Giving Prophecy: Addenda

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I always find it interesting that so many Trump-supporters and "conservatives" are quick to take criticism of "liars" and "evil-doers" as criticism of their leader and their faction.  It reminds me of a story I heard in the Navy, about a sailor being court-martialled for striking an officer.

One of the men working beside the accused sailor that day was being questioned about events that led up to the assault.  He testified that the accused had told their work-crew, "The next time that stupid son-of-a-bitch gets in my face, I'm gonna punch him out."

The questioner asked, "And how did you know that Seaman Smith was referring to Lieutenant Jones ?"

The witness replied, "Everybody knows, Sir, that Lieutenant Jones is a stupid son-of-a-bitch."

I find it interesting that even the followers of Trump and the "conservatives" know their leaders are "liars" and "evil-doers"

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Giving Prophecy

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

As we began discussing the book of Zechariah in Sunday School class today, brother Rob said he had to wonder what things we are doing that "make God mad," so much that He would send a prophet to tell us, "Just STOP that !!"

Rob's a good brother, whose honesty I admire a lot: and hearing his question, I felt like God was saying to give him the message I've been hearing from Him.  (There's such a thing as doing the right thing at the wrong time or in the wrong way, so I was careful to ask God if I should speak it out right then in class, or tell Rob privately later.)

So after class I caught Rob, and referenced his question.  I think I remember, a few hours later, pretty verbatim what God gave me to say.   I first urged Rob to discern, as we're commanded to do in scripture, if what I spoke was God's word.  Then I told him, "God says, 'My people must stop following liars and workers of unrighteousness, and saying "This is God's way." ' "  Then I told him again to discern if this was God's word.

On the face of it, I don't see how "stop following liars and workers of unrighteousness" could be discerned as a word NOT from God's Spirit.  Who but God would say that ?  Obviously the "father of lies" would not be in the business of telling Christians to NOT listen to his recruiters.

But the biggest discernment problem for Christians in America in these times is discerning anything that touches on politics.  Some Christians react strongly against speaking about anything politically controversial: which lets virtually all individual and societal sin off the hook, in a time and a nation where politicians have made everything political.  Other Christians are so governed by a factional mindset (which they often self-delude is a "Christian" mindset) that they can only believe any word critical of their faction and its beliefs is the work of the "enemy" faction...and could not possibly be from God.

Probably many American Christians in those two camps would hear the prophecy God gave me as being "political"...which it is.  Those who follow Trump and the "conservatives" would hear it as critical of their faction...which it is, though not about their faction only.

The discernment problem I would most foresee is that both the Trumpites and the don't-touchites would be unable to hear God saying anything that didn't fall comfortably within the circle of acceptability they themselves drew.

The reasoning seems to be that God doesn't give "political" prophecies.  Or that He doesn't prophesy against our politics: how could He, when our faction is on His "side" !?!?.  But scripture shows, MASSIVELY and REPEATEDLY, He does.

I can't help being curious what Rob will do with discerning the word I gave him from God.  If God wants me to know, I'm sure He'll let me know.  But the point was obeying Him to give His word, and let it do His work, to His glory.

And AMEN !!

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

John Wesley on A Christian Nation

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"Where, I pray, do the Christians live Which is the country, the inhabitants whereof are all thus filled with the Holy Ghost -- are all of one heart and of one soul cannot suffer one among them to lack anything, but continually give to every man as he hath need; who, one and all, have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbour as themselves; who have all 'put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering' who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth; but in every point do unto all men, as they would these should do unto them ? With what propriety can we term any a Christian country, which does not answer this description ? Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a Christian country upon earth."
                           --  John Wesley, "Scriptural Christianity," preached at Oxford University, 1744

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Mourning

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Does God raise up men of violence; men of lies, greed, and hatred; because they are men after His Own Heart ?  Does He raise unrighteous men to places of honor so His people will honor and follow their ways ?

Many "faith-leaders" in America have told us so.

Or does He raise such men to the heights so that, when His swift justice strikes them down, His rule and His glory will be visible throughout the earth, and make even those who see from afar cry that "The Lord, He Alone IS God."

What do the scriptures say ?

I wear an armband of mourning for America's Christians.  Deceived by their leaders, they know God so little that they believe the lies they are told about Him.  Like the Sadducees Jesus' dismissed from His Presence, America's Christians do not know the scriptures, or the power of God.

I wear an armband of mourning, deep mourning, for America's Christians.