Do the Right Thing
The Scripture is clear: Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin!
It’s heartbreaking to me that so many of our Christian brothers and sisters are being slaughtered in the Middle East and so many seem oblivious to it. The Islamic State’s assaults on religious minorities in Iraq and Syria constitute genocide!
And it’s imperative that we not just become knowledgeable, but that we find any way we can to act, pray and put pressure on our government to do the right thing.
The verse I opened with from James 4:17 couldn’t be more clear and bares repeating:
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
We know who needs the help. We have resources. Are we willing to use them?
From “Well Versed”/Chapter 36: Refugees
God’s Creation
What about climate change and global warming?
Are they the world’s biggest problem?
The short answer to that question is—no! And unfortunately the issue has caused us to lose sight of a biblical worldview where our faith and trust lies in God. And our responsibility to care for the environment has been replaced by an obsessive belief that the world is ending because of our recklessness.
God remains in complete control of HIS creation, just as he did in Genesis. He destroyed and restored it as seen in a worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Job tells us He controls the lightning, rain, hail and snow. Throughout the Psalms we’re reminded God is in control; not man. Are we not to be good stewards of the earth? Of course we are. But here’s the bottom line. This is NOT our eternal home.
From “Well Versed”/Chapter 34: The Environment
Pervasive Political Correct Mindset
If you dare call someone a sinner—you can be marginalized as a hateful bigot!
In these days, hate crime legislation is being used as a way to make some crimes worthy of more punishment because of the political correct mindset or motives behind it—not the actual act itself. The natural consequence of this perversion of justice, is to push for punishment of politically incorrect thoughts and speech.
It’s being played out across the country. If you don’t want to participate in providing services for homosexual weddings, or perform abortions against your will, you can be fired, fined and forced to undergo “re-education” or sensitivity training to assure you think “correctly!”
But it’s not a two-way street by any means! Virtually nothing is off-limits when it comes to criticizing, maligning or discrediting people of faith or what we stand for!
From “Well Versed”/Chapter 29: Political Correctness
We Have a Choice
Cultural progressives won’t be satisfied just intimidating us into silence; they want a complete and unconditional surrender!
How will we have any credibility in sharing biblical truths about sin, and judgment, and saving faith in Christ if we’re afraid of offending someone?
This not only applies to the gospel, but to everything God teaches us about family, marriage, raising children—even the intrinsic worth every person has by being made in the image of God!
Am I saying we don’t need to be sensitive or understanding of those we want to influence? Of course not. The more sensitive we are to being a stumbling block for others, the greater chance we have to build trusting relationships.
It comes to this: We have a choice to be politically correct according to the world’s standards, or biblically correct according to the Spirit of Christ!
From “Well Versed”/Chapter 29: Political Correctness
The Threat to Religious Freedom Continues
The threats to our religious freedom just “keep on coming!”
In a May 25, 2017 news item, two Minnesota filmmakers were in court to halt the enforcement of a state law. The interpretation being, if they’re going to use their talents to produce films celebrating marriage between one man and one woman, they must also use those talents to promote same-sex marriage.
And if the couple refuses to comply—they are violating the law and subject to fines, even jail.
What?
It’s outrageous to think that these filmmakers would be threatened with fines and possibly jail for simply following their own conscience and faith!
First and foremost, we can’t allow ourselves to be intimidated into doing nothing and saying nothing. Ephesians 6:10-19 reminds us that if we are a follower of Christ, we are in a battle and we’d better prepare ourselves for it!
(From an ADF article dated May 25, 2017: “Minnesota filmmakers to court: Stop state from controlling stories we tell” and from “Well Versed“/Chapter 29: Political Correctness)
God’s Ultimate Design for Marriage
Satan is obsessed in destroying marriage—because it is on earth, an image, a mirror, of God’s fulfilled plan for the Church at the end of this age!
Satan will do all he can to destroy the image of God . . . to block the transcendent meaning of Genesis and Revelation, and everything in between.
And that’s exactly why people of understanding defend traditional, historic, biblical, natural orthodox marriage—between one man and one woman.
It’s not ultimately about earthly marriage or even about the practice of homosexuality. It’s about the desire to preserve the magnificent picture of the image of God. And it’s about God’s ultimate design for the universe—the Grand Wedding of His Son to the prepared Bride. And that is why the definition of marriage as man and woman—matters!
To you. To our nation. To God!
From “Well Versed”/Chapter 9: Marriage
