Synchronizing Reputation and Character

 “ ... But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...” — Galatians 1:11-16

Reputation and character, what is the difference? Reputation is what people know about your actions before men. We very often behave in ways with the goal of impressing others and winning their favor. Character on the other hand is born out of the heart. It may well be that our actions and the way we treat others, which establishes our reputation may be rooted in our character. But it might be that, like the Pharisees, we are ‘white washed tombs filled with dead men’s bones’.  Paul was writing to the Galatians telling them that what they knew about him – his reputation – had indeed reflected his character, but God had called him through His grace and Paul was born again. Once Paul had a heart of stone and now he had a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

“ …. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

There are a lot of reasons for there to be a disconnect between who people think we are and who we are when they are not around. I reflect on my own life and figure it can’t be all that different from the lives of other people. I call it my silent struggle, It is a struggle to overcome the negative influences in my life that have shaped attitudes and behaviors that must be submitted to God to be overcome. Just because I am born again does not mean that there are not struggles that I face. Temptations – old habits to overcome.  2 Corinthians 5:17 is about the synchronization of my character with my reputation.  It requires me to lay my life down daily before God. There is a term, “fire and forget” which refers to laser guided munitions.  I can fire a missile at a target from a helicopter, for example, and then not track it to impact – someone else does that.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could do that with our lives. Born and again and sin free. 

Let’s consider “sin free” for a moment.  We will never be sin free on this planet but we are free from the bondage and penalty of sin for eternity at the point of our conversions.  That does not mean that we are free to sin. That it doesn’t matter. The fact that we all sin – I am referring to Christians – is not a secret – read the Bible!  The question is what we do with that sin. Our character and our reputation among men will never be perfectly synchronized during this life – but that doe not mean that we cannot be light and salt – a reflection of Jesus to a lost world – in our work place – with our families and friends. If you want to know what a man is really like – ask if wife and children – who, if they are honest and are not trying to protect his reputation will tell you about his character.  I have quoted this before but it bears repeating.

“I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.” —John Newton, author of the words to the hymn “Amazing Grace”

And to that I say “Amen!” How about you?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Truth Is Truth Or Is It?

“ ... Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’...” — John 18:37-38

Pilate asked a great question, “What is Truth?”.  Jesus came to bear witness to the Truth. And what might that be? The fact that there is a Creator God who reigns supreme. That out of everything that He created, He created mankind in His image and likeness – separate and apart from every other living thing. That same God sent His Son to reconcile mankind to Himself through the Cross of Christ through faith in His resurrection. That Jesus had come as the Way, the Truth, and the Life giving sinful man access to the Father through the Son. That was the Truth that Jesus was referring to but that was truth that Pilate could not understand. It is a spiritual truth revealed by the Father and only understood by those who are born again.

“ …. since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, ... who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” – Romans 1:20-25

You don’t have to look far to see the Truth of God being exchanged for the “truth of man” which is to say, the Truth exchanged for a lie. God’s truth cannot be changed by man – only ignored. The questioning of God’s Truth began in the Garden with the simple question, “Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) Adam and Eve wanted to go their own way – use their own wisdom to live their lives in a manner that they saw as right and good.  And so it is today.  God’s Truth is immutable – does not change with the generations and their whims. 

The redefinition of Truth in our times can and should put Christians at odds with the culture. If you don’t embrace the lies that are declared to be truth, then you may very well be labeled intolerant – of what? Of the lies. It is not possible, in the minds of the lost, that someone could love people and, at the same time, reject their life choices as acceptable. To refuse to promote what is not true according to the Word of God is to be made an outcast and declared a bad person. 

“....knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” – Romans 1:32

The verses I quoted were written about 2,000 years ago, but could have been written yesterday. The Truth does not change – nor does the heart of man. Is there some truth that you have compromised for the sake of your culture or your own convenience? Another name for that is sin!

“All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” – 1 Peter 1:24-25

Truth does not change - but what you believe to be true, accept to be true, is what will shape your life and actions. Your emotions - your feelings - your fears will deceive you. It is in our old nature to wander from the Truth and seek another truth that supports our sinful choices. The Lost really have no choice in the matter. Those of us who are born, we do. We know the difference - but very often struggle with living it out.  It is not merely making a choice like deciding what you will have for dinner - it requires submission to the Spirit of God and willful obedience to God's Truth - and that's the truth!

"..... Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! ... Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. " – Psalm 119:1-11

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

What to Do When Surrounded By Problems

“ ... Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left...” — Exodus 14:11-22

Sometimes there are problems in this life that pursue us. For whatever reasons – life’s circumstances have evolved into troubles that cause stress, heartache, broken relationships, any number of things that we wish were not happening – that we are desperate to escape. That is the way it was for the nation of Israel. They were in Egypt because they had escaped famine – but as foreigners they had become disenfranchised and eventually treated as slaves. Moses led them out of that misery only for the people to find themselves trapped by the sea and pursued by the Egyptian army. In the face of certain doom, they saw returning to a life of slavery as the lesser of two evils. They were in an impossible situation – the only option – give up.  But God was not intimidated by the Egyptian Army and He was not stopped because of the Red Sea. It was because of the faith and obedience of Moses that the power and presence of God changed the ending to the story. God made a way when Israel thought there was no way. 

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. …. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.” – Joshua 13:30-33, 14:1-10

So now the problem was not behind them, but it was something that they had to do that seemed impossible to them. Cross the River and face great danger. In the face of certain doom, they saw returning to a life of slavery as the lesser of two evils. After all they had seen God do, when they faced a problem, they looked at themselves and what they could do and not God. Because they lacked faith, they wandered in the desert for 40 years until all of the disobedient generation had died in the desert – the promise of God was missed because of their lack of faith. 

In the one case, it was the trouble that was upon them – in this case, it was the trouble that was looming before them. In both cases, it was trouble that they could not overcome on their own. And in both cases, God was standing at the ready to intervene.

Life has a way of testing our resolve and our faith doesn’t it. We may be in the midst of trouble or we may see trouble looming on the horizon. We think it is going to be our undoing. We stand to lose everything worldly thing we trusted in .. everything we had hoped would be. Our hearts pound – we lose sleep – we shed tears – we wish we could be in a safer place – even if it is not a better place – may even ready to make a deal with the Devil to not have to bear the burden that is upon us or is right around the corner. 

We are not so different than the people we read about in the Bible. In fact – that is the point – we are not different.  And neither is God.  I don’t know what trouble you are in or that you might by facing. But it is never so big that God is not bigger. Some troubles we bring on ourselves. Some are out of our control and not of our doing. It doesn’t matter the source – what does matter is the solution.

“ …. count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  – James 1:2-8

It is possible that we can think about God but not trust God. That we can want one solution for a problem but God presents us with another – that we do not like – and we lack the faith to trust Him. The nation of Israel was double minded – trusting in what they saw more than in Whom they said they believed.  I know, first hand, that trusting God can be a struggle when you feel the breath of the lion on your neck. You might ask in the moment – “God are you really there? Do You really care?” The answer is “Yes!”

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

The Problem With Judging Others

“ …. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You [Jesus] say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’...” — John 8:3-11

The woman was guilty of the sin – that was not the issue for us to see.  As sinners saved by grace, we do not have the position of judge for others’ sins. God has that position.  We rejoice in knowing that we are forgiven by faith – but so very often are not willing to extend that same grace to others. Those men were confident in their judgement of her sin and their intent on carrying out punishment, which was stoning.  Until they met up with Jesus that is.  Jesus brought conviction to their own hearts – I think the same awareness that comes upon us at the point of our conversion. An awareness that we are sinners and guilty – deserving death – eternal separation from God – the Law Giver.

I encourage you to re-read Galatians chapter 5 to review the fruit of the flesh – what our flesh is capable of – and the fruit of the Spirit – what God is capable of through us – if we will only yield to the Spirit.  We all struggle with sin – I am talking about Christians – for the lost it is not a struggle, it is part of their nature – they really have no alternative. With respect to sin, as Christians we mostly relate to each other with the silent agreement – “You don’t tell me (about your sin) and I won’t tell you (about mine). Like those Scribes and Pharisees – having a form of godliness but denying the power of God in their lives. It is the speck and the beam.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:1-5

We can recognize sin and call it sin – and we certainly should have no part of the sin – but then we should call the sinner to repentance – like Jesus did. Not stand in judgement, lest Jesus ask us the same question – “Who among you can cast the first stone?”

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

 

The Challenge Of Knowing What Is Right And What Is Wrong

“ …. There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.......” — Proverbs 16:25

Last night, as I was settling my mind for a night’s rest, the dispelled thoughts of the day gave way to what I would call, spiritual impressions. Words and phrases that were the seeds for my next devotion. (it happens quite often) And so, I sat down at my computer with my trusty cup of coffee to write about the error of judging others this morning, but as my fingers moved across the keys – something else came out. Related to judging, but something more basic …. the reason why the opportunity for judgement raises its head. So perhaps tomorrow.

I am certain that you are familiar with that scripture reference in Proverbs. The idea of judgement in a court of law is that the accused is declared guilty or not guilty by a judge and if guilty there is a penalty for whatever the accused has done. A fine, imprisonment, or some other negative action. What is the person judged against? Written laws of the land. A standard of behavior by which people are measured. They either comply with the standard (not guilty) or violate the standard (guilty). The purpose of laws is to maintain social order. It is like driving on a freeway.  In the United States, cars drive to their right.  The steering wheels are on the left side of the vehicles. Painted lines divide the roadway for vehicles traveling in the same direction and the opposite direction. In order to avoid or, at least, minimize accidents, the drivers must comply with the “rules of the road”. It works well for the most part. But, almost every week, I read about someone driving, in Houston, on the wrong side of the freeway and crashing head-on into a vehicle driving on the right side of the road – obeying the rules. I have been driving for 55 years and regularly find myself driving at 70 miles per hour next to someone who may have only been driving for a week – amazing that it works as well as it does.

So .. what does that have to do with judging. There are generally two sets of laws – man’s laws and God’s laws. Both intended to bring order. Both having consequences when they are violated. It is possible for there to be conflict between the two.  Conflict between what man declares to be good and right and what God declares to be good and right.  As Christians, we are bound to acknowledge God’s laws first and man’s second. For those who are not born again – they defer to man’s laws.  If the laws don’t agree with social consensus on what is good then the laws can be, and often are, changed to match the social consensus.  The use of marijuana is an example. In the past, people have gone to jail for using or distributing the drug. Millions if not billions of dollars have been spent to prevent the distribution of marijuana in this country. But the laws have changed in many states – legalizing the use. So what changed – marijuana didn’t – social consensus did.  What is wrong today can be right tomorrow.  Not so with God’s laws which were laid down at the foundation of creation.  God’s laws govern the physical – like gravity – and the social – how people are to relate to each other. God’s law – His Word is immutable – it does not changed at the whim of man. In fact we count on the physical laws, like gravity, to not change. The challenge for  Christians is what to do when there is a conflict between the two – man’s laws and God’s laws.

Using the roadway as an example – there are posted speed limits on all the major highways – for our purposes, let’s say those limits are set by God. But, social consensus says that a speed limit is not really a limit – in fact it is acceptable to drive 5 or 10 miles over the speed limit and you will not be guilty of breaking the law. So you can violate the law a little bit with no consequence. And if traffic is flowing at say 20 miles per hour over the speed limit – you can become a hazard if you don’t do the same – social consensus.  And just when you set your cruise control to the “new” speed limit – several vehicles zoom around you. When enough people agree that something is right – even when the written laws says it is not – the law becomes impotent – not fulfilling its purpose.  Choosing our own way and disregarding God is not new – it started in the Garden and continues to this day – and will continue until the Lord returns.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things….who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them  ” – Romans 1:18-23,32

That is the world we live in. That is the tension that exists and what we must try to reconcile – not only in our hearts, but in our actions.  Dr. Francis Schaeffer wrote several books, but two that stand out in my mind are “How Should We Then Live” and “A Christian Manifesto”.  He addresses this tension in those books, not light reading, but what he wrote about over 30 years ago rings true today. 

“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9 , written between 450-200 B.C.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Thirsting After God

“ …. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.....” — Psalm 42:1-2

A person can survive, on average (which is to say there are exceptions), for about three days with no water – or at least something containing water. Water, as everyone knows, is vital to life. Have you ever been really thirsty? Perhaps after working outside in the heat? Then you know that nothing satisfies thirst like water. It is the way that God created us. You might say we were made from mud – 65 percent water and 35 percent dust or dirt. Our bodies must have water to survive – without it we will die.  I am certain that you have seen a movie where someone is in the desert – struggling to put one foot in front of the other – imagining that they see water, but it is only a mirage.  They may have great wealth, but the only thing on their mind at that moment is water – what they would give for a drink of water. Did you know that you can die of thirst if you are adrift on the ocean? “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” If you drink salt water you will die – your only hope is to catch rain water.  So just because it is a liquid does not mean that it is good for your health. Ok, so where am I going with this?

We should have the same passion – urgency – for God that we have for satisfying our thirst with water.  That is what the psalmist was saying.  As reborn children of God, our greatest passion should be for Him. “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.” That passion should be like the man in the desert – wanting water above all else.  That does not mean we don’t have a life and relationships (that is the second greatest commandment) – but that our lives should be in proper perspective – emanating from our passion for God. Do you feel that way about your faith? Are you passionate about it or is it something that you have, but not necessarily the priority of your life.  Like you are standing in line to get into an event and you are anxious. But once you pass through the gate, once you are in, you are not quite so anxious or passionate.

“Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’ The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?’ Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’” – John 4:9-14

Once anyone has taken a drink of the water that Jesus offers, their thirst that could not be quenched with anything that the world had to offer will be eternally satisfied. But that should awaken a passion for God.  They should want more. There are no substitutes. Anything the world offers is like drinking salt water. Yes, it is wet but it only leads to death. In the case of a Christian, it leads to a lost passion for God. Love for the things of this world will always dim your light. Your life will become indistinguishable from those who are headed for hell. Do you have a thirst for God? 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” – Matthew 5:6

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

If Believing And Obeying The Bible Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right

“ …. There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death....” — Proverbs 14:12

I received a call the other day from a client – we are helping them with their house – but he did not want to talk about his house. Nowadays, our daughter works directly with the clients – I am the person she escalates problems to. So I was surprised when he called me to discover he did not call about his house. He asked, “What do you think about the reference to the destruction of Babylon in Jeremiah 50 and 51? Do you think that is a reference to the United States?” He wanted to know if the United States is under the judgement of God.  At the time, I was standing in the Houston Responds warehouse looking at the supplies we are using to help rebuild. I could feel the gears in my minding slipping – grinding, the sound a transmission makes when you don’t fully disengage the clutch to shift to another gear and the gears do not mesh smoothly.  It took me a moment.  What was he asking? And why was he asking me? 

I reminded him that there is no explicit reference to the United States in the Bible – most countries for that matter.  I also told him that the Bible applies to every generation – so I would imagine that his questions were asked in every generation. God’s revelation through the Bible is about Him, primarily, and His creation, to include the consequences of the Fall of Man.  It is a book about right choices, wrong choices, their consequences, and God’s intervention in the affairs of men.

I asked him if he was familiar with the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire – or the expansion and ebb of the Greek civilization – or Egypt – or Great Britain – or the Soviet Union – or … well it is a long list.  He was. There is a pattern with the rise and fall – great influence – moral decadence and then the “empire fades” into history as another rises. I told him that morally, the United Sates is a very different country than the one I was born in.  But depending upon your understanding and measure of right and wrong – that may or may not be a problem in your eyes. “There is a way that seems right …..” So what was his concern? Moral depravity or loss of prosperity? The United States has been known for some generations as the “Land of Opportunity” – (albeit not evenly distributed among the people), but still the envy of poorer countries. Even the poorest in this country seem rich by comparison to other countries.  In Haiti for example, the average wage is $2.00 (two dollars) per day.  They call the Unites States, “Money Land”.  So with the Fall comes loss of prosperity. We can’t imagine that in our generation – how could it be? In the Bible we see that there was a generation that knew God, a generation that knew about God and a generation that did not know God.  A Haitian saying is “Ti pa Ti pa” – step-by-step.  The frog in the pot. The water is coming to a boil and the people think they are at a spa.

I told him that I did not know if the reference to Babylon in Jeremiah was a prophetic reference, specifically, to the United States, no one but God does, but I could say that there are parallels to Babylon and other “empires” that seemed to have limitless power and influence.  With respect to the moral decline in this country – that is the Christian view based upon God’s revelation in the Bible and affirmation in the heart by the Holy Spirit. Those whose hearts are far from God would disagree, saying that we need to be inclusive – tolerant – and to disagree makes you a hater. You see the “best defense is a good offense” so attack those who disagree with you and declare them bad. Which is to say that you are right and good – even if you are not.

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” – Psalm 14:1-3

I suggested that the man read Romans chapter 1:18-32 to get perspective on what is happening in this country. That it seems we are going the way of so many countries before us. Following the patterns of those who have abandoned or rejected God as Sovereign and have collectively gone our own may. And so long as it does not affect our pocket books – we are, collectively, ok with it. President Lyndon Johnson spoke of the silent majority. The question is, why is it silent, in a country that is rooted in democracy – an idea birthed from the Greek Empire. I think that answer is that we trust money more that God – we love money more than God – we are willing to tolerate much for the sake of protecting what we love – I am speaking of the Body of Christ as well.

I don’t know if that is what he wanted to hear – but he asked me for my thoughts. I love this country – or that tenants upon which it was founded.  Not all have been executed well.  I don’t like what I see happening, morally, in the United States, and elsewhere for that matter, but I still a part of this country. But my devotion is to my God and my Redeemer. My responsibility is to live rightly by faith and a place that may call me a hater and bad because of what I believe to be right and wrong. What people say and thing about me does not change my devotion or my thinking. I don’t judge people, that is God’s place, but I will call sin – sin when I see it. I will not pretend it is ok to get along with others – the eternal consequences for them is too great as is my responsibility to be salt and light in a dark world.  What about you?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone