I’m old enough to remember good products from all the American car companies. My father was a mechanic, and I would help him as a kid work on our cars. It started with holding the flashlight, and before I graduated from High School, I had learned to do more complicated repairs. Of course, that is relative to todays version of complicated. This is part of the problem. The companies today are sourcing parts from all over the world. You can’t police quality control from around the world. Also, they are hiring unqualified people simply for political reasons like DEI. I swear Ford has a death wish. I don’t care what color of skin the engineer has as long as they are at the top of their field. Unfortunately, the CEO’s are all on board with these globalist communist ideals. Let’s remember the cars the Soviets put out during the cold war era. They all sucked! They broke down all the time, and quality control was terrible. We need our meritocracy back!!!
I’m going to talk about Ford here, but you can apply it to all of our brands. Ford needs to scrap all their terrible new engines that blow up right off the lot. CVT’s need to disappear for ever. The slight gains in mpg’s is not worth the loss of durability. Bring back the straight 6 300ci engine. Go ahead and give it modern fuel injection. Bring back the durable automatic transmissions. Bring back the 4, and 5 spd manuals for trucks. Bring back the 302 V8. I’m sure we can squeeze the mpg’s out of them that we need. Sue the federal, and state governments that place unrealistic restrictions on the industry. Make the cars, and trucks in defiance of these ignorant idealogues, and we will reward you by purchasing these vehicles. Get rid of all the tech that can cripple the vehicle if it fails. I have a 2023 car that has a touch screen for everything including the driving modes, and climate control. If it goes out, I can’t even turn the air conditioning, or heater on! That is ridiculous!
I get it. You are all slaves to the WEF, Blackrock, and Vanguard. You are slaves of the global communists who are using the environment as a weapon against all of us. We hate you for going along. We hate all the politicians who have sold their souls to these scum buckets! Do you really want to make American manufacturing great? Refuse to go along! Do what is morally right, and good! Stop being a mindless cog in the communist machine!
If you are like me, and my wife, we don’t go to movies that insult our values, or our Lord Jesus Christ. For many Americans who are not as serious about their faith, have no faith, or a different faith, you may not being going to the movies for similar reasons. Even people who are not Christian don’t want woke, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, (D.E.I.) ideology forced on us. We are especially irritated at the idea that we should pay to see such morally bankrupt filth. Here is a short list of movies that just came out that aren’t doing so well; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes, and The Fall Guy . Who in their right mind makes a Mad Max movie without Mad Max? Woke Hollywood. Who makes an action movie where the supposed hero is a 90 pound girl boss who can beat the snot out of hundreds of grown, desert, barbarian, men? Hollywood, that’s who. Who takes an iconic sci-fi series like Planet of the Apes, and morphs it into a girl boss movie? If you said Hollywood, you’re right again. Who takes a beloved action hero from 80’s television and makes him a little feminist simp? That’s right, Hollywood. You might ask why they keep doing this even though they are loosing billions of dollars. You’d be right to do so. The thing is, the money is secondary. They are actually mad at audiences for not going to the movies because we hate, loath, detest, the messages they are pushing on us. They are increasingly angry at the audience. It is hilarious to me that we are voting with our money, and they are loosing their minds. They can’t figure out why we oppose the sick, pedo-grooming, pro-pervert, race swapping, history rewriting, trash they are making. I hope they go out of business to tell you the truth.
It is a word we often use to describe our pain, and suffering. We say things like, “I’ve been in excruciating pain with my back injury.” Do you know where this word comes to us from? It is a Latin compound of, “ex” and “cruciare.” “Ex” is used to denote the idea of; out of, from, or of. “Cruciare” is to crucify. The specific type of suffering caused by Roman crucifixion had it’s own word. It is the suffering of crucifixion that was so intense, they had to come up with a word to describe it. Most of the online dictionaries I checked leave this information out of the definition, as well as the etymology. Webster’s was the only one with an etymology. Two dictionaries were more honest about the word, and it’s origins.
Webster’s defines excruciate,
1: to inflict intense pain on: TORTURE
2: to subject to intense mental distress
While Dictionary.com defines it,
verb as in nail to a cross
Think about the intense suffering Jesus experienced under the Roman torture. It was so intense, that the Romans had a word for it. Now, consider it in comparison to God pouring out His just wrath on the spotless, and true, Passover Lamb. Jesus, our Lord, and our God, suffered the wrath of God in our place. He took on Himself the guilt of all sinners He is saving. By faith, we can have His righteousness imputed to us. This miracle places us before Him on the day of judgment clothed in His righteousness.
I think this is why many dictionaries are leaving this information out these days. Some of them don’t even have the verb, “excruciate” in them. They have the word, “excruciating.” Remember, the world might try to digitally erase certain ideas, words, people, & historical facts, from common knowledge. Part of my job as an old curmudgeon is to remind younger people that they are being lied to by omission. I’d encourage you all to buy old dictionaries, theology books, Bibles, & other works, when you find them at yard sales, or thrift stores. If you read them, you might find, that you have been duped.
Until very recently, a majority of people knew about this word, and it’s etymology. I’m reminding us today. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins, and trust Him. He is the good Shepherd of Psalm 23. He is the one who leaves the ninety nine to retrieve the lost one. God does not try to save, and fail. He is not thwarted by fallen, and enslaved, human volition. Recollect your past. Examine yourself honestly. You are not innocent of breaking God’s laws. You know that law breakers justly deserve punishment. You know this by experiencing the shadow of this eternal truth in our temporal world. How much more do we deserve God’s wrath as traitors to Him? God is faithful, and just, to forgive us of our sins if we would repent, turn from them, and solely trust the work of Jesus Christ to justify us to God. I strongly encourage, and exhort, you today. Consider the good news. Repent, and trust Jesus!
I’m currently frustrated with all arguments I’m encountering from people supporting the Hebrew Roots Movement, and Messianic Judaism. I understand that these two groups may not want to be grouped together, but I really can’t see why I shouldn’t. Messianic Judaism sounds like an oxymoron to me. If you are in Christ, just call yourself a Christian already. From what I gather, to be a Messianic Jew, you need to be born an ethnic Jew, and then come to believe that Jesus was, and is the Messiah. Ok, fine, but why do they continue to practice their faith as if they had never been converted? Just drop all of the Old Testament practices, and be united to the other New Covenant believers. Paul had quite a bit against Peter when Peter gave in to the Judaizers.
Then there are the even whackier Hebrew Roots Movement hacks. Some of the Hebrew Roots Movement people have even cited Stephen’s sermon to the Jews who martyred him, including Saul at the time, as proof of their doctrinal stances. This one thing by itself blows my mind because it is such an obvious sermon against them. Anyhow, I thought it might be helpful to post a few sections of scripture with plenty of surrounding context, so you could read them, and hopefully figure it out. Let’s not put ourselves under the Old Covenant, or try to somehow get closer to God, or feel more spiritual, by imposing the traditions of the Old Covenant ancient Jewish people on ourselves, or others. We also don’t need to use broken, hacked up, ignorant idiots play-time Hebrew for dummies. Stop with, “You gots to call Jesus by His Jewish name, or you’re not a believer!!!” You sound like a JW telling people they have to use, “Jehovah” which isn’t even in the text. It was a translation convention created a long time ago to express the tetragrammaton by adding vowels from adonai to YHWH. We are under a New Covenant people. Jesus is our Savior, High Priest, and King. Please keep in mind, I don’t hate Jewish people for being Jewish. I’m simply frustrated by people’s desire to get back under the law, and self-righteousness.
Galatians 2:11 – 5:26 (LSB Strong’s) Paul Opposes Peter (Cephas) 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 1 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6 Just as Abraham BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, 7 so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; rather, “HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The Promise by Faith 15 Brothers, I speak in human terms: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ. 17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one person only, whereas God is one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise. Sonship in Christ 1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were enslaved under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you for nothing. 12 I beg of you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18 But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. An Allegory of Two Covenants 21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai bearing children into slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT GIVE BIRTH; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE ONE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 28 And you brothers, in accordance with Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE SERVANT-WOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE SERVANT-WOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, but of the free woman. Christ Set Us Free 1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace! 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. But the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are upsetting you would even mutilate themselves. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. Walk by the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.
Acts 6:8 – 8:3 (LSB Strong’s) Stephen Accused of Blasphemy 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to the Sanhedrin. 13 And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases speaking words against this holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel. Stephen’s Defense 1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Hear me, brothers and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ 4 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5 But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS SEED AFTER HIM, even when he had no child. 6 But God spoke in this way, that his SEED WOULD BE SOJOURNERS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 7 ‘AND I MYSELF WILL JUDGE THE NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE ENSLAVED,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ 8 And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham was the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 9 “And the patriarchs, becoming jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his household. 11 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16 And from there they were removed to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time of the promise was drawing near which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until ANOTHER KING AROSE OVER EGYPT WHO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT JOSEPH. 19 It was he who deceitfully took advantage of our family and mistreated our fathers to set their infants outside so that they would not survive. 20 It was at this time that Moses was born, and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and deeds. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took justice for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25 And he supposed that his brothers understood that God was granting them salvation through him, but they did not understand. 26 On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you treating one another unjustly?’ 27 But the one who was treating his neighbor unjustly pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28 DO YOU INTEND TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?’ 29 At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME A SOJOURNER IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he was the father of two sons. 30 “And after forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING BUSH. 31 When Moses saw it, he was marveling at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses trembled with fear and would not dare to look. 33 BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘REMOVE THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. 34 I HAVE SURELY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO DELIVER THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’ 35 “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BROTHERS.’ 38 This is the one who, in the congregation in the wilderness, was with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers; the one who received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BECOME OF HIM.’ 41 At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘DID YOU PRESENT ME WITH SLAIN BEASTS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43 YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ 44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He, who spoke to Moses, directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 David found favor in the sight of God, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built a house for Him. 48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET. WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord, ‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REST? 50 WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’ 51 “You men—stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears—are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 And which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not observe it.” Stephen Is Stoned to Death 54 Now when they heard this, they became furious in their hearts, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But crying out with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him with one accord. 58 And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep. Saul Persecutes the Church 1 Now Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.
Hebrews 8:1 – 10:25 (LSB Strong’s) Jesus, High Priest of a New Covenant 1 Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL COMPLETE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS IN THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND UPON THEIR HEARTS I WILL WRITE THEM. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. The Old Covenant 1 Now even the first covenant had requirements of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread, which is called the holy place. 3 And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the first part of the tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, requirements for the body imposed until a time of reformation. The New Covenant 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of the true ones, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All 1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; 6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. 7 THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME, IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’” 8 After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, 17 “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. A New and Living Way 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
I literally saw a video from a supposed Christian who was proclaiming that Trump is the savior, and a god/man. Let me just take a moment to explain something. Trump is not God, nor is he a little god, or a god/man! He is a sinner, who was created by God, just like the rest of us. When I put up anti-demoncrap posts, it is because all of them, from my perspective, are pro-evil. I am against almost everything they claim to be for, not because I’m being contrarian, but rather, they are choosing what God has judged in His word as evil, and rebellion. As a Christian, even though I’m guilty of evil, I know better, and try to do right by God, but fail. When I fail, it is in the direction of righteousness, not in the trajectory of satan’s rebellion. When I put up pro-Trump posts, it is because he is the alternative candidate, who at least seems to be for many of the things I am for. While considering this, I also know that he is not for everything he should be for, and he is not against everything he should be against, but if given the choice between an obvious servant/servants of satan, and a misguided man with good intentions, who did some pretty good things the last time, I’ll choose the latter. Remember, Trump is not God. He is not a demigod. He is not a god/man. He is simply a sinful man like the rest of us, but perhaps less spiritually mature than many young Christians, if he is even a Christian.
I know there is a lot of emotions swirling around right now focused on Israel. People are for them, or against them. There really isn’t much middle ground anymore. I’m just kind of sitting across the way in the bleachers watching. I don’t have a dog in the fight.
Israel has all the $$$, and weapons, they need. I don’t condone all of the hatred focused on the Jews lately. If my neighbors were constantly attacking me, and I had the means, I’d completely destroy them regardless of what the other neighbors thought. They could be next. I’m surprised they’ve waited this long to reduce the strip to rubble. It should have been done decades ago. Syria, and Egypt, need to mind their P’s and Q’s. Events will unfold as God has ordained.
As far as the silly argument of who owned it first, nobody has ever been able to make that claim to the land they are on. First of all, the entire creation belongs to God. I know that Biblically we would affirm Israel’s right to the land, but are the Jews who have returned actually the Jews that left? There were people in those lands before them, but if you think about it, all humans come from Adam. Like I mentioned earlier, I know that God has given the land to the Jews, but the rest of the world doesn’t care. If you look at it from the pragmatic perspective of the secular, I think you’ll understand what I’m getting at.
Second of all, wherever you are, someone else was there before you. We take what we can take, and we keep what we can keep. This is a good argument for maintaining a strong standing military. It is simply the history of mankind. We war, and take. You can be taken, or do the taking. The relative peace we’ve experienced these last few decades is not the typical way of the world. We’ve been insulated from what our military has been doing because we haven’t been officially, “at war.” with nations. Instead we’ve had a, “war on terror.” Well isn’t that an easy thing to define…
I’m more concerned with the amount of $$$ being laundered in Ukraine, and our traitorous leaders getting us back in bed with the communist Chinese. Seems like all the recent events are to take our eyes off of those two things. They’ll probably spring another emergency on us that would, “require” mail in ballots. They are about to try to rob us of our votes again, and install another puppet.
I’m not listing every section of scripture from the Bible where God chooses, a person, people, or place. I’m simply citing some of those sections to demonstrate an overwhelming testimony to God’s sovereign will in eternity, as well as our temporal world of space-time. People get hung up on predestination, and the logical conclusion of double predestination. I think it is because they think too highly of themselves, and their worth, while thinking too lowly of God, and His. People want to judge God for electing some to eternal life, while others are logically destined to be reprobate, and to suffer the eternal dying of death. This notion eats at them due to pride, self-righteousness, and man-centered thinking. They believe everyone deserves a choice, because they believe that we are made for our own purposes. They may not say it, but that is the prideful preconception that founds that type of entitlement. So, they say, “I won’t worship a God like that!” They can try to judge God. They can live like He isn’t Who He is. They can rebel, but in the end… God will be their judge. He will use them for His glory by demonstrating His justice by them. They will get what they have earned. I rather have mercy than justice. Let’s recognize that we are God’s creatures, made for His glory. He gets to decide how He will use us. He gets to decide how He will rescue some of us. If it doesn’t seem fair to you, it is because you think you are your own. God is good. What He chooses to do in eternity, and in temporal existence is completely up to Him. Since He has given us an existence in space-time, and a mind/spirit with a volition, we exercise it, but we never upset His eternal plan. Our choices are subordinate, and known to God before we were ever created.
Genesis 12:1-9 1 And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, And from your kin And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4 So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 So Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go forth to the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. 6 And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 Then Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “To your seed I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to Yahweh who had appeared to him. 8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to Yahweh and called upon the name of Yahweh. 9 And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.
Genesis 17:1-14 1 Now it happened that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me and be blameless, 2 so that I may confirm My covenant between Me and you, And that I may multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him, saying, 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 And no longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will go forth from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 9 God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, one who is born in the house or one who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your seed. 13 A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 6 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God; Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for His own treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 “Yahweh did not set His affection on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because Yahweh loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your fathers, Yahweh brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 14:2 2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Psalms 33:12 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
Psalms 135:4 4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His treasured possession.
Isaiah 43:10-13 10 “You are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 I, even I, am Yahweh, And there is no savior besides Me. 12 It is I who have declared and saved and caused it to be heard, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “And I am God. 13 Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”
Isaiah 44:1-5 1 “But now hear, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen: 2 Thus says Yahweh who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant, And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour out water on the thirsty ground And streams on the dry land; I will pour out My Spirit on your seed And My blessing on your offspring; 4 And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.’ 5 This one will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s’; And this one will call on the name of Jacob; And this one will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.
Jeremiah 1:5 5 “Before I formed you in the innermost parts I knew you, And before you came out from the womb I set you apart; I have given you as a prophet to the nations.”
John 15:16 16You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would abide, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Galatians 3:15-29 15 Brothers, I speak in human terms: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ. 17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one person only, whereas God is one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
Romans 2:28-29 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Matthew 3:9 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
Jude 1:3-4 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you exhorting that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:6-10 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed. 9 But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Romans 9:12-26 12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND IN ORDER THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? WILL THE THING MOLDED SAY TO THE MOLDER, “WHY DID YOU MAKE ME LIKE THIS”? 21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction, 23 and in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea, “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’ AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’” 26 “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”
Revelation 13:8 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Revelation 19:11-16 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; having a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself, 13 and being clothed with a garment dipped in blood, His name is also called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS, and He will RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; and HE TREADS THE WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF THE RAGE OF GOD, the Almighty. 16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
It seems like the world is employing the bogeyman of, “mental health issues” to all the mass shootings. We know where this leads. It leads to a removal of responsibility for the crime from the shooter, and places it on society, their families, or some other external source. Modern psychology is an offshoot of Puritan Christians practice of, “soul care.” Which in Greek the word soul is, “ψυχή” or transliterated as , “psuchē” or psyche for those of you who don’t know what an upsilon is. They practiced Biblical counseling, also known as nouthetic counseling. The practice involved listening to the problems, determining which sin, or sins, the person was in, and assigning them study from the Bible so they can read for themselves the word of God that would correct them. They would then be faced with a choice, admit their sin, repent, and try to do what they ought, or deny their sins, and refuse to repent, while making their troubles worse.
That is a very, “nut-shelled” explanation. This process usually never went longer than 12 weeks. If it had, the person wasn’t being genuine. Later men like Freud, and Jung came along, and secularized the practice. They removed every effective aspect of the practice, including the acknowledgment of personal sin, and guilt, repentance, and making amends. They shifted the blame to something external from the person. They believed the problem wasn’t sin, because they didn’t believe in such a thing. They thought the problem was the shame, and guilt a person felt. They sought to remove the impact of shame, and guilt. By the way, when the Holy Spirit convicts you of some sin, you should feel godly sorrow over it. This is why we have so many people who go to therapy for years, and always come up with some new disorder to continue going for.
The real problem is our sin. We raise children without the fear of God. We raise them in ignorance of His word. We raise them understanding a set of laws, but no idea of what grace is. We raise them to hate what is called good, and to have super egos. We raise them without teaching that each human life has value, and dignity, being made in the image of God. We raise them thinking that they have all the power in the world, and that the world is theirs. We raise them thinking they are the pinnacle of some intellect-free evolutionary force. Of course they see themselves as superior. Of course they see all of creation as being for them. The creation is for God’s glory. Their lives are not for them, but for God’s glory. You are not your own, but you belong to God, as His creature. He created you for His purpose! It isn’t our right to murder other people. They are God’s, just like you are God’s.
So here we are. The bogeyman of psychological problems. Seems legitimate. Until you look a bit deeper. Who will they blame? Society. Who needs to change? Society. Who is society? Collectively, we are. So it isn’t the shooter’s sin. It is ours. That kind of thinking leads to sweeping gun legislation, and a complete destruction of the country, and the left knows it. Granted, there are a lot of useful idiots out there who emote their way through these issues, rather than employing critical thinking. They are the ones who will be manipulated because of their insatiable need to be virtuous, not realizing they are doing the devil’s work.
What is the answer? Go back! Repent! We need to go back to God. We need to go back to revering Him, His Word, and Christ. We need to teach our children the gospel, and the entire Bible. We need to pray for our nation, and leaders. Pray that God will convert the slaves of satan in our government. Pray that if they are not to be converted, that God will remove them from power. Before any of this, get down on your knees, confess your sins, and ask God to forgive you. Be as good a parent as you know how to be. We’ll never be completely right here, and now. That will have to wait for glory, but we can take care of the mess in front of us, if God wills it.
I recently kicked a guy out of the group for writing that James White, and Calvinists, believe that God is the author of moral evil. (In a nutshell.) He was being very simple minded, and ignorant, as well as insulting. He was acting as if only Calvinists have been concerned with theodicy. The concept of moral evil, and the theological study of it is called, “Theodicy.” It isn’t just a Calvinist thing. People of all monotheistic religions have had to wrestle with this idea. You, as a Christian have probably briefly thought about it, but decided it was above your pay-grade, and simply trusted in the goodness of God. This is not a fault, so to speak. It is the default position until you are ready to deal with this idea, as one who is mature in the Faith.
Let me set the argument up. God is sovereign. He is omniscient. He is omnipotent. We accept these truths. If those things are true about God, and babies are still molested, and killed, then God must be responsible because, He knew it was going to happen, He has the power to stop it, and in His sovereignty did not intervene. At this point, most people shut down. We have to stare into the difficult things if we are to boldly share our faith, because this topic will come up when you argue with an atheist. It is the whole, “If God is good, why all the human suffering?” argument.
If you don’t know the terms; Sovereign- God is ruler of all He has created. Omniscient- God knows all that can be known, and He knows it perfectly, as He is the source of all knowledge. Omnipotence- God is all powerful. He alone upholds the creation by the power of His Word. If He willed it, you would simply cease existing.
Also, consider that moral evil, and human suffering are not the same. Human suffering isn’t necessarily directly caused by individual sin. For instance, you are told you have cancer, and are going to die a painful death. You may not have committed a sin that lead directly to this, but you are a sinner, and as a sinner are destined to die. The Bible is clear that suffering is God’s providence for our sanctification. Moral evil is the breaking of God’s laws, and violation of His character, by individual’s committing cosmic treason. They are His creatures, yet He has provided in His will for them to commit treason against Him as their Sovereign Lord.
Now, considering those ideas, look at the argument again. If God is all of those things, how can moral evil occur? Sure, we can understand why human suffering happens. We are all under the curse of God, due to the original sin of Adam. Well would you look at that? How was Adam able to sin? It is true that Adam, and Eve were the only two people who were created by God with a volition that was not enslaved to sin. Everyone after them, except for the second Adam, Jesus Christ, has been born as a slave to sin. If you answer this question, you’ll be able to answer all the other questions about moral evil, and why God has provided for it in His eternal, sovereign plan, that is also informed by all of His other attributes.
God owns everything He has created, even you, even an infant. How many people did God kill in the flood? Did He kill little children in the flood? Was it a death of suffering? Was it morally evil for God to kill babies in the flood? The way you answer these questions is telling. If you say that God was not morally evil for the killing of the infants, and their suffering death, you have to explain how that is. Most people say that it is because the world was so wicked, they deserved it, “but what about the innocent babies people will cry?”
By now, you should be able to see where I’m going with this. Since before God created anything, or anyone, He was always going to create just as He did. Remember, you can’t understand eternity, and you can’t understand God’s ways. You are just a small little speck of cosmic dust, floating around on courses you did not set for yourself. You may be self-deceived, and think you are setting your course, and are the master of your own destiny, and temporally you are, but eternally you are not. Still crying that I won’t consider the two categories in the flawed way you want me to? I don’t care. You are wrong. So now to it. God owns you. He owns the babies. He owns the criminals. He owns the murderers. He owns Satan. Satan is His creature. None of His creatures are omniscient, omnipotent, or sovereign! God’s plan will run its course, exactly as He intends. You are not yours. You are not for your own purposes. You are for God’s intended purposes. No matter how bad you suffer, and no matter at whose hands it happens, you cannot say that God has wronged you, or done evil to you. You are born in sin, in sin your mother conceived you. You are by nature a child of Adam, and must die! You can die, and rise in Christ, or you can die, and suffer the second death, and Hell. Do you believe that God is truly good, and has a purpose for every suffering moment of His creation, or do you believe that He is not in control of that suffering, and has no purpose for it in His creation? I for one, won’t question the validity of God’s sovereign volition in the causes of human suffering, and moral evil. God uses Satan for His own purposes, just like He uses our sins, for His own ends as well. Yes, you read that right! Stop trying to make yourself God’s judge in the matters of human sin, volition, and suffering! Does this make God the author of sin? Only if you haven’t understood a thing I just wrote, proving you are simple minded, and immature. You cannot judge the law giver, and Judge! We are subject to His laws. He is good, no matter what we think of how He has decided to run His creation.
After reading the long answer, here is the short answer. No, God is not the author of moral evil. Is it possible for us to understand how that is in light of what you just read? No, not fully, but yes, in part.
I’m failing to see how Christian Nationalism is being conflated with White Nationalism. There seems to be some sort of mischaracterization going on in the minds of some. White Nationalism is the idea of having a nation comprised, and ruled, by a homogenous, monolithic, group of people with pale skin, from the ethnicities of Europe. Christian Nationalism, if I’m not mistaken, is the idea of having a nation comprised, and ruled, by Christians, and the Bible as the main authority. Nationalism is simply the idea that your nation is great, and you are proud of your culture, and values, as a nation, and want to promote its interests.
There is nothing inherently immoral, or wrong with nationalism contrary to what globalist communists would have you believe. Of course, it behooves them to denigrate any type of nationalism. They want to be global overlords who torture us all, and kill us. They appear benevolent, but are satanists. Some cultures values are more valuable than others. The globalists would say that I was wrong in the statement, but in so doing they are affirming my argument by extoling their values above mine. I have a Christian worldview, and my values come from my faith. Their values come from what they believe, and put faith in to trust. Of course, since it isn’t the God of the Bible, it is in some evil, fallen, anthropocentric ideology.
In the past, people were considered to be different races of humankind, but do to modern genetic research it has been determined that there is only one race of man. Duh! I’ve been saying this for a while. According to the Bible we have ethnos, (ἔθνος) translated as, “nations,” or “peoples,” and in the past some translations rendered it, “race.” These are groups of localized peoples in tribes, towns, villages, who developed their own distinct languages, and customs. They would adopt names for themselves that passed into common use historically. People would move between these places. Some people would be physically very disparate from the people they moved to live in community with. They would contribute their own distinct genes to the gene pool of that area, as well as some of their values, and practices. They would also adopt much of the predominate culture.
White Nationalism, is no different morally than Black Nationalism. If you didn’t know there was such a thing as, Black Nationalism, I’ll forgive you. The media never talks about it, even though it is just as prevalent in our culture. It is funny that when you look up, Black Nationalism on the internet, you’ll find definitions that are obviously promoting it as not racist ideology, but rather anti-racist. It is too hilarious. The hypocrisy of the leftist globalists is obvious, and disgusting. The true definition is the same as the definition for White Nationalism, just replace white with black. They attempt to make it sound so magnanimous, like it is some fight against colonialism. These people trying to start so-called race wars are the enemy.
Prejudice based on skin color is morally evil, although the modern race-baiters have made it feel right. Unfortunately, many people don’t think past skin deep generalizations. It is so much easier just to hate people than to get to the heart of the matter. There are even some Christians who have succumbed to the temptation to hate people based on their skin color. I know that after watching a bunch of X(Twitter) videos of POC’s doing racism, I often get angry, and want to hate people. As a Christian, I mortify that sin. This is part of the manipulation by our wannabe overlords. They run social media. They run the mainstream media. They want us to break down into camps, tribes, and hate each other. If we do that, we won’t see them behind the curtain pulling our strings. The machine can’t work if we don’t fall under their control. Fight the temptation to hate people.
This current misnomer of Christian Nationalism being the same as White Nationalism has to be squashed. I’ve heard, and read about too many people, including Christians, believing this error. If you happen to be one of them, consider yourself corrected. You can no longer claim ignorance in conflating the two. Also, don’t be fooled into thinking that Black Nationalism isn’t racists. It is. There is nothing wrong with Christian Nationalism. I happen to think it is an exceptional idea. I’m even fine with a Christian Monarchy. Afterall, Christ is our King!
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