We cannot expect things to make sense, be rational or consistent in our fallen world that is becoming worse and worse.
There was a news story this morning about fraternity college students who used the "N" word in a song on an outing. The song was recorded by someone and of course it reached the media. And, you can guess what happened after that. Never mind that the movies blaspheme the name of the Lord Jesus Christ continually, while filthy language is used in the dialogue of nearly every movie made these days.
The fraternity was shut down, which was alright with me, they are hot beds of foolishness anyway, but rather than being disciplined for wrong attitudes the students may be facing expulsion. In my estimation this is overkill, punishment not appropriate for the "crime", if someone wants to label "wrong attitude" as crime. If our attitudinal language in movies be taken as seriously as the "N" word was here? That would be more consistent, but of course the world has it's pet sins that no one can touch.
Then there is the case of the bakery owners who bothered no one, but declined to bake a cake for a same sex wedding. The bakery owners were forced out of business by spoiled brats who thought they could manipulate and coerce their targets to accept their lifestyle. Even though there were bakeries all over the city that would have been happy to make their cake, they had to have their tantrum and ruin someone who didn't approve of their activities. The bakery owners had no desire to ruin the homosexuals, they simply did not want to participate in their sin.
Next example that is consistent with "freedom of religion and freedom of speech", is the statement by Starbucks blatantly and brazenly proclaiming before the public "if you are a homophobe we don't want your business."
Does anyone see the pattern here, Starbucks is allowed to malign an entire group of people based on their personal belief system, while the people with the bakery are not allowed to privately decline to make a cake for one couple. Starbucks is endorsed and applauded for telling people they don't want their business but the bakery is forced out of business for declining to make a cake for an event. For Starbucks it was about a particular class of people, for the bakery owners it was about an ideology not the people.
I am quite sure that if homosexuals had come into the bakery to buy donuts or cupcakes, nothing would have been said. It wasn't about serving the homosexuals, it was about being party to endorsing the wedding that is an abomination to God.
When an entire country can be held hostage by evil men, we know we have lost the war.
Evil men are not satisfied with just being able to do their wicked deeds they must force others into silence about it. They relentlessly attack and intimidate a culture that has been living in fear of rejection for many years now, even those who were once vocal about sin are clamming up out of fear of the rejection of men.
The churches are now running scared along with the rest of the culture. They know if they speak boldly about anything of value, they will be rejected by those in the church and their families. The slightest hint of disapproval of anything or anyone, places the bold one in jeopardy of isolation, manipulation and contempt.
The only reason to ponder this injustice in the world is to encourage those who think they must have done something wrong when people have set them aside or when they demean them in subtle ways to poke at them, continually poking to intimidate, cause anger and frustration, is their main goal. If these mean people can get you to blow up or come unglued they feel justified in their mission to demean and discredit you.
Our world has decided what we are suppose to believe and any deviation from its agenda will not be tolerated. This agenda is masterminded by the devil himself, but the men think it is their idea.
Many years ago I was the only one I knew speaking against the self esteem teaching in the schools, then it crept into the churches and now it permeates every home in one form or another. Even educated seminary graduates came against me on it. God showed me back then it was wrong, but even then, most believers were flowing with the culture rather than the Bible. More sadly, the up and coming leaders from Bible colleges were defending and teaching self esteem.
What they don't know is that, if you are born again, and walking closely with the Lord, there isn't anything they can do to unhinge you. Christ can be the One that speaks in response, they can fight with Him.
When we come to the place where it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of us, or whether or not man likes us, then we are where Christ wants us, free from the manipulation and coercion of the world. We love people so much and Christ more, that the truth is the most important thing we can give them. But those people that we love, do not control us or our thoughts, Christ does.
Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
John 12:42-43 "42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Notice that many who believed in Christ would not openly profess their faith because they were afraid of men. Those who manipulate to silence, are not much different from those who remain silence to be approved of men. They both are depending on their human condition to comfort them rather than Christ. Of course one is born again and fearful, and one is lost and fearful.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
James 1:2-8 "2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
When I lose a friend or family member because I wanted to share truth with them, but they refused to listen and pray about it, then I leave it to God. He is helping me to let go and let Him. When we are so fixated on retaining a stubborn friend, then that friend becomes an idol in our hearts and it must be dealt with.
Keep in mind that keeping company with those who are in rebellion, will only cause regression in us. God said that we will be infected with the same disease that we expose ourselves to.
1 Corinthians 15:32-34 "…32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."
GO WITH GOD, NOT MAN!
