Tag: faith

Now is the time for all good men to lend an ear…

Moderates, much less liberals, cannot hold a candle to the awesome power, glory, might and wisdom of an almighty loving God:
 
“The new conventional wisdom is that the greatest threat to American democracy is the person who believes that there are universal, transcendent truths, that these truths are embedded in human nature, and that they are meant to govern human life and human societies. The people who hold such views, people of faith, are now called extremists. The proper moral posture, we are told, is that of the moderate…
 
“Moderates reject the concept of a moral God who governs the universe, because an attachment to ultimate beliefs about right and wrong breeds fanaticism. These “abstract ideas”—such as the ancient belief in a God who defends the widow and the orphan and the unborn—have no place in the mental outlook of the moderate.”
 
“This moderate of liberal imagination is quite a specimen. Evidently, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—occurring in the cozy, cushioned, shrimp-and-chardonnay world of the Manhattan moderate that summons his moral imagination, nothing that offends his conscience or provokes his outrage. Nothing except those people who make moral judgments.
 
“Contrary to liberal delusions, no leap forward toward a more just and virtuous society was ever brought about by people lacking moral and religious convictions. Moderates and moral agnostics don’t move the world. They never have and they never will.
 
“If we hope to bear witness to the truths of the gospel in our generation, for the sake of our neighbors and our nation, then we must choose sides in this battle for hearts and minds. Moderation and neutrality are not options, for both involve a retreat from responsibility. Both would allow the dark forces of this world to gain ground.
 
“What will it be for us, ladies and gentlemen? Should we follow the Nazarene, or should we become “moderate” and “reasonable” people as the world defines these terms for us?”
 
– Joseph Loconte, PhD (Source)
Just as Patrick Henry’s “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party” was subsequently adopted by replacing “party” with “country,” so too will Dr. Loconte’s, “What will it be for us, ladies and gentlemen?” challenge.
The dark forces have already gained ground, most of it in the deceived minds of the liberal, as well as many moderates.  As God’s word says in Galations 6:7:  “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.”  Much of moderate political thought mocks God’s word.  Certainly, nearly all of liberal thought mocks God’s word, and one need only examine the fruits of their labors to realize it doesn’t at all match the Biblical example of spiritual fruit.  Proverbs 13:2 reminds us that “From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.”  From the left, we have violence, rioting in the streets, infringing on the rights of others.

Where’s the Grace? Qur’an vs Bible and Muhammad vs Jesus

Here’s a thought… Let’s throw grace out the window and treat Muslims precisely the same way they treat people of other religions, people they call “infidels” and “unbelievers.” Here are the verses they use to justify their horrific acts:
 
Qur’an 3:28- Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.
Qur’an 3:85- Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.
Qur’an 5:33- Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam.
Qur’an 8:12- Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.
Qur’an 8:60- Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.
Qur’an 8:65- The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.
Qur’an 9:5- When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.
Qur’an 9:123- Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.
Qur’an 47:4- Do not hanker for peace with the infidels; behead them when you catch them.
 
ON SECOND THOUGHT… Why would we operate as they do? If we did that, we would be no better than them!
 
Anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian should listen and heed to what Jesus said about it:
 
Matthew 5:38-48, New International Version (NIV)
 
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
 
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
 
NOW… Jesus’ comments were directed at his disciples, how they as individuals should respond to evil. Please bear in mind that Jesus himself qualified his statements with examples, such as someone slapping you on the check, taking your shirt, walking with another, giving to those who ask.
 
That’s a far cry from letter others harm, maim, violate, imprison, crucify or otherwise kill you, as the Qur’an clearly encourages its followers to do towards “infidels” and other non-believers.
 
There is a line, and the Qur’an clearly crosses it.  In those instances, we have ever right under both man’s laws and the laws of God to defend ourselves, including by use of deadly force, if necessary.
 
Similarly, however, if the Qur’an and Muslims who follow it cross that line, then it would foolish to think that we could cross that line without a self-defense justification and escape either the consequences of man’s or God’s laws.
 
Nay! Muslims who cross that line, even with all the faith in the world, are going to Hell. Why? Because they crossed the line? Not at all. They’re going to Hell because their faith is misplaced. They believe in the wrong thing. They think that they can work their way to heaven by works.
 

That’s not salvation. That’s Satan’s mind-job to get people spinning their mental wheels, wasting their time and money in ways that keep them busy and feeling good about themselves so they have reason to ignore the truth: No one is righteous, not even one, except for Jesus Christ.  While faith without deeds is indeed dead (James 2), wrongly-placed faith is also dead.  Furthermore, the kind of “deeds” mentioned in the Qur’an aren’t deeds at all, but rather, heinous if not mindless acts of violence extolled by a mad man and perpetrated on innocents by mad men.  It’s JUNK, and I can’t even call it junk “religion” because there’s absolutely nothing religious at all about raping, maiming, dismembering, beheading, and otherwise murdering other human beings.

Ephesians 2:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“
In closing, I would like to remind you of one inescapable truth:
Exposing Hate Speech is NOT Hate Speech!

Salvation Reality

Don’t believe every cute cartoon you see on the Internet.

It’s not “what you do and how you treat people. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Corinthians 2:8-9

There is no such thing as salvation by works — by what you do, much less how you treat others.

Now, for the next verse: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Corinthians 2:10

What we do, how we treat people is the end result, is the outpouring of God’s sanctification in our lives. Even the kindest, most compassionate and helpful do-gooder in the world has zero access to the Father (and his realm of heaven) if he rejects the Son. There’s absolutely NOTHING we can do to earn our way into heaven: “What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” – Romans 3:9-12

It’s ALL God’s grace in the face of our undeservedness.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” – John 5:24

In The End Times, We’re Still Saved By Grace, Through Faith

It may very well be the beginning of the end times.  I actually find a lot of comfort in that, not because I look forward to it, but because in spite of it I know where I, my son, and my ex stand with God.  Thus, no matter what happens, we are temporal here on this Earth, passing away sooner or later, but will reign with God forever.

That doesn’t keep me from fighting against it, though.  A lot of the Jews didn’t resist socialistic oppression and mass genocide common to socialism during WWII because they honestly believed the prophesied Messiah would rescue them.  When that didn’t happen, a large percentage of the survivors left the faith.

I believe our trust, hope, and faith in God should be as if everything were up to him, but that we need to fight as if everything is up to us.  That’s what David did, and God made him the head of all clans which followed!  The human side of Jesus descended from his line, as well.

Sorry, Islam, but illegitimate children such as Ishmael do NOT carry God’s covenant.  The proper lineage is Abraham (via his wife Sarah) … David … Jesus:

“And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”  Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.  I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.  But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” – Genesis 17:18-21

Ishmael’s mother was Hagar, who was not Abraham’s wife.  Hagar was Sarah’s handmaiden.  So, no dice — God did not establish his covenant through Ishmael.

Don’t go around wailing, gnashing your teeth, and killing people, though, as I’m not descended from them, either.  Most Christians are adopted into the Christian faith.  We become sons of God, brothers with Christ, not because of our lineage, or anything we’ve done, but because of God’s invitation all all peoples from all nations, an invitation made possible by the ultimate sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice good for all time, that of Jesus’ death on the Cross.  Our ONLY action is accepting God’s invitation, in faith of His plan for our lives.  “Ye are saved by grace, through faith.”

God’s grace, our faith.  It’s that simple.