Woebetudes

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

We love the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.  They teach a reality that is upside-down, but positive.  We can all put ourselves in the place of the poor in spirit and those who mourn, and be encouraged by Jesus' promise of blessing.

We seldom consider the parallel version of Jesus' words in Luke 6, which include what someone has called the "Woebetudes:"

"But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."  (Luke 6:24-6)

Maybe, if we examine ourselves honestly, we can also put ourselves in the place of the comfortable and the reputable, and be fearful of Jesus' words.

There's no escaping the fact that Jesus' gospel was bad news for some; for those who grow rich by impoverishing others, or profit from others' bondage.  Bad news, perhaps, for people such as we may be.

Jesus wasn't killed for the good news He brought to men . . .
 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
 

Pray...and Don't Pray

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”            I Timothy 2:1-2

Did God mean the Christians who received this letter should pray for Nero, their evil ruler ?  Yes.

Did He intend that Russian Christians pray for Josef Stalin ?  Yes.

That German Christians should pray for Adolf Hitler ?  Yes.

Did God intend that Christians pray for the success of those rulers’ evil deeds ?  Of course not.

We should obey God, and pray for our current president.

But it is an offense to God, as some teach, that Christians should pray that God reverse His Own moral Law, and make the lies and unrighteousness of our current president "succeed."

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Blessing

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

A few years ago I was praying, and asking God to bless various people who were sick, or lost their jobs, bless our church activities, etc.

God said, "You're praying all wrong."

So I waited to hear what He was going to say.

He said, "You pray for blessings like they were a pile of poker-chips I push across the table to people."

When I considered what He'd said, I had to admit, yes, that really was how I was thinking of blessings.

"No." He said.  "Blessing is My Presence."

That's been my definition ever since of what "blessing" is.

Blessing to all who read here.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Sin is Stupidity, and Stupidity Sin

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Sin is absolute stupidity.  And stupidity is absolutely sin. 

There's all kinds of ways to work that through: but here's a biggie.

Doing self-destructive things is laughable...and fatally stupid.  We're all familiar with the Darwin Awards.

Sin is self-destructive.  Going against God's commands is ASSURED self-destruction.  That's real stupid.

But wisdom keeps us from being stupid.  And God offers WISDOM to anyone who asks Him in faith (James 1:5-6).

Maybe some haven't heard His promise, and don't know to ask.

But the profoundly stupid are those who know God's promise, and choose instead to "turn to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6)

God says that choice is sin.  God says that choice assures self-destruction.  That choice is stupid.

The good news is that although we've all been stupid ("all have sinned..."), we don't have to stay stupid.  God offers us the chance to change our minds: the Bible's word for that is "repent."

That starts by admitting you were stupid, and asking God for His wisdom to keep you from continuing in stupidity.

Father, open the eyes of CHRISTIANS in this country to repent this destructive political foolishness.  Father, please forgive us for so sorely OFFENDING you all these years.  God, Father, forgive us !!

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Now Recruiting

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
  

Everybody wants to believe they're on "God's side."

But quoting Bible verses on facebook is no proof. The way we know if we're on "God's side" is if we love Him.

The way we know we love God is if we OBEY Him.

God commands us to love mercy and peace. He commands us to hate lies and unrighteousness.

Recruiters for "God's side" and the "other side" are standing by right now on facebook.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Capitalism, Really ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I'm amazed how many of my Christian facebook "friends" post stuff about how righteous capitalism is.  Usually that alleged righteousness is by comparison with some very evil economic theory . . . usually socialism.

It's true Jesus had plenty to say about righteous economic relations.  But it seems questionable that any human economic theories really embody what He taught.

Capitalism certainly doesn't.  Capitalism is a materialistic philosophy.

Should Christians champion materialism ?


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Star Wars Christianity

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

There's a scene in the original "Star Wars"...

Imperial storm-troopers are searching for Luke and his friends.  As they approach the spot where Luke and friends are hiding, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes a stance in front of the storm-troopers' officer, looks commandingly in his face, and says, "There's nothing to see here."

The officer turns and says to his men, "There's nothing to see here."

Obi-Wan Kenobi says to the officer, "Move along !"

The officer dutifully commands his men, "Move along !"

 Yeah, it's like that.  

Trumpi-Wan Kenobi looks the Church in the eye, and says, "Nothing to see here."  No lies, no viciousness, no arrogance, no unrighteousness ...no wrong spirit...at the heart of America's government.  And the "leaders" of the American Church dutifully tell their people, "Nothing to see here, Christians."  

The difference is that Trump's not even trying to hide his pride, his hatred, and his lies.  His spirit, his unrighteous spirit, is in plain sight, every day, continually: exactly as he thinks it should be, and demands it be...himself every Page 1 story, every place in all the world, every minute.

But never mind, Church.  Keep posting your Bible-verses about salvation and your "Like if you love Jesus !" memes on facebook.  Nothing spiritual to see in the world's daily events..

Pay no attention to the spirit behind the curtain. 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Muslim Immigration

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

It’s always been hard to evangelize Muslims. Most of their countries ban Christian missionaries, to keep their people from hearing the good news of Jesus.

But that doesn’t thwart God’s wisdom and mercy toward Muslims. He brings them to us, in this country where we are free to tell them the good news, and…most importantly…live the gospel in front of them, and toward them.

Thank you, Father ! Your Ways are always righteous and perfect !

(Isn't it amazing how "the world" always gets what God does upside-down, and backwards ?!?)

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Repent, Christian

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
  
Jesus said " I AM...the Truth" (John 14:6).

Jesus said "...the Truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

Jesus said satan is "...a liar, and the father of lies..." (John 8:44).

Jesus said "...everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin" (John 8:34).

If your politics makes you "like" lies and liars, and spread lies, and follow liars, and whitewash lies and liars,
you are NOT following Jesus.

Repent of your politics, and turn back to Jesus.  The Truth will set you free from lies.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Inauguration Day

                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                   


Yesterday I couldn't wait to get in front of God in prayer.  I'd literally been feeling a bit sick the past few days, and needed desperately to be with Him and hear Him.

I'd organized and spread word to our local rural churches of a silent prayer-time beginning at 11, to coincide with the beginning of the inauguration.  "Silent," so we could listen to God, and hear what He is saying to us in this time.

The one friend who'd said she's be there e-mailed that she needed to be with a friend having surgery.  She's an honest person, so I know she wasn't just making excuses.

Nobody else showed up, but I didn't feel that mattered; and I was careful to cut off the lie of feeling I was "the only one who cares."  God has thousands of saints who see what's going on, and who are as heart-sick as He is at the ascendance of unrighteousness and lies.

It only mattered that I do what He told me, and trust Him for anything beyond that.  I did, and He was pleased to be there, and reassure me of His rule even over the rampant evil of this time.  After a couple hours in His Presence, I was reassured.  I drove home feeling a kind of established joy: He IS, He is with us, He is King.

I purposefully didn't listen to the radio all day, so I've heard none of the speeches, Trump's nor his "faith-leaders."  I'm curious what the latter might have said in blessing an unrighteous ruler, so I'll probably look them up later.

This morning, it just seems like "business as usual" again in America.  People's lives continue on an even keel, America is still the greatest nation on earth, and all's right with the world.  I'm sure the appearance of normalcy will reassure many, and lull them into still-deeper certainty that we haven't really crossed a determinative spiritual line, and there's nothing to fear.

I'm glad...with a great deal of trepidation...God's given me spiritual eyes to see the forces of evil we face: and given me the boldness to speak against them, and the compassion to speak reassurance to God's saints that His power is greater, and is with us.

Praise you, Beloved King !!  All glory to You !  Amen.