that has been created for him and his pitiful angels of darkness. He has already lost the war eventhough he does win a few battles, far too many, along the way. However, there are many, such as myself, standing on the mountaintops crying out the Good News of the Gospel of which I am not ashamed. 

Jesus remains Lord.

When I think ‘accountability is NOT a choice,’ to whom or what am I, or you and others accountable? As I often do the necessity of understanding the word is the best place to begin.

I have grown accustomed to looking at the 1828 edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary because the earlier definitions are more basic for understanding than what may be known today. Evolution is not necessarily the best application. 

‘accountability’- “The state of being liable to answer for one’s conduct; liability to give account, and to receive reward or punishment for actions.” To be liable for a certain reward or a certain punishment for certain actions clearly places every person guilty, or not, for personal actions. There then must be a judge and for my purposes now the Judge is God for He judges all things…everything.

The Divine Author of Hebrews 4:12-14 explains, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.”

There are at least 4 ideas found here:

1. You and I must give an account to God for all that we do.
2. Jesus Christ the Son of God is to Whom we have made a sacred confession.
3. The infallible and Divinely inspired and ever-sharp Word of God judges our hearts.
4. We cannot escape the Divine Presence of God.

It must be understood that our accountability is most of all to God who is our Judge in all that we say and do. In 2 Corinthians Paul takes great pains explaining that we have responsibility for our actions to other people as well as to God because we are His personal ambassadors. Because He lives in us our ministry is to introduce people to Jesus Christ because of our spiritual relationship with Him. Our physical restraints have nothing to do with our eternity, but our spiritual beings affect our physical bodies because of Whose we are, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.” Again our accountability is to the Lord Jesus.

Personal accountability is in view and must be an honest observation of ‘who I am.’

“Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil.  For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.” Romans 14:13-18.

Yes, God is the final Judge and folks around us, our peers do make judgment from personal observations. Things that you and I do may challenge folks around us to follow Jesus Christ or not AND this is the reason that personal accountability is so important. The question must be, “Are my thoughts and actions foremost pleasing to God?”  Paul reminds us that God’s Kingdom in us is revealed by “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.” Personal accountability has nothing at all to do with opinions coming from others but begins with the Sword of the Lord, the inspired and infallible Word of God. 

Yes, it may be important to us if friends approve of us, but we must always find approval by the judgment and justice from God. We must pass His muster most of all. Others may not agree with you or me, but in the end these emotional appeals to culture and human tradition are meaningless when compared to God’s direction in life. His justice is substantiated in the Word of God that penetrates to the deepest levels of who we are in Him, and this is revealed by our righteousness before Holy God.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 that “we are ambassadors for Christ,” we are, indeed, finally accountable to God and have personal responsibility to Him. “For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.” 1 Corinthians 5:14-15. We do not simply find personal accountability to Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith, but we are also responsible to Him and “no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised.” This Risen Lord and Christ, our Savior empowers us because He loved us and gave Himself for us that we might serve Him with His purpose in our lives. 

Jesus is Lord.

Yes, I do understand, but I do not, either…not really.

We, meaning every person in the room having read the many statements posted by this author, seem to agree that the Bible is true. However, that truth may not be God’s Truth in reality. Our truth often does not look to be the same as the Truth found in Scripture mostly because our truth is relative to the moment and/or the reality of time and space. And the difference between our truth and God’s Truth is found in one simple word, ‘absolute.’ 

‘Truth’ as defined in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary: “Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.” The operative word is ‘exact.’ Meaning, “Precise; not different in the least.” Opinion does not function here, is NOT a part of the equation.

As I write reflections of opinions and commentary about one thought or another as found in the Word of God my intentions are always to do so without personal prejudice or bias. This is difficult and may be impossible. Really, the best way to discuss any Scripture is to write it down and allow it to speak to us and for itself in context alone. And this I have written often, “only speak where the Bible speaks and be silent when the Bible is silent.” Not bad advice, is it?

Frankly said, “the Bible is offensive because biblical Truth is not our truth because our truth is relative, but Bible Truth is foundational at every level.

Jesus said this,  “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” Matthew 7:24-27 HCSB.

Two houses, two foundations and one horrific storm. The storms that come upon us are many, but the foundations upon which buildings of any sort are often inadequate against storms of any sort. And when these storms surge and buffet the constructions differing degrees of damage results or are destroyed, but the foundation is the element of endurance and soundness. 

The Truth is:

“But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. “But now I am going away to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:4-14.

This statement encompasses everything we must know and apply concerning Truth; all truth. Please read and study this while considering anything read and personally written. This one statement concerning the Holy Spirit is applicable to everything anyone of faith encounters, “He will guide you into all truth.” We MUST consider this Truth in everything we say and do; everything. For all that must be done and said only to glorify the Person of Jesus Christ, EVERYTHING.

Jesus is Lord.

What has happened since and beginning with November 3, 2020 are the most egregious events in American history. That day, and if Joe Biden is then, indeed, sworn in as the 46th President of the United States will be the most infamous days of my lifetime. What will follow will be even worse for all those days following January 20, 2021 are unimaginable and indescribable at this moment in time.                                                                                                                

Folks, we will now have lost our Republic when/if Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office which has been, until now, been occupied by those who have been duly elected to be there. As a Nation we have turned from God, the God Israel, the Savior of the World. We have turned away from the Nuclear Family as prescribed in the Word of God. We have turned from the intent of the Founding Fathers of our Nation as stated in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and law and order as noted in the Constitution.

Nationally we have embraced immorality in our culture. We have celebrated and recognized fools to be our examples of heroes replacing men and women of sound mind, honesty, wisdom, morally strong and Christian. Patriots once were men and women of valor who earned the right to be decorated with medals of valor and honor because they lived by the principles of our fore-bearers. We have installed school teachers and college professors who disregard history across the board and we have allowed the removal of important markers erasing such history. As a result America has died one day at a time in one single generation. The question now is, “Will what has ever been, be the same again?”                                                              

Folks, I have done my part in this by not being as vocal as I possibly could have been. Many have turned away in anger and frustration for some of the things I have said, but I have not done enough. This has happened on my watch. I have not done enough. My lament is simple: my children and grandchildren will be living in a world much different than the one we ‘Seniors’ have all known.                          

                                My, my, my…I should have done better by them.                                         

We have a few hopes alive that may yet be realized for Mr. Trump has not conceded the election. My prayer is that he will succeed. My prayer is that God will intervene to end this present madness and all that I have said will not have come to pass.                                                                                                                                                            

Jesus is Lord…Yes, He is.

No doubt, living ‘off the Plantation’ has been an adjustment, and a big one. Moving was difficult in the abstract, but practically so has been most difficult. You see, I lived in the ‘Big House’ for 50 years or more; first as a student and I was a student a long time before being admitted into the Seminary in Fort Worth. “Thee” Seminary as we students called it was only to prepare our minds for the task ahead. By the time I had completed my Seminary studies in 1977, as my wife did also, there was now a child in the mix. Now, it was ‘off to the races’ so to speak. We were moved from living in the ‘Big House’ to working in the fields. Often I would return to the House along with the others who were now in the fields of labor. The Big House is where the officials lived and worked and we pastors, missionaries and other field laborers returned for conferences and the like. We lived on the Plantation which is all over the world, somewhere ‘out there.’ The Southern Baptist Convention is a very large operation with laborers scattered across the globe. 185 countries or so including missionaries and pastors in the United States, too. My guess is that no one really knows just how many SBC pastors and missionaries are really out there in the Labor of God. The Plantation is a big deal, to say the least. 

The Southern Baptist Convention is a very big operation, but contrary to what some may believe, there are no ‘home offices’ as such. Traditionally we call Nashville, Tennessee or simply ‘Nashville’ as home. The SBC headquarters are located there, but there is no one person ‘presiding over’ the more than 47 thousand churches, 14 million members and 41 state conventions across America. Not one of these churches receives administration instruction from Nashville for each church is autonomous and is a part of the SBC voluntarily.

Many years ago a very good book, “Rope of Sand With the Strength of Steel” by James L. Sullivan was published in 1971 briefly describes how the Southern Baptist Convention functions without a single ‘head’ of operations; for there is none. Briefly stated, the 47 thousand churches are autonomously joined together by a covenant relationship, tithes and offerings through the Cooperative Program through which all money is collected and distributed for various ministries across the Convention. There are other offerings collected for supporting home, state and foreign missions across the world. All of this is done autonomously through participating churches. This is what Southern Baptists do best, missions through selfless giving year in and year out since 1845.

All of this brings me to this place in my life. I have said that I have ‘moved off the Plantation,’ and I guess I have in many ways for I no longer work on the Plantation although I will forever be tied to it. The place I call ‘The Big House’ was my office, so to speak for I was a pastor/missionary and evangelist for more than 50 years. Officially, I retired as a state missionary in 2011, but remained active as an ‘interim’ pastor for about 6 years when my wife and I moved from Hope, Arkansas to Arlington, Texas. For personal reasons I am no longer able to pastor a church or even teach a Bible class at the local church I am a member of. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic is the reason church attendance is now no longer possible. 

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 fully explains why I will forever remain a member of the Southern Baptist Convention and a member of a local Southern Baptist Church which presently is the First Baptist Church of Mansfield, Texas. 

No, because I am no longer engaged in ministry as a pastor/missionary/evangelist per se, I will always be a personal evangelist whereby I will find myself often asking someone, “How will you get to Heaven?” This means I am no longer living on the Plantation nor work out of the Big House as such. In retirement I have moved and this has been very, very difficult for I now see the SBC in a very different light. Everything appears different now.

As a pastor and missionary there was an ‘always’ connection to everything because there were meetings to attend somewhere almost on a monthly basis. Where I previously lived there were connections with many churches, pastors and folks in the State Convention offices that were severed when we moved from one state to another. That was a rural setting and now I live in a very large city connected by busy highways, and the Seminary I graduated from in 1977 is only 20 minutes away. Connections of the previous sort are difficult because of many circumstances.

Being ‘out of touch’ with what is going on in the SBC is really easy to do even though I read magazines through print and online. There is so much happening with rapidity. For many years I have been out of sync with much of what goes on as there is no longer personal contact with people in ‘high places’ that helped to make sense of what has become so very confusing. Reading in a communication is not the same as sitting across a desk and speaking with someone who has shared experiences. Those opportunities no longer exist for these folks continue to have the meetings I once enjoyed and shared ‘privileged’ information. Being on the outside does not help. Yes, I have moved off the Plantation and I live in a small house some distance away and without the same kind of communication of years gone by.

Therefore, I do a lot of writing and personal introspection concerning many subjects from politics to spiritual and biblical perspectives. Sometimes I paint an oil painting about what goes on in my heart and mind, and there is my Nikon camera that I hang with on occasion. 

Mostly there is my dear wife with whom I have shared 50 years of life and ministry. She has made this journey much richer and more valuable to say the least. There are not enough words available to me to carefully explain the depths and heights of the many events of our life experiences. 

Off the Plantation is difficult for many reasons and to express those images that come to me are more than difficult, but worth the time. Yes, I have stated that there is no longer a place at the table for me for two reasons, the Convention has changed and I have moved; there is no way to bridge the chasm that has developed because of those things. I do wish there were bridges to be constructed, but there are none. No animosity there nor bad feelings; simply lost time and emotions that cannot be fully explained nor recovered. Time and space are vast sometimes. And, yes, I now live down the road a piece from the Plantation.

One thing I find great comfort and encouragement from is listening to the preaching and teaching ministry of my pastor I call ‘friend,’ Dr. Spencer Plumlee. I have said this more than once and will write here, he is one of the very best Bible expositors I have ever heard anywhere over many years. Some have done things differently from the pulpit, but none do it better than he. “Thank you, Spencer.”

I guess the best way to end this whole experience here is what the Apostle Paul explained, “For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher,  and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.“ 2 Timothy 1:11-12 HCSB.

Jesus is Lord. 

“I believe Calvinism would be neither confusing nor alarming to my unsuspecting SBC friends and if we are open and honest we will be fine.” – Calvinist Reformer.  Compare this to what Satan said to Eve, “The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5. 

The Reformer says this to an unsuspecting non-Calvinist Southern Baptist, “I believe that to the extent that we are open and honest in our dialogue, we will be fine.” And what did the serpent say to an unsuspecting Eve? “When you eat from it your eyes will be open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Both the Reformer and the serpent say the same thing, “Let us have an open and honest dialogue about our differences and We WILL BE FINE.” Far too many Southern Baptists have believed this lie for far too long and, now, the Reformers, the Calvinists, now are in control of the SBC. Look around and know what has happened…Traditional Southern Baptists no longer have a seat at the ‘Head Table,’ although they are welcome to attend when the SBC meets somewhere every year. 

The VERY SAME has now happened across America. Political Conservative Republicans became affluent and were welcomed at the Head Table along with Liberals and for a long time they could agree on things. But, the Conservatives did NOT notice the Liberals began to lean toward Socialist ideas, and began to ‘reach across the aisle.’ Before long there were more of ‘them’ than ‘us,’ and the Conservatives became RINOs, Republicans in Name only. Today, the RINOs have become Socialists, too, and there are more Socialists than Conservatives. THIS is what Donald Trump calls “The Swamp.” This Swamp has now completely reformed Washington and Mr. Trump tried to drain the Swamp, but has mostly failed, not his fault because there are more of ‘them’ than ‘us.’

Well, I find it fascinating that the very same thing has happened within the SBC, and, perhaps across all of Christendom…at the very same time in history. Interesting, is it not? The Serpent may have said the same thing to all Conservatives across the world, “Take a bite, you will not die. You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Or like the Reformer has said, “If we are open and honest with one another we will be fine.” The similarities are astounding. Just as “Crossing the aisle” to make political agreements in Congress was fine until the Liberals became Socialists, gained control and may have now doomed the Great Experiment known as the United States of America and the Constitution supporting Law and Order.

The Great Experiment may have failed to the Great Deception just as the SBC has succumbed to a similar deception. “Let us all be open and honest with one another and everything will be just fine.” Well, the lie has been told long enough and often enough, and many have been duped into believing the same. I do not believe the Swamp in either case can be drained. The damage may be so destructive and may now be irreparable. There is no hope for reconstruction nor renewal of either entity.

Upheaval across the Planet is in process, have you not noticed? The ongoing Pandemic is but one and there are all sorts of political storms now in progress as well. The current turmoil in the USA is just a symptom of what is coming. 

However, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” The Judeo-Christian heritage upon which America was founded remains true just as the founding of the SBC remains true. Both may have failed because of lies being expounded long enough and finally accepted, but the same Truth upon which they were founded remains, but the present leaders have left the foundation for grass they thought was greener on the other side of the fence.

Jesus tells this parable, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation had been laid on rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed—it was utterly destroyed!” When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching,  because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.” Matthew 7:24-29. 

No, I really believe the USofA was constructed upon a solid foundation just as the SBC was, but leadership on the inside chose to build upon a new foundation. Well, the structures have been constructed and the storms have now come, but these new structures will not stand for as long as the others. The USA has withstood many storms over the course of almost 250 years and the SBC has been around for a bit more than 150 years. However, confusion has now reigned for many decades and cultural wars have taken their toll. Leadership has changed foundations from those of Truth to Deception. Not all is well, is it? Utter destruction is on the horizon.

I am not into forecasting terrible events, but I do know the Bible speaks of some terrible coming events. Is there a ‘Cat 5’ hurricane in the looming forecast, an ‘F5’ tornado expected or a gigantic earthquake of at least a ‘10’ is possible? That I do not know. But one thing certain, death comes for all. The Rapture is imminent as is the Tribulation and finally Judgment Day. How many are prepared. Are you? Just a thought.

Jesus, however, remains Lord.

The past 2 decades, and perhaps more, have been very difficult and eye-openers for me in many ways. I do not think it possible to identify every reason, but there are at least two addressed here. This is not easy, but for my self-identity and preservation I can only make this admission an ‘open door’ kind of thing. So, here goes.

1. Not long ago I wrote, “I think I have ‘left the Plantation.’ Today, I know that I have done so. The ‘Plantation’ being the Southern Baptist Convention.’ For more than a decade I had been involved in the discussion concerning Calvinism within the SBC and my inability to find a resolution to the question, “Can two people with starkly contrasting beliefs concerning the Bible sit at the same table and believing the other is absolutely wrong?” The only solution I have found is what I have heard to be a “Peace Document” being flawed from the beginning. The Calvinist claims God chooses who will go to Heaven disregarding the freedom of the will spoken of in the Word of God, “whosoever believes in Him will be saved.” John 3:16.
2. ‘Inclusiveness’ has inched into the framework of the SBC allowing ‘sin in the camp’ by recognizing those who tolerate obvious support of sinful practices within the body. No matter how this is framed this is a denial of the Christ and He says, “ “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 NET2. There is no place for anyone who denies to follow Him by refusing to take up his cross. A reading of Joshua cc 7-9 relating to Achan’s Sin will help here.
   

It has been said many right-wing Believers are confused because they seem to think that it is “oppressive” to deny them the power to dictate morality to everyone else. In my opinion, Conservative or Fundamentalists do not feel there is anyone dictating morality to anyone else. However, the Bible is replete with values that are absolute and are not under review at any time. There is no misunderstanding between what God chooses for us and what we are allowed to choose for ourselves. He alone must choose our paths to follow. There is but one Way, NOT 2 distinctly different paths to Heaven, or 3 or 4 or more. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I Am the Way…”

This line of reasoning can continue to for a very, very long time and could take up a life of its own, but I will simply stop here. There is no reason to continue to go down ‘Route 66’ for it will eventually stop on the West Coast somewhere and ‘somewhere’ is not where I wish to go. I want to see Jesus for He alone is Lord.

A few days ago I ‘left the Plantation’ because I had grown weary of attempting to say the right things. “Everyone has an opinion” is the statement breaking the proverbial camel’s back. Yes, everyone in the local church does have an opinion, including each and every Bible Teacher, Deacon and Staff Member. Everyone has an opinion and these opinions must not be challenged for fear of ‘upsetting the apple cart’ kind of thing. My feeling was and is, there is but one truth and in spite of our opinions that really do not matter, we MUST follow that Truth being the Word of God. This is a very, very painful road to Heaven, don’t you think? 

For a very, very long time my opinion, yes, my opinion, has been “We must adhere to the infallible and inerrant Word of God and do so literally.” What I have discovered, and this is the real reason I had to leave the Plantation, accepting the Word of God literally is a very, very difficult and mostly improbable task. For most opine after reading some Bible verses, “This implies such and such” in spite of what the Word says…let us look at some examples without commenting:

Matthew 16:24 – Stop living for yourself, and take up your cross daily.

John 12:24 – Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will not bear fruit.

John 16:33 – In the world  trials and tribulation will come our way.

Romans 5:3-4 – Rejoice in tribulation as this produces the character of Christ in you.

Romans 8:17 – The reason for our suffering is sanctification.

Romans 8:18 – Our present pain cannot be compared to our future glory.

Romans 8:22 – All of God’s children groan and suffer as they await the redemption.

Romans 8:36 – For His sake we are being put to death all day long.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – God will not tempt us beyond which we are able to endure.

1 Corinthians 15:31 – Paul said, “I die to myself daily.”

2 Corinthians 1:5 – The sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance.

2 Corinthians 4:17 – Momentary light affliction produces an eternal weight of glory.

Ephesians 4:22 – Die to your old self.

Philippians 1:29 – We are to believe in Him and to suffer for His sake.

Philippians 3:10 – Pray that you may know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.

2 Timothy 2:3 – Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ.

Hebrews 12:5-6 – The Lord disciplines and scourges all of His children.

Hebrews 12:11 – All discipline from the Lord is painful and seems sorrowful.

James 1:2 – Trials and tribulations produce spiritual maturity.

James 3:2 – We all stumble in many ways.

1 Peter 1:6-7 – Your trials will increase your faith so you might be found praiseworthy.

1 Peter 2:21 – You have been called to follow in the steps of Christ’s suffering.

1 Peter 4:1 – As Christ suffered you are to be prepared for the same purpose.

1 Peter 4:12 – Do not be surprised by what you are experiencing; it is for your testing.

1 Peter 5:10 – After you have suffered God will perfect, confirm and establish you.

For these things it is important for everyone who hears the voice of God’s calling to understand the difference between a Devil’s Hell and the Heaven of Christ. Hell was prepared by God for Satan and those who wish to follow after him and God created Heaven for all who choose to follow after Christ. 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46.

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. 3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” John 14:1-4.

Jesus is Lord.

Often I look around the Nation we live in because of the onslaught of news coming from all sorts of sources confusion oftentimes reigns. Some of these sources you and I may be able to trust and the remainder, after listening, are simply put aside. Therefore, my observations are truly not my own, but, rather, a simple summary of the stories I hear and read and not my personal accounts or experiences. America is far too large, too varied, too difficult and too different from one place to another to grasp and summarize correctly. This small space these words occupy is simply not large enough to put into a succinct explanation or narrative. 

Much has happened over the course of my 72 years following the end  of  the Second World War. Everything is different and in so many ways. Upheavals socially, culturally, economically, religiously and in every other manner affecting the very perspective of every person who is 100 years or fewer years younger. Even a 10 year-old child is most likely affected enough by the stresses around them to tell a simple story. The vastness of the size of this Continent has not changed, but the surroundings of everyone born in America from 1920 through 2015 have been capsized, turned inside out, expanded and reduced many times over. For these reasons and more the English vocabulary is not sufficient to correctly describe the moment in which we live. 

For this moment I wish to turn to the 50th Psalm found in the Word of God for therein is found a voice of clarity, a voice to remove the shroud of haze surrounding us. Yes, I understand that most us us are wanting some relief from the stresses of the political battles taking place, but, personally, there seems to also be a need for a ‘reality check,’ a ‘gut check’ to see where we are standing.

Just about this time 79 years ago my Dad was unknowingly preparing himself to enlist in the U.S. Army and then go to Germany. On December 7th Japan would attack the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii followed by America’s declaration of war upon Japan on December 8th. Within 4 days America would also be at war in Europe against Germany and her allies. Not quite 4 years later in September of 1945 the Second World War officially came to an end. Global skirmishes continued to unfold for a while, but peace seemed to prevail…for a time.

Since those moments, the world has struggled to find peace, but there has been none, not really. America has been in turmoil in many ways since her founding in 1776 with an ongoing struggle for identity, seemingly. As Americans we had hoped for stability following the Civil War’s end on June 2, 1865 after almost 4 years of conflict that began on April 12, 1861. But man’s search for peace has not found an end from the moment Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation.

Here we are on December 6, 2020 and we Americans find ourselves in another civil struggle, or war if you will, again. What we find now is a virtual struggle for the survival of our Republic that is being defined by the result of our recent Presidential Election. No need to even attempt to describe what is taking place, but we will know the ending soon enough.

Purposefully for this moment we can find God’s justice and perhaps our search for peace in the 50th Psalm in the Word of God.

“El, God, the Lord has spoken, and summoned the earth to come from the east and west. 2 From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, God has come in splendor. 3 “May our God come and not be silent.” Consuming fire goes ahead of him, and all around him a storm rages. 4 He summons the heavens above, as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people. 5 He says: “Assemble my covenant people before me, those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge. (Selah) 7 He says: “Listen, my people. I am speaking! Listen, Israel. I am accusing you. I am God, your God! 8 I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me. 9 I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds. 10 For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills. 11 I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine. 12 Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? 14 Present to God a thank offering. Repay your vows to the Most High. 15 Pray to me when you are in trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 16 God says this to the evildoer: “How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant? 17 For you hate instruction and reject my words. 18 When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives. 19 You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive. 20 You plot against your brother; you slander your own brother. 21 When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you. 22 Carefully consider this, you who reject God. Otherwise I will rip you to shreds and no one will be able to rescue you. 23 Whoever presents a thank offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”

Precisely, God will bless those who choose to follow after Him and He will judge those wh0 do not. God’s justice will finally prevail. Only when these two things occur will humankind know peace for only His peace is peace for only He is Judge.

This is a cold finality that will eventually consume the earth. Right now in America His justice will find a port because we humans have no justice in the end. In the end only God’s justice will prevail. Not everyone will like it nor agree with it, but only those who know Him as Savior and Lord.

At this moment those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are in conflict with those who do not. For this is an immense struggle between good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness and everyone involved knows who their enemy is. We all know. However, only those who are God’s own are able to know the difference.

Jesus is Lord.

People are asking, “What is wrong?” The answer is simple, ‘godlessness.’ 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Romans 1:18-25 NET2. 

Yes, I am a Conservative Fundamentalist in terms of who I am in Christ and in theology. This statement goes beyond the definition of ‘Evangelical’ because most Evangelicals wish to be ‘tolerant’ of many things that are not seen as absolute truths in the Word of God. Most agree that evangelicals and fundamentalists are different in some perspectives. Evangelicals are a broad group of Christians, but there are some who are much more conservative than others, while fundamentalists are more so than some. They are mostly politically conservative and take a literal interpretation of the Bible. It is said some Evangelicals have a much wider range of political views than others, and absolute values are more important to some, but not so much with others. Not all of Evangelicals are conservative politically nor theologically; this is the Great Divide.  The belief that the Bible is inerrant is fundamental for conservatives, but the method of ‘becoming a Believer’ is not clearly defined across the board. Therefore, defining an Evangelical is not so easy.

With this in mind we must come to grips with what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1, “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.”

He is adamant here, “people are without excuse” before God if/when they do not recognize Him as Holy for in not recognizing Him as God they are ‘in darkness.’  In verse 21 Paul writes, “For although they knew God” seems to indicate their knowledge of Him was not a personal encounter with Him, but rather but an acquaintance with Him; a passive understanding at best. These people were not actively engaged with God. In other words they seemed to be ‘godless’ because “they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”

Most people in our world, not just America, are in darkness for they do not know God’s Son, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The absolute values as described in Scripture have no importance for most people for their desire is tolerance at all levels of life. Tolerance for everything and everyone to be whatever they wish as they seem to feel at the moment. This can only be seen and understood as unrighteousness, godlessness. “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.” The operative word here might be, ‘they became fools,’ ungodly fools might I add.

It is obviously true that people everywhere are looking for truth as defined not by the Word of God, but as they experience life. Experiences in everyday life define truth for them; not the Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7. He alone is Truth and all other knowledge found outside of His Word is a lie for His Word gives foundation for all truth as explained in the world. If anything is found to be true the foundation for that truth comes from God alone for He is the Creator of all things and nothing that was made was made without Him.

Yes, indeed, we have serious problems all around and God has the solution for each one, but the greatest dilemma of all is godlessness. The solution is found in Jesus Christ alone for He is God. 

Paul writes concerning Scripture, “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:8-11. There is no excuse before God to deny Him.

Jesus is Lord.