I meet people every day who defend the constitution which represents their personal freedom, but never mention the Bible. These people have placed the value of the constitution above God's Word.
They will fight verbally to defend this piece of paper by the law of the land, while ignoring the principles of God's Word in conversation. In fact when God's Word is mentioned, there is embarrassment, but there is no embarrassment at the mention of the constitution.
Sort of seems to me that what we speak the most about, is what we revere the most. Or am I missing something?
The constitution of this country is not an inspired work of God, it is the concoction of men who wanted to create a moral environment based on Christian principles without promoting any particular religion. They were happy to include Christianity in that grouping of different faiths, but they were not willing to elevate it above all other religions.
Seems odd to me that a government claiming to be based on Christianity, would welcome and even embrace every other faith too.
Notice the wording in our documents...."for the people and by the people." Seems like it should read "for God and by God", if this were truly a Christian nation.
God says there is only one faith that counts, this faith is spoken of in the Bible, faith toward Christ Jesus. IF we were truly a Christian nation we would need no constitution, all we need is the Bible.
IF we place any measure of hope and faith in the constitution of a country then we are robbing God of the faith we should place in Him.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Secular Humanism is Alive and Well in the Church
Secular Humanism is Alive and Well in the Church
Our culture confuses discipline with revenge. Revenge harms
people just because of anger, however discipline is for the purpose of
restoration. Both can hurt, one is from God the other human reaction.
Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are
the kisses of an enemy."
Proverbs 20:30
"30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes
the inner depths of the heart."
Since we live in a culture that thinks discipline and
correction is mean, we continually battle with those who say psychological
things they think are Biblical but in fact are secular humanism.
Forgiveness Under What Conditions?
We do not forgive for
our own sake! But for the sake of the sinning Brother!
We do not forgive
until there is repentance. Christ does not forgive those who are not, and we
are not to do so either.
Our world has taught
us to forgive even if someone else is not sorry and continues to sin. That is not Biblical, I see no scripture that
states this, “for our own sake.”
When we forgive before
a person is ready to be sorry, then we short circuit God's provision for
brokenness over sin.
One cannot be changed
until they can agree and confess that they have sinned. When we do not require confession of sin, we
leave an unrepentant person comfortable with sinning, believing that he can sin
all he wants and nothing will be required of him.
He doesn't change
under this dilution. Relationships cannot be restored until there is sorrow
over sin. The purpose of confession and
repentance is to rebuild a broken bridge.
If only half the bridge is built, forgiveness, then there cannot be a
restored relationship, half of the bridge is missing.
We are called to bless
those who curse us, but we are also told to shun those who claim to be
believers but will not confess their sin.
The purpose of
shunning is to show a person their sinfulness to bring them to repentance. There is a important process laid out in
God's Word that restores relationships, if that process is not followed, then
we go around God's way of discipline for restoration, to the human method of
helping others to continue in their sin.
Matthew 18:15-17
15 “Moreover if your
brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that
‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’[a] 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church,
let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
Galatians 6:1
“6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
Titus 3:10-11
“10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is
warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”
2
Thessalonians 3:15
“15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
1 Timothy 5:20
“20 Those who are sinning rebuke
in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
Romans 16:17
“17 Now I urge you, brethren, note
those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you
learned, and avoid them.”
Titus 1:9
“9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may
be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14
“14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort
the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
The Light of Christ Dwells in Believers
Darkness is nothing, it is merely the absence of light. We can measure light, but darkness cannot be measured, because it is nothing. Light is what exposes what is in the darkness.
Those who are not born again, and die in that condition, having rejected Christ will live in eternal darkness.
Notice that we are gloomier on days that are gray and overcast, when we are in sadness. Notice too that we are happier, on days that are bright and sunny, the light and warmth of the sun, brings us out of our sadness. We were created to enjoy light.
Christ is the light of the world and when we are in Christ, when He has changed us into a new creation and dwells in us, then the darkness of the world cannot take away our joy. The Light of Christ lives in us.
Those who do not have Christ are often manipulated by the dark and gloomy weather, as though it controls them. Their sadness is deeper and even overpowering, because there is no light in them to overpower the darkness of the world.
Remembering that darkness is merely the absence of light helps us to see that we have no power against the darkness when we are in a lost state. It is Christ in believers who have power over the darkness, to continue on in faith and hope when the light is gone in the world, we have the Light of Christ, that dwells in us.
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."
1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
If we have trusted Christ we are His light.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that 2 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We can sense the darkness in another soul, since the Light of Christ is dwelling in us, The Light of Christ exposes the darkness.
There is a spiritual darkness that looms over those who do not know Christ, it is evident to those with discernment, those who walk in the Light of Christ. Often we have a sense of foreboding when in the presence of the unsaved. We don’t always know what we are sensing, but the darkness in them is evidenced by the Light in believers.
This knowledge and sense of darkness should lead us to witness to those who are in darkness and on their way to hell. Knowing what is looming ahead for them,. if they do not trust Christ, should motivate us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He gives clear direction to share the good news.
Those who are not born again, and die in that condition, having rejected Christ will live in eternal darkness.
Notice that we are gloomier on days that are gray and overcast, when we are in sadness. Notice too that we are happier, on days that are bright and sunny, the light and warmth of the sun, brings us out of our sadness. We were created to enjoy light.
Christ is the light of the world and when we are in Christ, when He has changed us into a new creation and dwells in us, then the darkness of the world cannot take away our joy. The Light of Christ lives in us.
Those who do not have Christ are often manipulated by the dark and gloomy weather, as though it controls them. Their sadness is deeper and even overpowering, because there is no light in them to overpower the darkness of the world.
Remembering that darkness is merely the absence of light helps us to see that we have no power against the darkness when we are in a lost state. It is Christ in believers who have power over the darkness, to continue on in faith and hope when the light is gone in the world, we have the Light of Christ, that dwells in us.
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."
1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
If we have trusted Christ we are His light.
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that 2 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We can sense the darkness in another soul, since the Light of Christ is dwelling in us, The Light of Christ exposes the darkness.
There is a spiritual darkness that looms over those who do not know Christ, it is evident to those with discernment, those who walk in the Light of Christ. Often we have a sense of foreboding when in the presence of the unsaved. We don’t always know what we are sensing, but the darkness in them is evidenced by the Light in believers.
This knowledge and sense of darkness should lead us to witness to those who are in darkness and on their way to hell. Knowing what is looming ahead for them,. if they do not trust Christ, should motivate us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He gives clear direction to share the good news.
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