Sunday, December 20, 2020

The Bible is Better Than CRT

The Bible is so much better than Critical Race Theory.
No church cooperative needs that ungodly prejudiced worldview for an analytical tool (SBC).

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB

You don't need bad theories that cause division when you have the sufficient Scriptures!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7 NASB

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
James 2:1 NASB
Favoritism is denounced in Scripture.


For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27-28 NASB
Christians are unified in Christ.

and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, Acts 17:26 NASB 

Since we all came from Adam, we are all related to each other.  
White people are no more guilty than people of other shades of skin. 
There are sinners of every color and culture, and there are sinners in all human governments (so there can be no utopia).  Only when the Lord Himself comes to reign will anyone see a perfect government.
 
Everyone is born a sinner and in need of the Savior.  The station in life any of us was born into, or attained, or was reduced down to isn't as important as our relationship to Christ.
You can't stereotype all people of one color as being rich or poor or "privileged" in the U.S. simply by looking at their skin or ancestry.  Jealousy and bitterness are sinful attitudes. Greed is as well.
Christians should never hate people or seek revenge. Joseph in the Bible ended up helping his relatives who sold him into slavery (though they may have had a hard time believing he forgave them).
Christians today should understand how much God loved us - that when we were yet enemies Christ died for us.  Do we love our enemies, forgive them, and pray for them?   
That is the Biblical example rather than looking back at what our ancestors might have done to each other and trying to retroactively reverse roles.  Who knows what evils all of our ancestors have done?
Ezekiel 18 shows us people are responsible for their own sins.  If a son doesn't do what his father did, then you don't sit there demanding an apology or money from someone not guilty..  
All people are born guilty in the headship of Adam, and people of every ethnicity need the second Adam...that is Christ .... to save us from our own sins and to be placed under His headship.

This time of year many of us remember Jesus coming to earth with love and great humility.
Though He was still God in essence, He humbled Himself taking the form of a slave.  He added on humanity which was a huge sacrifice. 
He became obedient unto death - even death on a cross for rotten sinners like you and me who deserved eternal judgment in Hell.
Do we have anywhere near that kind of love and humility?  No, we do not.

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 NASB

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:25-26 NASB

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB

Monday, December 14, 2020

Hope & Encouragement in a Crazy World

I've been pretty quiet on here lately.

What with the shenanigans going on with the election and other distractions and stresses, I haven't really felt like I've had much to say that you would want to read.  The country I grew up in seems to be hurtling downward with little to stop it.

The hope we as Christians have in this world is in the Lord no matter what circumstances God has us in.  He is my hope.  He is trustworthy.

Those who are not Christians need to hear of  the hope we have in the Christ who was not just born of a virgin, laid in a manger, and proclaimed by angels.  He also lived a sinless life and died taking the punishment for sinful people who trust in Him. He also rose from the dead.  He is God the Son who made the world and is still superintending what is going on today not only in this country, the world, the universe, but in what is happening in my life and yours.

We desire peace and mercy for the country in which we live, but there are times when evil rises up and the people groan and suffer.  God has His purposes even in that for the good of His children...to conform us to be more like Christ and to make us long for Heaven.  We have been so easily lulled in a life that has had so much freedom.

One thing that I want to encourage other believers to do this week is to think of some way that we can encourage someone else (or even more than one person).  One way to get our minds off of ourselves is to remember to love and pray for someone else...especially other Christians who also need encouragement.

Is there someone you can show love to in some way this week?

Many people are distressed or sick or discouraged right now.  

It is good to remind ourselves of the eternal perspective and hope in the Lord that we should have, and then to encourage others with it.  That is what I need to do.


My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Psalm 62:5-7 NASB (1977)


God is our refuge and strength, 
A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 NASB (1977)