Samson's Loss

Judges 16:20 KJV

And he [knew] not that the LORD was departed from him.

Some of the saddest words in the Holy Bible. 

Samson, who had been the champion of God and a judge of his people, didn't even know God had left him.

He supposed he would go out, as so many times before, shake himself like a lion and conquer his enemies. 

Before he knew what hit him, though, he found himself bald, blind, bound and grinding meal in a prison

Not to be too hard on Sampson, but shouldn't he have known what his condition was?

Wasn't he chosen, called and equipped by Jehovah God? 

Should he not have realized that the path he had chosen would lead to his destruction? 

Worse, the loss of his power? 

He began by laying with Delilah, then lying to Delilah and moved on to lying to himself. 

After all of his bad choices, he still convinced himself that nothing had changed, that he was still the man he used to be and that God would empower him in spite of his sin.

In spite of his unfaithfulness. 

In spite of breaking confidence with God. 

Denial? Not just a river in Egypt! 

Have we lost our power and are unaware? 

Do we think we'll just rise up, shake off our enemies as before and "go out as at other times," overcoming the devil?

All the while, unaware that the delicate little dainty we loved, and we convinced ourselves loved us, has taken our strength while we slept in blissful ignorance.

Not by might. Not by power. 

But by subterfuge. 

How? Because we simply gave it away! 

No power on earth could stop Samson. He was stronger than anyone or anything. Nothing could defeat him.

Nothing, except his own pride, lust and bad choices.

You know, the same things that take our power from us when we don't guard it closely. 

Was there redemption for Samson? 

Was there repentance? 

At last, at the bitter end, when Samson was too blind to be distracted by worldy beauty, too broken to hold onto his pride and too full of regret to turn anywhere else but to the One he had betrayed, his power was restored to him.

Oh, sure! His last act was greater than all his previous combined. 

But what a price he paid!

His station, his reputation, his eyes and his life. 

How much suffering and loss could he have avoided if he been more circumspect, prayerful and obedient? 

What could he have accomplished for his people and himself if he simply had not betrayed the promise between himself and Jehovah? 

I've often asked the same question about myself. 

I can only imagine! 

Safe in the Camp

 Safe In the Camp

Exodus 32, 33

So, I had gotten finagled into a religion discussion with a customer. (Something I sincerely avoid.) He's a regular, I know him to be a professing Christian and he's always, though dry of humor, very amiable toward me.

He has brought up things regarding our Lord to me before, but, this particular night, he started asking me, shall we say, questions on the matter of religion, church, etc. I can't remember exactly the evolution of the discussion, but I wound up asking him some questions that garnered some telling responses.

He said much in the course of the conversation about how open minded he is and expressed the same about his church. (The local First Baptist. But of course!) He continued that he is also a deacon at that particular congregation.

I think the conversation was begun with me responding to a remark by him, making some silly comments about my beliefs being outside the mainstream of orthodox thought. I might've referred, euphemistically, to my thoughts as being "strange" to most people.

He assured me that he was of his own mind and that he didn't have any problem disagreeing or hold anything against those who do. I doubted his illumination.

His defense was one I'd heard from hundreds of Christians about their welcomeness to contrary thought. They all seem to boldly state their independence of belief and tolerance for heterodoxical thinking.

I began, as gently as I knew how, to question his and his church's alleged open-mindedness. I wondered out loud that, if one of their own was to doubt, disagree or, at least, seriously question the doctrines normally accepted among the circle he goes round in, would they be all that accepting. He assured me they would.

Me being me, I thought that I might put him to the test. So, I began to ask a series of eschatological questions that I felt certain would get the Fundamentalist accepted answers that I expected. I was not disappointed.

My hooks were well-baited. 

"Do you think the anti-christ is alive today and possibly living somewhere in Europe?"

"Do you believe there'll be a seven year Tribulation when the church is called out?"

"Do you believe Christ and the church will reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years upon their return?"

I might've asked a couple more questions, all along that line, but I got what I was looking for. He answered in the affirmative his basic agreement with the concepts and doctrines I was asserting with my little pop quiz. Of course, he was slightly defensive, saying he didn't give that sort of thing much thought, but that it wasn't the most important point of Christianity. (Basically, words to that affect.) He fell right into my trap!

This is where I apologized for my insincerity. I explained to him that I was just checking to see if he was standing where I already assumed he stood. He did.

I vainly tried to express to him that he was safely in the camp. Sure, he might not have invested hundreds of hours of study in these particular matters, but he was always faithful to the accepted orthodoxy. He would never give any real consideration to viable alternatives. Yes, he would give lip-service to the possibility of other ideas, but he would know no details or doctrines and, in his heart of hearts, should he give it any thought at all, would dismiss any other lines of thinking out of hand.

Sadly, most Christians are "safe in the camp." Like the Israelites of old, they huddle together, avoiding gentiles like leprosy and look out at those who are any different as no more than mistakes to be ignored. Or disposed of.

The problem with being safe in the camp, though, is that God, is, in actuality, not in the camp. He's outside the camp.

After Moses had received the Ten Commandments, he returned from Mt. Sanai only to find the children of Israel involved in a raucous party and worshiping a golden calf. Punishments were meted out and the people paid the price. He then relayed the plans for the temple, which was promptly placed outside of the camp. Not in the middle, where it would be surrounded by the people, but outside of the camp.

This was obviously an abbreviated version of a long story, but the point remains that the forlorn children of Israel, instead of having the Temple, ergo, God, in the middle of their camp, it was placed outside of the camp where they would be forced to leave the comfort of friend and family to seek God elsewhere. Yes, friends and family were good, they knew of God, but God was not there. They could stay comfortably in the camp or could seek God where He may be found.

This, actually, was against God's design, but was still part of His plan. Much like Adam and Eve were designed for a garden, God knew what was coming and it all fit perfectly, completely into His plan. As my brother says, "God has no plan B."

As the Children of Israel were unprepared to hear the Voice of God speaking from Sinai, neither were they ready to have the Tabernacle of God in their midst. One day, though, the Tabernacle of God would be with men. Then men would not have to seek God, for God would be in us. 

Hallelujah! That days is here!

Exodus 33:7 KJV

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Revelation 21:3 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Avoiding the Word

"Words mean things."

That's what the great philosopher and theologian Rush Limbaugh said on many, many occasions. Truer words have never been uttered.

"1984," being one of the most important novels ever written, and a personal favorite, should be read by every American. And everyone!  I have read it more times than I can say. (I think it may be about time for a reread.)

Words are what separate us from the animals. They allow us to think and grow as rational beings. With words we formulate thoughts and prayers. (Although, yes, some prayers are unutterable.) With words we attempt to express our joy, our sorrow, our hopes and our anguish. The most discomfiting thing for many a man is trying to find the right words.

I remember my dad telling me that the most frustrating thing about being a father, when we boys were infants, was that, when we hurt, we couldn't tell him what hurt. He had to try to guess and discern. (Fortunately, mothers do truly seem to have an instinct for such things.) I found that when I became a father and my baby girl was making her, shall we say, discomfort and dissatisfaction known, I experienced the same frustration.

Many a lover's quarrel and ultimate break-ups come from a failure to communicate. Businesses have been ruined and wars started over nothing more than simple misunderstandings of words. Misunderstood words have also lost more than a few battles. Obversely, many victories have been won and the tide of battle turned because just the right soldier thought that his command was "advance" when it was actually "retreat." 

Holy Scripture says, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God gave us His Word. Pretty straightforward, right? There was nothing more precious, or more binding, to the all-rational, all-eloquent, all-knowing God who made all things than to give to us the One by whom all things were made. He gave us the best part of Himself. His Word.

Now, it is worth noting, and a large part of my point, that this is not the first appearance of the Word of God. Obviously, His Word is eternal. (Sorry, Catholics and the SBC, the Son is not eternal.) He, yes, He, appears to us in the earliest parts of God's Holy Scriptures. We see Him referenced in even the very first verses of the book of Genesis.

"And God said..."

It should not be a continental leap of theology to realize that when God speaks, that is His Word. It would certainly be ridiculous and contradictory, I believe, not to see this expression of God as such. He spoke the world into existence. "All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:3) This speaking is very God! Trinitarian or Oneness, you would certainly, methinks, have to have your mind, heart and eyes closed to not see as much.

It is not long thereafter that we see, perhaps rather, hear this One appearing again. On the sixth day, God made man and told him the good news, the Gospel, as it were. He told him of all the things He had made for man's pleasure and joy, but warned him of the one thing God wanted to reserve to Himself. 

It's another blog to discuss the things that God reserves to Himself.

I've heard much discussion from some theologians over whether or not, had the Holy Couple not sinned, would have ever granted them the knowledge of good and evil. They seem to forget, this was God's plan all along. (Rev. 5:6) To quote one occasionally wise theologian: "God has no Plan B." 

Strange, it seems, that God would not want His newborn son, Adam, to know the difference between good and evil. Right and wrong. 

I ponder, would we want our little children, fresh from the womb, to be saddled with the responsibility of having to make the choice of what is and isn't good? Knowing as an infant the things that adults must contend with? Wouldn't we want them to retain their innocence as long as they could? Wouldn't we want them to be children, our children, as long as possible? To not grow up too quickly?

God, sets rules, boundaries and parameters for our own protection and demands, yes, demands, that we operate within them. You know, much like the no running or pushing rules at the pool. Society, today wants to pervert the process and rush children to physical adulthood, though, of course, not emotional, rational adulthood, as quickly and early as possible. Though, it's only for their own nefarious reasons. 

So, the Word soon appears again. He is walking as the Voice of God in the cool of the day. Apparently, not finding Adam where Adam normally would be, He called out for him. The Word, the Voice, the part of God that made all things cried out for his little boy saying, "Adam! Adam! Where are you?"

He knew with a breaking heart exactly where the man was and exactly what he had been doing. Adam, as if he had never even met his Father, made a miserable attempt to cover his shame and hide from the One he least wanted to disappoint.

We know the story of the curse and the promise. We know the death and shame both brought. We also know of the glory ultimately obtained.

I want to talk a little more about the silly man trying to cover his nakedness with leaves from a fruit tree, hiding behind a tree, (is that a blog?) as if he didn't know God would find him. As if he was stupid enough to think he could avoid the very Word that had made him. As if he had something to fear.

Well, did he?

Men today fear words. Nay, they are terrified by them! Most men stumble and mumble through a conversation, doing, for the most part, little more than Tim Allen caveman grunts, feebly attempting to express themselves. Scared to death that someone might see the dirty-faced, frightened and sinful little boy inside. Still trying to pathetically hide his nakedness from God.

Our nakedness is uncovered in our actions, but, mostly, by our words. We know nothing, but try to hide it behind the garbage we pitifully stitch together, feebly, ineptly, trying to cover our weakness and exposure. What we make leaves us, (pardon the pun,) uncomfortable and in worse condition than if we had merely just stood there naked and defenseless. It is a never ending source of amazement to me how we so easily choose our own horrible way of dealing with our problems rather than the simple, effective words of God.

It's been pointed out, (I believe it was R.C. Sproul,) that the idea of being naked implies an absence of clothing. An absence of covering. Almost as if there was suddenly, as in a change, something missing. As if something was there before, but is gone. Before it is absent. One word used in one dictionary is "deprived." The connotation seems to me that they were covered only to be uncovered.

What is it that would've covered them before they became uncovered? They were naked, but, yet, covered?

When speaking of the nation of Israel on the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday, our Lord pined that He would have covered them as a mother hen does her chicks, had they only allowed Him to do so.

Luke 13:34 KJV

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Are we not all covered by God? If we will only let Him do so? Like little children, in their ignorance, are covered under the wings of a merciful God.

I'm sure I have covered, pun again, in another blog, or will, my thinking on why children, along with the adult ignorant, go to the same Heaven as those of us who are born again. In short, it has everything to do with that "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8)

So, so many, like father Adam, choose otherwise. Alas, we intuitively choose our own utterly inadequate covering rather than the glorious, righteous, holy, complete, perfect covering offered to us by the Savior.

Yes, I am almost off the surbject here, but the fact remains, that we, like him, try to hide from the Truth. We create our own little religiosity, struggling to ignore the fact that we are poor, blind and, yes, naked. (Revelation 3:17 KJV)

It's an ongoing battle for me on Fascist-Book, and elsewhere, trying to provoke my fellow Christians to drop their pride, stop pretending like they inherently know the meaning of every existing word and actually invest some time and effort into researching them, or maybe even actually trouble themselves, (O, bother) to look them up in a good dictionary! Perish the thought!

Now, why would anyone want to be, not blissfully, but willfully ignorant of something so basic as what the words they use mean? How could one be so disinterested in having the most basic ability to both understand and convey abstract thought? To be able to communicate!

I have a theory or two on this matter. 

Yes, there is always laziness, poor teachers, a lack of inspiration, a lack of intelligence, a lack of proper experiences and the simple fact that other, less disturbing things, often fill the mind of man. Sports, music, fishing, cars, women, etc., always occupy our consciousness, making it difficult to make room for, shall we say, the things requiring more mental discipline. All those distractions that I talked about keep men as the shallow puddles that, sadly, we are. We fill our lives and thoughts with those less important things. We think, we convince ourselves, it's enough. 

Since we don't really want to invest the effort in covering our nakedness in a Godly manner, we try to cover our nakedness with our own convention and invention.

We need more work and concentration on the things that matter. We need more fasting and praying. (Mat. 17:21) And all the NIV people say, "What?"

Since Adam, men have tried to hide from the Word. We fear what the Word might have to say to us. We fear the truth that He might bring. The truth that we are most ineptly attempting to avoid. 

Men still not only fear the presence, the knowledge of the Word, but we even fear words. Just good, old-fashioned, regular words. 

We really don't want to know. We only want to know, or, rather assume we know, enough to be able to close our minds to a world that rages around us. We sing, "I Wanna Know More about My Lord." The problem is, we don't know what we don't know. And we are quite content in that lack of knowledge.

We make bad choices to only double-down on the bad choices we've previously made. Adam didn't obey God's Word, so he looked around for something he stupidly might've thought would hide him.

Scratchy fig leaves make for a terrible, perhaps, itchy substitute. They're not only insufficient, they're uncomfortable. (No, I've never worn clothes made from fig leaves or any leaves, for that matter, but they would never be my first choice for fabric. Cotton breathes, ya know.) The very fact that they invested so much time and effort into stitching these crummy outfits together suggests that they put more time and effort into fashioning clothes than they did into thinking whether or not they should have ever eaten that furshlugginer fruit!

Would this have any connection to why Christ cursed the fig tree? Sounds like maybe another blog?

So many substitutes are out there for the true Word. Man has been incredibly creative in his attempts to avoid words. (I'm not sure when I should be capitalizing "word" at this moment.) He has replaced words, muddied the meaning of words, changed the meaning of words, (not through natural, societal evolution, but by fiat,) has concocted words, (not coined,) and has done all that he could conceive through stubbornness and malice to convince himself that his ideas (logos) are correct and good, never admitting how sticky and uncomfortable they actually are.

I laugh when I hear people, generally, young men who are wannabe nerds, professing their utter boredom. They sound like Vyvyan on "The Young Ones." "Bored! Bored! Bored!" He would cry out these words while breaking up the furniture and knocking holes in walls.

I usually take this as my opportunity to tell them, "I don't believe I've ever been bored in my life. But I've got a secret and most people just ain't interested in it."

For those few who are curious enough to bite and ask my secret, I say, "I'm always talking to God. How can I be bored when I'm talking to God? And if I am still bored? That's because I'm talking too much and ain't listening enough. He's got great stories, ya know."

Most respond incoherently, merely shrugging me off. It seems to be more than they are willing to invest. Surprise! Surprise!

Even as I write these words, I wonder, am I doing more talking than listening? It's such an easy trap to fall into. The danger is ever present.

Adam, of course, assumed he knew what was right. Hadn't he eaten of the tree that gave him knowledge of good and evil? Of right and wrong? Shouldn't he have known now? Didn't he now have a clear understanding and what was the right way? Didn't it seem good to make some uncomfortable clothing and try to hide his sin? Adam proved he was a man: he assumed he was right. Well, he may have been wrong, but he was never in doubt.

Adam's first sin was in disobeying his Father. His second was in thinking he could fix the problem.

Did he maybe check with the Source? Did he ask God what to do now that he had fouled up his entire life? No, he just guessed and he most certainly guessed poorly. He did what he did out of fear, arrogance and sheer stubbornness. Imagine that! A man being stubborn?

Also, typical of a man, deep down he knew his plan was a stinker. If he had thought the fig leaf clothes were such a good covering, why did he hide in the trees too?

Adam's pride kept him away from his father. He didn't want to admit his wrong, because he was embarrassed at the situation in which he had placed himself. He pathetically tried to cover his guilt and shame with his own ideas about what a covering should be. When the Voice of God called him from the tree he was hiding behind, He showed him, with the sacrifice of a Lamb, what is the Truth. (Or, of course, rather, Who.)

Whether it's a plan, an idea or, yes, even a word. If you presumptuously think you understand and are just too intellectually lazy to actually consider that you might be wrong and that finding the answer might take research and maybe some prayer and fasting, you are letting the flesh rule you and are missing out on the true word/Word. You're missing out on the Truth!

There are so many times in the Bible where men have fled the word, like when the nomadic Israelites, having gathered at the mountain of God to hear His Voice, fled to their tents, telling Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't let Him speak to us or we'll die." (Yeah, I wrote about this in another blog.) Saul hid from his calling as king among the "stuff," and Elijah, well, he hid in a cave. Peter hid behind lies and Judas hid behind a kiss.

We too find ways to hide. (As if we could.) We hide behind ceremonies, catechisms, or even sometimes chaos. How many times have I heard a Christian say, "We had a great service today. The preacher didn't even get to preach!" Been there; done that. 

Many dance and shout and jump the pews. They think they are "dancing" in the Lord, but it's not so unlike something you might see at a pagan ritual or a Saturday night honky-tonk. It's about the show. Mostly, it's about being seen. Few can see past the facade that hides the emptiness within.

Millions of Christians today hide from God behind verbal fig leaves. They try to cover their ignorance, lack of curiosity and fear of true knowledge and experience in a cacophony of noise that a century or more of preachers, using Scriptures out of context and some witty phrases, have convinced them is the highest form of praise, the most special exchange, the very pinnacle of a relationship with God. 

Will we never allow ourselves to simply be quiet? To be still, to be quiet, and know that He is God. The outlook after years of talking to the average Christian? It ain't looking good! 

I was infuriated by a woman recently on Focus on the Family. (A high estrogen show that I can hardly stomach to listen to anymore.) The sad, silly, simpery voiced woman advised Christians that when they get "stuck" praying and don't know what to say, just start quoting Bible verses.

Sheesh!

Doesn't she understand that's exactly where God wants us to be? Is it all that difficult for us to just shut up and let God speak to us? Don't we understand that we can't hear Him when our mouths are open? 

All the words, syllables and sounds emanating from our mouths cannot draw us one inch closer to Him. All the noise is no more than a tinkling brass or a sounding symbol.

I know, it's terrifying, but He truly wants us to know His heart! We can't be quiet and know Him when we are drowning out His Voice with our own frivolous clamor. 

Be quiet and experience that I am God. Psalm 46:10 ADV 

Baptists, Pentecostal, Methodists, et al., all make their own brand of noise to muffle what God might actually have to say to them. We don't want Him messing around in our, er, knowledge. What we know, we hold near and dear to our hearts. After all, it's our own. Our precious!

We talk and talk until we run out of anything to say, but we keep talking. Like the Pharisees who thought they'd be heard because of their long prayers. Mark 12:40

Many believers continue to seek ways to hide from the Word. (As if we could.) We hide behind ceremonies, catechisms, or even sometimes chaos. Millions of Christians today hide from God behind verbal fig leaves, claiming that the pinnacle of their relationship with their Savior is expressing themselves, to put it bluntly, in gibberish. They try to cover their ignorance, lack of curiosity and fear of true knowledge and experience within a cacophony of noise.

They just don't really want to listen to the Voice of God!

Not to pick on Charismatics, but I once spent over three hours on my knees in a Charismatic prayer room. After an hour, or less, of praying for everyone I could think of, I spent the rest of the time just listening and marveling. No, I couldn't understand a word they were saying, but they seemed passionate in their endeavor.

It didn't occur to me then, but I now realize that they were all simply sewing fig leaves together for aprons that they thought would hide their nakedness. I mean, who wants to be naked in front of God, right? So, like little children, like us all, they concoct futile methods for hiding their true selves from God. 

If you've ever failed to lock the door properly and had someone walk in while you're on the throne, as you desperately reach for anything, pants, that magazine you're reading, vainly attempting to cover yourself, well, you know how embarrassing it is to be, literally, caught with your pants down. You realize too late, that you should have followed the rules and made sure the door was locked.

I remember my daughter, peeking out from behind the kitchen table leg when she was a toddler. As if, even as small as she was, that table leg would hide her. No, the table leg didn't hide her very well at all. I would pretend like it did, though. She was adorable and it was a fun game. No harm done. 

Alas, much harm was done in Adam's case.

It seems to me that God was much less concerned about our progenitor's lack of clothing than He was about how Adam & Eve had suddenly acquired the knowledge that they didn't have any. He wanted them to tell Him where they obtained that little piece of information.

"Who told you you were naked?"

Yes, we know about the excuses made by the Holy Couple, the buck that was passed and who Adam ultimately blamed. God! 

Still, God being God, didn't worry too much about their excuses. He merely offered a solution. God never avoids the issue!

Alas, to this day, men, even Christians, avoid the word/Word. They don't want to actually know the meaning/Truth of most things. Particularly spiritual things. To know as much brings responsibility. Knowledge is power, they say. And you know what Uncle Ben said about what comes with great power. 

So, if you trifle and guess and presume and assume, then you can believe things mean whatever you want, whatever suits your fancy at any given moment and then you, like father Adam, can be like God. You can govern and decide in your own way. Make up your own rules. Your own ideas. Your own definitions. Nobody is the boss of you. Certainly not Webster and certainly not God.

The Watch Maker?

 Dictionary.com says:

deism—noun

1. belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (distinguished from theism)

2. belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.

Webter's 1828

DE'ISM, noun [French deisme; Spanish deismo; Italian id.; from Latin deus, God.] The doctrine or creed of a deist; the belief or system of religious opinions of those who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation: or deism is the belief in natural religion only, or those truths , in doctrine and practice, which man is to discover by the light of reason, independent and exclusive of any revelation from God.

I have been fighting for years against the shameful lie that our Founding Fathers were either all,  mostly, predominately, substantially, partly or, at least, well stocked with deists. I've heard it from alleged historians, teachers, politicians, sadly, even preachers and, of course, from many on Fascist-Book.

It's a fairy tale promulgated by the growing agnostic/atheist class in our society. These little people with little ideas and delusions of grandeur believe they can lift themselves by the bootstraps by lowering our heroes. They, of course, would have the mendacity to falsely claim our founders were all godless gargoyles. You know, like themselves. Balderdash!

Now, this word is typically used by those who have never bothered themselves with silly, little things like bothersome definitions. Demonstrating their willful ignorance, they seem to think they know exactly what every word ever spoken means by, I suppose, osmosis. For those of us who ain't so smart? We must turn to Webster.

(As shown above.)

In short, deism doesn't deny God's existence, only His involvement. Their absurd claim is, in short, sure there is a god and he created everything, but he just doesn't care. He will never involve himself in our lives; he doesn't want to have anything to do with us. The only things we can learn about him are assumptions made from study of the nature and our own reason. We won't get any revelation from the creator himself. He doesn't want to talk to us. We are on our own!

You've heard the metaphor about the watchmaker god. He made the watch; he wound the watch; he started the watch; he left the watch to follow his design. To put a fine point on it, he then cast the watch aside and abandoned it.

Attempting not to digress here, but you would have to be completely and purposely ignorant about watches to buy into such a pathetic metaphor. Good, well made watches need cleaning, oiling, winding and just general maintenance to keep in good operating condition. You know, much like our universe needs a good caretaker to keep in good operating condition.

Let's us, though, for argument's sake, suppose it is true that a large portion of our Founders believed in "a God  who didn't care, that lived away out there." That being the case, what would we have to believe about the old boys that gave us the Declaration, the Constitution, our glorious republic and these United States?

These are a few of the conclusions about them at which you would have to arrive:

1. You must believe that our Founders, in spite of lack of modern transportation, good roads and the miles of distance required for many to travel, still managed, to a man, to attend church worship services when able, but didn't really mean it.

2. You must believe that, although almost all, if not all, professed a faith in Christ as the only begotten Son of God, they didn't mean it.

3. You  must  believe that, although they constantly quoted Holy Scriptures and incessantly referenced "Divine Providence" and "nature's God" throughout their writings, speaches and the Declaration itself, they didn't mean it.

4. You must believe that although almost all, if not all, were christened, confirmed and professing Christians, (yes, most were Protestant,) and took their families to church services as regularly as the times and distances permitted, they didn't mean it.

5. You must believe that, even though, by their own and/or they family's request, most, or, at least, many were buried in church graveyards and all, received Christian burials, they didn't mean it.

6. You must believe that, although they always prayed when opening session in the Continental Congress and purposely hired chaplains for the Continental Army, they didn't mean it.

7. You must believe that although many of our Founders were Freemasons, which requires a belief in a God who created our universe, reveals Himself to us in many ways and, after death, we must stand before Him to answer for this life, they didn't mean it.

8. You must believe that, although many, if not all, memorized great passages of Holy Scripture which they were able to recite to family, friends and constituents, they didn't mean it.

9. You must believe that, although no one has, in well above two hundred and fifty years, been able to find any autobiography, letter, newspaper article, speech, quote or reference from a friend, or even enemy, or even so much as a scrap of paper from a contemporary saying that any one of these men actually referred to himself or his fellow rebels as a "deist," they didn't mean it.

10. You must believe that these alleged deists, although they did not believe in divine revelation, ergo, the Holy Bible, the Holy Ghost, the Begotten Son of God, told all of their friends and family they did, but they didn't mean it.

11. You must believe that the men who mutually pledged to each other, "our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor," were habitual liars who deceived every one who knew them about the most important part of a man's life, his religion, but it's only because they didn't really mean it.

12. You must believe that deism, a philosophy/theology arguably without beliefs, produced our glorious republic through only empirical observation, reason and the religion of nature with no consideration of the afterlife or man's ultimate responsibility to his fellow man or his God.

12. You must believe our Founding Fathers viewed God much like the prophets of Baal who were mocked by Elijah: Is your god busy? Is your god on a journey? Is he asleep? You must then believe these men prayed to Jehovah God, saying he would answer, but they really didn't mean it.

13. You must believe that the God in whom they invested so much time, study, contemplation and prayer was no more to them than a capricious, fickle, distracted, disinterested, unsoverign, uncaring, shirker, slacker, absent father who made us and then  forsook us, casting us into the cosmos to fend for ourselves. And He is not the least bit concerned with nor interested in our eternal destination.

Is that what you mean?

Calvin's Conundrum

Me: Imagine, if you will, a man who has lived his life in America, or any western, pseudo-Christian nation, and, after sixty-plus years, he passes from this life, opening his eyes in the next. The first thing he sees, sitting before him on His throne, is the God of the universe. Might the conversation go a little something like this?

Sinner: Where am I?

God: Where do you think?

Sinner: (Startled) Oh! Yeah. I've heard about this place. Heaven, right?

God: Well, not exactly. At least not for you. You are only here long enough for you to find out where you are really going.

Sinner: You mean...the other place? Hell?

God: Yes.

Sinner: No way! Why am I going there? I've been a good person. I'm not a thief or murderer and I even try not to lie. How much bad could I have done?

God. The number of your sins is neither here nor there. The only thing that matters is, did you give your life to Christ?

Sinner: You mean that was all I had to do?

God: Yes.

Sinner: Why would I not do that? I mean, did anyone tell me that?

God: Yes, you were exposed to the Gospel story many times. In everything from billboards to Christmas plays. Friends and co-workers related it to you. You even attended church services several times where the Gospel was preached.

Sinner: (aghast) What was wrong with me? Why didn't I just accept the truth of the Gospel? Why didn't I do it when I had the opportunity?

God: Well...

Sinner: "Well"? "Well" what?

God: Well, you never really had the opportunity. Yes, you heard the Gospel in many different ways at many different times, but you still had no opportunity to accept it.

Sinner: What? Why not? I'm confused!

God: You have to understand something: I am God. I am sovereign and I reign over all that was, is or ever shall be. My word is law. My plan is absolute and immutable. I know all and determine and control all. Nothing happens in the heavens or earth outside of my absolute will. I am the judge and...

Sinner: Sorry to interrupt, but I really don't understand what it is you're trying to tell me. Can you dumb it down for me, please.

God: I chose all who will enter my Heaven. 

Sinner: Okay, I think I follow, but what does that have to do with whether or not I had "opportunity"?

God: I never chose you.

Sinner: What?

God: Well, you wanted me to "dumb it down" for you.

Sinner: Yeah, yeah. So, are you telling me that, no matter how much Gospel I heard, it didn't make a difference? I couldn't have accepted it?

God: I think you are getting it now.

Sinner: Now, hold on just minute! You're telling me that I can't get to Heaven because you didn't choose me? That nothing mattered? That I didn't have a choice? Are you saying that the Gospel was wasted on me? 

God: Well...

Sinner: Are you saying that, even if I was presented with a choice, I couldn't choose Heaven? What? Are you saying I chose Hell?

God: No, I'm saying the choice was not yours to make.

Sinner: Oh, now, that's a big help!

God: As I told you, I am Sovereign. I am Supreme. It is my universe and I will do with it and its inhabitants as I please!

Sinner: So you're saying, I never stood a chance?

God: Refer to my last statement?

Sinner: Why was I even born, then? Was I born to spend an eternity in Hell? In torture? Separated from You?

God: Refer to my previous statement concerning my sovereignty.

Sinner: I don't get it. I don't understand. You made everything. That means you made me, right?

God: Yes.

Sinner: You made me, but you didn't want me? You wanted the others, but not me? Why didn't you want me? If you could've chosen anyone, why not me? You're saying, you get to choose, but I don't?

God: Well, I am God.

Sinner: Yeah, sure, but is that fair? Is that right? Is that justice?

Me: Is it?

So, You Wanna Go Back to Egypt?

 So, I just finished reading, "No Compromise." (A must read for those, like myself, whose lives have been influenced by Keith Green.) Written by his widow, Melody Green

I have loved Keith's music since I first discovered him in my teen years. The first song of his I remember hearing on the radio was, "Until Your Love Broke Through." They would play it on a late night Gospel music program I listened to. (Likely the Moody channel.)

I can't remember how, but I wound up with a mail-in form for a free copy of the album, "So, You Wanna Go Back to Egypt" (Is that a statement or a question?) Amazingly, the flyer said that I could have a copy mailed to me for free and I wouldn't even be solicited for donations. I mailed my order post haste! Sometime thereafter, I received my very own copy of this marvelous LP  in the mail.

Not only was the album great, but it included a booklet with spiritual lessons and little cartoon-like drawings directly pertaining to the songs on the album. One even included a caricature of Keith, asleep in front of his TV, for "Asleep in the Light."

This record swiftly became my favorite album. So many of the songs spoke so deeply to me about my relationship with my Savior and I eventually learned them all by heart. I fairly ran the needle through the vinyl. 

Years afterward, I bought the CD and it contained the same, best as I could tell, booklet inside. (Maybe some updates?) Yes, my album had long been gone with the wind. Too many moves; too many...moves.

Until recently, I didn't understand the cost to Keith, et al., in producing this marvelous album. As a teen I didn't understand and as an adult I just never considered. Sad, but true.

One day, a few months back, I was at work, listening to some Keith music through my cell phone speaker, when a lady walking past me suddenly stopped, backed up and asked if it was actually Keith I was listening to. I smiled and replied it was. We then had a short, but pleasant conversation about how we loved his music and what an influence on us as Christians he had been.

She inquired if I had read, "No Compromise." I replied I had not. She said that I really should. I said I would.

After finally completing this very interesting biography, I felt I knew Keith a little better. Even though I had seen at least one documentary on him, the book gave deeper and more lasting insight into the man, himself.

I have a couple or more takeaways from the book:

Keith was much as I imagined him. With a burning fire shut up in his bones. He did love Jesus and sinners. He was a real type A and tried to be the man who totally committed his life to Christ and the salvation of souls. He often struggled with his commitment and remembering to love his fellow Christians despite their commonly shared frailties. Though it sounds cliche, he was a comet! Burning bright for a moment across the sky.

I'll never forget hearing about his death. I had a cheap little transistor radio I kept in my barracks at Ft. Campbell and I was in the habit of listening to Paul Harvey during my chow time. He told that Kithe had died, along with two of his children, in the crash of a small plane. Only those details. I don't remember anything else. There was more news for Paul to cover.

Incidentally, it was years later before I understood who his children were and that his only son died with him. I also learned that an entire family of seven died with them. Horrible!

As years passed, I collected more of Keith's music, becoming thoroughly addicted to it. His music ranged from convicting to uplifting. He was always trying to teach me something. I only wish I had listened more.

I've often prayed and wondered why God would take Keith out of this world so soon. Not to mention his children and friends. I mean, he had so much potential and got so much right. I listen to hundred year old gas-bags on television who don't know the first thing about God and are dedicated only to money and themselves. Keith was sold out to God! His songs stay in my head like spiritual ear-worms. Prodding me toward righteousness. (Oh, how I have kicked against the "pricks"!

His words were personal. As someone said, "honest." They spoke to my own personal situation, trials and attitudes. In ways that much of traditional music, not all, doesn't. I often felt like he had been peeking through my window. And I was busted! Yikes! (Importantly, Melody wrote some of his best songs.)

So, why him? Why are so many out there lying and seeking to steal, kill and destroy when this young man was a sincere seeker of the truth?

I know that people of all ages die and there's often no seeming reason or rhyme. We just die. God makes the sun and the rain fall on the just and the unjust. I know all of that. But why Keith? 

I've often wondered, why am I still here? (Another blog, perhaps?)

There are no satisfactory answers to such questions. Hopefully, we learn through such tragedies to trust God. (Isn't it all about trust?) There is no other way to learn to do so. Keith even believed he should be ever ready, along with his family, to face death at any time. He most definitely pledged his head to Heaven!

In reading, I learned some very interesting facts about Keith that speak to this question. He was a child of the hippie culture. He squeaked by the draft. He was too young and they ended it before he came of age. Joining the military seemed to be something he had no interest in doing. He was only interested in his music career.

Being the California hippie that he was, frankly, he did do a lot of drugs. A lot of drugs. I mean a lot of drugs! How many people have overdosed or been at the wrong place at the wrong time and they didn't survive their poor choices? He, like the silly of his generation, was often looking for God and enlightenment through mind-altering drugs. Doesn't really seem like any of them found Him that way. Imagine that!

He spent time with many people in ways that he was to young, ignorant and "hip" to recognize as potentially very dangerous. This lifestyle brought many to an early demise. Gladly, not Keith.

This thinking brought me to the realization that we actually had Keith longer than we should have. By all rights, he should've been dead even before he found the Lord. I'm sure he often thought that God brought him out the other end for a purpose. (My father believed he was spared numerous near deaths during the war for a reason.) So many don't survive. I'm glad Keith did.

I also decided that Keith was, for some time at least, three steps away from being a cult leader. He was handsome, charismatic, talented, amiable, loquacious and brilliant. He even spent some time in the canyons of the California desert in, what amounted to, communes. Yes, they were Christians, but it was definitely strongly influenced, again, by the hippie culture of the late sixties and early seventies. (Much of this was happening when Manson was living with his "family" at Spahn Ranch in California.

Even when he gave his life to the Lord, he never unlearned many of the hippie habits he had developed. It was not uncommon for he and wife Melody to hitchhike to places or pick up hitchhikers spending the entire time talking about Jesus. (Bob Dylan, during his Christian "phase" would often do the latter.)

He took in many troubled teens, derelicts off the street, addicts, pregnant, husbandless women and more. Musician friends, et al., would stay all night making music and talking about God finally crashing on the floor or couch. He even had to rent/purchase homes to make room for those he and his wife took in to keep.

So much of that could've gone wrong. So many opportunities for sin and tragedy. Thankfully, his sincere dedication to his Savior kept the peace.

Which leads me to another observation: Keith was very involved in various ministries. He worked closely with several youth ministries and even experienced one interesting and, to me, befuddling episode at Oral Roberts University. Also, he and others set up what amounted to food pantries for Mexicans and he invested much time and money into a hospital ship operated by a missionary friend to help spread the Gospel around the world. He not only worked relentlessly in his own ministry, but with others he gave his time, energy and money.

There was a passing mention of a couple of local congregations with which he worked. Though he sung at many churches, most everything he did was with these independent ministries that functioned, so to speak, extra-congregational.

As I read, I would reflect about the many "ministries" I am familiar with who act independently. Seeking to save the world. I think to myself, "What if they worked through a local congregation?" Sadly, none of them would want to be saddled with such a, to their mind, hindrance. 

I recall the words of one wise man, or, at least a man who was once wise, or wise once, who said, tongue-in-cheek, "I'm going to start my own church with my own sound doctrine." Sadly, many have.

Had Keith survived into his, now, seventies, would we be dealing with, I don't know, "Greenites"? (We might yet.) Would he have started a college that they would've named after him? Would he have followed the path he planned that lead to international organization? Would that path had lead him away from his first love? Would it have been the ruination of him? Even Keith?

I was taken aback when Keith's ordination was mentioned in passing. While no one could question the man's brilliance and dedication and, yes, he put much living into his two and a half decades, but, honestly, he wasn't much more than a novice himself. He needed pastoring!

Keith spent much time seeking a father. His parents were Jewish heritage, but practicing "Christian Science." I don't know if they ever understood or accepted the Gospel. His "Song to My Parents" is his plea for them to truly turn to Christ. 

He had some men in his life, at least one his age, who were his mentors. Godly men who wanted to see him do what God wanted. He was fortunate for that. But their view of the Church, the Bride of Christ, was subject to the Zeit Geist of today's mal-informed Christianity. In other words, whatever you do, of your own free will and accord, is the "church." They could not see the value of God's local congregation. I suppose their dreams were, er, bigger than that?

So, they, like Keith, started their own ministries and worked tirelessly to feed and clothe the hungry, house the homeless and win the lost to Christ. Alas, as with all "personal ministries," eventually, it becomes less about the ministry and more about the minister.

Yet, through it all, he loved his Savior. He wanted to please Him in spite of his frailties. I believe that God blesses those who sincerely try to please Him, even though they may err in their way. (Me being case in point.)

In the final analysis, God used this young man and young Christian to spread the Gospel and inspire young, foolish Christians, like myself, to greater heights of glory and more personal dedication to Him. (Again, I only wish I had listened better.)

On a personal note, Keith probably would've had some strong words concerning my lifelong inconsistencies regarding my commitment to our Savior. 

But I think he would've liked my questions! 

The Help Meet

I was listening to a sermon by R.C. Sproul recently in which he was discussing the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness. I always enjoy his sermons and books and mostly agree with what he has to say. Mostly.

In this instance, he said something that really captured my attention. Something that he passed over very quickly. I've no idea if he had given any particular thought to what I noticed, but, though I listened to the rest of the sermon and feel I gained much from it, his initial point, to me, was the salient one.

He began by describing the circumstances of Jesus baptism, including the argument against it by John, the descending of the Dove and then the call into the wilderness. He pointed out that Christ, being the second Adam, faced temptation with the difference being that the first Adam had a mate for support, but Jesus was all alone when facing the devil. 

A mate for support? That didn't work out so well for Adam.

Incidentally, what would've happened had Eve succumbed and Adam had not? This requires more time and words, but, in short, Eve would've been banished and Adam would've been alone. Remember, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Gen 2:18)

This part of his discussion really set my mind to thinking. I wondered, why didn't Jesus have a mate and why was he alone? What was the point in the devil's questions, other than the obvious, and why did he go after these particular areas of our Lord's life? Yes, I have heard many valuable sermons on this matter, but they, I suppose, always lacked in something for me.

My father loved the Church! He was a pastor and his job, his family, his life revolved around supporting, promoting and edifying the Body of Christ. He taught me so many things in this regard and, though I might not recall his exact wording, he taught me to always look for two people when studying the Scriptures: the Bride and the Groom.

If you look for them, they are on every page of the Holy Bible. From Genesis and the first wedding to Revelation when the "Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" (Rev 22:10) They are there, hidden in this wondrous and sometimes mysterious tome.

So, it occurred to me, why isn't Satan going after the bride first, like he did with Adam? Is there a bride to attack yet? A bride who would lead her mate into a fall as the first bride did?

Now, we know, if we know anything, that trying to line God up with time and bind him into any sort of chronology is a fool's errand. God created time and is not bound by it, but is all through it or outside of it or around it or wherever and whenever He chooses to be.

So, if I say, there was not exactly a Bride of Christ yet, I'm in dangerous territory. No, I don't suppose there actually was because Christ had not yet washed Her in His blood and there was yet no death, burial and resurrection, so I'll just say, tentatively, that Christ was truly alone in the wilderness with no one by His side. (Though I also remember He was a "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev 13:8)

Sadly, the Bride has become so diminished and so overlooked due to the Fundamentalist storming of  fairly all of our American Christian denominations, that She is almost an anachronism in current theology. The problem is, there is nothing and no one as important as She is to the Groom! She is His one True Love. She is His heart's desire. She is the One washed in His blood and presented blameless before His Father. She is the One Whom Jehovah declared would ensure that the man was not alone. She would be his "help meet"!

His "help meet." His helper. Or as one description even says, "one comparable to him." 

This was why the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He had a wedding to attend. His own!

Don't forget, His first miracle was at a wedding. The party was about to crash because they had nothing to drink. Not until He provided it, at least.

I am just trying to emphasize the importance of the Bride of Christ to the Bridegroom here. As my father always said, a wife is more closely related to her husband than their own children. The twain are one flesh.

Okay, so, did the tempter know this? Did he understand this? Did he comprehend this? I'm going to say, no, but he is a master at finding the weak points. Certainly, he doesn't understand love, commitment or attachment, but he does see the importance of it in our lives and is an old hand at using such unknowns against us.

Now, here is Jesus, ragged, tired, hot and hungry. Searching for communion with His Father. I love to ask, I wonder what He was talking to His Father about on day thirty-nine. 

Along comes old slue-foot and, in short order, hits him hard with three temptations. Our Lord of course, passes the test with flying colors, the devil flees, for a time, and the angels come to minister to Him.

You know the story, how He is tempted in three things. (No, you can't be tempted if it doesn't cause you to desire it.) Sustenance, adoration and recognition. These were all things our Lord desired, though He knew He couldn't trust the one making suggestions to Him.

Okay, so where is the connection?

All the things that Christ was tempted with were things that a husband should expect from his spouse. 

Now, these concepts I present will be very old fashioned, but, I think, Jesus was an old fashioned guy.

Trying to keep this PG, most men, firstly, expect a woman to fulfill his physical needs. Cooking, caring, etc. They expect their wife to sustain them physically and mentally. Even to the point of producing offspring for them.

The second thing a husband might expect would be recognition. He's been out all day fighting the dragons and the traffic and when he brings home the bacon for his lovely wife to cook, he wants to know she'll recognize his value as a bread-winner and protector and the "man of the house." Why do you think men whine and cry about how hard their job is?

Thirdly, and these last two are closely related,) men seriously expect worship for what they do. (It's no small thing that in King James' English, "worship" means "respect." He wants his wife to tell him how great he is and how strong and virile. Yes, he wants to be put on that pedestal that men think they've earned.

Yes, these are likely over generalizations. And let's be clear, the Lord was not a selfish, arrogant man. Still, we are a reflection of Him and His Bride, so the parallels are obvious if we look for them.

So, Satan, in essence, was telling Him that He really didn't need His Bride. He could achieve everything that He needed without Her.

"Feed yourself. Jump off the temple roof and, when the angels catch you, everyone will know who you are. Just give me a little worship, and the entire world will worship you too."

Yeah, simple enough. Big problem! It wasn't God's plan. Worse yet, it would've meant that the Son of God would be alone, never knowing true love as God intended it.

Incidentally, that last bit was a bridge too far for the devil for sure. He betrayed his own desires by asking for worship from Him Who deserves all glory and praise. Yes, Satan is envious of God! He is, unlike our Savior, all alone.

Scripture says that, while Eve was deceived, Adam was not. (I Cor 2:14) He purposely chose his Bride over his Father. And rightly so. (Yes, I've written about this elsewhere.)

Yes, there are many lessons to be derived from this story, but, as Moses said, "The twain shall become one flesh." So, I suppose, the devil, by design or by instinct, went after the heart of our Lord. His aim was to cause Him to do the opposite of what the first Adam did. To choose Himself over His Bride.