HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?

   Listening to the NEWS, watching and listening to POLITICIANS, keeping track of SOCIAL STANDARDS, trying to make sense of our EDUCATIONAL priorities and seeing the proliferation of all sorts of CHURCHES and religious DOCTRINES, you might think you've awakened to a strange New World!

    Such is not the case, however. It simply changed while you were busy with other things.

    Like who's idea the Sequester is and what it actually means [cutting 3% of the budget = a financial disaster]. Like allowing boys in the girls' locker rooms and lavatories, simply upon the boys' assertion that he is actually a girl [Mass. Commissioner of Educ]. Like condemning any mention of homosexuality to be sin or being critical of the outrages of those in the Muslim religion, to NBC's airing of a SNL skit portraying a risen 'Jesus' on a murdering rampage [vulgarity and blood] against those who had him killed. It can be a little confusing!

    You weren't paying attention in the 1940's and 1950's when post-modernism was undermining objective morality.  You weren't paying attention in the 1960's and 1970's when post-post-modernism vested every individual with godhood, making your moral code THE standard, which no one outside YOU could criticize without being declared 'judgmental.' 

    So, now? Now words don't really mean much unless they hurt someone's feelings. Facts don't really mean much until they conflict with the New Reality, whatever that may be. Right and Wrong don't really matter unless you get caught doing something really obvious or you're running for public office and your opponent wants to destroy your reputation. Oh! And you're not guilty until a court finds you guilty.

    Older readers might recognize such things, remembering George Orwell's "1984." He wrote of Big Brother who controlled everything and everyone; Newspeak, where words were re-defined; The Memory Hole, where historical facts were re-written or simply discarded. The Ministry of Truth told lies. The Ministry of Peace ran the wars and "telescreens" watched everyone, whether on the street, at work or in your own home. 

    Another aspect of this Utopian World was the fact that everything written was intercepted and scrutinized.  Think: email, texting, tweeting. 

    If you're one who looks around and wonders what's going on. If you can actually remember what life in the U.S. was like before the post-modern era. Don't despair! You haven't lost your mind! The world and everything in it has changed!

    The New World [in the U.S.] records 15 / 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections every year! 40% of it's children are born out of wedlock. 45% of it's marriages end in divorce [pastors = 50%]. If you're thinking this gives folks an easy 'do-over,' consider that 60% of second marriages and 70% of third marriages end in divorce. 

    42% of young people in the U.S. would not think of dating a virgin [match.com survey]. 44% of women and 63% of men have had one-night stands. 47% have 'friends with benefits.' In addition, we kill about a million unborn children every year!

    We worry about guns but have a strange response to drugs. Mindy McReady died last week as a result of 'misusing drugs.' She wasn't addicted to drugs. She simply misused them, as though using cocaine wisely is healthy. If we took drug-use and alcoholism more seriously, perhaps these behaviors would trigger quicker and more serious attention!

    And, we do the same with alcohol. It's not alcoholism, it's 'abusing alcohol,' which is a disease not a selfish addiction. No one is permitted to suggest that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is, by definition, an irresponsible behavior. Instead we are cautioned to "Drink Responsibly!"

    Have you had too much Common Sense, yet? Reality? The basic things of life never change, only the definitions and responses to them. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! Change the definition if you will but the result of sin is still the same!

WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ

   The world of Christendom and Ancient History agree that our Lenten Celebration of fasting for 40 days, leading up to Easter, is a) not an apostolic tradition, and b) borrowed from paganism.
   According to the Catholic Encyclopedia , the word 'lent' comes from a Germanic word, meaning Spring Season. It reports that Irenaeus -- early Church father [190 AD]  -- wrote to Pope Victor about the controversy of keeping Easter.
   He went on to challenge the idea of a preliminary fast, implying there was no apostolic tradition on the subject, either of Easter or of a Fast [let alone a 40-day fast]
   Tertullian [160-225 AD] and all the pre-Nicene Fathers [prior to 325 AD] were silent on this institution, even though they commented on all sorts of Christian traditions.
   There is written evidence that Athanasius [Egypt - Alexandria] [296/298 - 373 AD] advocated for his flock to fast in the days leading up to Easter -- and having travelled through the West, became a strident advocate due to the fact that [he says] everyone, everywhere he went, was doing it. He did not want to be a laughing stock.
   However, [Catholic] Church historian: Franz Xaver von Funk [1840-1907] says there was not a Lent of 40 days anywhere in the West before the time of Ambrose [340 - 397]
   It is a matter of established historical fact that when Christianity became the official religion of pagan Rome, many of the pagan holidays, celebrations, observances were folded into Roman Christianity. Easter and The Lenten Season were two.
   Our Lenten Celebration dates to about 400 AD, evolving through a number of iterations over the next 200 years. But, nowhere, outside of Roman Christianity, and the Protestant Church Groups which seek acceptance by The Roman Catholic Church, has a Lenten Season been observed in The Church.
   It is a testimony to our Theological and Historical ignorance, along with our predilection for all things 'feeling-oriented,' that many Church groups and individual Churches have picked up the 40-days-of-Lent idea and celebrate it as though it were right and good.
   Aside from the reality that this fast dates back to the Babylonian practice of Weeping for Tammuz [Ezek. 8], the idea of deliberately denying yourself in order to honor God or to achieve some level of spiritual favor or feeling is Law, not Grace!
   Think about it: What are you denying yourself for these 40 days? Good things? Godly things? Or primarily things you know you shouldn't be doing anyway? Food groups. Behaviors. TV programs. Sporting events. Other excesses that do not contribute to Godly Living.
   The Bible is clear: No amount of self-denial [in order to please God] is acceptible. In fact, it is detrimental to faith and is destructive of grace. [Romans 6:14; 11:6; Heb. 13:9]
Christians are indwelt by The Holy Spirit. He is 'the God which is in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.' [Phil. 2:13] What happens when we begin to apply behaviors in order to be more spiritual or to achieve blessing? We become bound to The Law and we have 'fallen from grace.' [Gal. 5:4]
   The argument is: But I'm simply preparing myself to celebrate Easter!
   Okay.  But, Easter is a pagan concept, as well! Christians are to prepare themselves to worship every week! Christians are to prepare themselves for each days' ministry! Christians are to live in perpetual preparation! What makes Easter more special than this?
   Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ! It's what sets Christians apart from religionists. Why do we go back to religion once each year, to celebrate a Babylonian custom?

   This Week On The Bible Forum We'll Discuss Tammuz and Babylonian Religion.

Christianity Is Not A Club We Join

    Christianity isn't most of the things people believe it to be. 

    Christianity is NOT a religious movement: it's not about Rules

    Christianity is NOT a social movement: it does not seek to create a Utopia on earth.

    Christianity is NOT a political movement: neither secular politics nor ecclesiastical politics

    Christianity is NOT an American Thing! 

    Christianity is about the most important issue facing mankind! It's about our soul; our relationship with God; our eternal destiny. To couch it in one or more of these other terms is to miss The Point, entirely!

    In this sense, Christianity is NOT a club we join; NOT an escape from judgment; NOT a hedge against calamity. 

    Christianity is a relationship with The Almighty, made possible by the willing, awful sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ upon the Cross of Calvary.

    It is a relationship of voluntary submission and obeisance; a relationship that transcends all other relationships, while enhancing them and giving them new meaning and purpose.

    Prayer is the breath upon which our heart-desires and gratitude are expressed to The One Who hears without ears; Who builds, sustains and tears down without arms or hands; Who loves and disciplines His children; Who provides for our every need; Who rejoices in His children's praise; Who glories in His children's holy worship.

    The Worship of God is offered, out of the highest respect.  [Ps. 5]

    Worship is an expression of humility and meekness.  [Ps 22]

    Worship is offered in Thanksgiving to The Maker, Sustainer of all.  [Ps. 95]

    Worship is a gift we bring to God because He deserves.  [Ps. 96; 99]

    Worship is a gift He desires, as opposed to what we think is acceptable. [Ps 138]

    American Christianity has either forgotten all this or, in the case of younger folks, never knew it. It shows up in the way we live our lives, the way we treat others, the way we approach society and the way we worship. For most of us, Christianity is far less than what The Bible presents and far more than it ought to be!

    A missionary, returning from Cuba, wrote: Cuban Christians pray for persecution in America! They know that persecution will cleanse and strengthen The Church. It did there! It does everywhere.    

    The increasing secularization of society is a direct result of the spiritual weakening of The Church. Christianity has been marginalized even as we see it's public face growing stronger.

   God is working His will upon this earth. The politicians, power-brokers, bankers and religionists are seeking to work their will upon this earth, in opposition.  How will it all end? 

    The Bible records the angel, speaking for God unto Zechariah about the end of the age. When Zechariah clearly does not understanding what he was seeing, the angel replies, simply:  "It is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" [Zech. 4:6]

    "Even so, Lord, come!"

     PS: You can watch the Bible Forum from our Facebook Page

 [www.facebook.com/BibleForum]

WORLD WAR!

Last week we talked about Mystery, Babylon The Great: the End Times Political, Economic and Religious system that will dominate the earth during [at least] the last half of The Great Tribulation.

A system this large and pervasive does not just appear. It takes years, decades, centuries of planning and incremental steps to become the monolith it is prophesied to be. Many believe that system exists today. Some have seen it in the Roman Catholic Church because of the identification with the 7 mountains upon which 'the woman' sits. [Rev. 17] Last week's installment showed the weakness of this interpretation.

Consider: James Rickards' book: The Currency Wars: The Making of The Next Global Crises. Rickards is a respected economic leader with a unique skill-set. He has been called upon by our government, on several occasions, to either fix financial problems or analyze them for various governmental groups. He has testified before Congress on several occasions and was called upon by the Pentagon to demonstrate how he envisioned this crises to impact our security.

In a nutshell, Rickards is suggesting the indicators exist to demonstrate a soon-coming Global War! This one will not be with bullets but with currencies. Right now nations are vying for economic superiority [or parity] by de-valuing their currencies. 

We, in the United States, have devalued our currency at least three times in the last 3 or 4 years. The government calls it "quantitative easing," but it's really The Federal Reserve dumping dollars into the system. 1.3 trillion dollars in 2010, 600 bn in 2011, and 1.9 trillion in 2012. Close to 4 trillion extra dollars, chasing the same goods and services, means each one now costs more.

We are being told to expect 4-dollar gasoline by Summer [again]. This time the price will probably not go back down. 

Rickards demonstrates that in the early part of the 20th century, this sort of thing occurred precipitating The Great Depression, the rise of Hitler, in Germany, and World War II. It happened again in the 1970's where we saw gas lines, unemployment and a 'Misery Index' which added the inflation rate to the interest rate. In those days folks were paying 11 to 18% interest on home mortgages and 'Usury' laws had to be adjusted because Credit Card companies were routinely charging more than 20% on this unsecured, short-term debt. 

Rickards says we are on the verge of Number 3. This time nations will fight with their currency values. Great Britian has already devalued their currency by 90% with Japan at 125%. China surprised the world by suddenly increasing their gold reserves by 3 /4000 tons over a 4-year period. China now has banks in the U.S. giving them access to The Federal Reserve and our currency network. 

USAToday suggested: "The next war won't be fought with guns, but with currency."  Forbes is predicting this will "destroy the dollar."

Mystery, Babylon The Great is a system in the making. Politically, the stage is being set for an Elite Cadre of leaders telling their people what they must do or not do and having the majority accept it, simply because they trust their leaders. Religiously, people are being deceived by the Feel-Good, Mystical messages and experiences, called 'church,' to abandon the authority of The Word of God, while the Economic System is being used as a weapon against both our enemies and our citizens.

It's easy to see how The Anti-christ will want to take control of this system. It is not only for centralized control, but a weapon in his effort to dominate the world. What will you do? The "Message" is usually: Buy God!

But God's message is: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayes be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,... and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see."  [Rev. 2:18]

Are You Pro-Life?

    Tuesday, January 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. In 1973, a majority of Americans favored life over death, for innocent children in the womb, but the U.S. Supreme Court, convinced by the available 'science' that the fetus, in the first 3 months of gestation, was not really a human being, allowed legal abortions up to the first Tri-mester.

    Over the next few years, two other decisions opened abortions up on-demand, for the entire gestation period up to and including the vicious 'Partial Birth Abortion.'

    The fact that abortions were already be done in America, prior to Roe v. Wade somehow escapes some of the finest minds in the country. We are expected to believe women were being subjected to back-alley abortions because our society didn't care about their plight. 

    What we didn't have was abortions on-demand! There needed to be a reasoned, medical reason to terminate a young life. With Roe v. Wade, the door was open and the followers of Baal marched right through!

    "Baal" is the general term, used in The Bible, to identify pagan religious systems of worship and belief. One was the Philistine god: Molech. Molech required the sacrifice of young children. Children consigned to the furnace of Molech for no reason other than to satisfy the selfish desires of his worshippers.

    Like every pagan god, worshippers offered sacrifices to assure some sort of benefit. There were gods of rain or crops or natural disasters or infertility, etc. The offerings satisfied the gods and guaranteed a good crop or safety from some natural disaster or another, if the sacrifice was sufficient.

    We don't see ourselves as pagan, idol worshippers. However, increasingly that's exactly what we've become.   There is no other way to describe it! The mother is not ill. The fetus is viable. The only motivation is personal desire. Carrying this baby full term will work a hardship on the parents, so the baby must die!

    Abortion advocates know, should mothers actually see an abortion being performed they would be horrified! They have sued to stop mothers from having to wait 24 hours, or watch a sonogram, or simply to see the billboard of the small child's hand reaching out of his mother's womb to grasp the doctor's finger as he does surgery to assure the survival of that child.

    Today, 77% if Americans think abortion should be available, in some or all circumstances. This is a 24% increase from 2009. 50% of Americans identify themselves as Pro-Life! Yes, you read that right. Statistically, almost half of those who are Pro-life, believe abortions should be available. 

    Where are you, in this debate? We'd like to believe that folks who have yielded their hearts and lives to God, in Christ; bond-slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ; believers of God's Word, would think differently than those who live for Self!

    The Church has a lot to answer for! I would encourage you to take a hard look at your commitment to God if you believe you can pick and choose which teachings and moral standards you want, based on your desires.

    This Sunday Night [on the Bible Forum] we're going to consider the words of Pontius Pilate: "What is Truth?"  Jn. 18:37   Look at what Jesus said that precipitated that remark. We'll talk about it.

     PS: You can watch the Bible Forum from our Facebook Page  [www.facebook.com/BibleForum]

Are You Learning The Lesson?

      Lou Giglio is Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He's a young guy and a self-styled leader of a so-called New Breed of Jesus, Generation. He was invited to offer the Benediction at President Obama's Second Inauguration, on February 12.

    He has been effectively dis-invited by the Presidential Inaugural Committee because he "does not reflect this Administration's vision of inclusion and acceptance of all Americans."

    Just why he was invited, in the first place, is somewhat of a mystery. Giglio is not a Liberal, in the theological sense of that word. He is not an older cleric who has standing in the broader religious community. He certainly isn't part of any recognized minority population. He doesn't bring a voting block, nor did he raise money for the Obama Re-election Campaign.

    It appears they thought this young pastor would give them standing with the segment of the population he represents and can influence. All that evaporated when the committee found out he'd once preached a sermon against homosexuality.  

     He didn't actually preach a sermon against homosexuality, per se, he simply pointed out that homosexuality was a sin; one of many sins a person must recognize and be willing to repent of, should they want to be saved. He wasn't singling out homosexuals, apparently. He simply mentioned that sin, in the context of things that represent mans' sin nature.

    That Pastor Giglio hasn't preached on this subject since, doesn't seem to matter. That he stated in this letter to the Committee: "Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen year," should have been sufficient to view him differently.

    However, the fact that he did say it.... then, is enough to punish him.... now. 

    The Message is: You can be a Christian; you can believe what The Bible teaches about morality and sin; you can preach what you believe, just don't cross the line and condemn sodomy, ....or infanticide, or....sexual promiscuity, or....any one of the Seven Deadly Sins!

    We saw it at the Democrat National Convention. The Party Platform was taken almost exclusively from Romans, Chapter 1, the last 14 verses. These are the ungodly [attitudes] and unrighteous [behaviors] of men that precipitates the wrath of God being revealed....against men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. [v. 18]

    This is a phrase that describes people who Know what's right / good, but insist on living as though it doesn't matter. It takes a fairly perverse man or woman to kill an innocent child, in the womb. It takes a fairly corrupted man or woman to not only justify sodomy but mainstream it as though it's normal. People don't get this way, over night. They have to be coached; encouraged; trained; desensitized; shamed into acceptance.

    That the Federal Government would be the instrument for this sort of degradation is clearly a Sign of The Times! Al Mohler calls it Moral McCarthysim. The witnesses in those 'Hearings" were universally asked: "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?"  

    Which side are you on? 

Are There Any Adults Left In Washington?

    This week we heard how average Americans are working to get out of debt, while Washington added more debt on top of a mountain of debt! Do these folks know something average Americans don't?

    The Book of Proverbs lists hundreds, if not thousands of Wise Sayings. Some of them seem a little strange. One reason may be that what Solomon [or Agur and Lemuel -- who apparently wrote the last two chapters] wrote was not always the godly advice, but sometimes just the way things work, in the world of men. The cumulative effect, however, is to communicate Wisdom to those who want it.

    The opening chapters explain the Why and the How: as an introduction. With Chapter 5 we receive warnings. Warnings regarding the 'strange woman' and the things God 'hates.' The Strange Women is compared to 'Wisdom' [in chapter 1] who, as a woman, is 'crying in the street.' 

    As you read, you see that godly wisdom is not hidden from men. 'She' cries, not only in the street, but in the place of 'concourse' [business] and in the 'opening of the gates' [halls of justice] and throughout the city. Wisdom is available to all! All, that is, who will hear and heed.

    The wisdom offered covers the totality of mans' existence, from relationships to finances to personal disciplines to education, etc. The problem? Men don't want wisdom until they need it. The wise way is the way of restriction; of discipline; of decency. After 30 years of living any way we want, there are bound to be problems. Then we want wisdom!

    Where is 'she' then? Chapter 1:28 says it is then she will not answer you. She was available 'early' but you did not seek her; did not see a need for her. Now? You shall 'eat of the fruit of [your] own way, and be filled with [your] own devices.' v. 31

    What is the advice God gives?  Chapter 3, verse 16: You will be delivered from 'the strange woman,...from the stranger which flattereth with her words.'  Who is this strange woman? She is worldly wisdom. She is the personification of all the advice; ideas; suggestions which flow from the world of men and cater to our own selfishness. 

    Like what? Like you don't need to obey your parents. Like parents aren't supposed to control childrens' attitudes, vocabulary, ideas, daily routines. Like we can read anything we like, watch anything we like, play with anything we like and it won't matter. Like we can live anyway we choose and the result will be the same as those who live righteous. Like we don't need to focus on an education or a trade and we will have largely the same life as did our parents or as do anyone who DID focus.

    Ques: How do you get 30 years' experience? Where do you buy it? Who will give it to you, when you need it? The obvious answer is 30 years' experience comes only one way: you have to live it!

     This is why 'wisdom' laughs at your calamity [1:26]. It is why she mocks when your fear comes and when your destruction comes as a whirlwind [v. 27].

    Why? Because you didn't want her, when she was 'crying in the streets' and now that you need her, she isn't available to you. The day of learning was ignored. Now, you will learn the hard way.

    America is not like this! America knew wisdom. America has rejected the wisdom she knew in favor of New Wisdom. The wisdom of destruction and dissipation. The idea that everyone can have it all, without anyone paying The Price. It is a Fools Errand, borne of an unseen enemy who gained the ascendency while American Christians slept.

    The destruction about to descend on America is to be laid at the feet of the American Church. As conscience, she failed us. As 'salt' she has lost her savor. As 'light' she is all but extinguished. We have sown to the wind of selfishness and greed. We shall certainly reap the whirlwind of poverty and persecution.

    Surprise? This is what God predicted, thousands of years ago! Americans have simply thought it couldn't / wouldn't happen here. In the midst of this whirlwind The Real Church will grow strong and vibrant, in The Lord. The pretenders will drop off, not finding the benefits they thought were available. New Power will return to America. The Power we now see in The Church in China, Russia, North Korea, Nigeria, Sudan and in a host of Arab countries. 

    Things are changing, when educated people vote to create another four trillion dollars of debt, on top of sixteen trillion dollars of existing debt. A debt that is currently 3X what the government takes in each year. No one believes this is sustainable or wise! But none of that matters. What matters is that we have the society 'we' want. What 'we' want is a global society, completely dependent upon a cadre of elite leaders. A society we can hand over to The Enemy of our soul.

    What will 2013 bring us? A Living Bible! Bible scholars know there is much yet to be fulfilled, before Jesus comes, yet it is hard to imagine what remains before The Man of Sin steps up to protect Israel from her enemies. This is the biblical event that marks the beginning of The Great Tribulation; the Day of Jacob's trouble. If there is something that hinders this event, it is the strength / dominance / individualism of the U.S.  

    This is now evaporating.  Even so, come!