Homosexuality and the Sin of Sodom

In her book entitled, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Rosaria Champagne Butterfield notes that homosexuality is only a symptom of the condition of one's heart, reflecting where someone has been. It is not the root problem itself, and in fact, the sin of Sodom (which is often assumed to be homosexuality based on the narrative of Sodom's judgment by God in Genesis 19) is not as offensive to God as those of His chosen people, the Israelites.

The root sins of both Sodom and Jerusalem are actually very similar, but Jerusalem's is more offensive and more dangerous because unlike the Sodomites, the Jewish people had seen the power of God on display and had been the recipients His mercy and other spiritual blessings.They knew God's power and mercy, so they knew better, yet they forsook Him anyway, whereas Sodom had not received the spiritual blessings bestowed upon the nation of Israel.

"And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day." (Matthew 11:23, NIV)

Ezekiel 16 clarifies the sin of Sodom as being something to which we call all relate, for while we may not all struggle with homosexuality, we are all tempted by the same root sins that were merely manifested as homosexuality and violence in the Sodom account. God references the sin and judgment of Sodom to reveal the greater sin of the Jewish people.

48 "As surely as I live," declares the Sovereign Lord, "your sister Sodomn and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.49 Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant,overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did destable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.."  (Ezekiel 16:48-50, NIV)

Rosaria Butterfield summarizes the fundamental "sins of Sodom" described in Ezekiel 16:48-50 as follows:

1. Pride, which puffs up and provides a false sense of independence (when we should be completely dependent upon God) and entitlement, is the root of all other sins.
2. Materialism/Excess:  Focusing on acquiring increased wealth, being entertainment driven, refusing to live below your means, and having an overabundance of idleness will lead us away from God's standard.  Rosaria explains that we develop an acquired taste for God’s standard as we discipline our minds, hands, time, and money. Rosaria writes, "Undisciplined tastes will always lead to egregious sin, slowly and almost imperceptibly.
3. Lack of Mercy: The first 52 verses of Ezekiel 16 describe the sins and subsequent judgment of Sodom, Jerusalem, and Samaria, but five of the last 11 verses explicity speak of God's mercy, restoration, and atonement as these nations acknowledge their sin while experiencing the consequences of those sins. God offers hope and compassion despite the long list of ways they have repeatedly betrayed their holy God. God calls us to be merciful to others just as we have received His mercy. The call to offer mercy, compassion, and charity is both for our own good and for the good of the community.
4.  Lack of Discretion or Modesty

After considering and summarizing Rosaria's insights referenced above, I considered how those core sins are obviously at the root of many of the social/political issues evangelical conservatives speak out against today, such as abortion, gay marriage, pay-for-play, media deception to serve political interests, IRS targeting of conservatives, illegal spying, refusing to apply the rule of law to the Clinton scandals, entitlement mentality, socialism, transgender ideology and the child abuse inherent in medical group advocacy of chemical and surgical gender transition. But then I had to consider that Christians also manifest these same core sins with behaviors that do not seem as appalling to the church community, yet they are just as repulsive to God (and even more so) than those of unbelievers, even radical pro-abortion, atheistic, progressive lesbians like Rosaria was before Christ completely transformed her heart, mind, and life.

Consider the following sampling of behaviors, actions, or choices in light of the four core sins of Sodom:

• Taking advantage of meal deals, coupon programs, or loop holes in a way never intended by the business provider
• Overstating tax deductions when filing income taxes
• Refusing to engage in your community because you require copious amounts of "downtime"
• Excluding neighbors, classmates, or other acquaintances from a social function you are hosting because you do not want to associate with or be seen with people who are different from you or who are not as classy or affluent as you would prefer
• Skimping on your tithe to the church by redirecting that money to a charitable organization where your name or business will be promoted as a result
• Reading Fifty Shades of Grey or viewing pornography for pleasure or simply out of curiosity or peer pressure
• Virtue signaling on social media with demands for large government funding of programs and entitlements for illegal immigrants or refugees while refusing to welcome strangers into your own home
• Gossiping about or even slandering those who are different from you, who have inadvertently offended you, or who you envy 
• Claiming to be a victim entitled to special treatment instead of taking personal responsibility and asking God to give you resilience or help you overcome 
• Bearing false witness to accomplish an earthly goal while justifying your deception with the false notion that the ends justifies the means.
• Committing gluttony at every church potluck in the name of "spiritual fellowship" or in the privacy of your own home for "comfort" 
• Softening and distorting the gospel to win more "converts" without sharing the truth that Christianity involves suffering, sacrifice, and full surrender of one's entire life to Christ, giving these so called "converts" false hope that a simple prayer offered with questionable sincerity is all that is required for salvation and sanctification
• Posting pictures of yourself in a skimpy outfit on social media to show off your new toned body following a rigorous diet/exercise program
• Spending far more time and money on your outward appearance, vacations, entertainment, or on acquiring expensive material possessions than you invest in God's kingdom
• Church and ministry leaders focusing more on being relevant and entertaining than on delivering truth and compassion
• Church and ministry leaders spending more time and money on externals (facilities, audio/visual equipment, coffee and doughnuts) than on meeting physical and spiritual needs
• Rejecting accountability
• Refusing to make Bible study and prayer daily priorities because you are "too busy" with lesser things
• Relying on Ted Talks, business tools and metrics, secular advisers, financial resources, and other worldly means for knowledge on building healthy marriages, families, ministries, and businesses instead of relying fully on God and His word for wisdom and guidance
• Brushing off or concealing legitimate sexism or abuse with the dangerously deceptive mantra, "Boys will be boys"
• Laughing at crude or defamatory comments
• Refusing to stand up and pray for those who are being persecuted for Christ's sake

When we Christians speak out against gay marriage, abortion, greed/entitlement centered socialism, or any of the other secular progressive issues listed above, do we first acknowledge our own behaviors which are rooted in the same sins of pride, materialism, lack of mercy, and/or immodesty?

Are we humble enough to realize that we are only able to overcome our sin struggles as God's word in us becomes bigger than ourselves?

Are we seeking to win converts to our opinions or political preferences, or are we seeking to introduce the lost to the only hope of the world, Christ our Savior?

Are we seeking to condemn the world (John 3:17) or to show the lost the unconditional love of Christ? Without receiving God's love, no one can truly love God or others according to God's perfect standard, and without love, there is only death. (1 John 4:8, 1 John 3:14)

After her radical conversion from atheism, lesbianism, and radical leftism to becoming a fully devoted Bible believing, faithful follower of Christ, Rosaria wrote, “My sexuality wasn’t sinful because it was lesbian per say but because it wasn’t Christ controlled." 

What areas in our lives are not Christ controlled?  Until every area of our lives are surrendered to Christ's lordship, we cannot judge the homosexual's sin as being any worse than our own, but we can offer them hospitality, compassion, and God's uncompromising truth with humility, impartiality, and love.

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.

Perspectives on the Immigration Debate for a Country Set Apart

Call me a fool if you wish, but I am not convinced Trump used the language he was accused of when speaking of Haiti or other suffering nations because the accusation was made by one who has repeatedly lied about similar types of conversations before, because others in the room testified to not hearing him say it, and because he denied it. However, given remarks he has made in the past, I can certainly understand why people would believe that he said it. I find the remark repulsive if he said it, but I do not see it as a racist attack on the natives of those countries at all. The people who live there are beautiful, intelligent, gifted, and infinitely valuable, made in the image of God. We are no better than they are, and Trump has said as much when speaking of the dignity and sacredness of ALL mankind.

But their countries ARE cesspools, not because of the color of their people's skin or on anything the general population has done, but rather, based on what a few corrupt elite government officials have done to their good people and to their beautiful land.

America is (or was established to be) different. The Constitution sets up plenty of checks on power to ensure that we don't get to that point. Of course, those checks assume that those elected into office possess similar values, morality, and common sense as those upon which our nation was founded.

Books have been written about the many uncanny similarities between the U.S. and Israel and how their history is playing out again in the U.S. to the precise detail. Thus, it is instructive to look at Israel's history so we can learn from their good choices and from their mistakes. It is wise to look at the laws God gave Israel to sustain, grow, and preserve their nation as a nation under Yahweh, set apart for Him. Foreigners were welcomed by individuals in that culture with tremendous hospitality, and we in America, especially those of us who follow Christ, are each personally responsible for providing for those in need and for welcoming our guests with great hospitality and friendship, regardless of our guest's country of origin or citizenship status. The Lord clearly commanded them not to oppress "strangers" (legal immigrants) in their land*.  All human life has dignity and deserves respect. But from a national policy perspective, God instructed foreigners who lived in Israel to assimilate and to follow many of their laws. God gave His chosen nation many protective restrictions to prevent them from becoming like the surrounding nations. They were to be set apart and to be a light and a blessing to all the world. That blessing was part of God's covenant to Abraham.

Similarly, the U.S. was established on Judeo-Christian values, as a nation set apart "for God's glory and the advancement of the Christian faith" (Mayflower Compact), to be a light of freedom and blessing for the entire world, to uphold the truth "that all men are created equal", and to preserve each person's God given "unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." (Declaration of Independence)

Sadly, there are people around the world with a very different worldview who do not share our values. They hate America, the liberty she offers, and her people. They rape our people and our prosperity while mocking us mercilessly. They come here not to assimilate, contribute, nor build up, but rather to overthrow, to disrespect and disobey our laws, to torture, and to destroy.

While there may be plenty of good motives driving individuals who advocate for full amnesty, the DNC's political strategy on immigration isn't based on love or compassion for the foreigner at all, but rather on self-interest. They want to let in anyone and everyone, without concern over what those people will take from us or do to us, because they expect their loose immigration platform to buy these immigrants' votes and the votes of all their descendants for many generations. Such a strategy is actually far more disrespectful than common sense immigration laws because it assumes these immigrants are uneducated, illiterate, and too lazy or unable to think through policy issues and ramifications of each platform logically, critically, and morally for themselves or for the greater common good. It lowers immigrants to the position of "useful idiots" instead of valuing them as equals.

Interestingly, some of the brightest, most articulate, most thoughtful, and most patriotic people I know are legal immigrants who oppose everything the DNC represents, and they are fighting for improved vetting (as opposed to chain migration and unsystematic lotteries) because they don't want America to turn into the same type of cesspool, controlled by greedy tyrants, which they fled. The DNC doesn't care. They just want more votes, so they can have more power. But the other side in this debate loves America, and they love all the diverse and/or hurting people around the world. They want freedom loving people of any ethnicity to always have a place to run to for safety, liberty, truth, hope, and the opportunity to become all the good Lord calls them to be. If America gives into these progressive demands, there will be nowhere else to run.

Here is just one example taken from Andrew Klavan's well written article, "Of Crudeness and Truth" showing what we will become if we cave to leftist ideology and sacrifice our identity as a nation set apart for truth, justice, and liberty:

"In England, in the city of Rotherham, at least 1,400 non-Muslim girls, some as young as 11, were brutally raped by Muslim immigrants over a period of years in the 2000s. Police and other officials worked to keep the facts hidden because, according to multiple reports, they were afraid of being called racist. Think about that: police officers did not want to seem racist, so they stood by and let their city’s children be raped. The same thing goes on in other cities in England and throughout Europe. And in fact, some who have spoken out have had their careers curtailed by manufactured scandal. The message is clear: it’s just not nice to tell the truth. It’s just not done. Don’t do it."

*For a more complete Biblical analysis of this issue, I recommend:

•  What the Bible Says About Illegal Immigration
• The Use and Abuse of hte Bible in the Immigration Debate

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.

The Fourth Beast in Daniel's Vision

Source:  www.neverthirsty.org

World history makes it easy to see to see which kingdoms the first 3 beasts were referencing in . Daniel's prophetic vision of the 4 beasts (Daniel 7). The first beast, which was like a lion with eagle's wings, was Babylon. The second beast, which was like a bear, was Persia. The third beast, which was like leopard except it had four heads, was Greece. The fourth refers to the Roman Empire, and most theologians agree that it also refers to the end time civilization (modern times). Interestingly, this fourth beast is not described by natural, animal forms. It's entirely different. The Hebrew word used to describe it is shainah, which means "changed, altered, different". (Source:  Book of Mysteries, Day 114, by Jonathan Cahn). It has iron teeth and bronze claws. That description sounds like a machine, so it always made me think of the industrial revolution, the technology boom, and nuclear weapons which have characterized modern times and the march toward the last days. But Jonathan Cahn describes it in broader terms. 

"End-time civilization will be based on the natural, not the unnatural. It will exists against nature. It will be of an altered or transmuted nature, a civilization at war with creation, with nature and with the order of God......those who live in the end times must resist a civilization that wars against the order of creation and uphold the Word of the Eternal."

This emphasis on changing the natural into the unnatural makes me think of GMOs, environmental toxins, synthetic hormones, the use of chemotherapy type drugs to treat cancer instead of the plants God made which have the capacity to kill the actual cancer stem cells (which chemo and radiation cannot do) while boosting the immune system instead of attacking it, possibly the vaccine industry's overreach, and big pharma companies that tend to create something unnatural that attempts to mimic what is natural (because they can't patent nature...the big money is only available by patenting what is unnatural even though our bodies are only designed to process what is natural...so the side effects are always worse with manmade drugs).

But what about the whole LGBTQ movement? Is that a highly organized war against God's natural order with the goal of normalizing the unnatural, even exalting it over what is natural?

What do you think of Cahn's interpretation?

Men vs. Women

Men vs. Women

I'm sure the article entitled, "Are Men Better than Women at Chess? Probably" offended a lot of people.  Pop culture and progressive feminism (not to be confused with classical feminism which accomplished a lot of wonderful, much needed reforms for women) would say that all women should protest, riot, and viciously express their disdain for such a politically incorrect statement.

As a woman who graduated at the top of her class in engineering school and who gets giddy over all things math, logic, and strategy related, I am not the LEAST BIT OFFENDED by this article or it's headline. I thought I would post that here, so Google will have a record of it as they police our thoughts .(This comment is a sarcastic reference to Google's decision to fire someone for writing a brilliant memo with sound reasoning and scientific proof because some snowflakes could not accept the truth and threw temper tantrums about it.  Google caved to their bratty children, just as expected, and fired the man unjustly and illegally while providing yet another example of the liberal hypocrisy of liberal tolerance, when liberals are the most intolerant of all, especially with regard to different viewpoints that are so easily justified whereas their talking points make no sense at all).

I also much prefer having women compete against women athletically and consider it to be sheer insanity to allow transgendered men to compete against women in events created for women only. We are each unique and there are plenty of women who can beat other men in these venues, but in general, when you consider the collective data, men have a biological advantage in both chess and most athletics, and that FACT doesn't discriminate against me or bother me AT ALL. I'm thankful for it because these differences drive the complementary nature of the genders for healthy families and societies in general.

 ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized byone Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12-13)

There are PLENTY of things women can do better than men and in which they have their own advantage, so when you look at all those differences collectively, it evens out. (Of course, our value has nothing to do with our performance, anyway!) No one is more valuable than another (although the socialistic government gods would like to be the judge of that), but we do need each other

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Women seeking validation by trying to convince the world that they can do everything a man can do but better have missed the whole point. They will never receive the validation they are seeking that way, but they will wear themselves out trying.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3)

Furthermore, by disrespecting the unique gifting of men, women will only cause men to stop doing what they are called and especially equipped to do. That places all the responsibility on women alone, and the U.S. statistics on the number of fatherless homes and the outcomes for children and society as a result provide plenty of alarming evidence of where that leads. Let's learn to celebrate our differences and work together in a complementary way to build synergy for healthy homes and communities.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”   (Genesis 2:18)

Jealousy, Mob Violence, Ignorant Ones Following the Herd

I was struck this morning by how familiar the events described in Acts 17 seem today in our age of community organizers, social media, political corruption & power grabbing, Soros funding, and mob violence. Now if only we could be bold, obedient, and Spirit filled in presenting the Gospel with clarity as Paul was.

"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Selected verses from Acts 17 are quoted below to illustrate this point, with caps added for emphasis and comments in brackets.

5 But the Jews were JEALOUS, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, THEY FORMED A MOB, set the city in an UPROAR and ATTACKED the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, SHOUTING [false accusations].... 8 And the people and the city authorities were DISTURBED when they heard these things....

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, AGITATING AND STIRRING UP THE CROWDS....

18 Some of the Epicurean (very emotional, worldly pleasure seekers) and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this BABBLER wish to say?” [If you try to reason logically today using more than Twitter's maximum character limit, you are labeled a "babbler".]
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus [a place for discussing philosophical ideas which would be alot like digital "news" and social media today]...

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in NOTHING except telling or hearing something new.

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some MOCKED. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

Only the gospel of Christ can free us from folly, ignorance, hatred, and despair. So why do so many Americans insist that we keep it from the public square?

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (Titus 3:3-7, ESV)

The Only Way to Truly Satisfy Social Justice Warriors

Do all these people who are crying out for equality, world peace, open borders, equal outcomes, distribution of wealth, and one unified global government realize that what they are truly longing for is Heaven? None of those things are fully possible unless sin is absent and resources are limitless.

God initially gave us Heaven on earth, but Adam and Eve were not content with perfection under the authority of God, so they chose to disobey God, tempted by that which promised to make them like God.  God's punishment on man included painful toil. Provisions would no longer come easily, and never again would there be sufficient resources readily available for everyone (Matthew 26:11). Since Adam and Eve sought to dominate instead of assimilate, they were deported from paradise, and a cherubim with a flaming sword was set up as a type of border patrol, blocking the way to the tree of life, with the strictest vetting protocol. (Genesis 1-3)

Under Nimrod, mankind tried to set up another global utopia at a plain in Shinar where they cried, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4) Knowing the wicked corruption that the lust for power brings and the folly of misguided worship, God confused their languages and scattered them into different nations and cultures so that no one man or government body would rule the whole earth.  God established the different nations for our protection and for the greater good (Acts 17:26-17).

God loves the nations.  He established clear boundaries for the nations and gives specific commands for protecting them (which do involve some massive walls), and for preserving their unique identities. (2 Chronicles 14:6-7)  He gives instructions regarding who to include or exclude (Deuteronomy 23:3, Exodus 23: 32-33).  He teaches families and nations to look out for their own first (1 Timothy 5:8, Deuteronomy 15:11,  Romans 12:13), but he also commands us to also show love and hospitality to sojourners (Leviticus 19:34, Leviticus 23:22, Leviticus 25:35, Deuteronomy 10:19, Deuteronomy 14:29,  Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Deuteronomy 26:12-13, Matthew 25:35-40, Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:1), with the understanding that those who stay should assimilate into the culture, adhering to the laws of the land (Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Leviticus 18:26).  

(For more information on how the Bible instructs us on issues of immigration, reference Danny Carroll's article found here.)

While God loves all the nations, He established Israel to be a light to the nations, sent Christ to be the Light of the world (and the fulfillment of Israel's calling), and commissioned the church to take the Gospel of Christ to the furthest corners of the earth.  His Gospel is for all the nations.  However, God does not support globalism established by man for the glory of man, for as we have seen throughout world history with the rise and fall of kings and nations, ultimate power ultimately corrupts.  Only God possesses that power, deserves that honor, and can rule with perfect righteousness, but mankind rejected His authority.

By His goodness and grace, God set His redemptive plan in motion when He cursed the serpent at the fall as described in Genesis 3:15. The seed of the woman, Christ Jesus, would crush Satan's head and strike his heel. God planned from the beginning to restore all that was lost and to reestablish all He intended for His creation (see Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 25, Matthew 5-7, Revelation 7, 21-22).  God is the One who will bring about this new kingdom, not man, for only God is perfect in holiness and justice, infinite in wisdom and love, limitless, omniscient, omnipotent, and eternally good.

So please consider, social justice warriors, that while we should all strive to make the world a better place and while God uniquely called us to be wise and faithful stewards over the earth (Genesis 1), what your heart truly desires is His everlasting kingdom (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  No amount of good works, activism, or passionate protests will get you to that perfect place your heart desires.  The narrow way to Heaven (Matthew 7:13-15) is found by trusting in Jesus's redemptive work on the cross and by believing that He is God's son who bore all our sins in our place.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven. 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

In His word, God gives us a glimpse of this new heaven that awaits all who believe. How glorious it will be!

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death....

...It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. ¹² It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ¹³ There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[thick. ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  (Revelation 21: 1-8, 11-26)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  (Revelation 22:1-5)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)

‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7: 16-17)

 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  (Luke 13:29)

The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tear from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

⁹ In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

¹⁰ The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain;
    but Moab will be trampled in their landas straw is trampled down in the manure.
¹¹ They will stretch out their hands in it,
    as swimmers stretch out their hands to swim.
God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.
¹² He will bring down your high fortified wallsand lay them low;
he will bring them down to the ground, to the very dust.  (Isaiah 25:8-12)

The real reason Americans are so angry and divided and what to do about it

Extreme polarization, disunity, anger, rioting, violence and overall civil unrest have escalated in America at an alarming rate over the past decade.  The information age and the rapid rise of social media networks have contributed to these negative trends by increasing the dissemination of information and by facilitating the erosion of credibility among information producers.  Anyone can present himself as an expert and spread false information, "fake news", or misleading opinions without accountability.

Media producers profit more by publishing sensational stories with click-bait titles than they do by publishing thoughtful insights and verified facts.  Smart phones and social media saturate users with so much information 24/7 that few have the time or patience to read media that is more than 500 words or that requires in-depth thought, so the media is mostly dumbed-down to emotional sound bites that make consumers FEEL intense emotions without having to think much at all.  Opinions and talking points are virtually absorbed by osmosis, and once those opinions are established, social media intensifies those opinions through algorithms that feed consumers only what reinforces those opinions. This confirmation bias closes minds and hearts to differing perspectives. This refusal to consider or evaluate opposing opinions has turned some of America's most elite universities, where the marketplace of ideas once fueled innovative thought and mutual understanding, into censorship zones where only the most liberal philosophies are permitted a voice. Polarization is a natural outcome of a refusal to expose oneself to opposing viewpoints.  Since no persuasive arguments or thoughtful defenses are needed to support a common opinion in such censored environments, any attempt by an outsider to engage in meaningful dialogue or respectful debate is immediately shut down by resorting to name calling ("hater", "bigot", "sexist", or any combination of vulgar expletives) or by simply disengaging.  Those who refuse to conform to this herd mentality have been persecuted, whether by exclusion, fines, bullying, or violence. 

Social media has also removed the filter that face-to-face interactions provide, emboldening users to say online what they would never say in person. Sociologists consider social media to be a primary contributor to the problems of isolation, depression, low self-esteem, and the inability of many Millennials and heavy media users to develop meaningful face-to-face relationships with others. Strong interpersonal relationships are the glue that unites a society, so the less we relate to one another in real life, the less peace and unity we will experience overall.

These tensions have especially intensified since the rise of Black Lives Matter which encouraged the killing of police officers simply because of their profession.  Then when Hillary did not win the election as expected, the rioting began again, especially among entitled young people who do not know how to handle disappointment because their hovering parents never let them fail, and their teachers and coaches gave every kid an award or a trophy.  The media certainly paints a grim picture of the current state of the nation with angry, violent, grieving, hysterical Americans acting as though the world has ended.

With sincere concern for the emotionally distraught, I must point out that none of us, regardless of political or religious affiliation, should ever overreact to anything the media presents as emotionally charged click bait, especially when it is void of accurate facts or specifics.  The angrier and more emotional Americans become, the more the media profits. Some media outlets have been caught flat out lying to perpetuate the negative emotions that are so profitable for them.

To those tempted to hysteria, consider how much your heart and blood pressure, your doctors, and everyone around you would thank you if would simply ignore the exaggerated claims until you have the facts and can understand the full context.  Just as wise parents ignore their toddlers when they throw temper tantrums for no reason, those in authority will discount all whining and protesting done in ignorance.  Truly, unjustified anger serves no constructive purpose, but if left unchecked, can easily turn into bitterness that grows to destroy the one who harbors it.  (Ecclesiastes 7:9,  Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 4:26-31, James 1:19-20, , Colossians 3:8, James 4:1-2)

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;  do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:8-9)

The Biblical account of Jacob and Esau points out how quickly anger, even if sparked by legitimate injustice, can grow into hatred that morphs into psychopathic behavior.  Esau went from anger to hatred to plotting to murder his brother in a very short time period. (Genesis 27:41)  Esau is not unlike many Americans.  Ever since Trump's inauguration, the news has been filled with examples of angry insults, violent protests, Madonna's desire to bomb the White House, individual threats to assassinate Trump, over 12,000 tweets calling for Trump's assassination, and an extremely profane speech at a Black Lives Matter protest calling for killings across the White House and beyond.  The anger in America is out of control, and it is completely unjustified.  When have any of these angry protestors had personal interactions with Trump in which Trump hurt them in such a way as to justify the death sentence?  Esau could at least point out that Jacob had tricked him out of his birthright and out of his father's blessing, yet God's complete disapproval of Esau's hatred is clear, for the Hebrew word used to describe Esau's hatred of Jacob is the same root word from which the name Satan is derived.

When we are personally angry and frustrated or when our nation is filled with hostility and division, we must stop reacting emotionally and start thinking critically.  We must carefully consider not only what is true in any situation (instead of what the media wants us to believe), but even more importantly, we need to identify the true source for our anger.  We can probably all agree that the technological age and the rise of social media have made the tensions worse, but most would place the blame on the person at whom their hatred is directed.  Republicans blamed Obama. Obama blamed Bush. Black Lives Matter blamed police officers of any color.   Now the blame for so much division and instability in America is being collectively placed on Trump and his supporters.

While the loudest protestors insist that Trump is the source of their angst, God's word offers a different answer.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. (James 4:1-2a)

People are angry because they did not get what they expected or wanted.  Entitled people do not know how to handle disappointment. They believe all the negative media published to incite fear and cannot bring themselves to accept any other scenario than the one they demand or to hope that their worst fears will not be realized. When Obama was elected, conservatives wrestled with the same feelings of disappointment, fear, and despair for the same reason. They did not get what they wanted, but they had to accept the truth for what it is and move forward with faith in God and without fear of man.

Our refusal to let go of bitterness, fear, and resentment is also rooted within ourselves.  Fear is the absence of faith. We will never be at peace as long as we refuse to trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God.

"I am deeply persuaded that the primary reason we complain, grumble, and accuse is because the sovereignty of God doesn’t rule in our heart."  - Paul David Tripp

In a devotional entitled, "The Sovereignty of Words" (read it here), Paul David Tripp describes the pure, edifying, peaceful speech that flows out of a heart steadfastly ruled by God's sovereignty, no matter what trials may come. I have quoted a portion from Tripp's post below.

"When people frustrate us, when our plans are thwarted, and when suffering enters our door, our lips dispense words laced with anger, bitterness, envy, doubt, confusion, and fear. All of these emotions are given room to grow when there is a void of rich understanding and belief in the sovereignty of God.

We have forgotten that God’s dominion is an eternal dominion and he does as he pleases (Daniel 4:34-35). We don’t remind ourselves that his judgements are unsearchable and his ways inscrutable (Romans 11:33). We have neglected to meditate on the truths that God rules over the specific details of our lives for his glory and our good (Acts 17:26-27, Ephesians 1:4-6, 20-22 and many more)."

Entitlement thinking says, "You owe me.  Give me what I deserve."  God's word, on the other hand, teaches us that none of us is righteous (Romans 3: 9-20), and what we truly deserve is death (Romans 6:23).

Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve.  Jesus died to save us from the eternal death we deserve and to give us what we could never earn or merit on our own (forgiveness, purification, a personal relationship with Him, and eternal life with Him in Heaven).  Through Christ's death on our behalf on the cross, He offers both mercy and grace to all who will believe and put their trust in Him as Lord over their lives. 

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 Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:20-23).

Entitlement thinking leaves no room for grace, so let us humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging how much we have fallen short of His perfect standard.  (Romans 3: 9-20)

 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3)

Fear leaves no room for hope, joy, or peace. Replace fear with faith and love.  (Deuteronomy 1:21, Deuteronomy 3:2, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 20:3, Joshua 8:1, Joshua 10:8, Judges 6:23, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 91:5, Psalm 46:2, Proverbs 19:23, Isaiah 41:10-14, Isaiah 43:5, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 54:14, Isaiah 57:11, 1 John 4:18, and more... 

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" 
(Psalm 118:6)

Deception leaves no room for truth or peace.  So let us throw off our old ways of thinking and think Biblically with a sound mind and an earnest desire for God's whole truth and perfect wisdom.

Instead of harboring bitterness, we must forgive as Christ forgives His followers.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) 

Ephesians 4 provides great instructions on how to curb our anger and fear in such uncertain times, but it requires a willingness and a commitment to growing in maturity and unity.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it....

^...11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work....

^...22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."