The silence on my last post had been rather deafening. The lack of views and response was probably because it was not about the end of the world or politics or the fall of this nation. How many people are still going to websites that were predicting that the Rapture would be on the Feast of Trumpets this year? Well folks, for you pre-trib premillennial Rapture believers the seventy years since 1948 have expired if you add the seven year period that is commonly called the tribulation. We are still here. Those teaching this were wrong.
They now may produce Mayan prophecies, Mahdi Antichrist, and Planet X theories but sorry…they will not appear here. I will quit blogging before I resort to posting unbiblical pagan presumptions just to attract readers. I do not make my living writing this stuff so I have no financial need to tickle anyone’s ears. I really do try to present a mix of subjects on this blog from within my premillenial Christian worldview and my perspective that the world stage is now being setup for upcoming biblical end time events.
There are still some that even still believe the date setting of Harold Camping. He still says the end of the world will take place in two weeks on Oct 23. Some Christians just will never believe that someone claiming direct Revelation from God or someone that came up with some cryptic date setting formula from the scriptures can be wrong. We even see Pat Robinson recently telling his Christian followers to “beware of false prophets”. Some Christians do not discern that this is the Pot calling Kettles black. 🙄
While I was writing this post I got an email and link that said, Jesus is coming back on Aug 7, 2022 and the Rapture is 2015 and there is no way around it, its just that simple. Sure….. but now I suppose half the people reading this post will Google it hoping to find out if this guy really knows something the rest of the Church does not. That’s the problem, there are too many people expecting truth to be revealed in someone’s esoteric crap.
Because we have economic problems in this country, some Christians in America think they are in the worst period of the world and the Rapture will deliver them from it. They think they will escape all hardship because they are Christian Americans. I have news, people in America have seen nothing yet and the Rapture is not likely to be saving Christian Americans out of it. If we do not have troubles in this nation many of your children, grandchildren and friends may never get saved or at least they will go through the tribulation. So be careful what you wish for and thank God for his long-suffering delay wishing that all would come to His Son for salvation.
Most Christians in America think persecution and trouble is something that only happens elsewhere. They don’t think it can ever happen here even though they are the ones that are enabling it by what they do here and by what and whom they support.
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I suppose some people thought I was exaggerating when I warned of the leftest movement that would start in New York on September 17th, especially after less than a thousand people showed up for their “Day of Rage”. Well the movement continues to grow and spread like a disease across this country because this is orchestrated by statist communists and unlike the Tea Party movement the lame-stream media will become obsessed with reporting ever incident. You will see it on the news everyday and God forbid if a cop gets fed up and actually cracks open a head.
I am convinced that the Far Left Marxists in our system want to use their public school brainwashed grandchildren to relive their glory days of the late 1960’s and create a new Marxist counterculture movement in answer to the Tea Party. I think the powers behind this really eventually intend to instigate riots in this country to keep Obama in power. Look at the names of the anti-America scum sucking liars inciting these young dupes and you will see that it is all connected to brain dead movie stars and radical revolutionary communists like Van Jones and Soros that have connections to Obama.
The irony of this anti capitalism communist movement is that those behind this are rich and they got their money screwing people, vulgarly entertaining other dupes or acting out some fantasy. People like Moore, Barr and Penn should be committed, they spout hate speech and lies with impunity because they are on the Left. They are subversive enemies of America and all Christians. Those that incite violence and riots are very dangerous people and they are breaking the law. If a Republican candidate clearly spelled that out during the campaign they might get some respect from real Americans.
The people behind this movement are the people that are actually doing what these kids are protesting against. The Far Left wants a socialist revolution so they can control everyone and everything through government puppets that they control in their Godless humanist world.
The brainwashed self-important indulgent dupes that think they will make a difference in the world by destroying the capitalist system in the name of social justice and liberality are playing right into the demonic hands of people that intend to enslave them. They do not realize that generally it was not the corporations and bankers that made the decision that they were too big to fail, it was left wing government that made that decision. That Obama guy they love so much was all for it.
They say they will be peaceful but how much do you want to bet that instigators will arrive that will make it get violent? Already the thug controlled unions are getting involved. Obama’s army will continue to cause trouble at least until the elections and if there is any movement to get rid of Obama by the Democrats there will be hell to pay. These people think they have identified the enemy, but their enemy are the very people that create jobs in this country. What these kids do not know is that the instigators of this do not want to provide them with jobs. They want an economic collapse so that they can declare martial law and take complete control.
If you read the demands of those taking part in this “occupation” of our cities you have to wonder what planet they come from? They apparently think you can just eliminate corporations and the rich and dissolve everyone’s debt and give people homes and everything else away that people did not work for and pay for and that makes for a Utopia. Yet, they themselves are the offspring of the people and are supported by people that hold the very investments that they want to destroy. If they had their way they would starve to death before the winter is over. They think if they just wave a magic-wand prosperity falls out of the sky without anyone even working for it. Just eliminate the borders and everyone will just hold hands and sing “we are the people we are the world” and skip off into the Magic Kingdom.
If despots took the wealth from the rich and gave it to the poor within months everyone would be unemployed, freezing and starving to death. These people said they want to shut down all nuclear plants but they also said they want no new fossil fuel plants to replace them. They think alternative energy just appears out of thin air because they wish for it. Then these idiots think minimum wage should be $20 an hour and all choosing not to work should be given an income. That is just the start of their bazaar demands. If this is what kids are learning in public schools we might as well abolish the whole public school system. These kids are not being taught tools for living they are being taught fantasy and rebellion. Parents of children taking part in this “occupation” need to give them a bath and a bottle, put them back in their crib, and start over.
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It seems that the Republican presidential contender field is now set. Christi and Palin decided not to run. So what choices will Republican voters have? You might disagree, but I am now assuming that only four people in the race who can possibly win the Republican candidacy for President: Romney, Cain, Gingrich, and Perry.
Romney – is a RINO in conservative clothing and if conservatives are going to be duped by a RINO again they will get more of the progressive agenda that will bankrupt this nation. Keep in mind that Romney is also a Mormon Bishop. That makes him a cult leader and the cult that he is a leader in also believes in redistributing the wealth through their own church theocracy. The Republican establishment will be behind Romney because Romney is really a center-left progressive just like most of them.
Cain – I really like, he is a true Christian Conservative but he is going to have to learn real quick that the Left and the Republican establishment will be looking for any way to destroy him. Unfortunately with the brainwashing of America that is taking place through the Left media they will probably succeed. You can be sure that the Left will resort to racism and paint Cain as an Uncle Tom Negro. In reality Cain is an authentic Black American and an American success story.
One thing that you might consider with Cain is that because he is black, he might just spare this nation from the inevitable race riots that will occur if a white Republican wins. He also could use his position to be a good role model to help free the inner city black community from their enslavement to government and the race baiters that continue to brainwash blacks for their own fame and profit.
Perry – Perry says a lot of things that people want to hear but his past shows that he is not a true conservative. He is just another George Bush. When people tell me he is a Christian I have to wonder why he never put his money where his Christian mouth is? Over the years he has given far less than one percent of his income to Christian Charity and that fraction of one percent also includes what he gave to his local Church. He also shows lack of Christian discernment by hitching his wagon to dominionist heretics. I think what drives Perry is politics and power. I personally think he has all the makings of an authoritarian dictator during a crises.
Gingrich – by far has the best ideas on many issues. However, with his baggage and slimy past I am not convinced that Gingrich should be trusted to run this country. However, I would take him over Romney and maybe Perry. He would certainly make a good cabinet member in a Cain administration.
I am not convinced that any of these people will beat Obama after he pulls out the aces that he has up his sleeve. There will be internal upheavals from Obama’s army. I understand that NATO is gearing up for strikes on Syria by next spring if Assad does not step down, and Syria says if that happens they will rocket Israel. If that happens, Israel strikes Syria and Iran and in the best case scenario America would be dragged in and have a quick victory with the neutralization of Iran’s nuclear threat. Obama will be the hero and people will forget about his domestic disaster. The worst case scenario would be World War III, martial law, and the suspension of elections. Actually the worst case scenario for America in 2012 would be to be hit by an EMP but then national elections will not take place nor will they matter. The best bet on 2012 is that not much will turn out like we now expect. No matter who gets elected we are going to have big problems in America. Anyway, that’s my perspective.
This might be a lil off-topic so forgive me if it is, but I live in Texas. So if Obama is a type of anti-christ then Rick Perry must be a type of false prophet becuase after he prayed, half the state cuaght on fire.
Back to the article it was very on point and thank you for holding a study course on your estechology.
I think if Obama wins reelection the only way to stop the madness is to rebel. Either have millions of Americans demand he and all his communist freinds leave or else. The other solution is to secede and take half of America with us. Either way Christian conservatives will look like the bad guys. My bet is that Obama will win especially with the candidates the repubs have put up.
The false presupposition that the Marxist/socialists use to deceive the “lumpen proletariat” is what you wrote, Don. “If despots took the wealth from the rich and gave it to the poor…”
They don’t give it to the poor. They give it to themselves. Then, after they have destroyed the economy, they keep telling lies for self preservation.
Look at the Fabian Socialist Window. It is stunning to see the self identification on the shield between the two workers on the right side of the window.
Having finished my Oprah Secret Crystal Reading Course, plus noting that the park where the sit-in is taking place has not been cleaned in 3 weeks, I am sensing an outbreak of some disease amongst the folks.
I see Sheila Jackson-Lee heroically announcing in Congress that evil Tea Party members have spread the bacteria or virus. Nancy Grace will keep a running count for us on her show.
Don ,
You make reference to the lack of comments on your previous post , sometimes it is difficult to add anything to what you have plainly stated. I look at your blog and read the comments on a daily basis. It serves no useful purposeful for me to make any comment unless I believe it can be encouraging and helpful to others. I appreciate the time and effort you expend and believe you do your homework on these subjects . I consider myself at student , not a scholar.
The church in America is a disaster due to lack of Biblicial teaching. There is more make people feel good heresy taught in churches than there is Holy Scripture. To me there is a vast difference between church goers and Christians. That is the problem and I have offended people when I complain about the lack of teaching. Unless Christ is the reason for attending church people should stay home. It’s HIS church , not ours and many people just don’t get that. Keep up the great work you do for HIM . BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Don,
I should have made it more clear about my frustration with my last post. It was not the lack of comments that was the issue. It was that few even went past the teaser to download and read the article. On the bright side it now ranks in the top 10 under the name of the book title in Google so the article will probably continue to get hits for years to come.
Don ,
One of the complaints the Wall Street and protestors in other cities have is there are no jobs.
A good friend of mine in the aerospace business told me he had 100 job opening he was trying to fill , 67% of the applicants failed the drug test. I questioned my friend and said 67% , NO WAY!! He said he was being totally truthful , 67% failed the drug test. Of course you could never expect the media to report these things. One of my son’s used to work for Sam’s Club which is part of WalMart. They did an extensive background check on my son before he was hired and yes he had to pass a drug test. I know how extensive the background check was because they gave my son a copy of the report. Many employers now do checks including looking at credit reports and even what’s on your Facebook page. My point is that some people forget that your behavior tends to follow you and these people wonder why no employer will hire them. Sorry if I got off topic here , but there are valid reasons some people have difficulty finding a job.
Don,
I think you’re on topic and these monthly perspectives is where commentators can express their own perspectives on world and Church trends and Bible prophecy.
I agree that many fail to get jobs because they shoot themselves in the foot. Heck, half the people in top places of government would fail the drug test if they were forced to take them but generally they are exempt.
We have a President that could not even get a basic security clearance when I worked for government because of his past cocaine use, yet ever get a Top Secret clearance. The last three presidents admitted to using illegal drugs and then we wonder why our youth follow their example.
Don ,
I certainly know about getting a security clearence, the last time I filled out the paperwork it was 29 pages long and I’ve been interviewed about co workers who were being investigated to determine if they could obtain a clearence. They ask and want to know about every detail of your life from birth to the present. I doubt 10% of themembers of congress could get a top secret clearence from the Dept. of Defense. I’ve seen people’s security clearences pulled for some really minor infractions I can’t even discuss here.
Don Fritts,
re: October 8, 2011 at 3:10 pm comment
Great comment, totally agree…I, personally, am a student and not a scholar here at Don’s site, and there are some subjects that I do not have enough knowledge in to comment on…just learn.
Don: you commented: “On the bright side it now ranks in the top 10..”
The last I checked (earlier this afternoon) you were at #3.
Bob,
#3 is in the top ten. I said that because if I do a search on the title the pastor has no clothes on my browser my article is number 5. That is without enclosing it in quotes. Funny things though if I check it on Scroogle which is supposed to strip all bias from searches it is #9. Key word ranking by Google is harder to figure out than Eschatology.
Hi Don,
Hope all is well with you brother.
You wrote about the corporations and bankers being bailed out by the Obama administration. Do you think that a Republican administration would have done any differently? It seems to me that the corporations and banks run the world and that government is just one of the tools that is used by them for control. In our own country we can see this concept as well.
1. Refusal by the Fed. Government to do anything about illegal immigration. The corporations want the illegals here to drive down the American workers wages. I was recently in OKC working on the Devon Tower being constructed. 55 Story sky scraper, pretty cool bldg., I would estimate that 40% of the workers were mexicans who were unable to speak English.
2. Trade treaties with other countries, starting with NAFTA. These agreements are of benefit to the Corporations and not the American people. We have seen a 50% reduction in the percentage of manufacturing jobs here in America since NAFTA was passed. Only 18 % of jobs in the US are in manufacturing and its dropping every day.
These two issues have decimated America and are quickly turning us into a 2nd world country. The old saying goes, he who has the gold makes the rules, the corporations and banks have the gold and they are making the rules. That is not only in the US but also around the world.
Its really a sad thing with what is happening to our country. The former, economic powerhouse is being reduced to a shell of its former self and the people have no one to vote for that will make any meaningful changes to take back our former power. As a person who spent many years in the manufacturing industry, I urge anyone who isn’t near retirement age to seek another line of work. The lost jobs are not coming back and more will be leaving.
By the way, I am not against Capitalism, I am against this new hybrid of Capitalism, that I call Corporatism. Its where the corporations run the government and unlike anything I have heard of in history.
I would appreciate you thoughts Don.
Your friend from Arkansas,
David
It’s hard to comment when I totally agree with you.
Hi David,
Good to hear from you, hows the trucking?
I agree that big money, big corporations, and statist government are all in bed together. When a socialistic statist government decides which corporations and financial organizations will be be assisted and which will be forced to fail we are really living under fascism.
I do not see why these kids cannot see that. If they could they would not be supporting Obama and his cronies. They would be supporting the Tea Party.
If this movement were really going to negatively impact predatory Capitalism that you call Corporatism I would agree toward that end.
However, what you really have in this movement is some dupes and some paid instigators trying to stir up people who cannot even agree why they are there. In other words, instigators are trying whatever they can to create a radical social movement just to create social upheaval down the road.
Everything has a beginning and at this point I think we are just seeing the start. The end goal is a leftist revolution bringing more federal control over Corporations that will favor cronies. In other words more fascism.
Some of the super rich in this nation that have large stakes in some of these too big too fail corporations and banks are the very ones funding the organizations that pay the instigators.
If this gains traction all the brainwashed dupes will be steered toward demanding more regulation and more fascism and it will not impact the powerful players behind this at all. What it will impact is freedoms and liberties for all Americans.
Why are they doing this? One goal is to keep Obama with his fascist statist socialist globalist agenda and cronies in power. The radical Left wants a movement to counter the Tea Party movement.
People like Van Jones and the Union thugs set up straw men and they will instigate these brainwashed dupes until they burn them. They want the mob to believe that the Left are their liberators when they actually are the people that increasingly enslave them. I am sure Alinsky would be proud of their tactics. I hope Libertarians will not be so stupid as to join with them.
Economic problems are coming no-matter, that is obvious. The only real thing worth fighting for in this nation is our individual liberties because once we lose that we lose everything else. These straw man distractions are all aimed to take more power and take away more individual liberty.
You are correct about our trade treaties. Even so, our government quietly passed a trade bill that will favor South Korea, Vietnam and some other country (I forgot). They even admit it will lead to the loss of well over one hundred thousand in the U.S. Why don’t someone protest that?
David,
If I could chime in here…
I think your right on everything you said above. I hear pro Conservative/Republicans talk like their party would do things different…bunk !
George Bush failed miserably on immigration for you Republican Conservative pundits.
A few weeks ago, as an example of what you just said, the feds made it difficult for Gibson Guitar in their guitar manufacturing here in the U.S…how shameful.
If the government was really going to expand jobs in the U.S., they would be making the U.S. an inviting place to bring back all those outsourced jobs that started going away some 25 years ago…as well as incentives to make the U.S. a prosperous hot bed for new industry…but with their taxes/tariffs on big corporations, they are doing the polar opposite.
And, of course, while were throwing pennies in the wishing well here…making the Living God the centerpiece of this nation and casting out the blatant sin would have significant impact on the rebuilding of our nation as well.
Have these protesters really identified why they are protesting? I’m wondering what group is really behind these protests and what their agenda is? What David says is very true… We have not created a business friendly environment. But it’s not just about the taxes, as businesses such as GE have already figured out how to avoid those.. It has more to do with the cost of labor that is often driven higher by the unions. We are also seeing businesses not hiring due to uncertainty around things such as the cumbersome healthcare law… The effect of which nobody really knows at this point.
Being a business owner myself, I know that these uncertainties are certainly impacting my hiring and business growth decisions. I am operating leaner and much more efficiently than I might have in the past.
I really liked the last paragraph of your post Don, as I work with teenagers and see first hand the sense of entitlement and personal exceptionalism that is clearly being learned from their parents. Perhaps, because of the work I do, I am biased on the roots of this ongoing problem. My view is that some of these attitudes come from the “quick fix” belief system that has led to a constant seeking of an easier, softer way through life. There is a sense of entitlement to wages that go well beyond what is reasonable. There is also an attitude in this country that if you don’t want to work, someone else will foot the bill. I see this as the culmination of liberal thought and teaching that has spread like a cancer through American culture.
Can the “genie” be put back in the bottle? It sure doesnt seem like it.
Sorry if I strayed off post…
Rod in Oregon
i just watched a video of the “occupiers”. it was all about consensus. they (i suppose in order that everyone could hear) were repeating what the various speakers would say.
hegel dialectic is rampant. thesis, antithesis, synthesis. the collectivism is expected, yet still astounding. dupes indeed.
i understand the reasoning behind your picks of who you think can win the GOP nomination. i will disagree with you about Cain. i have no doubt that he is a decent man, but i take issue with all of his stances. his 9-9-9 tax plan is horrendous, his thinking about the Federal Reserve (he was chairman of the Kansas City Fed) and it not needing an audit (“they won’t find anything”), his failing to see that the economy was on the verge of collapse even up until september of 2008, and his support for TARP is too big for me to get around.
perry is horrible, romney is a mormon and wants more war. newt is, well, newt. he’s a good speaker.
i’m not delusional enough to think that Ron Paul will win the GOP nod, it is obvious that he is shunned by the establishment. but i’m voting on principle and refuse to vote for the lesser of any evils. so vote for Dr. Paul i will.
regardless, this nation is treading in deep water as is the rest of the world. soon enough the superficial things that so consume many, including myself, will fail to be a blip on the radar screen. the whole of Matthew 11 keeps coming to my mind when i think about such things.
God Bless!
With Socialism the government run the industry, with Fascism the government runs the industry. With Corporatism, the corporations tell the government what to do.
An example of this would be the recently passed Health Care Bill. This bill was written by the health care industry for the benefit of the health care industry. The legislators who voted on the bill were not even given a copy of the bill until after they had voted on it. Good grief, how more blatant could they be? I guess I had better go get some health care insurance before 2014, because the health care industry told my government and my government told me too.
Which government do you think our founding fathers would have found more repressive, the government of England in 1776 or our present Federal government. That would be an analysis that I would be very interested in reading or viewing. Don’t imagine I will be able to view it on any mainsteam media outlet though, might raise to many questions in the American peoples minds.
People now, don’t realize what our founding fathers did and thats the struggle between the individual and the government. The nature of government is to become bigger and bigger and more and more repressive of the individuals. It happens every time and our founding fathers tried to put barriers in place, but over time those barriers have been broken down and thrown in the trash of history.
A quick example that almost all people buy into. If you want a job in this country, this is what you are gonna do because the corporations say so.
1. Urinate in a cup.
2. Have a social security number.
3. Provide credit history, employment history, criminal history and residence history.
4. Sign non-compete agreements.
Having to provide these things is completely against an individuals right to privacy. If our government was for by the people and for the people these things would not be. But our government is by the corporations and for the corporations. Can you imagine what our founding fathers would have thought if told that someday before you could be hired that you would have to produce a bodily fluid on demand?
For a long time after our nation was founded Corporations were illegal, while Capitalism was encouraged. People often get Capitalism and Corporatism mixed up, but they are different beasts.
From a worldly standpoint, I see no encouragement with either of the two main political worldviews.
Part of what’s sad is that both conservatives and liberals have some good points, but they both seem to be incapable of communicating these to the other, nor do I see any indication that either of them really want to listen anything but their cherished orthodoxy. They both assume the worst of each other. I feel they have both become shrill and useless, each in their own ways…
Sadly, I am seeing a similar dynamic playing-out among Christians.
…I dropped my Republican party affiliation in disgust after the last presidential election.
It’s interesting to me when I think back to my parents. They were the most conservative people I knew, and yet they pointed-out to me that they did not identify that way, and in fact, they went on to list a number of their positions we would associate with liberalism. All their friends were liberal, and they were seen as the odd-ones because of things like the firm way they raised us kids and other “conservative quirks.”
As a young adult I came to Jesus, and became rather hard-line, immaturely assuming that conservatism was God’s position on everything. Yet as I’ve grown I’ve come to see that a number of the hard lines I drew were not really of God, though they seemed to be. I’ve also come to understand what it is to be human in a more realistic way. It’s all caused me to realize that there is no person nor group of people who have everything correct: “right.” And a great many of us, conservatives and liberals alike need to come-down from our self-righteous positions and be willing to accept that others can teach us important things, if we will humble ourselves to become teachable. Each side seems to be extreme in reaction to what is viewed to be the extremes of the other side. Both sides are grievously wrong in this and they make their good aspects inaccessible to the other side.
Sort of an aside to my aside above, over the last few years, and especially this year, I’ve become more and more disappointed in the trend among Evangelicals (note the capital letter!), in that we’ve largely become one of two related groups: We’re either the “separatists” who do everything we can to isolate ourselves and families from the world because (it is assumed) that the world is irredeemably evil and there is nothing (and NOBODY) of worth “out there.” The other group assumes this too and has decided to fight the culture around them: they are the “culture warriors.”
The first group has basically become salt with no savor. They don’t connect with the people around them in a meaningful way: to non-believers, they are nothing more than a living “Chick tract” and most people take them no more seriously than that (a few do, so all is not lost). Too often they have no non-Christian friends because “we all know you can’t be *real* friends with a non-believer.”
The culture warriors on the other had, are known for what they are against and they make themselves repellent to non-believers, and they like it that way, thank you: “who cares what a non-believer thinks of me? *I’m* standing-up for what’s right.” Often they have no non-believing friends because they consider non-believers to be enemies!
We are not honoring God by hiding in our own ghettos (so as to “stay clean” of the world’s influence). That’s the servant who buried his talent! (Matt 25:18)
We are not honoring God when our defining-characteristic has changed from Loving God and others, to fighting a (losing) war against everyone (including other believers) who do not pass our “purity test.” This is the the picture of the evil servant who beat his fellow servants. (Matt 24:45-51)
Both groups assume that the fact that a comparative few will find the “Narrow Gate” excuses them to behave as they do. When I’ve mentioned Jesus’ many examples of going among the “sinners,” I’ve been told that “well, he’s Jesus; he’s God: you’re not, so you shouldn’t go there.” I’ve also been told that I should not associate with the people I do because “they’re beyond God.” or “They aren’t in the ‘elect.'” (As if we can see into another’s heart!) Whether the people whom we try to love into the kingdom actually turn to Jesus or not must not keep us from loving them. Jesus went out among them to show them that God cares for *them* (not *simply* for some abstract principals of “rightness”); we are now His hand, feet, hearts, mind and voice – all things people will see before they will likely crack-open a Bible.
The whole Gospel is greater than simply the “plan of salvation.” The Gospel is about redemption, both here and in eternity. Some assume that there’s nothing worth redeeming in this world and focus almost exclusively on eternity. Others focus almost exclusively on what is here an assume eternity will take care of itself. Both are right and both are wrong. A person’s eternity is crucial to them; a person’s live here is also crucial: the Gospel addresses both.
Principles are important, but not nearly so important as love. If God just wanted to be “right,” there wouldn’t be much point for us to exist, and there would be no point for all the stuff each of us (including God) has to endure through our lives. Our lives are not so much to prove God’s point (though they do), as it is for us to become creatures who receive and give love freely and joyously!
So, just as I’ve dropped my party affiliation, I’ve decided that I must part ways with my Evangelical brothers and sisters. I remain a Christian, and evangelical (in the little-letter sense of the word). Things such as what I’ve written here have caused me to fail the Evangelical “purity test” and have (sigh) caused me to be “pruned” from a few relationships. BUT I’m not following after *their* creed and soci-political positions, I belong to Christ, and I follow His Spirit as best as I can cooperate…
I just deleted my last two paragraphs, and I’ll end with this example that just came to mind instead: as a child and teen, I bickered incessantly with my brother and sister (who are twins, four years younger). It drove everyone mad! The boys against the girl. The twins against the older brother. The ”
“sensible” brother and sister against her “frivolous” twin. We perfected interpersonal conflict! And we hated it too. One day, when I was 16 or so, I decided that I wasn’t going to be part of that dynamic anymore. I unilaterally chose that I would not be baited and I would not provoke anyone else. I would be kind regardless. In this, I removed myself from the dynamic. That simple act, over a few weeks, eliminated the dynamic! There was *finally* peace in our family (at least in this regard). It was wonderful, and it endures today! My brother and sister both think they took the dynamic apart! And in a way they did. It’s funny the things we learn…and sad that it can take such a long time…
Brett ,
We all fail the purity test , salvation is orginated by God for our benefit , not His. My personal belief is that salavation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus alone to the glory of God the Father alone. I fail The Lord everyday in some way and yet He continues to love me. God cannot learn so none of my failures are a surprise to Him. Thought your post was outstanding. BLESSINGS!!!!
Brett,
True Christians should have a Christian Worldview. No worldly political party has a truly Christian worldview but it is rather obvious that the Far Left is anti-Christ. The proof of that is what they do to Christians once they get in power.
We Christians have a commission from Jesus to tell the world the good news. We cannot do that if we are dead. So without getting into a lot of detail I respectfully disagree with some of the pacifism that you seem to imply.
There is absolute truth. Christians can only be salt and light if they stand for the truth. This has been the case for true Christians since Pentecost. Many before us gave their lives for truth in a stand against secular and religious tyranny.
Jesus did not call us to peace with the world or with our families. That could only come if Christians were compromising with the world. On the contrary.
We very much do need to take a stand against evil and support those in government that are opposing evil or we and the world will reap the consequences.
The standard where we can judge truth is what the Bible says. One cannot even correctly define what love is without the Bible. Love certainly is not compromising with those that we see are heading toward their own destruction as they attempt to deceive everyone else to go with them.
No one is going through the gate unless they confess that Jesus is Lord. There may be differences in biblical interpretations and methods but anyone opposing the Lord is lost. A Christian should be able to discern the differences between good and evil above and beyond anyone in this world since we have the word and the Spirit to teach us.
Those calling themselves Christians that deny Christ as He is revealed by God are liars. Those that say there are many paths to God are liars. If Christians do not stand for truth and what we know is right we have hid our talent and are in danger of becoming the unprofitable servant.
Don, in all things there must be balance.
I don’t mean to imply a moral equivalence between the political left and right. I’m well aware of what the political left does to people when they acquire sufficient power.
However, in listening to the left as well as right, I see that we actually have some common concerns, but because of the very different ways we approach things, the commonality is ignored and we both demonize each other.
I’ve especially come to see this from our brothers and sisters who inhabit the “Christian left:” they have deep and Bibically-correct concerns, yet many of the leftist solutions simply do not work. At the same time, they assume that the “Christian right” simply does not share their same (Biblical) concerns because of the policies they (the conservatives) share. So rather than demonizing each other, perhaps it would be better to recognize that we could be misguided about some things.
You are completely right that true Christians should have a Christian world view. That view can come only from the scriptures illuminated by God’s Spirit. At the same time, I’ve known people who have made the Bible their god, and that is every bit an idol as one made of stone – perhaps worse because of the degree of spiritual pride it tends to engender.
A Christian has dual citizenship: we are citizens of God’s kingdom, but we are also citizens where we are on earth. We have responsibilities to both. Sometimes these responsibilities involve fighting.
However, in my opinion, a great number, maybe even a majority of Evangelicals in America have become unnecessarily militant and obnoxious. I do not believe that honors God.
Regardless of how the United States came about, Christians do not own this nation, and (partly due to themselves) they have lost the cultural influence they once obtained through love and piety. Now, it looks very much as if we are demanding “ours” back from a pluralistic society simply because “it was this way, and it should be this way.” Making demands as we are is inappropriate: we can’t treat the rest of the culture as “wayward brethren who need ‘church discipline’.” Instead, we need to humble ourselves and follow the example of love that our first century brethren did. By the militant standards of today, yes, that would be pacifistic. However, I think that this fits more closely His Spirit’s instruction to meet evil with good.
Just as I could not expect my brother and sister to drop the bickering by themselves, we have to take the initiative to attract people to God rather than reminding them of their condemnation. It’s easier to take sides and assume a defensive posture, and that’s what the culture warriors are doing. They are not going to change the culture by denouncing it. The culture will be changed as His Spirit works in us to love other people.
Please don’t misunderstand me when I speak often of “love” – there are many facets to love, and one of the chief is that it is an “action verb” rather than a feeling: love seeks the greatest good through the highest means for the beloved. Only as a last resort is love to “get tough” with people. Sadly, it has become the “first” way of loving demonstrated by the most vocal parts of the Church. The truth can save like thoughtfully and gently guided scalpel; the truth can hack a person to death as an angrily wielded machete. My problem is with the people who are in the habit of “loving” in the later way.
Here is something else that many people seem to miss: while there is one path to God, that is through Jesus. There are as many paths to Jesus as there are people: no two will come in exactly the same way.
Brett,
I have to disagree with your last statement. There is also only one path to Jesus and that is by hearing and believing. Granted, there are many methods to reach people to hear.
I do not disagree with much of what you said but I think you’re being unrealistically idealistic and judgmental of the majority of Evangelicals. Standing against evil is only seen as being militaristic and obnoxious to those that have chosen to remain in evil. I think we are being naive if we think that most unbelievers in this country have not heard the Christian message and have consciously made a choice to reject it. We are the most evangelized nation in the world. Of course the Christ haters think the Christian right are militant and obnoxious because they choose to live in sins that are harmful to society and we do not. It is not because they have not heard.
We reject their lifestyles because we know it is harmful and it leads to suffering, and death of body and soul. Don’t buy into the propaganda of postmodern infiltrators that like to call themselves evangelicals.
Also, the problem is not so much the methods used by true Christians. The problem is that most calling themselves Christians are just in a religion rather than in the Body of Christ and they use the methods of the world to try to make people disciples of their own religious organization.
Brett……First, No one comes to the Father except thru Christ and no one comes to Christ except thru the Father. It’s a oneway highway. Second, I don’t know you but you sound a little like my son. He was a biblical powerhouse as a young boy and still knows where to find verses. After he graduated from an Ivy league college, he became a very different person. He began to push the social gospel and the idea of how much more important peace and love and just getting along with others is instead of pushing “divisive Christian” issues. He married a muslim girl from Gaza and has taken up the plight of the Palestinians who he believes are living under an oppressive Jewish government. His wife, being a muslim does not believe Christ is the way and he isn’t sure though at one time he was sure. He continually points to the hypocracy and failures of the Christian fundamentalists which he claims are a big reason why he has changed. It sounds like you’re sliding in a similar direction. Why throw the baby out with the bath water? If your close circle of friends are clearly acting contrary to biblical principles, lovingly reprove them. Defend the faith, don’t run from it because some are misapplying it.
Brett ,
I would agree with Don , there are not many paths to Jesus. I have had many people tell me they
will not accept Jesus is the only way to God. The world wants a God whom they can control and define. People who view themselves as good think they have a right to earn entrance in heaven on their own merit . That plays right into Satan’s hands. As I said earlier we all fail the purity test, only Jesus passed it . The Holy Spirit has to be involved in one’s path to Jesus because the scripture says so.
Brett ,
Another thought , many people will accept Jesus as Savior , but they don’t want to accept Jesus as LORD over their life. He is either both or neither , it won’t work any other way.
I think you are all misunderstanding my statement:
While there is one path to God, that is through Jesus. There are as many paths to Jesus as there are people: no two will come in exactly the same way.
People who come to God, must come through Jesus who is Himself God, and He has our pardon, which we must accept personally. However, there are many possible ways people can come to Jesus. For example, a number of people tried to debate me into the kingdom (that works for some). Some tried things like the Four Spiritual Laws (that works for others), others tried the “Hell-fire-and-brimstone” route (and some come for ‘fire insurance’). None of those spoke to me because I wasn’t afraid of death, I feared insanity and the possibility that I would go “postal.” I wanted to be good, but I knew there was evil in me (even as a small child I thought of this). I came to Christ through an unlikely way: my, math professor whose mind and manner I respected, helped me to see the Christ is answer. I was able to trust him to help me answer significant questions. It took me months of questioning to where I would ask the really deep questions, and then finally trust my life and death to Jesus because I was sure there was no other purpose for me exist except to be His. I know *many* people who would criticize this teacher for the approach he took, as not being “too soft” and non-confrontational. Different methods work for different people, and cultures, and different times in the life of a person and culture.
But, it’s not just different methods. I’ve also known of people who found Jesus by way of other spiritual experiences, even other religions. These are people who *want* God, and our God made Himself to be found. Since they didn’t hear it from one of His children (i.e. Christians), I have to assume God made Himself known to them more directly. Now, it takes a lot of faith for me to put people like that so far into God’s hands because He generally works through the Church in this age. BUT I’ve also learned that I can’t assume He will not draw people to Himself in other ways other than the “official” way.
I do not think believe that other gods are the way to the One True God who is Christ. I do believe that God will move Heaven and earth for someone who wants Him. And yes, it is God’s Spirit who draws people to Himself.
Don, we will have to agree to disagree about the way we differ in our views of Evangelical believers (capital-E). I and others are finding that people who would not set foot into a church are nevertheless interested in Jesus even if it means they must change. That indicates a cultural problem to me rather than a spiritual one: If I’m going to be hated and written-off, then I want it to be because they would hate my Lord, not because of my cultural baggage.
Yes, America is one of the most evangelized nations in the world, possibly in history. That does not necessarily mean that our unbelievers are the most hardened-to-Christ in the world. It could very well mean that they are hardened to the *methods* used to reach them. The Church in America has been *so bad* loving God and loving others since before I was born, that generally non-believers have little respect for it and little desire to associate with it. If they think that what they see in the Church is what Christianity is, who Jesus is, then they won’t want Jesus either. I’ve seen this from both sides: it was the case in my experience both as an adult atheist, and I seen get worse as a believer of over three decades. Sad to say, most of the true Christians I’ve met in that last couple decades fall in to the “separatist” or “culture warrior” camps. A few don’t, and they tend to be held in suspicion by the rest of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
I’m convinced it’s a mistake to assume that most unbelievers think we are militant and obnoxious solely or even largely because of their own lifestyles: People can hear difficult things about their lifestyles from people they respect, but they will harden against people whom they feel have no business commenting on their lifestyle (or even worse, in whom they see hypocrisy). Moreover, we are not ordained to be the “sin-police:” that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. There will be times when God will have us to point-out something to someone, but the truth lovingly expressed, in context is more likely to be used than the in-your-face-God-hates-sinners approach. Our culture is fed-up with us screaming “SINNER” *AT* them and then (possibly) trying to “sell” the Good News to them. I firmly believe we mistaken in thinking we are loving people when we hit them over the head with what we have against their lifestyle; it might make us feel “holy,” but it likely does damage to the people we’ve hit.
Please recognize: I’m not saying “dump Jesus.” I am saying dump the needless “churchy” baggage (a lot of which isn’t from God) and concentrate more on behaving in loving ways, depending on His Spirit to show us *how* to best do this even as He gives us opportunities. I don’t see this as “idealistic;” I see it as necessary.
Anyone who truly accepts Jesus gets His Spirit as part of the transaction. His Spirit will work whatever changes need to be made in order for Him to be Lord over their life as well. It used to be that I didn’t trust God enough to handle that for other people, so I thought I needed to do it for Him and I end-up hindering His work in them.
In these things, I have not become less Biblical, nor less Christian, or more worldly; I am not denying Jesus. Rather, I am distancing myself from the cultural things and methods that seem to be causing harm to Christ’s mission of saving the lost and redeeming creation. I understand that some of my fellow believers will assume that I am “falling away” in this; it’s a risk I believe our Lord wants me to take, that is where His Spirit is leading me…
I think God’s usefulness for the USA is just about up. Every time I consider the battle of Midway, I get the feeling that God’s grace was at work. Well, let’s just say a victory like that will never happen again.
You can’t even read a sports column without seeing overt pumped up bias and anti-Christian sentiment against the likes of Tebow. The sickness and insanity of the world is unstoppable.
The luxury time of talking is just about up. I think God’s grace for pre-rapture Christians will have to come in a leveling of the playing field. That, plus “heads up” notice (i.e., the book of revelation).
Brett ,
I agree with much of what you say. You cannot cram Jesus down someone’s throat , more than one person tried it on me when I was a teenager and I resented their approach. Someone one told me that if someone can be talked into believing The Gospel that someone else can talk them out of believing . There is indead a lot of “Church Baggage ” that is not of God and on many occassions it is harmful to others. There is very much a culture war going on in America and sadly in many churches headed up by Satan. I think that’s why Jesus said let the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest and He will seperate them. BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!
To Brett and everyone else,
The thing that makes this blog so special is that we can discuss these great topics among one another. It’s our focal point and to me, that is awesome : )
Hi again Don ,
Have you heard of or do you know anything about Eric Jon Phelps at vaticanassassins.org ?
He seems to me to be a racist. Lots of what I consider wierd stuff on his website.
It is difficult to look upon the world as it spirals towards self destruction without having and expressing strong condemnation. However it is the Devil’s world and we are never told to clean it up but to do what God equips to do to save those who are perishing, i.e. live for Christ, and give out the reasons for the hope we have. I believe this is Brett’s position.
It is even more difficult to look upon blatant blasphemy as it is pushed as Christian truth, and it is in this that we are to contend for THE faith.
The world rejects TRUTH, has no inkling of the TRUTH and repudiates the TRUTH when it is presented, so other than live out ‘Christ in you the hope of glory’ there really is nothing we can do for the world. BUT, the church is a different matter.
The Church is supposed to be God’s voice to the world and when ungodly men infiltrate its walls we who know the TRUTH are to be contenders of the faith, to be watchmen and to cry out against them. There is a place for gentleness and empathy and compassion and that place is among those who are blind and groping through life; but there is also a place for strong condemnation and that is against those who are deliberately evil, those who would mislead and destroy others.
Yes Brett, let us continue to reach out to the lost in all gentleness and compassion; Yes Don, let us continue to speak out against evil and those who would offer it as truth.
Yes, ~David, I agree: we all help each other grow. I receive a great deal from each of you! “as iron sharpens iron…” We *are blessed* that we are His!
Don,
I never heard of the site and if the site is weird or racist I really have no interest in going there.
Brett,
We are usually pretty close to the same page.
I know there is some abuse in some churches but I think that is largely a straw-man argument that people want to throw at Christians because they just do not want to hear the truth or go with them to church.
I have been in scores of churches over my years and I simply am not seeing what you suggest and it certainly is not coming from the true Christians that I have met in many of these churches.
I agree that there are a lot of people that are open to Jesus but they will not set foot in a church building. In fact I have known quite a few Christians that do not go to church at all. However, it still seems that such claims they have are largely ones they made up in their own mind. Its now even a counterculture to claim to be a christian but avoid church and all those “hypocrites”.
Hay, and I am not one that will tell them that they have to go to some church. I know people can be Christians without attending a building and they can fellowship with other Christians in very small informal groups. Nonetheless, I just do not see people beating people over the head with the gospel or being sin police in my circles. I cannot speak for Christian cults or legalistic churches because I will not go to them.
I think one problem is that some think that churches are the place to lead people to Christ so they try to drag that person there and then they hope the pastor will give a message that will led the person to Christ. Then when it does not happen everyone is put off. Leading people to Christ is really our responsibility not the teacher on Sunday.
I think I will now go sit on my porch and sip a wine cooler and watch the full moon. 😯
Yes, Brian, *both* of these approaches are necessary!
Everyone? Please pray for me: God has gifted me in the areas of mercy, encouragement and serving, but I recognize that I am prone to special weaknesses associated with exercising these gifts as well:
That is, I have to work at being discerning. I have to work at being firm. I have to work past my temperament and old hurts in order to confront, and then to do so with the appropriate balance of toughness and love; I have to work at not being an “enabler” as I serve. I’m getting better at not failing here, but I recognize that I will always (in this life) exercise His gifts imperfectly. So please pray that He would continue to work in and through me in the positive and negative aspects of using His gifts. I very much want to be more like Christ, and for His desires to be made mine! On His Day, I want to be found as having truly loved Him and others.
Thanks Everyone! You are a *blessing* to me!
Yes Don, I agree that there is a big problem with people dragging others into church so the pastor can get ’em saved.
Maybe you and I are seeing different things? Maybe the “voice” of Evangelicals in the culture at large is different from the way individual believers are? I have known some very “in your face” Christians much as I’ve described. I’ve also known a few people who are able to connect with most unbelievers and help them see the cross. I’ve met still more that seem to be confused: they too have issues with the militant ones, but aren’t sure how to connect with unbelievers. Nevertheless, I don’t believe I’ve dealing with “straw men” here.
Don, I appreciate your views and the spiritual gifts you exercise. God uses them in my life! 🙂
“I think I will now go sit on my porch and sip a wine cooler and watch the full moon.”
Don, you really should amend your moon worshiping, drunken ways…you no good stink’en heathen…haha, kidding : )
Brett,
I was not saying you’re dealing with straw-men. I really have no idea what you’re dealing with there. I was saying that I think the often used argument that many use not to go to a Christian church – those imaginary Christians that are always in the face of unbelievers condemning them for their sins do not actually exist in the evangelical churches that I have ever been in.
The Christians I know make a distinction between sin in unbelievers and baby Christians and flagellant deliberate sin in those that claim to be mature believers. Most true Christians know that we can no more make an unbeliever stop sinning than we can make a duck stop quacking. It is their nature.
I always appreciate your insights. May God continue to guide you in all that you do.
~David,
I repented. The moon was overrated tonight so now I am sipping my wine cooler in front of my computer.
Oh, thanks for the clarification Don; I think I misunderstood you.
I’m glad your experiences have been more positive; that suggests that I should look harder to see what you are seeing. 🙂
Oh Abba, we need You to be God over all this. We are weary of all this: weary of a sin-sick world and weary of our own sin-natures. We long for that Day of Your full redemption of us. We long to be useful, profitable, joyous servants of You our King, and our Love. Please give us Your desires, Your wisdom for what confuses us, Your courage to act as Your Spirit guides. In each of these things we need to grow bit-by-bit in trust in You. It is amazing that You would spend such time and love on us; it is amazing that Jesus took our place on the cross. Please make something good and lasting of us!
Hi Brett
I empathise with your ‘weaknesses’ even though mine are at the opposite side of the scale; intolerance etc. I would just rather ‘bang heads’.
To be nice to someone I regard as a fool (… the fool says in his heart there is no God type) is HARD work.
For me, being ‘nice’ to such crass ignorance, and as Don describes in this article is like reigning in a stubborn mule.
@Brian from Oz:
+1. i find myself in the same place quite often.
tie that into Brett’s completely different struggle and it illustrates how glorious God’s workmanship really is. that He can take such unique and different individuals, place us in His body, teach us how to work and function as His body, and *still* allow us to maintain our individuality all while sanctifying us and glorifying Himself is beyond amazing and just goes to show that God is Who He says He is.
About a week ago, I met a fellow and his girl.
I was attracted to a conversation with them because their van was decorated with Biblical scriptures, etc.
The topics became, the redemption of the Jews, Church, & the Muslims. They were emphatic that Allah is the same God as the one we long to be with through Jesus. They stated that Allah is just a different name of the same God.
I stated that nobody can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ, not through Mohammed. They told me I was wrong and narrow minded for not recognizing a differing dialect and culture.
They went on to tell me that more Muslims will go to heaven than professing Christians because of the Muslim’s devout and loyal worship to Allah.
Well, you could say I lost the debate because I didn’t fire back with their sharp voiced, almost intimidating tactics.
I ended up just walking away.
I think my encounter is relevant to the last 15 comments posted above.
One last offering:
For a brilliant expose of the evil we are called to contend with, follow the link
http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com
Article: The War on Bible Prophecy
By Jim Fletcher
~David,
Yeah but you really lost the debate because these people were blinded by postmodern all paths pluralism. If people believe that God is someone other than the God described in the Bible and displayed by His Son, the God they think they know is Satan.
The fact of that matter is that you cannot come to the Father except through the Son because the Son is the only express Image of God. So if people deny that Jesus is God they also deny the Father is God. Allah of Islam never saved anyone and it never will.
Brian,
very astute article it goes in more detail than mine but I did warn that it was coming.
https://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/christians-will-be-caught-unaware-because-they-gave-up-premillennialism.html
It is “Christians” like Warren that I have no tolerance for and anyone that points their errors out are called Pharisees because we actually believe the scripture.
I will not even attend a Bible study or church where the teacher exalts Rick Warren or the other postmodern heretics. It also is amazing what Willow Creek has become. There is a religious disease spreading across our land it passes itself off as Christianity but it is a Harlot.
Don,
I did bring up the fact of Jesus as God…and that the God of the Bible is the ONLY true God…they shook their heads and became quite indignant.
I lost the debate because I refuse to make matters of God a heated, intimidating, high aural volume debate.
Debates that are centered around who can talk the loudest and talk over another are senseless in my opinion.
I have noticed in my life that when people resort to these kind of tactics with uncontrolled emotion, all reason goes out the window…and it can escalate into needless violence.
Don,
I have a question for you and your readers.
Do you think that this blog is sufficient for fellowship with other Christians ?
I do, even though, it is not in person.
Yes ~David, your sad experience is very relevant here. I’m encouraged that you stated the truth and didn’t go to their level.
Similarly, by simply making Godly choices quietly in my life, I have been accused of judging those who observed me, even though I treated these accusers with kindness and respect. So if I was not speaking of nor acting in condemnation, then who was? I suspect it was His Spirit doing this convicting.
Abba, we lift-up these people whom ~David encountered: please show them the error of their thinking and believing, just as You did for me when someone tried to convince me of the “all roads lead to god” lie. You know the best way to do this. Could you bring ~David and his example and words back to their mind? Please give them saving faith and re-make their consciences if they are seared against You. And not just for them, but these people are all around us, and each of us here have encountered them. Please bring us into contact with the people who are ready to hear You and give us Your words, Your way for them. Please help them to see past our imperfections to see Jesus in us. And for those not yet ready, please soften their hearts. You are not willing that any of these would remain lost; use us to bring them to You, or at least closer to You. We praise You: Father, Jesus and Spirit!
Good article Brian, thanks for sharing the link! 🙂
~David,
Volume does not win debates. The reason you could not reach these people is because they are blinded. You cannot make the blind see. Salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit.
Do I think this blog is sufficient for fellowship with Christians? Not if you can find local fellowship with Christians. Besides, this is not that type of ministry. There is some interaction but this mainly is a teaching ministry. The Body needs more than just teaching.
Why would anyone even want to have all fellowship that way if they have a choice? Now if we were all in a virtual room it would be pretty close to being a sufficient fellowship for the home-bound but I am not about to set that up. I am sure others have already done that.
David ,
Don is so correct , salavation is a work of The Holy Spirit. Absolutely NOTHING can be added or subtracted to Jesus finished work on the cross for us and it is The Holy Spirit that is The Witness of whom Jesus is. I wish I knew why some people are so blind to The Truth. I have a brother-in-law who is a great guy, but you cannot talk to him about God as he just will not allow the conversation to proceed. He is totally blind and deaf to anything about God .
Hello, If I may add some thoughts from the world of Psychology,
I read an article recently that I believe goes along with what is being said about whether or not you can “convince” someone of Jesus, or salvation. The article had to do with Political beliefs, but I believe it also applies to spirituality as well. The article pointed out how the political beliefs of most people are so strongly held that that even in the face of overwhelming evidence that refutes their belief system, they refuse to give it up. In fact, showing evidence that contradicts their beliefs has the opposite effect… It drives them to hold even faster to their original belief system. The key element appears to be pride. Giving up the belief system would require humility and admission that the former belief was incorrect. I believe this is very true with regard to religious belief. Which is why only the Holy Spirit can quicken the the spirit, and open the door to insight that can lead to salvation. Off hand I have misplaced this article, but if anyone is interested, I would gladly search for it again. Working with clients who are involved in destructive behavior, I have seen first hand that despite my efforts at providing information and insight, it is only through a real spiritual awakening that real change can take place.
Rod in Oregon 🙂
Rod, your comment: “The article pointed out how the political beliefs of most people are so strongly held that that even in the face of overwhelming evidence that refutes their belief system, they refuse to give it up.”
I agree, some people have so internalized their beliefs that NO argument is sufficient. It will take the Holy Spirit to beat those doors down. We don’t “lose” arguments to them. They have drank the “Kool Aid” and their minds are frozen.
I remember reading in the Word an admonition not to engage in endless discussions. When it becomes obvious someone on this blog has been at the “Kool Aid” dispenser too long, I notice that Don kicks them off their soap box fairly quickly.
You don’t “lose” arguments to these types. Once you realize they are deeply entrenched in their belief system, gracefully exit. Save yourself the grief and breath.
Hi Bob,
I totally agree.. In fact, Proverbs is the best Psychological text I have studied.. 🙂 Avoiding useless debates and arguments with people entrenched beyond the point of reasonable discussion is to be avoided.
I rely on the Holy Spirit to do that which I am incapable of doing with my clients. The Holy Spirit prompts true change.
Thanks for the response Bob. 🙂
Rod in Oregon
This is the first time I am adding a comment, I am not very good at blogging. I look forward to reading your blogs. I watch this politico circus and the occupy wall street and come up with my own thoughts and look to your blog to see if I am seeing this play out the way I think it is, with your thoughts. I pray everyday and ask God to give me the discernment and understanding of these events we are experiencing today. I think all this protesting, fighting and anger is demonic and is just another way to distract you from what is really happening and also keeps your thoughts and your heart from God.
To Don and his great readers and commentators.
I truly do learn a lot from the blog and some of the wisdom that I attain from this blog, I find myself quoting to others.
I can say with utmost assurance that the threat of an EMP is absent from the mind of the average Joe/Jane walking the street.
Many people in the United States think that 9/11 was a fluke and nothing like it will EVER happen again…despite the warnings and failed terrorists attacks that we read about.
I guess it’s no surprise either that some people who do believe in “The Living God” think that Bible prophecy is somehow centered around the United States.
I do my best to bring up the points that dispute these false beliefs.
I can only refute false beliefs with wisdom that I learn…and I thank you all for helping each other.
Don, what’s your take on the emergency broadcast system that will be tested in a couple weeks? Alot of people are saying it’s a conspiracy cause programs are interrupted all the time for important messages without the need to take over all tv and radio. They say instead of 2pm why not test it at 4 am when it causes as little interuption as possible? It foes seem a bit odd to me but some crazies are saying Obama will take over somehow in 3 minutes it’s up lol
Jim,
I think Homeland security wants a nation-wide test. I think they probably would run into many difficulties coordinating all that is required to do this in the middle of the night.
I am concerned about the developing police state that I now see taking place at every level of government but when a real crises happens that will allow Homeland Security to invoke emergency powers they are not going to pre-announce to the public to inform all the conspiracy people and critics.
Don or Jim,
Is there a link in regard to that pending Emergency Broadcast System announcement ?
I didn’t see it on Fox or the EBS website.
@~David:
here’s a link (that has the official links embedded in the article): http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-you-know-feds-will-temporarily-cut-off-all-tv-and-radio-broadcasts-on-nov-9/
Don,
I think you outlined all the important points on where this is all going with the developing police state.
This Nov 9th date for the Emergency Broadcast System is intriguing if nothing else and yeah, were probably not going to hear a good reason for it by the powers that be.
Yes, this administration and one’s before it should’ve been concerned about protecting our power grid long ago, etc. That being said, I am no Obama fan as I have bluntly stated before but at least he is preparing a communication for when things do go south in the U.S.
I have also read where Mexican truckers are no longer going to be restricted in the U.S., they are going to have free reign and be able to deliver to all 48 states now, surely not good for our national security.
Hmm, lets see…
Were borrowing money from China because of our debt issues and giving some back to them in aid.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1238016126001/outrage-over-us-foreign-aid-to-china
The United States is set to give Egypt an F-16 fighter jet as part of the deal to release dual US-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel, Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported Thursday.
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=243340
Oh, and the atheists…
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/26/atheist-group-sues-over-prayers-at-high-school-football-games-that-include/
Ya’know, it’s getting to the point…why don’t we just cut to the chase and sell nukes to all Islamic countries, ban Jesus altogether in the U.S., persecute Jews, and declare U.S. Sharia Law.
The daily news is telling us that the U.S. has gone totally insane, no wonder why we’re not in Biblical prophecy.
And then there’s this from the Islamobama administration…
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149042#.Tqk6Q3I1SuI
It certainly appears by the news that Israel is on the verge of a, long time coming, air & ground assault (with tanks) in Gaza.
It’s seriously about time in my opinion as these rocket attacks from the terrorists in Palestine have gone on long enough.
Egypt stepped in at the eleventh hour to try to negotiate with the Palestinians to stop the rocket attacks, but as we know, that won’t last.
Also, Israel is openly talking about a strike on Iran and their nuclear nonsense.
So, I guess we can speculate that a big war seems very close to reality.
In addition, Netanyahu has advised Assad that when the first rocket from Syria hits Tel Aviv to kiss Damascus “bye-bye” (That is my loose interpretation of what was said).
Each day, it seems the sides inch closer to conflict. Meanwhile, Hillary, Bill, and Jimmy are posturing to be awarded the Nobel Prize.