“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.”
― Samuel Adams
Pretty Wrapper of Socialism of the Past
Clearly it is ‘millennials’ who are simply deceived about “socialism” (most, not all) with its pretty wrapper of “progressive” teaching of trusting in government to always be there for them to give them what they need and want.
The American church, for the most part, lost power and position with their young because they (we) lived a worldly life instead of living like the Lord taught us to with His Holy Spirit and Word. This ‘socialist’ thinking is the result, and sadly in the church too.
This is one reason why we need to “prepare” for what is coming against those with true wisdom and bold faith in the Lord Jesus. It’s going to get worse not better, as we wait for His return.
I’m remembering what our Lord said, that a daughter-in-law will come against her mother-in-law and a son against his own father, etc. thinking they are helpful to their government and faithful to their (false) religion.
We simply need to keep speaking out with the truth of God and teaching the wisdom ‘of God’ to our children and grandchildren as long as they will listen, and continue PRAYING for them, battling for them against the deceptive powers of darkness.
Socialism today (compared to the socialism of the past) is more attractive with its false love and false peace: pretty wrapper. They don’t see it as “socialism” of the past; they call it “progression” for the future. That’s why the younger generation that is out of touch with reality and truth – is easily won over.
While the Lord tells us to keep to the “ancient path” of truth and godliness – the progressives/socialists have a different path that only leads to their destruction.
“There seems a way that is right to man but it leads to destruction,” says the Lord.
We are truly living in the last of the last days. Keep your eyes on the Word of the Lord, your hope high above this world, and your faith strong in Jesus Christ who made the way for us. Our redemption draws nigh! Hallelujah to the Lamb!
BLESSED HOPE
Psalms 31:24 “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”
In this spiritual warfare God is calling us to be ‘strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.’ I have been asking the question: What does this mean and how can we put this truth into action?
We can be strong in the Lord by knowing what is waiting for us known as the “blessed hope.” We realize that this life is passing away; we are on a journey and the real thing is yet to come. This life is only the shadow of the reality to come.
The patriarchs of old are examples for us. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but he knew Who was going with him. And like Moses, they were all seeking a city whose builder and maker is God. In other words, they had their eye on the glory to come.
1 John 3:2-3 tells us: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Hope is a powerful emotion. But it is this “blessed hope” that keeps us strong in the Lord and also wanting to live a life of purity, to be more like Jesus. We will see Jesus face to face when we stand before Him. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
To be able to put this into practice is to realize that when we became born-again a seed was planted in us of “new life.” To see this new life grow we must feed it and this is where the Word of the Lord comes in.
As it is to maintain our physical body – so it is with our spiritual life: just like we try to eat healthy foods, not junk food, we want to feed our spirit on the Word of God and not the junk that we see, hear and are bombarded with every day. We know from John 6:53-60 that Jesus is our food and we also know from John 1 that He is the Word and this is what we must give time to. Didn’t Moses say that we should live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?
The Bible gives us knowledge and true understanding that builds us up and makes us strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Timothy was to remain strong by remembering the things that he was taught by Paul and others. This too is something that we must have and remember. We forget too easily what is true and eternal, especially when things are not going our way.
The situation was pretty bad for Nehemiah and his team as they were building the wall around Jerusalem. In some ways it was a super-human undertaking with many obstacles and enemies trying to stop them. What did Nehemiah do? “And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’” Nehemiah 4:14
Like us, they had a rich inheritance that they could look back on; Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt; Joshua and the battles fought in taking over the Promised land; King David and the victories that came about because God was with him. So Nehemiah says: “Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
Nehemiah talked to the builders of the Jerusalem’s wall, Paul spoke to Timothy about faith, hope and love, as well as to us – challenging us to remember the Lord. He is the King of Kings and this battle is between God and Satan, and God will win!
Part of remembering is the power of prayer. This is another thing that can give us strength, vigor and insight. Prayer is not just petitioning God, it is our communication/fellowship with the living God.
When I am driving in the car I do not like to listen to the radio, but instead I communicate with God. What a privilege we have been given in how Jesus opened the way for us with His own body and blood to communicate with God! Jesus offers us an invitation in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” This is not an evangelistic message, but reminding us to have communion with the living God.
The greatest saints have always been men of prayer, spending a lot of time in prayer.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
Knowing that the battle is the Lord’s does not mean that we do not fight, because we do have our part in the battle. We have not been called to passivity, but to be fully engaged in this battle between God and Satan. We know that in this battle we are to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” The question is: how do we connect these two things: God’s power and our involvement?
It comes down to our activity in the sphere that He has given us to work in. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10 that he would not go beyond the sphere that God gave him. We too have a sphere that God has called us to and in that sphere is where we are to be fully engaged, to be active in the power that He gives. We are told in Hebrews 2:18 “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
Just as here on earth Jesus depended on His Heavenly Father, so too we depend on Jesus. He will not do it for us, but He will help us. He will not take away the problems, the obstacles, but He will be with us and help us to overcome.
In Judges 3:1-2 we see that the Lord left some nations in Israel, to test those who had not known war and to teach future generations about war. This is the same for us today. Victory was won 2000 years ago, but God still allows the enemy certain limited authority (like being on a leash) to teach us how to overcome, how to fight, how to be victorious. We find this same truth coming out in Romans 8:26-27 in being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. The Spirit of God helps us in the time of need.
When the army came against him, Jehoshaphat did not know what to do, so he went to the Lord and God told him what to do. First, do not be afraid or discouraged. When the enemy comes in like a flood, we should not be discouraged or afraid. Jehoshaphat was reminded again that the battle is not his, but the Lord’s. This is a truth that we need to keep in mind. Next he was not to flee or run away, but to go down against them, and take up their position. We see in this that God fought the battle, but there were things that they had to do in taking up their position against the enemy.
We are told in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God does not say here – ‘let go and let God,’ but just the opposite. I am to work out what God has put in me. This seems impossible, but “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
The question that comes is how do we work this out in practicalities? Paul is an example for us in this regard. In Acts 18:9-10 Paul is in Corinth where there was much opposition, but through a vision in the night the Lord spoke and said: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10
Paul was made strong in the Lord by a vision and with the assurance that God was with him. In Acts 27 in the voyage to Rome by ship we see the same thing with Paul when a fierce storm came and it looked like they all would die. An angel stood by Paul and encouraged him and told him what to do. It was through this that Paul was made strong in the Lord and the power of His might. In the same way we too can find instruction and encouragement in the Lord.
We find in 1 Samuel 30 with King David that the Amalekites came and attacked Ziglag while David and his men were away and took away everything, even their wives and children. David’s men were so upset that they were about to stone David, but we read, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
How do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord? I believe that there are a number of ways. One for me has been with the Word of God. Often the Lord has given me a word that helped me through a difficult decision that I had to make. We are sometimes strengthened through members of the Body of Christ. What I find uplifting is when people come and share what the Lord has been speaking to them. This encourages me. Or someone comes with a personal word for me. It might be a sermon that the pastor gave, or whatever. But in any case – we are strengthened in the Lord.
However, it is important to never forget the truth that the battle is the Lord’s and not my own individual battle. If we have been born again we must remember who and what we are. We are children of the Most High God and we go forth in His power and in His might.
Nothing Can Separate
Soon you won’t be able to bow your head to thank God for your food in restaurants because it ‘bothers’ people who don’t believe in God, or who hate God for whatever reason. But that can’t stop us from giving God praise because we have dwelling in us God’s own Spirit! We have direct communication with our Father God, speaking to Him anytime we want, and nobody around us can see it! We have Christ’s kingdom growing in us and ruling in us.
I wonder how ‘bothered’ God is over this – that His children are being told what they can do and can’t do in public. I wonder if God is somewhat happy over it ONLY because it causes us to understand what (who) we really have living in us that connects us to our Father God that no man or government or demon can disconnect!
I wonder what God has coming to these ‘bothered’ unbelievers – according to HIS LAW in the government HIS SON brings to the earth that will reign forever. CUT OFF from Him they will be forever; bothered forever and they won’t be able to a thing about it! Oh how the devil has blinded them and deceived them! They believe Christians are their enemy when in fact it’s God’s people on the earth that is holding back all His wrath coming against those who hate Him and reject His Son.
Open their eyes Lord to the truth! Let them see Your reality and love for them before it’s too late; let them understand that YOU DO EXIST and that YOU REWARD THOSE who earnestly seek after You.
YOU WILL NOT BE IGNORED
Christian, don’t think that because you are a child of God’s that you will escape what the enemy has planned against you and your family. The devil will not ignore you, but neither will your Father God. And we know who is greater in power and purpose. Nothing can separate us from the love of our Father if we are in Christ Jesus His Son.
Be wise with godly wisdom; ask for it and God will give it without finding any fault in you. Take your position in Christ seriously and care for each other. Pray for our president and those in authority to do what is right, boldly bring your requests before God.
Speak the truth without fear, give only ‘faithful’ counsel and instruction. Never stop sharing the good news of God’s love and salvation found only in faith in Jesus Christ; share your own testimony of Him with your children and neighbors.
And prepare for the inevitable; that which our Lord said we should expect in these times and all the more as the Day of the Lord approaches. Watch for His open doors for you and move in confidence to see His provision.
Pray without ceasing, pray on all occasions. Pray according to God’s will only, not your will, not your friend’s, not your mother’s, not your father’s, not your pastor’s; pray according to GOD’S will that He has given in His Word. Faith is what pleases the Father of us all.
DISCIPLINE
Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”
To me one of the best definitions of discipline is: doing what we know we should do whether we feel like it or not. Martyn Lloyd Jones said: ‘Discipline is an absolute essential in the Army; it is one of the most important things of all. If an army is not disciplined it is already defeated; it becomes a rabble.’
To be strong in the Lord and the power of His might we need practice. How true it is that practice makes perfect. We need exercise to be active, because if we are idle we are in a dangerous position. We see this with King David in 2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent out Joab and his servants with him and all Israel: and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Ramah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” David was idle and we see the consequences of this.
2 Peter 1:5-6 describes the activity that we should be involved in. We are to give all diligence, which is an exhortation to us that means we are to give full attention to what follows; to be constantly in it; to apply ourselves to it. When we accept Christ, a seed is planted within us and we must nourish and feed this seed to see its fruit produced, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. To do this takes discipline. No wonder Billy Graham said: “The secret to the Christian life is discipline.”
Peter goes on to say that we are to add, or supplement, or to furnish what is needed to work out this salvation that has been planted within us. So, to our faith we are to add virtue. This brings out the idea of vigor, moral energy. Sometimes the best way to understand a word is to see the opposite. Do not be lethargic; do not do things half-heartedly or be half asleep. Too many Christians are like what Charles Lamb described: “We have the mumps and measles of the soul.” We are too sickly.
To virtue we add knowledge which speaks about insight and understanding and the more we understand about the Christian truth the stronger we are.
To knowledge we add self-control. We become stronger in the Lord when we learn to control ourselves. Another way of putting this is conservation of energy. By reserving our energy from doing meaningless and sinful things, we become stronger in the Lord doing His will. We lose our energy when we lose self-control. See a man filled with rage and we see the energy that he is losing or wasting and has no ability to deal with the enemy. We are told in Proverbs 16:32 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
Brilliance or personality alone will not carry us through to success; we must have discipline. If you want men to follow you and to get the best out of them, you must control your temper. If you cannot control your temper you cannot control your men.
We are to add to self-control perseverance. This means patient continuance (waiting). It takes time and trouble to control oneself. No one does it for you (yes, we have the help of the Holy Spirit), but it is like Peter says – we are to add. This brings out the idea of going on. So many of us we quit when things do not work out the way we want or when we meet obstacles. We are to KOKO (keep on keeping on). He who watches the wind never harvests, he never sows – because he is always hesitating, wondering, etc. Yes, there will be hindrances, obstacles, disappointments, opposition and persecution, but we patiently go on.
Next, we are to add godliness. Here we see something different. We see ourselves in our relationship to God. This brings out the idea of being conscientious – walking in the sight of God. The Bible states that Enoch walked with God. This is godliness when we are aware that we are living in the very presence of God. It is like what God said to Abraham: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.’” Genesis 17:1
To godliness to add brotherly kindness which brings out our relationship to others. There are many weak Christians and one of the chief causes of their weakness is that they do not love their brethren. They waste much of their time and energy in thinking harsh or hateful thoughts about other people. This drains their energy. John says that we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. Love is a proof of our life in Christ.
To brotherly kindness we add love. The word is agape and this is the love that only God produces. There is a difference between liking someone and loving someone. There are many hateful things about others, but we are to love them as Christ loved us.
To be strong in the Lord we must remember that “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” We need to learn how to use the Name of the Lord. We see this with David coming against Goliath, and Elisha taking over from Elijah and shouting, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah.” Or Peter saying in Acts 3:6, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” The Christian fights, but he trusts in the Name, he invokes the Name and he is made strong by the Name of the Lord, and so he is “more than a conqueror.”
Bottom line in all of this: “For if these things abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this great battle being fought between God and Satan – good versus evil – men and women who have these virtues abounding in them will be a great light in a dark place pointing others to the LIGHT of the LORD. With all of the hate along with difference of opinions being expressed and pushed, and with judgmental attitudes – we need to see the children of God being manifested. “Blessed are peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
To My Grandchildren
To my grandchildren:
You are living in the last days, and the Anti-Christ is coming. So, it is important that you know the truth. Jesus is the Word of Life, and His words are life giving, and with His Spirit you have all you need to see clearly in the days ahead. If you think you can belong to the world and live as the world does, then you will not be able to see clearly and hear correctly; you will fall into the traps of the enemy and not see or hear your way out.
Remember, when you harbor hate in your heart you are living in darkness, and you will not know the freedom, joy and peace of God’s love. Do not love this world and go after all the things it offers you; for this world only knows how to offer you that which satisfies human cravings for physical pleasures, and endless opportunities for pride’s own self-importance. This world is fading away, along with everything that our sinful nature craves and produces. None of it will be remembered, so live your life for Christ’s Kingdom and not for the world.
People who reject you, hurt and laugh at you because you stand for the truth were never really your friends. I will keep instructing you and warning you to “know God’s Word,” so that you will know the difference between truth and lies. You have the Holy Spirit in you, so you don’t need anyone of this world to teach you what they think the truth is. Remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ and be courageous, so that you are ready to see Him. Do not shrink back from Him, or deny His Word for any reason; for this will bring upon you great shame and regret when you see Him.
To my granddaughters, if the Lord should not come back soon and you want to get married, let me tell you how to have a great marriage. Help your husband succeed in the Lord’s will, and do not torment and nag your husband day after day, or you will bring him down, and he might be captured by another. But with every longing or hurt you have, bring it to your Lord in prayer; for He will bring about all that is good and lasting if you remain in your faith, hope and love of God. You will not change anything by constant nagging and manipulation, but slowly drive a wedge into your marriage. The power of a women is not in her beauty or cunning ways, or her position in life, but in her fear of the Lord – with her prayer life!
To my grandsons, be real men and lead your families the way God tells you to. You do not lead by pushing them with hard words and threats. Lead your wife and children by being out in front, walking with your Lord God, moving in the direction God is leading you. They will follow you as you break the way for them; for they are much weaker and need to know they can trust you to lead them in the right way. Don’t stop reading God’s Word and praying continually to Him, or you will be like a man who has his eyes gouged out, that cannot see in front of him. Be wise, and don’t let yourselves be bound by this world – forced to grind out a living without any joy and peace or prosperity from God.
Men who live without faith in the Word of God think they can prevent being chained and enslaved. Men like this think they are smart and intelligent, but their pride and arrogance will only ruin them and their families. The key to being a real man, a true husband and father – is to meet with your Lord and Savior every morning faithfully. Know what He has to say to you in His Word, and make it a priority to obey the Lord and do all He tells you to do. So, be a man of faith and prayer, standing for the truth no matter what, training your sons to be real men of God, and cherishing your wife and daughters. Help others whom God puts in your way for help.
Children, Jesus is your Rock, your only salvation, and your mighty fortress. Let Him teach and lead you, for then you will never be shaken. Wait quietly for Him to speak and guide; for He is your only hope in life. Trust in Him at all times, and pour out your hearts to Him. He will be your strong refuge in the days ahead.
To the parents of my grandchildren, I expect you to help each of my grandchildren along until they are able to stand in their own faith in Jesus Christ, and able to fight the good fight of faith. Know this; that I am praying for you all.
God’s Battle
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
What does it mean to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might? This was the question I was asking myself the other day when I was reading this passage of Scripture. So often we read a passage of Scripture without really grasping the significance of what is being said, and for me this passage was one of them.
The real battle taking place here on planet earth is the battle between God and Satan, good versus evil. To me this is one of the first things we need to recognize – this is God’s battle; His reputation, His honor and glory are at stake, and because of that He will not lose.
We must realize that He and He alone is the head, He is the brains, He is the originator, He is the one who is above all. But because this is God’s battle we do not say, like some would say, “Let go and let God,” as if we have no responsibility, nothing to do. No, this is not the case. We are fighting in this battle, but it is not a personal battle as we so often make it. Sometimes it sounds like ‘us against them.’ We are here in this conflict and have been given a sphere that we are to work in and this is where we fight using the weapons and armor that God has provided for us.
Like King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20) we come to see that the battle is the Lord’s and not ours. We understand that the Christian life is not something that we have ‘to do.’ It doesn’t mean that we don’t have anything to do, but it is God working in us and through us and we are to work along with Him. We are not to go ahead of Him, or lag behind, but to go with Him.
We are never to forget that we are individual units in a great army. We are not fighting some personal, private war. That is not our position at all. We are simply individual soldiers in a great army fighting in a great campaign. In other words, the real, the ultimate issue is not so much my fight with the devil, as God’s fight with the devil. That is the way to look at it.
Looking at the matter in this way immediately gives you great strength. So it is very important for us to understand this truth. We see the conflict and we forget that it is God’s battle and beginning to feel sorry for ourselves, pity ourselves, beginning to think that we are alone in this great conflict. And we forget that God is constantly planning and working things out for His purpose and for His plan.
Secondly, God created angels to be ministering spirits to those who are heirs of salvation. Scripture is filled with instances where angels were at work on behalf of God’s people in carrying out the will of God. I am afraid that most of our angels are unemployed.
Some years ago I was preaching in Finland and while preaching I sensed a presence. After the service, a man came to me and said that while I was preaching he saw standing on each side of me two gigantic angels. “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” (Psalms 34:7) We see that angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. They are here to minister to us because of who we are to God. It is for this that we must realize that the almighty power of God is working for us. The angels of the Lord are around us and this is part of being strong in the Lord.
To be strong in the Lord and the power of His might we need to understand the church as to what this means. In his letter to the believers at Ephesus Paul tells us that the church is the body of Christ. It is not a building or a denomination, but the Body of Christ. In Ephesians 1 we are told that the Body of Christ is high and lifted up above all principalities, powers, etc. “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16
We encourage one another to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. How does this work out in practice? Sometimes we find that we have a desire to pray over a situation that just came into our mind, or to visit someone. Often my wife will be grocery shopping and she senses within her a need to go and speak to someone in the store. When I am having my quiet time many times I have a desire to write a letter to someone. In any case, when this desire comes – I respond. It is God working in us.
Sometimes we might be reading the Word and a particular verse (Rhema word) jumps out at you. This is God speaking and bringing His Word home to you. This is part of us learning that we do not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
REMEMBER: THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S AND HE WILL WIN – THE VICTORY IS HIS!
Students of God’s Word
Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”
In chapter 4 the prophet Hosea brings out a charge that God has against His people. He says: “there is no truth or mercy (faithfulness) or knowledge of God in the land.” This is interesting when we consider what follows next as we go through this chapter when there is no truth or mercy, faithfulness, or knowledge of God. When these attributes are absent we see that it brings into our culture all types of evil.
Going through this chapter we see a number of things coming out such as swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery, bloodshed and how the land is mourning because of it. We find that the priest as well as the prophet have no real word (direct revelation) from God, and so not only the priest and prophet stumble but also the people. The bottom line is in verse six: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
We read that they have forgotten the law of God. When I think of our own culture of how there is such a desire to get rid of the Ten Commandments – the law of God – from any public institution we see the results of this today: there is no truth or mercy (faithfulness) at work in these public arenas. Or, like Isaiah said: “And the right is turned back, and righteousness is far away: for good faith is not to be seen in the public places, and upright behavior may not come into the town.” Isaiah 59:14 (BBE)
Because of this lack of knowledge we find that we tend to gravitate more towards idols (anything that replaces God) and therefore find ourselves more enslaved. In other words, we find that we are losing our freedom. When I look at my own country I find that this is a completely different country than what I knew as a young man.
Here in the USA and in the Western countries we hear a lot about this ‘cultural war’ that we are in. But what does this mean? It seems to come down to the conflict between a traditionalist with conservative values and progressives with liberal values. But when do we mean by “conservative values versus progressive values?” What values are these? Probably the best definition would be the values that express the attitude of social groups as a whole.
But both those who hold conservative values and those who hold progressive values, I believe, want the same thing and that is freedom, a chance for prosperity with as little suffering as possible, healthy children, crime free streets (think of Chicago!) etc., but the question is, and this is where the war or conflict comes in: What is the best way to achieve these things?
Progressives believe in the government to achieve these goals of equal opportunity, equal outcome, alleviating needs or social ills and for the government to solve these problems. On the contrary the conservatives believe in personal responsibility, a limited government, free markets and individual liberty and benevolence. I know that this is a very simple explanation for the difference in these two points of view, but this is where the cultural war comes in.
I would like to add that looking at this from a Scriptural background that the real battle is between God and Satan, or Good versus Evil. This scenario is being played out in what we call the cultural war and we are in it.
A charge that God had against the children of Israel was that they had no knowledge of God and like Jeremiah said: “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”
So how do we get a knowledge of God? It is through His Word and when we put it into practice we begin to experience the presence of God. In a day of deceit, lies, etc. we need the truth. But what is truth? Jesus said “I am the Truth!” But we also see in John that He is known as the Word. We have the Word of God, or Bible, in our hands, on our book shelf (where many have it just gathering dust). The Bible is the ultimate Truth, and our values and laws must be validated by the very Word of God.
Paul told a young man: “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (from THE MESSAGE)
LET US BE STUDENTS OF GOD’S WORD!