A Blessing And A Curse

Day 225 in my "Year In My Life Through Pictures" blog series

Just noticing and thinking about how blessed we are here in this country. So blessed, in fact, that we seem to take it for granted. It may even actually be a curse to be so blessed.

This stack of bibles just shows how blessed our home is. Actually I would say that most Christian homes in America have at least one bible per person and probably more like 3+ per person. I know that I personally have about 5 different ones and my wife probably as many. This is not counting the big family bible and the bibles I have from when I was a kid. I also have several books that explain certain aspects of scripture and a few biographies about the lives of those who faithfully follow/ followed God through their lives. I say this all because a lot of countries the citizens are not allowed to own a bible. In fact, Christianity is illegal and in some countries punishable by death.

While the penalty for being a Christian in this country has not escalated to the sentence of death, it is becoming increasingly hostile towards Christians. I am not referring to the squishy social gospel folks or the ones that are universalists in nature, but the true Church of God, the body of Christ. It is actually sad to have to make that distinction that a lot of churches/ professing Christians aren't churches or Christians. This is shown by these professors of Christ that say we have to tolerate everything under the sun except for being discerning Christians within our own house. We are being pushed to allow a mosque at Ground Zero, but at the same time people are being arrested for preaching in their neighborhoods and in their cities. We are told that we are radicals and they put us on par with the terrorists that kill to intimidate their agenda.

As for me, I will not intimidate anyone. I will, however, tell them the truth of the gospel without mincing words. I am not mean about it, but speak the truth in love that they may see their sinful state and repent and place their faith in the atoning work of Jesus on Calvary. That is language that is not spoken in many churches in the U.S. for fear of losing some in their congregation. I recently have heard of a brother and sister that have a Sunday School class at my former "church" that have been having their eyes opened to a lot of things. God is dealing with this couple on some issues and they have ceased support of some "ministries" that only pander to the felt needs of those they reach out to. They have also been convicted to share the Word in more detail in their class and in doing so have lost some of their class. This is more than likely separating the goats from the sheep. Those that are the Shepherd's will hear His voice and know it, but it is an offense to those that do not.

The "church" I am speaking of really needs some prayers. There are some truly converted people there that are trying to do God's will, but they are coming into situations that will probably force them out sooner or later. We need to pray for these folks and the countless others like them that are embedded in the Modern Gospel/ Easy Believism churches. Pray that they will remain true and will keep preaching the Word of God and not fall to the pressures and if not that they will leave and find a church home that is a church. That they find a fellowship of believers that will be mutually edified and will glorify God together, as a church is intended. Something is seriously wrong when the Word is preached and professing Christians are offended instead of excited.

As far as our curse in this country. We are so dependent on what we have, what we earn and what we have within our reach that we depend on "stuff" more than we depend on God. See, those in real persecution in other countries must depend on God, because God is all they have. We, spoiled Americans, keep wanting more and more, simply because we can get more and more. A new study bible comes out - we get it without thinking twice about it. Not knocking study bibles, but how many bibles does one need before they start living he way they already know they should per the bible of their choosing? Does understanding of the Bible make you a Christian or bring you closer to God or does a relationship with Him do those things? Many people know many things of the bible I will never know, but they do not know the Author like I do. I do not say this to boast, but as a wake-up call to examine yourself that you are actually His Child. Do not be one of the ones that says "Lord, Lord did I not...." and have Him reject you with "Depart from me, I never knew you". What a sad day it will be when millions will profess to know Christ but will be cast into the pits of hell because they only knew the god they had created in their own mind and believed a gospel that was another gospel.

This is why we must depend on God for everything. We need to follow Christ and follow His Word. WE must make disciples and not just a few, but everyone that professes Christ is to make disciples. We must tell of His goodness and of His sacrifice for us. We must remain true to Him and hold Him as our treasure instead of the lusts of this world. Now Go! Make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

Day 72: 9-11 Remembered

Today marked the 9th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. The most notable was the Twin Towers in New York City. Please also do not fail to remember the Pentagon attack and the failed attack of Flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 lives were taken that day. All were someones son or daughter, all had a name, all had friends and families and all were taken for a false religion.

This year's remembrance was marked with controversy in itself and will be remembered for those controversies. The first is the planned mosque near Ground Zero and another was Pastor Terry Jones' threat to burn a stack of Qur'ans. The burning did not go through (yet), but the mosque is still going forward as far as I know.

Do the Muslims have a right to build a place of worship (albeit to a false god) only a short distance from Ground Zero? Yes, they have the right. Should they is the actual question. To the majority of the world, no they shouldn't out of respect for those lost 9 years ago due to the extremists of their religion. The Muslims think they should open there, under the guise of building relationships with other religions. I don't buy that at all. I believe this would elevate the Muslim worlds superiority complex even greater.

Are all Muslims terrorists? No, they aren't, but they all will follow those extremists if they are told to do so. They may not all strap explosives to themselves, but they will support the work of their "martyrs".

A lot of the world also tries to lump Christianity into terrorist acts. They always cite Hitler, the Catholic Crusades, the KKK and Timothy McVeigh. I will go on record saying that none of these at the time of their terrorism could have been Christians. Later they could have been converted (not saying any of them were, but everyone is filthy in their sins), but there is no way a true bible believing, Jesus following Christian would do these things.

We are all depraved creatures and are, ourselves, capable of the same types of horrible sins. As a matter of fact the one true Holy God sees all sins in the same light. Have you ever hated someone? That is murder to God. Have you ever loved the gifts of God more than the Giver of those gifts? That is idolatry, having other gods instead of the True God. So, see, you are just as much a sinner as Hitler, McVeigh or any other murderer there has ever been. We just like to elevate the "big" sins above our "little" sins, when in all actuality they all grieve God. So, what to do then? How can a murderer ever have hope of salvation? How can an idolater find forgiveness? In only One, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. When you believe in and upon Him, believe His Word, repent of those terrible sins against God, turn to Him, you will be forgiven. You will also be changed, become a new creation. God loves you so much that He will pluck you out of your sinful life and create a new heart in you that is repulsed by those terrible sins that you once loved.

I suggest that you turn your bible (or look one up on the internet if you do not have one) to the Gospel of John and begin there. Then flip over to Acts and see how God used those He called, even a murderer like Saul of Tarsus, whom God wrote most of the New Testament through. Then continue reading in Romans and flip over to 1 John, James, 1 & 2 Timothy and all of the other books of the bible. Go back into the Old Testament and see everyone pointing to the coming Savior. Read the Psalms and see how David struggled with sin, but always repented and turned to God.

There is so much in the bible to lead you. Actually everything you will ever need to know is found throughout those 66 books. Also use the plethora of resources available to us thanks to the internet. John MacArthur, John Piper, Paul Washer, Michael Durham all have great teachings and tools for free on the web. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. God gave us these men that have put many resources out there for us to help understand the Word.

Oh, and the picture was of a lady that was walking down the street today. I assumed it was to memorialize those fallen 9 years ago. What a fine gesture to remind those that all to soon forget what has happened to our country. It would be nice though if people would remember those that have given all to further God's kingdom. The true martyrs for God, that would not renounce their faith in Christ. A good place to start is the Voice of Martyrs webpage.

Day 54: Christian Owned Businesses

Here's something that you don't see very often any more. The local Pizza Inn has the 10 Commandments prominently displayed. They are also not ashamed to let everyone know that they are Christians. The ownership also plays Christian music on their speaker system for the customers. This is something unheard of in this day, when Christianity is being told that it can't promote it's teachings.

Today it is perfectly o.k. for a Muslim to proclaim their religious beliefs (however false, doesn't matter to the "law") but a Christian that does so is often told to be quiet, leave or even be arrested. The Christianity that built this country to afford everyone the right to practice their religious beliefs is being persecuted now. A sad state of affairs, indeed. But let a Muslim say something, want to proclaim about their god or hold prayer in their work environment and people can't seem to bend over backwards fast enough to accommodate them.

I am not against any religion from practicing their beliefs. A Muslim has just as much right to hold services as any other false religion, even those that proclaim Christ, but are truly not following the biblical form of Christianity. There are churches on almost every street here in Paducah that proclaim a false religion, so why shouldn't a Muslim be allowed to as well? That is a debate in a near by city, Mayfield KY, as a group of Somali immigrants have petitioned to open a Mosque in the downtown area. The city has said that parking and safety concerns have proven enough to deny the permit for the Mosque. Seems like Mayfield was the mini version of what is going on at Ground Zero in New York.

I don't want a Mosque opened up in that area, not because I don't want the Muslims to not have a Mosque. I think this is, to them, a blatant slap in the face to America to say "We own you, you will conform to us and we have proven we are going to take over". However civil most Muslims seem, there are the extremists that follow the letter of law from their holy books. What is peaceful now will try to turn into a Muslim based government, as if it's not that way now (but that's another story).

I guess it is just good to see Christians take a stand for Christianity. It is not too late and I believe the persecution will only get worse. But in that worse state the false converts will be flushed out and bend to the oppression. So, it could be a good thing as it will do away with a lot of blasphemy as false converts no longer profess Christ and invoke His Name. True believers- take a stand. Trust in God that He will sustain you and will be your source, as He promised. Keep in mind that He will be glorified through you as He uses you to proclaim His Word in truth and in righteousness.