America's Moral and Spiritual Stupor

A few days ago, as I was perusing through a news app, I came across an article, or a video I should say, supposedly proving the Bible supported the LGBT lifestyle. Oh my L  With curiosity piqued, I clicked on it. The first two examples of scripture given and explained by this young so-called “expert” made me sick at my stomach. I couldn’t listen to any more. I had to turn it off. It was nothing more than twisting scripture and taking it completely out of context.

That video, along with some other things recently in the news, compelled me to sit down and write on a much more serious level. So far, I have edited and revised this several times because my thoughts keep taking me in so many directions with so many options for consideration and discussion. I am trying to whittle it down to just a few pages to keep it from turning into a book! And my heart is not to condemn, but simply to speak truth. 

Twisting scripture, abusive use of scripture, and self-justification is nothing new. Over the centuries, many people have misused scripture in an effort to justify their own selfish desires and wrong actions, whether it is in the realm of  abuse (physical or psychological), adultery, fornication, lying, gluttony, idolatry, hatred, murder, coveting, gossiping,  etc.  The list could go on. It hasn’t stopped. It’s not unique to any one group. No one is immune to getting caught up in doing it, not even Christians.

Twisting scripture and taking it out of context is one of the ways that the enemy gets so many people to dismiss, deny, and defy important aspects of God, His Truth, His character, and His instructions to us for living. The enemy puts just enough truth into the scenario he uses to tempt us to make it sound reasonable and logical  – he is a “master” of the art of deceptive persuasion and argument for the purpose of bringing us down, for the purpose of taking us captive, bringing us into bondage to him, to destroy us.

Temptation has been around since Satan decided that he deserved and lusted to be worshiped; he wanted to be god. He chose to rebel against God, his Creator. A third of the angels abdicated their positions in Heaven and followed him. They were cast out. When God created Adam and Eve, Satan saw his chance to thwart what God had planned. He tempted Eve in the garden. She gave in. I’m sure Satan and his cohorts sneered with glee. They gloat over every person they can take captive. The enemy is wily and slick – using every tactic at his disposal. He is a counterfeit, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, posing as an angel of light. He is a power-monger full of deceit. Many are blinded by him.

The Word of God has already warned us that the days ahead would become increasingly evil.  That some would trade natural affections for unnatural affections, declaring right to be wrong and wrong to be right, and engage in all types of immoral and terrible behavior. To appease sensual selfishness, lustful immorality, and justify inordinate behavior, what is good is being called bad, and what is bad is being called good – even in courts of law! The hearts and consciences of many are being hardened as they continue to defiantly walk in rebellion. Things we never thought would happen in America are happening. Hatred and intolerance toward

Christians and Christianity is increasing. We’ve only seen the beginnings of this in our generation.

A couple of verses from scripture I hear commonly quoted, especially among the LGBT community and its supporters in an attempt to accuse Believers of being unChristian because we do not agree with their sexual lifestyle and we believe that marriage should be as God ordained it – between one man and one woman, are: “Love one another” and “Do not judge”. Their argument is that because they see no evidence where Jesus spoke out specifically against homosexuality and that he did not judge, neither, then, are we to judge. 

This argument contains a smidgen of truth tainted by the intentions of the accusers, who, by the way, are being intolerant hypocrites and haters themselves. But, you likely won’t be hearing them admit that unless they allow the Love of God to change their hearts and their lives.

Yes, we are instructed to love one another, but that does not require us to condone and approve of sin. And, as I understand it, judging in this context has more to do with condemning others when we are just as guilty and comes with this warning: the way we judge others is the way that we will be judged ourselves. Jesus did say he came not to judge, but he came to do the will of His Father, to be perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin, that whosoever believes in their heart that (Jesus) is Saviour and Lord and confesses with their mouth would be saved.

Jesus did not condemn the woman at the well nor did he condemn the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery. He did not condemn Zaccheus, the tax collector, either. He did, however, tell them something very important that is left out, ignored, by our accusers: Jesus said go and sin no more – turn away from the immoral and unrighteous activities in which they were engaged. His agape love and forgiveness filled a void in their hearts. The encounter with Jesus changed their hearts and their lives. They became new creations. It is the same for everyone else who believes, receives, and confesses Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Jesus did, however, speak candidly and pointedly to the self-righteous, the other type of accusers, who thought themselves perfect by the law according to their own perceptions of themselves based on their outward actions, but whose hearts were filled with guile. He minced no words when he called them white-washed sepulchers, told those who were without sin to cast the first stone, or when he drove the money-changers out of the temple. Nor did He mince words or sugar-coat them at any other time when answering anyone who attempted to trip Him up with questions about the law.

Godly Love, Truth, Grace, and Righteousness is not the squishy, easy-greasy-grace, feel-good, tickle-my-ears, let-me-do-what-I-want-to-do-without-correction-or-discipline type of stuff that some try to make it out to be. God’s love, Jesus’ commandment that we love one another is different. It speaks truth tempered with grace and love. It teaches the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. It will allow you to go in the direction of your own choosing, though it leads to no good, but it does not say it is right. Godly love cares enough to warn you of the dangers that lie ahead as a result of your choices.

God’s Love, Truth, and Judgment is Righteous. God’s Love, Truth, Grace, and Righteousness never change. They are absolute. They are trustworthy. He loves the sinner, but hates the sin. That’s the same love available to everyone and in which we, as believers, are called to walk. That is the same love that we are to extend to others, fellow believers as well as unbelievers. That is the Love and Truth that draws men and women to the Father through Jesus. It is also the Love and Truth that divides homes, households, and friendships, separating the sheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers.

Judgment is part of everyday life. Every day we make choices based on our own or someone else’s judgment or determination of value or benefit, what is good or bad, what is beneficial or harmful. When we need to purchase something, when we choose what venues we will frequent, what causes we will support, etcetera, we make judgments for or against a product, service, or its maker based on several factors. Judges and juries exercise judgment for or against people in court cases. Law enforcement officers, medical personnel, teachers, and parents make judgment calls every day. We judge things to be good or bad, based on knowledge or perspective. The list goes on.

Righteous judgment judges the fruit of a person’s life. Righteous judgment determines the difference between right and wrong, truth and lies. There are some things we need to consider when it comes to judging and judgment: What is the purpose of the judgment? What is the evidence? In what state is our heart and our attitude toward a person or people group when we make judgments? What is the heart condition, the attitude, the spirit of the person being judged? Are they Christians or not? Are they new or young believers who lack understanding? Are they more mature believers who have slipped into immorality or other sin? Are they repentant or hard-hearted? Answering these questions will help to reveal our motivation. Praying and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance will help us to know what to do.

Now, all of this may sound like gloom and doom, that it is hopeless. It is not hopeless.

In the midst of a sinful world, Hope remains. God’s Love remains. In the midst of the ever-growing presence of darkness, evil, and perversion, the Light of God’s Love will shine even brighter. His Grace is greater. His Mercies are still new every morning. Christians are to be Light and Salt to a dying world.  We are called to share the Gospel. To tell the Good News. To pray.

We, as believers, are in this world, but we are not to be of this world. We may not always get it perfect – we make mistakes along the way. We are all tempted. It is our faith in Jesus, our trust in Him, our reliance on Him, and the fact that His blood has cleansed us from unrighteousness and we are now the righteousness of God in Christ - that makes the difference and that sets us apart from the world. It is how we handle mistakes, temptations, and failures that should also set us apart from the world. It is recognizing and confessing our sin –turning from it, being accountable, accepting and extending forgiveness, and walking in the kind of love that Jesus exemplified. Love coupled with Truth, Mercy, and Grace. NOT the kind of ooey, gooey, make-me-feel-good, say-only-what-I-want-to-hear kind of love.

We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. That includes recognizing our own sins when we miss the mark, when we get off track, and taking steps to repair our relationship with the Lord and with others: heartfelt sorrow, true repentance, asking and receiving forgiveness from the Lord and from others, forgiving ourselves and forgiving others, submitting the area or areas of weakness to the Lord, and trusting and relying on His Grace through the power of the Holy Spirit to provide the strength that we do not have within ourselves to overcome those weaknesses.

Getting into the Word, learning scripture, rightly dividing it, applying it appropriately, and speaking it is vital to our growth and maturity, and withstanding the enemy’s attacks. God’s Word is one of our weapons against satan and his demons, not a weapon to be used hurtfully against one another. Prayer is another. 

God’s Word is the Truth that leads people out of deception, a healing balm to those who are hurting, Bread to the hungry, health and life to the soul and spirit.

The process of spiritual growth can be likened to the process of natural growth. Because not all believers are at the same level of maturity in their walk, some need milk, some can tolerate baby food, while others can tolerate the more meaty matters of the Word and plumb the deeper depths of what it means to pick up your cross and follow Jesus, to die to self, to count the cost, and to be willing to pay the cost when called upon to do so.

We will not always make the perfect choices, do all the right things, or say all the right words. We may not always have the right attitudes. We may find ourselves allowing the root of bitterness to take hold in our hearts. When we are convicted, we should respond with repentance. We should be working and walking out our faith and feeding on God’s Word regularly while the time allows. As believers, we should be growing and maturing in our relationship and our walk with our Heavenly Father. We should take heed to our conscience and the still small voice that warns us we are treading into the wrong territory, when our behavior has been less than like Jesus. We need to know the Truth and walk in it.

Here in America, there may well come a day when we no longer have our Bibles or access to our electronic devices to depend on. Many of our freedoms are already being eliminated in the name of protection and “for our own good” as if the powers that be think we are unable to make right choices for ourselves. Slowly, so many people have been lured into this “idea” or “mindset” that the government knows best, that government has our best interests at heart, and the government should provide for our needs. But, that is a LIE!

One day, at the rate we are going, we may find ourselves living in a country where being Christian is no longer acceptable in the public eye or anywhere in the marketplace. Actually, we are already seeing that happen. The last 50-60 years have brought so many changes, restricting our freedoms. Prophetic warnings, once scoffed at, are coming to pass. 

One day, we may only have what Word and Truth that we have already hidden in our hearts. Yes, the Holy Spirit can make up the difference and supply the need by speaking to us and bringing God’s Word to us personally, but our desire now should be and our responsibility is to do what we can while we can. I’m not only speaking to you, but preaching to myself as well.

If you have read any of my other posts, I usually provide the scripture references as I write. This time, as you have seen, I have chosen not to do so. I challenge you to get into God’s Word (The King James, The Amplified, and The NIV are three of my favorite translations) and see for yourself. Read quietly, read aloud. Listen carefully to what He has to say. Then, choose you this day, whom you will serve. The line is being drawn. On which side will you stand?