Why Does God Allow Evil?

    This week, two of our most popular Evangelical preachers were interviewed on separate News Shows. Both were asked the same question: Was it God's Will that the children in Newtown were killed?

    Admittedly this is a difficult question to answer. However, those in public ministry need to be able to give a biblical answer.  People depend on them to know the mind of God. They are primarily teachers, explaining the basic tenants of the Christian Faith, as well as the more complex issues of life, from a biblical perspective.

    These men failed....miserably! Both answered by declaring what happened to be the result of mans' Free Will. This is biblically inaccurate, since Man has no Free Will! His will is captive to his heart, which is corrupt and morally evil according to The Bible. 

    He might choose a lessor sin, resist some temptations, do certain outwardly good acts, even seek God from an entirely selfish motive, but he cannot act completely contrary to his heart! Jesus said that it is 'out of the heart men sin.'  [Matt. 15:19].  Jeremiah declared mans' heart to be 'desperately wicked and deceitful above all things.'  [Jer 17:9]

    The Bible declares all human beings to be, by nature, slaves to sin [Rom. 6]. The Bible offers no hope that men would / could rehabilitate themselves [Rom. 7]. In our natural state / condition, we do the things our heart [nature] dictates. It is not that all men act as depraved as they could, but that all men are morally / spiritually corrupt, because of inherent sin, and are simply doing the deeds of their father, the devil [Jn 8:44]

    It is understandable that these pastors would get this part wrong, since most Christians believe in a Free Will. It's the second part that is both amazing and shocking. One of them declared: "God's will is rarely done on earth." 

    This, my friends, is biblical heresy! The Bible sees the world under the immediate control of Satan [I Jn. 5:19]. This does not mean God is simply watching, helplessly, from the sidelines! Our God is sovereign over the universe He created. Nothing happens without His knowledge, permission or direct intervention. Psalm 76:10 tells us that God restrains evil, so things are not as bad as they could be. It also tells us that certain evil is necessary, to further the purpose of God. It is that evil God allows. 

    The will of God includes a certain amount of good and evil. When God allowed sin into the world of men, He did so for a reason. He could have kept it out. Now, when God allows evil, it is for that same reason. He controls evil so it only furthers His ultimate purpose, otherwise no one would be safe! 

    These children did not deserve the violence that ended their young lives in the sense that they did some terrible thing. They are simply part of a world filled with evil hearts, determined to do evil. What happened on December 14 is that God didn't stop it.....this time.

    What kind of a God is that? The kind Who loves us enough to let us see both the good and the bad. If God were to do what most of us want [keep all evil away], we would never see sin for what it is. What happened in Newtown was that only 26 people died. 

    And Where Was God? He was the same place He was when His Son died! He was the same place He was when you were saved! He was the same place He was when countless folks narrowly escaped certain death! It is a testimony to our limited understanding that we want it both ways!

    But what's Joel Osteen and Rick Warren's excuse? They're 'experts' in Christianity. People depend on them knowing God's Truth. Is this more of God's permissive will? How many church-goers were shocked at these answers?

The Day Evil Came To Town

    Friday, December 14, 2012, is the Day Evil Came To Newton, Ct!  So said Connecticut Governor, Daniel Mallory.

    The shooter, Adam Lanza, will be labeled as having a "Personality Disorder." A personality disorder is a type of mental illness in which you have trouble relating to people, so says the staff at The Mayo Clinic [see mayoclinic.com]

    Just what is a mental disorder? Try as I might [at least online], finding the answer to this question is difficult and confusing. Terms are used without definition, while the explanations ramble on for several paragraphs or pages, clarifying and quantifying, until it's not really clear what was being said. 

    Discussion seems to center around the 'mind' [hence: mental] and the 'soma' [that part of the brain where the signals from the dendrites are passed along]. See how clear that is?

    In layman's terms we're talking about a diseased or dys-functioning mind. We're not always sure WHY but we are reasonably sure the mind is disordered, much like a physical organ or system.

    Of course, mental disorders cannot be cured. We can manage them; help you learn to cope, but you will always be broken. Think "Recovering Alcoholic." Were you a "drunk" we can fix that. But, now that you are an alcoholic, you will always be an alcoholic. 

    We may never know why Adam decided to shoot up an Elementary School eleven days before Christmas. Certainly, if mental health professionals could have gotten to him, sooner, perhaps these children and adults would still be alive.

    Let me give you some food for thought.

    Was it because Adam grew up in a divided household -- parents divorced, siblings separated?

    Was it because a single Mother can't be with her children, except after work or on week-ends?

    Was it because a Mother, being female, didn't really understand the male ego; the male psyche?

    Was it because a testosterone-laden teen-ager, now standing eye-to-eye with Mom is hard to handle?

    Was it because of the 12 years, or so, in State Schools, learning that his Self Esteem was valuable?

    Was it because no one ever told him he was 'bad?'  Never understanding the significance of that?

    Was it because he could watch anything he wanted on TV, for as long as he chose to do so?

    Was he using any drugs? Alcohol? Anti-depressants? Uppers? Downers?  From the medicine chest?

    Was he experimenting with other hallucinogens? Or simply staring at the wall for hours?

    Was it because he could surf the 'net in the privacy of his own room, for hours at a time?

    Was it the video games? Played alone, gratifying his Self?

    Was it isolation or too many 'wrong' friends?

    The List is long and growing, but you get the point.

    Then there's Church.  Did Adam go to church?  Was he ever confronted with his sin?  How much moral balance existed in his world? Was there any hope? Were there any people in his life who represented something different than his reality; something better? What was Adam's life like?

    The answer? It was probably not unlike millions of teenagers and young adults all across this country. People living in a world that isn't real. Being told how special they are, regardless of the truth. Learning to accept a dismal life without parents, without structure, without values, without an education. Every day just like yesterday.

    Adam was lashing out at his life; at his world.  His mother was a School Teacher. Is that why he chose a School? Whatever Adam did, it made perfect sense to him. It was his only option. It turned out to be his final option, which was also planned. 

    The Community has rallied around Church and prayer. The Reporters and even some in the Mental Health Community are calling his deeds 'evil.' In a world that doesn't need religion and has outlawed the concept of inherent evil, this is a little schizophrenic.

    Then I wonder, had he gone to Church, what would he have heard? That he was a sinner? Or that he just 'blew it' sometimes? Would he be confronted with a Gospel that required repentance?  Or one that suggested he simply "let go and let God do His work in your heart?"  I didn't pick these ideas and phrases out of the air. I hear them in the sermons being preached in churches today. 

    When things get worse, and they will, what will 21st Century Church-goers have to rely on? My guess is that it won't be much more than Adam did!

A Christian Version of "Two And A Half Men"

    Angus T. Jones, child star of the TV Show, Two & Half Men, is telling everyone to STOP watching his show!

    Those who keep track of such things tell us that 14.5 million Americans tune in every week. I'm reasonably sure that's 14.5 million American men!

    Angus has apparently found Jesus. His church is called Forerunner Christian Church and it is in Fremont, California. Perusal of its website shows it to be a completely mystical, charismatic church with two female pastors. 

    To his credit, Angus is standing up for biblical morality, claiming that nothing about this show is morally good or worthy of our attention.

    The Evangelical Church, however, is not convinced! They are convinced the show is bad, but not that Christians should abandon things like this. As usual, there are folks advocating [anew] for Christians to get involved in Hollywood and TV, in order to make it better.

    Question: Is this the biblical mandate? Does the Bible, anywhere, tell Christians to get involved in filthy schemes or productions in order to cleanse them so Christians can watch without vexing their souls?  Or....does it say 'Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you,...."?  [II Cor 6:1]

    The Evangelical Church began thinking this way in 1945, when leaders were challenging believers to get involved in the culture rather than standing off from it, as the Fundamentalists were doing.

    I don't believe these men had TV programs like Two and half Men in mind! I doubt they were thinking how wonderful it would be to have an entire entertainment system dedicated to decency and respect for godliness.

    In those days Christians didn't even go to movies. The entire entertainment culture was profane, as far as they were concerned. It wasn't too long ago when entertainers were considered among the most debauched in society. Prostitutes were only slightly lower on the social scale. 

    What changed? It wasn't the entertainment community, I can tell you! It was our definition of what constitutes Christianity. 

    Christians want to watch TV and go to Movies, without being embarrassed or offended. Great! I want to eat all the sugar I can without gaining weight or dying young(er) as a result of sugar diabetes! We all want something.

    The Gospel is God's 'call' to the sheep [Jn 10] to "come and follow me." It, alone, is "The power of God unto salvation, to all who believe."  It is an exclusive and insulting message. It declares all men to be sinners before a holy God. It requires those who want Jesus to leave the world [worldliness] and cling only to Him. 

    The effort of Christians and Christianity to be accepted or to somehow sanctify The World is a fools errand!! It can't be done! [Read your Bible]. It should not be done, if it means getting into the cesspool with them in order to do it!

    What do you think?   Vote on my website:   www.thebibleforum.net

I Was Right Before I Was Wrong!

     I predicted that Romney would win the election. It never occurred to me that Americans would NOT put an end to our economic / political slide into social and fiscal oblivion. I Was Wrong! But, upon reflection I realize I was actually Right before I was Wrong!  Let me explain:

    For years I have been warning the Christian Community about the effort to subordinate Doctrine and elevate Experience. This anti-intellectual approach to Christianity has destroyed churches, corrupted doctrine and marginalized The Message. Christianity has become a lapdog instead of a guard dog. 

    What I failed to understand is that the general population has evolved along the same lines. What I thought was a religious phenomena was actually a popular social trend. The recent elections illustrated this fact in frustrating and discouraging ways. 

    The candidate that offered the least amount of sound doctrine and the greatest amount of emotional satisfaction, won! The candidate who has set out to destroy our economy; the candidate who has worked tirelessly to undermine the Rule of Law; the candidate who has worked hard to Regulate every area of American life; this is the candidate a slim majority of voters saw as Qualified to be their President.

    What happened? While we slept the enemy slipped in and sowed tares among the wheat. No, not President Obama! Not the Democrats! Not the Socialist-Progressives! Christians, so-called!

    We bemoan the moral condition of our society without giving credit to those calling themselves Christian who have led the way. The group commissioned to be Salt and Light in a dying world have seen their Mission to embrace that world. In so doing, they have become just like the world they embrace. The consequence of which is a lessening of morality among those who profess Christ, followed by an even lower standard of morality being expressed by the world.

    Let me explain: The Church of The Lord Jesus Christ is the moral conscience of the society in which it exists. In America, more than any other nation on earth, Christianity, as it reflected the legal, social, moral standards enshrined in our Constitution and By-Laws, was the bell-weather of American culture. As it has abdicated its responsibility the culture has become more crude.

    It's like parents in a family. We know children will only live up to a certain percentage of what parents expect: it's in their nature to resist. For this reason, parents have an obligation to hold children to the highest possible standards of morality and character. If a parent lowers the expectation, the child will naturally lower his / her response.  [there are exceptions -- they're called exceptions because they are not normal and they are so rare]

    As Christians sought to 'build bridges to the culture,' [1947  Harold J. Okenga's "New Evangelicalism"] they were forced to compromise. "Politics creates strange bedfellows." 

    As Post-moderism's "Situation Ethics" came along [1957], Christians first reacted against it and then embraced it [The Charismatic Movement of the 1960's -- with it's rejection of the standard interpretation of words and emphasis on subjective feeling].

    Then came the 'Sexual Revolution' [1970's], with it's new-found 'Right' to abortion. Self-centered 'Baby-Boomers' were raising their children to be true to themselves and not let other people squeeze them into their mold. The result was an explosion of drugs, sex and teen-pregnancies. The music was loud and raucous. The fashions were lewd and shocking in its color and style. 

    How did The Church respond? By embracing it!  All of it!  Being non-judgmental and by bringing the music into church, Christians were saying the profane culture was something they could live with. They would modify it, but not condemn it. Thus was born the 'Chorus' which replaced the 'Hymn,' and Doctrine took a back seat.

    Mega-churches sprang up all across America. Not one of them built on the Preaching of The Word of God! 'Sharing' was now the accepted means for communicating to Christians. 'Dialog' was more important than authoritative pronouncement. 'Relationships' were more important than doctrine. How the Service made me "feel" was more important than the information communicated.

    In all of this, groups of 'christians' were finding common-cause with one another -- not around what they believed -- but around their shared feelings / needs. Disparate groups were embracing one another. Religious Cults were being brought into the Christian Fold. Enemies of The Cross of Christ were now 'brothers in the Lord.' No longer was the Goal to Evangelize, now it was to Consolidate in order to influence the world for Jesus. 

    Today, churches spring up like weeds in every city, town and hamlet. The secular-sounding music draws them in. The relaxed atmosphere makes them feel comfortable. The messages delivered do not insult or condemn. All-in-All, folks have a good time. The Message? You're going to church, praying, worshipping, contributing, loving one another -- who's to say you're NOT a Christian?

    The Church following The World. The World feeling greater moral freedom, since Christians are doing it too. The society slipping into oblivion.

    'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,.....seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children'  [Hosea 4:6]  

    So....when you bemoan the recent election result, look in the mirror. These folks who voted to support and extend the profane, bankrupt, licentious culture are simply acting out, in the extreme, what the visible church is illustrating to be God's purpose for life. 

    I Was Right!

The Day Hope Died, or....The Day The Scriptures Came Alive?

   The day of our General Election, 2012, Matt Barber, writing for ClashDaily.com, called for "Churches to get involved in politics."

   He was referencing the IRS's demonstrated reluctance to pursue pastors who preach political messages from the pulpit. A phenomena recently observed.

   The next day came the re-election of Barack Obama: a president who stands as a living monument to how easy it is to be president of a country you despise. Should he get his way, we can expect MORE regulation by bureaucrats, MORE debt, MORE dependent citizens, MORE pandering, MORE mainstreaming of sinful practices and MORE of everything to make our society morally, economically and socially weak!

   Do we take Matt's advice? The Evangelical community did that in the 1950's. How's that worked out? By the 1980's, Jerry Falwell was taking credit for motivating evangelicals to help elect Ronald Reagan.  It's been pretty much down hill since then!

   It has become conventional wisdom, among many Christians, that The Church is supposed to be involved in politics as a way to influence the culture. Perhaps because that's the way First-Century Christians did it. [That's sarcasm] 

   Has anyone checked the scriptures, lately? The prophets predict a steady decline until Jesus comes. Paul said the Spirit of God 'expressly stated' that men would continually get worse, until Jesus comes. Is there any mention of the United States being an exception? 

   Has anyone looked around, lately? From big cities to the suburbs it looks more like Sodom than The Celestial City. Our population is getting younger and browner and more decadent, even the so-called Christians. After 80 years of Dr. Dewey's psychological experimentation in our classrooms, this younger generation doesn't think or act like anyone you knew in 1965.

   Where does that leave those who are truly redeemed? It leaves us exactly where God wants us! It also leaves us with the tools God gave us: Grace, Prayer and The Gospel! 

   Proverbs 24:19,20  [paraphrased] Do not fret because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the [morally] weak because there shall be no [future reward] to [such men]. [Their life] shall be quenched. 

   We can fuss; we can fret. We can crawl into a hole or organize a political action committee. Or....we can pray; live a truly godly life; be a consistent witness and preach The Gospel when the opportunity presents itself. 

   It's not as exciting as a political rally, but it's how the early Christians 'turned the world up-side down.' 

GOD'S JUDGMENT ON AMERICA

   The Election will dominate our life for the next week! Election Day is Tuesday, but pundits and experts are predicting a real possibility of re-counts and challenges, expecting the results to be close.

    In many ways, however, the election has been overshadowed by Sandy. Many are calling Hurricane Sandy "God's Judgment On America." The list is not limited to Christians, those in the Muslim world are saying the same thing. 

    It is easy to scapegoat this issue, and make it a broad-based condemnation of Washington Leadership. While we're doing this, we're not looking at ourselves. America is not Israel, in any sense. The judgments God brought against Israel and against her enemies were unique. As 'The Chosen' of God, the nation Israel bore the brunt of God's holy wrath, for purposes related to a coming Messiah.

    The "Chosen of God," today are Christians, scattered throughout the world. They represent God, not in any national sense, but collectively as The Kingdom of God on earth. If there is a visible expression of this, it is in The Church. If we were seeing God's hand of judgment against any group who violated God's holy standards, it would be The Church.

    And, of course, this is exactly what we see! Churches growing into grotesque caricatures of a holy reality. Preachers who couldn't have gotten a hearing 50 years ago. Bible versions that would have been burned by The Reformers. "New Teachings" that defy the rules of grammar and even logic. Huge salaries and benefits, coupled with tremendous facilities and global electronics. 

    How in the world did Christianity survive, let alone flourish, before all this came along?

    With The New Christianity has come a rise in divorce, abortion, homosexuality and crime....among Christians! You won't get through a month [perhaps a week] without a story of

       a noted Christian engaged to a woman, while still married to his first wife,

       a preacher in support of abortion [in the case of rape or the life of the mother, of course],

       a noted Christian expert, understanding of those who were born homosexual,

       in court for stealing money or misappropriating funds, being involved in some sort of family altercation or being caught with either his girlfriend or his boyfriend.

    The World scorns all this, laughing it the foolish "Christians." The so-called Christian community, however, defends it, under the banner of tolerance and not being judgmental. More and more Christians do not want to hear negativity. Criticize someone who is making a mockery of Christ and of Christian Doctrine and YOU become The Problem!

    But 'Sandy' is God's judgment for America not supporting Israel!  Go Figure!! 

It's Always About The Cover-Up

    We're watching another political cover-up, this one involving the death of 4 Americans employed by the U.S. Government and ostensibly with the reasonable assumption, if not promise of protection. 

    We're watching as the British Broadcasting Company is being charged with covering up the sexual escapades of one of their premiere TV Stars who is now being accused of more than 300 cases of pedophilia, over a 30 year span of time. Knighted by the Queen. Treated as royalty among media types. A Pervert! 

    But cover-ups occur in churches all the time. TBN is embroiled in a Law Suit that alleges they have been misusing funds to enrich themselves. There's a shocker! 

    Another cover-up is alleged in the case of C. J. Mahaney and his Sovereign Grace Ministries. It is alleged that Mahaney knew of a sexual abuse situation, in his church, for decades and purposely concealed that information from Law Enforcement. It is alleged that neither he nor the 6 other leaders named as defendants reported the event(s) and actively sought to "mislead law enforcement into believing the parents had forgiven those who preyed on their children."

    It is not my goal to cast judgment either way, simply to point out what a reasonable person should do in these cases.

    Aside from the Law, which requires pastors, counselors, teachers, etc to report sexual abuse, should they become aware of it, those in Christian Ministry have a biblical and moral obligation to do so!

    Here's the Rule of Thumb: When you hear of a situation, you investigate it!  When you know it has occurred, you become responsible.  When you suspect it has occurred you confront the supposed perpetrator. If he/she confesses, you become responsible. If they do not confess, but you still aren't sure, you become responsible. 

    When you know a crime has been committed, Report it!  When you aren't certain, Get Involved With That Family, In Counseling! At every step you inform the participants that you MUST report a crime or be guilty of a crime, yourself. At no time do you assume the role of Judge and Jury. 

    In the pastorate it is easy to assume these folks are Christians and that by admitting their guilt and submitting to counseling and restitution, everything is OK. The Law doesn't see it that way! As those who are to submit themselves to the governing authorities, we shouldn't see it this way either.

    Restoration, in the case of murder, means what? Confessing it before the congregation? Yes. And....?  With the mainstreaming of homosexuality [in marriages] and in the minds of most Americans, pedophilia is going to increase. It's simply the next logical step. A child does not have to be sexually penetrated for a crime to have been committed!

    Governing Authorities exist to Protect! Secular Government is not the only governing authority. The Family exists as a governing authority structure. The Church exists as a governing authority structure. We expect people to stop anti-social behaviors, simply because it damages the Family. If that doesn't impress them, we have The Church. If that's not an option or it doesn't impress, we have The Law!

    A person who has no more respect for a child [or an adult] than to disrespect them, insult them, hurt them or defile them, has a serious anti-social problem!!  We call it Sin!  If a society can't protect the weaker members, it doesn't have long to exist!

    For Pastors, every counseling session should start with: If you tell me you've committed a crime, my responsibility will be to get you to turn yourself in.  If, after a reasonable time, you refuse, I will!  During that "reasonable time," your crime is ALL we're going to talk about. 

    Are WE becoming so like the world that we no longer know what's right or wrong?  There's a quote: If Gold Rusts, What Can You Expect From Iron?!