Upholding Righteousness Without Legalism

I love the way our kids’ school dances have calling cards (so everyone participates and no one gets to choose his/her dance partner) and dance callers for dances ranging from the waltz to the Virginia Reel and choreographed line dancing which keeps movements relatively controlled since there is no freestyle dancing. however, these dances can turn into high impact aerobic workouts with girls spinning, lunging, and jumping in a way that could expose far too much if the girls are not dressed appropriately.

A large number of pictures from our school’s recent dance were shared publicly on social media, so to further support the modesty principle, I asked my daughter if she was comfortable with her future coaches, college administrators, and even employers seeing those photos. 

She replied, "But Mom, I had one of the most modest dresses here." (And she did with spandex running shorts underneath as well.)  

What if she had worn a less modest dress like some of the other students?  Would she still be comfortable with those photos being published publicly to social media?

She knows she should be setting her standard based on God’s word alone, and I am pleased with most of her choices, but don’t most people of all ages consider what others are wearing or doing when evaluating their own choices to some extent? While most of us realize our culture’s standard is already in the toilet, I’ve noticed Christian schools and churches lowering their standards as well. If this continues, soon Christian organizations and churches will look no different from the world at all.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Mathematically speaking, if the population set has sunk to rock bottom, all zeros, then the average, maximum, and minimum of zero are all still zero. At that point it would not matter if someone was the most modest at school, church, or workplace. She would still be outside of God's standard. And this of course is not just about modesty. It's about morality, character, integrity, virtue.

I realize that schools and churches want to avoid legalism, just as Jesus spent more time rebuking the Pharisees than anyone else while loving and ministering to the vilest of sinners. But we do not rid our churches and communities of legalism by lowering standards, removing rules, or failing to enforce the laws. We root out legalism the way Christ did, by training the heart and by loving unconditionally. Christ did not abolish the law. He fulfilled the law and then made a way to transform our hearts. The law exposes our hearts and our need for Christ. Upholding Biblical standards in Christian communities is protective and good.  In a school or church, these rules or guidelines help expose the heart, revealing our need for Christ and areas that need to be surrendered to Him. They open up opportunities for heart training. Then as Christ does His sanctifying work in our hearts, we find great freedom as sin strongholds no longer controls us, all thanks to Christ's work on our behalf. 

Are we as parents, teachers, and/or role-models, focused only on the rules in a legalistic way, are we compromising our standards at the other extreme such that anything goes, or are we training the hearts of upcoming generations with love and biblical truth? 

If we are lowering our standards to please men, we are not honoring God.

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Reasons for the Rising Popularity of Socialism

Why has socialism and government dependence (for everything) gained so much popularity despite socialism's perfect record throughout history of destroying every civilization that tried it. Why are these Marxists/socialist ideas becoming so popular in America, especially among young people, when our nation was founded to be the antithesis of socialism and political tyranny? A few reasons that came to mind follow.

Many friends, parents, and educators have noted that government mandated curriculum pushes socialist indoctrination in the schools, especially at the university level, but the roots of rising socialism go so much deeper than the education system.

When considering the Judeo-Christian values that guided our founding fathers when drafting the Constitution, the depravity of the human heart emerges as a predominant theme underlying the carefully designed balance of powers Our founding fathers, deists and Christians alike, knew the sin nature would drive people to abuse their power and that unchecked power will always corrupt the motives of the heart. So they developed a system of checks and balances to ensure the government was big enough to protect the nation from her enemies without becoming powerful and corrupt enough to self-destruct.

The secularization of society and the false idea that morality is relative have certainly contributed to this failure to recognize mankind as fallen and prone to corruption. If each person's morality is individually chosen instead of determined by a universal law written into the hearts of all mankind by a creator God, then no action by one person can be judged as right or wrong by another person, not even rape or murder.

I spoke with an agnostic who was an ardent Bernie supporter during the last presidential election. He could not stand Hillary because of her corruption. Her crimes seemed to grow in number and degree as she gained power. She was among the most powerful women in the world as evidenced by her lucrative pay-for-play deals through the Clinton Foundation and her career long history of living above the law, never facing just consequences for her crimes which were evident to all and would put anyone else in jail. This young man insisted that Bernie was different, and that he could manage the power benevolently, without caving to corruption. Shortly after our conversation, however, Bernie took the bribe from Hillary's campaign and bowed out of the race without contesting the obvious illegal campaign fixing to prevent him from ever having a chance. It only took him enough hush money to buy a beach front home to abandon his cause. Bernie has been bought off for most of his political life. He even got kicked off a commune for failing to contribute, sucking them dry, just like socialist tyrants do to every nation they rule. But I digress...

Helicopter parenting also seems to be a contributing factor. Kids are raised believing they have no sin nature.Their parents swoop in and remove any consequences before their children have a chance to acknowledge their wrongdoing. Parents threaten teachers and school administrators who dare write their kids up for behavioral issues or give them bad grades. This new generation isn't being taught a decent work ethic because everything is given to them from participation trophies in sports to parents fraudulently buying them admission into prestigious universities. Undeserved passing grades are given out like candy in universities which are graduating people like Ocasio-Cortez with economic degrees when these students have no comprehension of the most basic math concepts and cannot discern between fantasy and reality.

Kids aren't taught how to wrestle through their struggles or to own their shortcomings and wrongdoings in a way that is productive. Mass shootings are blamed on guns, mental health issues, or the drugs used to treat depression, but the shooter isn't deemed a sinner, capable of great evil. Ilhan Omar blamed her constituents' decision to join ISIS on a society that failed to include them or show them compassion instead of acknowledging their choices as wrong.

Our culture sees no sinners from a Biblical perspective who can only be saved by Jesus. Progressives instead make up other sins like political incorrectness or global warming to gain power over voters. Socialists want people to view the government as their god, savior, and provider who will take away their guilt (falsely imposed by the government itself). But only a perfect, holy God can possess all power and remain perfectly loving, just, and righteous. The Tower of Babel account illustrates what happens when government power tries to replace God in the heart of man.

If we constantly make excuses for others' wrong choices, refusing to acknowledge the sin nature or the ability of power to corrupt, and if we raise secularized, entitled children who are not motivated to work for anything, then it's our fault when they vote for socialist candidates who will inevitably take and squander our freedom, our money, our prosperity, our livelihood, and all that is good about America while giving us nothing in return.

Usurping of Inalienable Rights

A brief history refresher for our elected representatives and career politicians follows:

The first sentence of paragraph two of the Declaration of Independence describes the quintessential heart of America.

"America was established on the fundamental belief in a Creator God, the sanctity and equality of all human life, and the God given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

That one quote describes what most Americans want and what every U.S. citizen should demand that their leaders consistently strive to uphold.

 The next sentence in the Declaration notes that the role of government is to secure those rights and notes that government power comes from the "consent of the governed."

 Sadly, many of our government offices are held by those who not only refuse to uphold those inalienable rights, but who have abandoned those values completely, replacing that famous quote from the Declaration of Independence with a twisted version that would read something like this:

"Truth is relative; it’s whatever benefits my own interest. I am my own god. I am superior to my deplorable constituents, who are too weak-minded to think for themselves, so I shall direct every detail of their lives for them. I am superior to my deplorable constituents who are too weak-minded to think for themselves, so I shall direct every detail of their lives for them. I will pretend to care about special interest groups and promise them special privileges as long as they serve my power grabbing purposes. Only those born into wealthy, healthy, well- educated/indoctrinated families or into propaganda filled environments that will certainly convince them to serve my purposes (particularly at the ballot box) shall be allowed to be born at all, and once they are no longer able to contribute significantly to the public ("my") coffers, we shall cut entitlement expenses via death panels and euthanasia. I will tax them unjustly and give their money to Planned Parenthood which shall abort the rest of the unborn children who stand in the way of my goals so as to create my own version of a Utopian society over which I shall reign as lord and master. Only the political elite possess inalienable rights, among these are freedom from prosecution when guilty, exemption from all the harmful laws we pass, the right to amass our own fortune by raping the nation’s greatest assets, and the pursuit of ever-increasing dictatorial power." 

This new "version" embodies the socialist/Marxist thinking so heavily promoted by the new Democratic party. (Although there are plenty of establishment Republicans who are contributing to this massive disconnect between voters and politicians as well, which has greatly contributed to the Trump phenomenon.)

Perhaps our elected leaders should read the rest of the Declaration of Independence as a reminder of what will inevitably take place if the government continues to undermine and usurp our God given inalienable rights.

The Vanity and Irony of Progressive "Feminism"

I find it ironic that progressives claim to be pro-woman, yet they continue to so cruelly abuse some of the strongest, most respectable and influential women in our nation, simply because they work for Donald Trump. Few could withstand the daily harassment and vindictive commentary aimed at Sarah Sanders, who sat quietly throughout the White House Correspondents' dinner whiles the news outlets' paid comedian viciously belittled her for her outward appearance (something a misogynist would do) while failing to notice her impeccable character through it all. Sanders could have brilliantly defended herself, launching sly verbal punches that put them all in their place. Instead, she chose the high road and committed to pray for them.

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

When vindictive mobs attacked Sanders at a restaurant while she was trying to enjoy a dinner with her in-laws (who are registered Democrats), she left without retaliation.  She hoped by missing out, her family could eat in peace, but the mob still followed them while volleying continued insults.

A progressive mob at a Mexican restaurant acted like wild animals in an effort to shame Kirstjen Nielsen over misinformation spread by the corrupt media, ruining a rare evening out with her husband. Yet, Nielsen exercised self-control, refusing to return evil for evil.

Nikki Haley has boldly confronted the entire United Nations when repeatedly when delegates have ganged up against her. She refused to back down, no matter how many threats they made and without fear of the powerful ties to terrorists they may have. Other nations who may not have had the courage to stand alone as she did, but they have followed America's lead. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capitol is just one example.  Unlike Clinton and Kerry, she isn’t trading our national security for cash, caving to their pressure, or inventing fake theories to line her own pockets. She is an unstoppable force, driven by American patriotism and love of virtue.

Kellyanne Conway has also exhibited this same level of integrity and tough-mindedness displayed by these other women in Trump’s administration. Such strength, courage, and integrity should make every woman proud, yet progressive feminists hate these conservative women with a vengeance, for progressive feminists are not pro-woman at all. They are loyal only to their political cult, throwing any woman under the bus who does not support their socialistic, oppressive, misguided agenda.

Progressives call Trump a misogynist and a sexist. These terms describe someone who despises, dislikes, disrespects and discriminates against someone based on gender. Even with all of Trump’s past immoral conduct toward women, at least during his tenure as POTUS, he has shown far more respect for women than the progressive feminists who continuously attack him and the courageous women he has chosen.  

He has appointed more women into higher government positions than any POTUS before him. He hasn’t appointed them simply because they are women, so he can check a box to curry favor with voters, as did his predecessor. He appointed them because they are extremely qualified for their respective roles. Kellyanne Conway turned his campaign around delivering a surprising victory. She was the first woman to achieve that milestone. Sarah Sanders may very well be the most gifted press secretary in U.S. history, handling the most ferocious attacks on the president with sound reasoning, calm composure, and skillful rhetoric. Kirstjen Nielsen is holding up well under unprecedented pressure which includes threats of bodily harm and extreme verbal abuse. Nikki Haley's work with the UN is so unprecedented many predict she will become America's first female president.

It is uncharacteristic of a misogynists or a sexist to appoint such strong and accomplished women. If a misogynist were to appoint any woman at all, he would choose a weak woman who would make him look strong in comparison. He would choose women he could easily control. That’s what insecure, weak bullies do, after all, from the kindergarten playground to the White House.  Bullies surround themselves with weak, incompetent people and attack those whom they fear may overshadow them.

Progressives are especially irritated by these conservative women because they aren’t suffering or caving to their harsh criticisms or public abuse. Each arrow progressives shoot at these women has a boomerang effect. Just as fire refines gold and hardens clay, the progressive attacks only make these women stronger. None of this persecution can shake these women, nor can they break any devoted Christian for a crucial reason that secular progressives cannot understand.

Strong Christian women aren’t defined by the opinions or criticisms of others. They never give anyone else that power over them. Their identity and worth are secure in Christ, who treasures them infinitely, having paid the ultimate price for them. And unlike the fickle opinions of others, His love and His truth never ever change. Their lives have eternal significance and great purpose, and they are faithful to their calling. True believers need not fear nor be  dismayed because the Lord is their God. They know He will strengthen and help them by His righteous hand. (Isaiah 41:10). They know He will never leave or forsake them. (Deuteronomy 31:6) They confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)  Their power comes from an infinite source, so no one can vanquish it or crush their spirits.

They build their lives on the rock, not on shifting sand. Thus, when the storms come, they continue standing tall and secure like a lighthouse giving truth and light to warn and to save the lost. (Matthew 7:24-25)

Godly women are responsible and wise stewards of all God has entrusted into their care. They do not rely on the government for all their needs.  Anyone may need some assistance from time to time, but conservatives do not take advantage of the system. Christian conservatives trust in God who provides and equips His people with everything good that they may need do His will, working in them that which is pleasing in His sight through Christ for His glory. (Hebrews 13:21) Faithful conservative Christian women do not force other people to fund their birth control or make taxpayers pay their preborn baby assassins (aka Planned Parenthood). They take responsibility for themselves and exercise self-control. They are wise enough to avoid an unplanned pregnancy whenever possible. They refuse to let others convince them that they are to too weak to either place a child for adoption or to nurture, protect, provide, and parent anther sacred human life. 

Women of God are free from others' control. They don't let oppressors make decisions for them. They seek truth and wisdom from God so they can make right choices on their own, without allowing the whims of others to enslave them.

Godly women do not tear down others to make themselves look better. Women aren’t lifted up when men are torn town. Women aren’t given value by pretending they are the same as men. Their value is intrinsic and comes from God, but their greatness is most evident when their unique differences are celebrated and both men and women exercise their different qualities in complementary, synergistic ways to build up the community as a whole.

Women don’t earn respect when quotas and EEO laws give them untouchable status in jobs they are unqualified or unwilling to perform well but receive simply because of their gender. Women grow in  self-respect as they achieve without handouts or free passes. Women who respect themselves and clothe themselves with dignity are more likely to gain the respect of others and be treated likewise.

If we want to elevate and esteem women in our culture, let us lift up as role models strong, confident, courageous, women of faith who demonstrate true integrity, service, humility, self-discipline, and respect toward others and themselves. Let's provide them with equal opportunity instead of guaranteeing unmerited equal outcomes to the detriment or our entire society.

Those who refuse to lift others up or who ruthlessly tear down those who intimidate them actually expose the true greatness in those they attack while revealing their own immature, insecure, selfish hearts. Let us leave the childish bullying days behind us and begin strengthening one another, nurturing faithfulness, encouraging personal responsibility, respecting human dignity, and showing mutual respect.

But to those who insist on continuing the bullying, name calling, and childish ways, know that it's all in vain. Your lies and your insults will never to stick to those who are His.  

After 45 years and 60 million murders, will Roe v. Wade finally be overturned?

There was nothing constitutional, ethical, or American about the Roe v. Wade decision. It is at least as bad as the Dred Scott Case (which was also passed and defended by Democrats) in terms of it's outright bigotry. Both decisions deemed the convenience and preferences of one person as superior to the freedom of another, except Roe v. Wade takes hatred of another human being to the level of barbaric murder, inflicting excruciating pain on the most fragile human life, often when that life can feel pain at the most heightened level in all his or her existence. Abortion is no less barbaric than ISIS beheadings, yet misguided judges rendered it legal by making up an implied right to privacy that isn't stated explicitly in the Constitution and then declaring it more important than a child's right to life, to a voice, or to freedom or opportunity. Why have we allowed 60 million children to be tortured and killed simply because their parents chose to be irresponsible or because an evil person chose to defile and abuse another?

Roe v. Wade set a precedent which began the tsunami of judges legislating from the bench so as to tear down the Constitution instead of upholding it as they were sworn in to do. As with Roe v. Wade, they often don't even use legitimate cases to change law through judicial decisions. Just as Norma McCorvey was manipulated, lied to, and treated as a mere pawn to get abortion legalized without giving her any of the help she was promised, proponents of the new social order are ever on the prowl for an opportunity to do the same so as to dismantle American laws and values.

Roe v. Wade also set in motion America's moral erosion straight into the pit. Once the courts had deemed life no longer sacred or worth protecting, the prevailing worldview changed. Human life became disposable and disrespected. The marriage sacrament was deemed no longer necessary and a father's presence in the home devalued and disregarded.

New scientific technology has only provided further evidence dispelling the myth that the baby is just a clump of tissue, while confirming the tremendous pain these unborn children feel. Post-abortion syndrome and all the other physical and psychological consequences of abortion have been well documented, proving that birthing the baby is almost always in the best interest of the mother, even in cases of rape. Undercover investigations have exposed the escalating criminal activity taking place on a regular basis in abortion centers (covering up sexual abuse and trafficking, selling baby body parts) and the incessant lying and bullying of young mothers to convince them that abortion is the only option. (So much for being pro-choice; abortion is the only choice given by greedy abortionists.) Planned Parenthood propaganda urges children (as young as 11) to engage in risky sexual activity for the admitted purpose of increasing demand for their abortion services. The contraceptive products they dispense for profit give clients a false sense of security, but the brands dispensed have the highest failure rates. Abortion centers are constantly working to grow demand for their services which is extremely damaging to everyone to society as a whole.

Without the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade ruling, there is no moral, legal, scientific, rationale whatsoever for abortion on demand. Dear SCOTUS, once you have a legitimate case, remember Queen Esther's famous refrain. You were appointed for such a time as this. That will be your chance to stop the largest and most horrific form of genocide in world history from continuing in America. Please stop the brutal killing from our sin stained land. To do any less would be to side with terrorists.

The following article is old, but it provides an easy to understand explanation of the case.

"Roe v. Wade: Unjust, Unconstitutional, and Undemocratic"

The BSA Evolution Further Exposes Modern Progressivism as a Regressive Return to Uncivilized Society

In a civilized society, those with conflicting objectives, worldviews, or opinions openly and respectfully present their different perspectives. Each party will prioritize his or her goals and look for some common ground with the other party, be it a similar goal, shared value, or trade arrangement that is mutually beneficial. If one party wants something the other party has, then that party will either develop the skills and expertise to develop it internally, or they will work out a trade agreement. In civilized negotiations, there will be compromise on both sides, with each party giving up some lesser desire(s) to achieve the greater desire. Successful negotiations are built on trust, mutual respect, and a win/win  or even exchange on both sides with the shared goal of preserving or achieving long term peace.

In an uncivilized society, there is no negotiation or compromise. One party may deceitfully promise concessions with no intention of fulfilling those promises, or they may simply steal what they want by force, which may involve brutal, barbaric, inhumane acts. It is impossible to negotiate with a psychopathic liar, lunatic, or terrorist, for there is no trust, no shared goal, no mutual respect, and no acceptable compromise. Radical jihadists are an example. They will not settle for anything less than a global caliphate that rules the earth.  This goal requires the absolute annihilation of the United States, which they call "the Great Satan", and Israel ("the little Satan").

A wise, civilized person knows that all efforts to negotiate with, advise, appease, or seek peace with a lunatic, terrorist, and/or uncivilized nation or individual is not only pointless, but harmful. (Proverbs 23:9, 26:4) England's attempt to appease Hitler and Obama's Iran deal are examples of how foolish and costly such efforts may be.

What concerns me most about the continued spread and increasing momentum of the progressive worldview across Europe and North America is how it is turning civilized nations (particularly America, which was founded upon Biblical morality and the common goal of preserving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) into uncivilized, barbaric nations.

What could possibly be more uncivilized or barbaric than the abortion procedure? Yet, in 1973, progressives made this practice, which involves ripping off an innocent child's limbs one by one and then sucking out his or her brains, legal in America. Unwilling to settle for that huge win, progressives have worked to expand abortion into the largest form of genocide in world history with the U.S. government helping fund over a million abortions in the U.S. and around the world every year. Progressives continue to battle against state bans on partial birth abortion, which involves fully delivering a child feet first except for the head and then cracking the skull just before it exits the mothers body. Seven progressive leaning states and the District of Columbia have no state bans on late term abortions.

Progressive professors have written extensively in support of infanticide, insisting it is morally acceptable and at times necessary for progress. We have already seen Britain's socialistic healthcare system hold children like Alfie Evans hostage in hospitals where they let them die while refusing other nation's offers to fly them overseas to receive lifesaving treatment abroad at no cost to Britain. The UK also has no problem leaving the elderly to die since they are viewed as a financial burden. Apparently, some human life (an unborn fetus, a sick child, an elderly person) just isn't as valuable to progressives as that of an elephant or a dog. To return to Hilter and Margaret Sanger's eugenics policies is certainly regressive, barbaric, and uncivilized, but societies readily accepts it when it is reclassified as progressive. There was nothing civilized whatsoever about keynote speaker Michelle Wolf's address at this year's White House Correspondence dinner. Her comments were cruel, raunchy, vile, and crude. She tore apart Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Sarah sat nearby. Similar vulgarities have characterized the progressive event for years, offering no mercy or compromise.

Professor Robert George stated the obvious with this quote: “When students have an opportunity to engage in civil discourse, they don’t feel compelled to engage in uncivil discourse.” However, most secular colleges and universities are going to great extremes to remove the opportunity to engage in civil discourse, primarily by banning differing viewpoints.  With faculty members leaning Democrat at ratios as high as 23 to every 1 Republican (UNC Chapel Hill) or 11 to 1 on average, followed by decades of bullying and persecution to suppress conservative ideas and to expel Judeo/Christian or faculty (Reference: Expelled documentary), and given the banned words lists and systematic indoctrination throughout classroom instruction, Christians and conservatives have little to no voice on college campuses. Deprived of the opportunity to practice civil discourse, students are encouraged to become radical social justice warriors who skip class (or tests) to mourn or protest what they cannot change, even as the outcome of a presidential election. #NotMyPresident Google, Twitter, and Facebook intentionally limit viewer exposure to conservative viewpoints, and/or deny Christian websites permission to advertise. Most mainstream media outlets spin stories, print fake news, or omit any newsworthy story that does not support their progressive narrative. They have become propaganda mills, not reliable news agencies. Every day, progressive thought continues to dominate the internet, marketplace, and all media platforms, apparently hoping to take over the thoughts and steal the hearts of all people everywhere.
When radical progressive groups bring lawsuits against a conservative and/or Christian, the goal isn't simply to right a wrong or fight for justice. Their goal is total destruction. Bakers, florists, photographers, and wedding venue owners have all been persecuted, severely fined, bankrupted, or forced to cease and desist activities that the U.S. Constitution was designed to protect simply because they refused to participate in progressive venues that were contrary to their religious convictions. Business owners in Charlotte, N.C. were forced by local ordinance to allow men in women's restrooms, in direct opposition to their values and the best interests of their female patrons, until the state legislature intervened.  But then progressives from around the nation, including the Obama administration, threatened, bullied, and chastised the state for daring to uphold long held standards to protect the greater majority. The NCAA refused to hold high revenue tournament games in N.C. and various large businesses threatening to locate elsewhere. Even the Attorney General at the time, now the current Governor, secretly met with businesses to put pressure on the Governor and state legislature to overrule H.B. 2, after he had pledged to serve the governor and N.C. residents. In this case, the media played a powerful role spreading propaganda across the nation which also captured negative attention from foreign leaders. Uncivilized people do not allow differing opinions and will bully or destroy to suppress them.

Each of these progressive "victories" was not viewed as a settled case or a compromise. They were merely steps forward toward their goal of totally wiping away traditional American values. They aren't interested in logical or reasonable discourse. Give them an inch, and they will take a mile. They will not stop until they destroy anyone and anything that stands in the way of a complete takeover of our culture. 

The Boy Scouts of America resisted progressive pressures to admit gay troop leaders for a time, but they eventually compromised, hoping to appease their progressive bullies. That was a tragic mistake, however, because once progressives got a foothold, they demanded more. Then instead of seeking to reform the Girl Scouts to make them equal to the Boy Scouts in every way (programming, opportunities, reputation, etc.), the progressive went after the Boy Scouts again, demanding that they allow girls to join their boys' organization. As expected, the Boy Scouts caved again to progressive demands. Then this week the Boy Scouts agreed to change their name to "Scouts", which signals a complete overhaul of the Boy Scout's identity. Soon, the Boy Scouts will wither and die, having contradicted their original and fundamental values, purpose, and oath. Progressives do not agree with the Boy Scout's oath or values. They aren't seeking to be included and assimilated. They want to seize control and destroy anything that builds, nurtures, and protects (in this case, Biblical manhood and morality) what they hate.

Progressives also tend to oppose Christianity and the Bible because it stands in the way of what they intend to accomplish, which makes them useful tools of the enemy of our souls. When one honestly considers what the Bible teaches and the impact it has had throughout history, it's impossible to deny that the Bible played a huge role in civilizing the world. Remove the Bible from schools, the marketplace, and the hearts and minds of citizens, and America will crumble into a hopelessly uncivilized, barbaric nation,not unlike the Mayans, Babylonians, and other pagan cultures of the past. Will we stand by and watch our great country regress into a Nazi regime or a pagan culture that burns our first born children as sacrifices to fake gods carved out of wood and stone or to corrupt dictators who enslave us?

Dear friends, leaders, and brothers and sisters in Christ, do not try to negotiate with uncivilized, irrational people who reject America's founding principles, traditional morality, and the Lord, our Creator God and King. Let us make it our aim, through both words and actions, to share the love, joy, and hope found only in Christ Jesus. He is the only answer to our heart's desire for peace and our culture's plea for civility. Pray for the lost who persecute you. Resist false doctrine. Stand firm in the faith. Hope in Christ. (John 10:10)

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus  (Philippians 4:5-7)

If the foundations are removed

Massive earthquakes around the world have shown us the destruction that comes when the foundations are shaken. We know the foundation is the most important design element of any building. So imagine what would happen if the foundations of a nation were not just shaken but completely removed.

America was founded upon faith and total dependence upon God for the purpose of spreading His truth and giving Him glory. Stacked upon this core foundational layer are common moral law, rooted in the Bible, and preservation of life, liberty, and the rule of law. These are what uphold our nation and keep us united.

 

The new progressive movement sweeping through our country has one primary goal which is to completely remove America's foundations. The result will be America's great downfall, and we've seen harbingers of this coming calamity over the past 30+ years (9/11 was a big one) warning us to repent and rebuild our crumbling foundations upon God. The largest financiers (George Soros & his Open Society Foundation) and proponents (Obama and the Clintons) of this progressive, leftist movement know precisely what the outcome will be and have followed Saul Alinsky's playbook exactly to ensure America's downfall.

Wake up, America!  Repent before it's too late.

Drain the Swamp the Way Judge Aquilina Sentenced Nasser

Nasser is surely one of the most depraved and wicked men on earth, and we all rejoice that he has now been locked up for life where he cannot abuse another child.  However, key questions must still be addressed following his sentencing:

• How was he allowed to do this for so long to so many people?
• How could so many university officials, gymnastic club owners/operators, coaches, and the entire USAG administration continue to cover-up and dismiss all the allegations and evidence brought against him year after year?
• Why wouldn't anyone speak up for the children he violated?

At least 159 women that we know of could have been spared his horrific abuses if his first victim had been heard and justice meted. Yet, cover-ups, concealment, flat out refusal to call evil what it is, or the inability of hardened hearts to even discern the difference between right from wrong are the norm in our post-Christian culture that preaches moral relativism and tolerance for all that is harmful and profane. Victims are silenced, and justice is withheld simply to protect one's reputation and powerful position or for cash bribes.

The Nasser case got a lot of publicity and should embolden survivors to speak out while catapulting the nation's willingness to listen and to demand justice for abusers. I pray it will ignite investigations and prosecutions of those who aid, abet, and protect pedophiles & other felons with judges rendering punishments fully befitting the crime. Dear Lord, may this case prompt swift and effective action to stop and prevent the abuse of our nation's precious children.

While I would never want to minimize the suffering of any of Nasser’s victims, the way that case was handled provides a powerful example of how other cases of abuse and injustice should be addressed so as to significantly curb and prevent future corruption which brings national calamity.

Other instances of selfishly motivated abuses of power and position have also continued for well over 30 years, resulting in far more victims and plenty of long-term damage. Illegal activities by an unaccountable elite in the highest positions of power have resulted in decades of painful consequences, some of which include:

• the loss of countless innocent lives
• the slaughter of patriots & local heroes
• numerous cold-blooded murders masked as “suicide”
• multiple rapes
• suspected child abuse/trafficking
• severe compromise of national security
• economic disaster
• evil regimes gassing their own people
• massive funding of terrorist activities
• large-scale expansion of nuclear weapon capacity by enemy nations (Iran & N. Korea)
• the decimation of national morality and the rule of law
• compromised, dishonest justice departments (FBI & DOJ)
• the rigging of elections at the highest level

Until these wicked, unlawful deeds are called out for what they really are and until justice is meted to the fullest extent of the law at the highest offices in the land as we saw with the Larry Nasser case, the number of victims & damage will only continue to multiply exponentially.

Rachel Denhollander kept asking during her impact statement, “How much is a little child worth?” So I ask, “How much is America worth? How much is our freedom, our security, our military, our children, our heroes, and each and every citizen worth?”

"20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,
23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent.
24 Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 5:20-24)

#DraintheSwamp #ReleasetheMemo #Prison #theTruthwillSetUSfree #justiceforall

Two Different Marches

Two different groups of people held marches this weekend. The March for Life was held on Friday, and the Women's March took place on Saturday.

The theme of the the first march was "love saves lives." The theme or motivating force behind the other was hate.

The first celebrated life; the second celebrated the right to kill one's own children with continued insistence that taxpayers pay for the dismemberment, no matter how much their religious and moral convictions may oppose the shedding of innocent blood.

The first march unified; the second march divided.

One sang hymns of praise; the other sang obscenities.

One group humbled themselves in prayer to God. The other group blasphemed His holy name.

One group marched selflessly for those who have no voice, deriving no personal benefit whatsoever. The other demanded free stuff (sanitary napkins, birth control, abortion, special entitlements, salary increases based on gender instead of merit, etc.) for themselves.

One group clothed themselves in pink hats resembling the female anatomy which should be kept private. The other group clothed themselves with "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience".

One group accepted everyone who valued love and life. The other only accepted those who hate what progressives hate.

One group has steadily grown in numbers for the past 45 years. The other had approximately 50% fewer participants this year than they had the first year, which was just last year.

One inspired hope; the other stirred up bitterness.

One group represented me, both as a woman and as the product of an unplanned pregnancy. The other is the antithesis of all that I am and was created to be.

Cultural Wars - Lesson from the Past to Guide Us in the Present

I have learned so much about modern times by reading the history of Israel & Judah from the Old Testament (which is consistent with other historical texts) and watching the same patterns playing out again and again to the smallest detail here in America. There are so many lessons to learn from both the wise choices of the past and the great mistakes which brought about their ruin.

The current polarization of worldviews we are experiencing in America is resulting in the traditional Judeo-Christian values upon which America was founded being attacked and overthrown by the progressive, moral relativism and idolatry of surrounding nations.  Similar cultural wars occurred when Ahab, Jezebel, and Joram replaced Judaism in Israel with Baal worship and when Ahaz did the same in Judah. Their reigns were followed by Jehu in Israel and Hezekiah in Judah who radically reformed their nations, overthrowing Baal worship and it's chief sacrament, child sacrifice (which is the moral equivalent to abortion today as both involve the killing of children in exchange for some expectation of convenience or increased prosperity, and abortion proponents have referred to abortion as a sacrament on more than one occasion). But then pride entered their hearts. King Hezekiah was so close to God one minute....faithful to carry out every command, leading his nation back to Yahweh by example and decree, humbly bowing in worship and writing songs of adoration, and then the next moment, pridefully taking credit for all he possessed and all he had accomplished as if he earned it by his own effort instead of acknowledging it all as a gift from the one true God. His momentary pride led to Judah's demise. Jehu was an even more complicated and contradictory figure, so his reforms did not last either. 

I highly recommend Jonathan Cahn's book The Paradigm for a detailed explanation of these parallels between Israel's history and modern American times.

I think a very important lesson to be learned from this history that is extremely applicable today in our polarized political landscape is that we most guard against both extremes:

1.  Idolatry - Worshiping the government or other human authority over us.  This form of idolatry depends upon the government (or other authoritative body) to meet all our needs and solve all our problems instead of accepting our own responsibility for ourselves, our families, our communities, the greater good, and God's specific calling each of our lives as "stewards" over the earth. There are many in positions of power, in governmental, financial, and even religious realms, who want to lord over us like gods, and they foster dependency among their subjects to maintain and build their power.
2. Pride - Worshiping oneself, i.e. trying to make America great again in our own strength, without relying on God or acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from Him alone

Let us not allow our focus to shift away from the only One worthy of our worship. We will never be great in any sense that matters until He is our heart's greatest desire.

Examining our own hearts in light of continued racism, hatred, and violance

As hatred, violence, division, and accusations mount (according to plan), perhaps we should first honestly examine our own hearts in light of God's truth before reacting in unhealthy, destructive, volatile ways, fueled by the heightened and irrational emotions evoked by the media's false narratives, angry attacks, distortions, exaggerations, and outright lies. I have written in second person to engage others, but only after asking myself each of the questions below.
_________________________________________________

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." (Proverbs 10:21)

• Is your heart consumed with hatred or with love? 
• Are you praying for God's love to touch and redeem your enemy, or are you praying for him to suffer?

_________________________________________________

 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives..." (James 4:3)

• Do you really expect God to hear your prayers if you pray outside of his will....wishing harm on others instead of good, simply because the media or some well-funded radical group told you that you should hate them? 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18)

Note:  Regarding iniquity refers to deliberate, habitual, unrepentant sin.  It is placing one's desire to sin over their desire for God.  We all fall short, and God's grace is not dependent upon our works, but a truly repentant heart that receives the grace and redemption of God will hate one's sin and ask for God's help to overcome it instead of shaking one's fist at God and insisting He can't have that area of their life.  Such defiance is rejecting the Lord, not receiving Him.

_________________________________________________

2 "For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love." (Psalm 109:2)

• Are you slandering and attacking others without cause? Whether or not you agree with them is irrelevant. If they have offended you, then that is your problem, not theirs, for we are each individually responsible for how we respond to the words and actions of another. No one has the power to offend us unless we willingly give it to him. 
• How has the subject of your ire legitimately and truthfully (media narratives do not count because they are often unreliable) harmed you to warrant your attacks? 
• Are you returning evil for good or good for evil? 
• Are you seeking vengeance or trusting in the Lord's justice and goodness?

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19)

_________________________________________________

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13: 1-2)

• Are you mad at God for allowing Trump to be elected? 
• Or are you a Republican upset over the fact that your state elected a DNC pawn as it's governor?
• Do you really think God makes mistakes? 
• Are you suggesting that you know better than the omniscient One who made you and who is the source of wisdom and truth? (John 14:6, Proverbs 2:6) 
• Are you subjecting yourselves to the authorities God has established or rebelling against them out of selfishness and without Biblical mandate?

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2: 1-4)

• Are you praying for your leaders and seeking peace with your brethren, or do you wish injury and shame upon him?

_________________________________________________

"31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4: 25-32)

"6Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 5-17)

• Are you verifying statements before repeating them in slander?
• Are you ready to forgive, or are you storing up resentment?
• Are you choosing to be thankful or bitter?
• Do you view all people, regardless of social class, race, or gender as your brother or sister, worthy of respect, acknowledging that you are nothing without Christ and no better than anyone else?
• Do you strive to obey God in all things, asking Him to help you when you fall short, ever grateful for His mercy and grace?
• Are you opening your entire life, every decision, word, thought, action, and heart's desire to Him so that He can redeem and transform you? Alternatively, do you only obey Him when it is politically correct or convenient? 
• Is He Lord over your life or do you think you have authority over Him and are thus better able judge what is right and wrong, just and unjust? 
• Do you insist that you know better than God does with regard to His word, omitting the parts you find uncomfortable and clinging only to those that fit your narrative and make you feel good? 
• Is your life consistent with the knowledge that we will never experience freedom from sin, lasting joy, or peace until we become so uncomfortable with the reality of our sin that we choose God over our unholy lusts and humbly repent? Until He is Lord over all, He is not your Lord at all.
• Do you do all things to honor Christ or to exalt yourself?
• Are you a peacemaker? Do you put the interests of others before your own? (Philippians 2:4)
• Do you acknowledge that Christ is the only one who can unite us all and give us peace? Is He your only hope and heart's desire, or are you still trusting in earthly powers and fleeting carnal enticements?

Throw off the old man....every single carnal bit of him

How many well-meaning, professing Christians preach "GRACE" while deliberately ignoring or without understanding Romans 6?

How many churches deliberately skip over that chapter in their teaching, pushing their flocks off the straight & narrow path that stands high above the destructive ditches of legalism on one side and license on the other?

Christ did not die on the cross so that we could live like pagans, committing every sin imaginable, worshiping the lusts of the flesh and the idols of this world instead of the one true God, all with the expectation that we can carry Jesus' blood in our pockets as our "get-out-of-hell free" card. He didn't die so that by sinning more, we could make His grace increase. That is backwards, heretical thinking that makes no sense. 

 His grace is infinite on it's own, and it's purpose is to draw us closer to God, not to push us into increasingly destructive behaviors. He died to make us holy. He died to FREE us from sin's grip, to lead us to REPENTANCE, to fill us with His Spirit, and to change our heart's desires, so we could live for Him, not for ourselves. He died to open a way for us to have fellowship with the all Holy God. To treat His sacrifice as a gift that merely removes the eternal consequences our sin deserves is as foolish as thinking abortion will remove the consequences of our own disobedience. 

As I was stewing over the liberal church's twisting of this Biblical truth, I came across this excellent post, "Loving Jesus but Living in Sin" by Melissa over at Loving Jesus Blog. She balances grace and truth so much better than I do. I highly recommend it.  

Here are a few teaser quotes from her post:

• "My sweet Jesus was not nailed to a cross for me to periodically acknowledge that there is always someone there who loves me, while still living in my sin."

• "My sweet Jesus was not nailed to a cross, killed and crucified, for me to, in vain, praise and utter His name as Lord and Savior while denying Him and continually nailing Him back to the cross with my sin."

• "My sweet Jesus was crucified to set me FREE from my sin."

• "God’s heart for your repentance from sin isn’t a heart of a dictator, of an authority who makes demands of you to conform to his way.  No, no, my sister, God’s heart behind his desire for you to repent is because your sin is going to kill you. He loves you."

 ______________________________________________

Romans 6What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Freedom in God's Word

“…You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:32)

 

This verse and the accompanying exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees in John 8:31-36 hold the keys to a fruitful, liberated Christian life that goes deep where the richest blessings flow. (Luke 5:4-11, Genesis 49:25)  We must know and receive in faith God’s truth, which is His word (Psalm 119:60, John 17:17) and Christ His Son (John 1:14, 14:6), to be set free from sin and death. 

The most essential truth that sets us free forever is the gospel of Christ. (Romans 5:8-9)  By perfectly fulfilling the law as our spotless Lamb, bearing all our sins on the cross, conquering death and rising again, Jesus set us free from sin, condemnation, guilt, death, and separation from God. We are justified and made righteous by Christ. (Romans 3:21-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 1:18)  We are set free from Satan’s false accusations and from false guilt by the truth that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. (Romans 8:1)  This truth is too powerful and wonderful to keep to ourselves, so Christ’s final command to His followers before His ascension was to go and proclaim this gospel truth to the whole world. (Mark 16:15)

God’s truth gives wisdom and discernment, which free us from Satan’s lies and from sinful strongholds in disguise, such as unholy fears masquerading as loving concern. He provides all we need, freeing us from worry. (Matthew 6:25-34).  When we or our loved ones suddenly face unemployment or unexpected financial burdens, these truths free us from anxiety. We can receive perfect peace by bringing our concerns to Him in prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7)  

His truth removes the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25), which liberates us to live for Him so that others may hear the truth and find freedom too.  His truth emboldens us to stand up for truth and righteousness against opposition because His power is greater than the power of this world. (1 John 4:4) We can rejoice under trials because His rewards far surpass any earthly suffering. (Matthew 5:10-12, 2 Corinthians 4:9)

God’s truth frees us from fear of the future. While tomorrow may seem uncertain, God knows what each day brings, and His word tells us how this story ends.  We will face battles, but Christ wins the war.  Through it all, He will strengthen, help, uphold, and deliver us. (Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 34:4) As co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), our eternal inheritance is secure.  Our citizenship is in Heaven! (Philippians 3:20, John 14:2-3) We are overcomers and more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37, 1 John 5:4). So when tragedy comes and loved ones pass, when we battle infertility or scary medical diagnoses, or when elections do not go our way, the truth gives certain hope. We may be grieved and afflicted but not crushed; we may be perplexed, but are free from despair. (2 Corinthians 4:8) God is sovereign over all. He appoints leaders according to His perfect plan. He allows suffering to strengthen and refine us and to serve His greater purposes, but He never abandons us. (Romans 13: 1-7) He is all-powerful, faithful, loving, and good. His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s and He goes with us. He has removed the sting of death and obtained the victory. His eternal truth casts out fear. (Psalm 23:4, Romans 14:7-9)

God’s truth frees us from low self-esteem and identity crises.  His word teaches us who and whose we are and shows us our infinite value and eternal purpose. No one knows us like the One who knew us and predestined us before He even made us! (Jeremiah 1:5)  The opinions of others are fickle, but God’s truth never changes. By clinging to His truth and finding our identity in Him, we are set free from all the drama, emotional turmoil, people pleasing (Galatians 1:10, Isaiah 2:22), moral compromising, and ceaseless striving that accompany identity confusion.  Instead of drawing attention to ourselves for validation through the praises of men (whether by immodest dress, grandstanding, suggestive or obnoxious behavior, or perpetual performing), we are free to live authentically, fulfilling God’s purpose for us with confident assurance. 

When we understand our identity and worth, we are set free from feeling offended by different opinions or by personal attacks.  When others have hurled angry insults at me and falsely slandered me, I have found their words do not hurt me when I stand on God’s truth.  My identity is in Christ, not the opinions of others. No one has the authority to define me but God, so nothing anyone says to me or about me can ever change who I am or diminish my value. Angry hurtful words reveal the contents of the slanderer’s heart, not mine. The truth will become obvious soon enough.  (Numbers 32:23)

God’s truth also defines our position.  Our greatest deeds are as filthy rags compared to His holy standard. (Isaiah 64:6)  Before Christ changed us, we were children of wrath, enslaved to sinful desires, spiritually dead, and without hope. It is only by His grace that we are saved, not by works, so no one can boast. (Ephesians 2).  Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) This truth frees us from pride, self-absorption, and self-reliance.

As we grow in our understanding of who we are, who others are, and who God is, we are set free from prejudice and hate, for how can we say we love God (who is love) and hate those who He made in His image for His glory. (1 John 4:8 ) Prejudice assumes superiority over another, but God’s truth shatters any preconceived notions of our own self-importance.  When we know and experience God’s love and forgiveness, we are set free to love and forgive others. (John 13:34-35, John 15:12, Colossians 3:13)

When we find our value in His truth that never changes, we are set free from feelings of rejection or abandonment.  I was adopted into a loving home in the early 1970s when adoptions were closed and less common. During my childhood, kids would ask me, “Why didn’t your mother want you?”  Back then, I didn’t know why she placed me for adoption, but I did know that my adoptive parents had selected me as their own.  They had loved me wholeheartedly, unconditionally, and sacrificially.  While some kids felt sorry for me, I considered myself doubly blessed because I had not only be accepted, but also chosen. My birth parents’ feelings toward me seemed irrelevant because I was with the family God had intended from the beginning.  That truth was so freeing for me as a little girl and helped me better understand God’s unconditional love for me as His adopted daughter. (1 Peter 2:9) 

When I was in college, my birth mother hired a detective to find me. She was desperate to know if I had been adopted into a safe, loving home or into an abusive home like the one she had released me from by placing me for adoption.  Meanwhile, I had begun praying for my birth mother after hearing a sermon that stirred my heart to love and serve women in crisis pregnancy situations. When my birth mother first contacted me out-of-the-blue on March 27, 1995, I had just read these words from the March 27 entry of Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest: 

“God has to hide from us what He does until by personal character we get to the place where He can reveal it”.

I was no longer afraid to meet her because my identity was secure in Christ. I was ready to meet her because the truth of my position before Christ had just crushed the spiritual pride growing in m. So when she called, I calmly (rare for me) told her I had just been praying for her and asked her if she knew Jesus as Savior. The truth of my idyllic childhood, loving family, and God’s sovereignty revealed in my life, set her free from the fears that had haunted her.  Over the years, I watched God’s truth set her free in so many different areas of life just as His truth was transforming me. (We later discovered that she was baptized in another church the same day our daughter was baptized at Providence, which is fitting since God’s truth declares His providence!)

The power of God’s truth to set people free is like a beautiful domino toppling display with exponential limits. Will we be faithful to start the toppling of strongholds by learning, believing, and applying His truth in every area of our lives and by sharing it with others? 

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

God’s word gives wisdom; it opens our eyes,
And helps us discern truth from Satan’s lies.
It frees us from sin's strongholds in disguise
And offers salvation from our sins' demise
Through the love of Jesus, Heaven's glorious prize.