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! 

Prodigal Christ

Was Christ the Prodigal Son?

Yeah, I know. It's kind of maybe an insane thought! Yet, it came to me recently and I'm chewing it over even now.

I am fond of saying: For a man who said He didn't talk about Himself, Jesus certainly talked a lot about Himself.

I have often told people that the Bible is about Jesus from beginning to end. Sometimes, He is, perhaps, hidden in places where we have to really look to find Him. He often would steal away, hiding himself, so to speak. Then, his disciples, or, perhaps, wanna-be disciples, would come looking for Him. He usually wanted to be alone with His Father, but, for purposes of my allegory, I'll boil it down to the fact that He was hiding. (He had been away praying when He came walking on the water to them.)

Jesus often hid Himself in His parables. He was trying to help his disciples understand Him in a way that they could comprehend. Often, to have merely said what He meant seemed to confuse them. I have no doubt that they remembered His words years later and little light-bulb, or, I suppose for the first century, an oil lamp would light over their heads and they would say with great excitement, "Oh, yeah! That's what He meant!" (They didn't understand when He told them, "Destroy this temple,"  and in three days He would raise it up.)

Christ gave us the very famous story of the Prodigal Son. This story has inspired innumerable books, sermons and even, since the film age, several movies over the years. Many have described it as a homily on jealousy, slothfulness, wastefulness, ingratitude and a myriad of other vices. Those a little closer to the truth have spoke of its depiction of the re-grafting of the wayward Gentile into the Divine Branch from which most of back-sliding Israel was cut off.

Still, as I said, I was wondering if there isn't more. If the story being told was much closer to our Lord than He could comfortably express. Was this another one of His stories that said more about Him than His followers could, at that time, receive?

Perhaps, you've never done this, but on several occasions, I've told a story about myself without divulging to the listener that my tale was about me. I would refer to someone I knew or know or heard about and not let the truth out that I was the protagonist of the narrative.

Why would I do such a thing? To say it's a privacy matter would not quite address the question fully. Well, in many respects, I didn't want the story to be about me. I thought that it would take away from the moral and/or spiritual lesson I wanted to convey. Maybe, if it was a good thing, I didn't want to brag. Perhaps it was modesty? Maybe I didn't want to admit that I was the one because it was a story about someone, me, doing something awful.  Sometimes, I was merely changing the names to protect the guilty. Maybe I feared I could never look them in the eye again if the truth were known.

How many times did our Lord heal or raise someone and tell them and their families, "Don't tell anybody it was me." Was it modesty? Maybe. Was He trying to be unpretentious? Was He trying to not be the center of attention. For Him, that was impossible. (He likely just wanted to keep the focus on His Father.)

Some of us have no ability to hide. My dad once accused me of trying to hide in the large church I was then attending. I only asked him if he thought I was the type of person who could hide anywhere. He knowingly smiled.

I can only think that, yes, He understood that His people just were not ready at that point to comprehend...Him! Years later, after much experience, study, prayer and fasting, it might've started to finally make sense. Like I hope it does with me.

Anyway, back to my question: Was Christ the Prodigal Son?

I've learned many valuable lessons from my brother Joe's sermons. One of my favorite things he's helped me with is understanding Biblical analogies.

For years I struggled with many Scripture passages. (Still do.) I knew what I was reading was meant to be a metaphor for something spiritual and I could see how things were similar in one way, but would leave off and be drastically different before the passage ended. Something would be similar, but then dissimilar. I was confused!

I don't recall him using the word, but he taught me that all metaphors, analogies and parables are more parallels than anything. Yes, they are reflections and share so many similarities, but these earthly things can never touch the Heavenly. Secular visions always fall short of the Glory of God.

Calling Christ the Prodigal is the same way. So much is there that is the same, but so much is different because the two sons were different. Still, the parallels are inescapable!

Let us compare:

Noah Webster defined "prodigal," among others, this way:

2. Profuse; lavish; expended to excess or without necessity; as prodigal expenses.
3. Very liberal; profuse. Nature is prodigal of her bounties.

The word "prodigal," strictly speaking, is not locked into a negative connotation. One might be described as prodigious and all would consider that complementary. One might be called a prodigy and that is certainly a good thing to be. The idea here is wrapped around abundance.

The Bible never calls the son "prodigal." That is a title bestowed upon him by scholars throughout the centuries. I do not say it is wrong. Only that the depth of the title hasn't fully been explored.

So, here is a brother; the younger of two. He goes to his father and tells him, "Give me what's mine!"

His inheritance would've been something he received after his father's passing. For whatever reason, though, the father acquiesced and gave to him early what should've come later.

Interestingly, the Scriptures say, "he divided unto them." Was this a legal thing? Was the dividing of the inheritance required to be divided to both to be divided early? Did the older brother see what his baby brother was doing and spring the demand that he too should receive his portion? Did he fear the old man, who had just given in to his brother, would, perhaps, not have his to give later? Did he doubt his father? Did he misjudge his father?

So many questions! But I digress.

After this, the young man took all he had, left for a foreign land, blew it on his friends, found himself living among the swine and had little more to eat than they. We all know the story.

Then, he "came to himself." One of my favorite phrases in the Bible!

He returned home, humiliated, humble, only wanting to serve.

He repented!

He had learned obedience. Albeit, the hard way. (Seems that's the only way we humans learn.)

His father's reaction was more than he could've hoped for. Not only was he welcomed back as a son, rather than a servant, but as a favored son.

He was dead; now he was alive.

I suppose I should say a few words about the older brother. Yes, it seems he too got what was coming to him a little earlier than he should've. (Thanks to his little brother.) He was a busy man. Seems he was always busy. Busy, busy, dreadfully busy! He heard noise and, not wanting to have his hard work interrupted, sent someone to enquire.

The response about the return of his useless brother only made his blood hot. He wouldn't even go to personally investigate.

His father, being the father that he was, made a special effort to invite his older son to come join them. Stubborn pride and inertia kept the man outside. His anger made him he miss out on a really great feast.

All he could manage was to complain and, frankly, lie about how his father had treated him. His father's gentle reminder what he owned was his already along with his cajoling entreaty to join the festivities fell only on unyielding ears.

Yeah, we've heard the story so, so many times! Like a host of others, we grown numb to it. We accept what we're fed, too often husks, and never come to ourselves.

Christ left Glory with all that He had. He became God in the flesh.

He traveled to a foreign land where He lived among strangers. We who knew not God.

He gave everything He had to them. His time, His love and, ultimately, His life.

When he needed them most, they abandoned Him. The crowds who cheered him ultimately, it seems, called for His crucifixion. His disciples all abandoned Him with at least one denying knowing Him.

He found Himself hungry, destitute and bereft. He was always hungry, always poor and even His friends couldn't understand Him and were easily distracted by their own concerns.

He despised the shame He endured, but, ultimately, realized it was the result of His own choices. He didn't want to suffer the cross, but knew if he had chosen otherwise, we would all be condemned to Hell.

Yes, He had been eating with pigs. He hung out with the dregs of society. Worst of all? Occasionally religious people.

He lived as a pig. He not only lived with us, but was one of us. Enduring the same mire and muck that we do. (Both literally and spiritually.)

Yes, He was "no more worthy" to called a Son, but He trusted in His Father.

He Who knew no sin had become one of the sinners. Even more so, He became sin itself!

2 Corinthians 5:21

The sins that He took upon Himself were real! His suffering was real. His separation from His father was real. Being forsaken by His Father was as real as it gets! He became the thing that God hates most. Sin!

How could a sinner be a son? He cannot! The sin must be dealt with and there is only one way to deal with sin. Kill it!

Ultimately, He knew Who His father was and only desired to offer Himself up to His service. He cried for His Father from the Cross. All He wanted to do was please Him. He didn't come as a king; He came as a servant.

Though He knew the journey would be long and tough, He also knew it was the only way Home. He walked that long, lonely road to Golgotha. Though He had surely walked hundreds of miles in His ministry, this was the longest trip He had ever made in His life. He didn't want to make the journey, but He knew, after the cross, He could go Home.

His Father was looking, watching down the road, from Heaven, for the arrival of His Son. He didn't waste a single moment in welcoming Him. At the first twinkling of daylight, the Father ran to meet him, raising up His own Son!

The Father's reaction was simply, "My Son was dead. Now, He's alive!"

The Father gave Him a robe of righteousness and a ring to say that He was His Heir. I can imagine the robe being a coat of many colors. (You, know. Like a rainbow of promise.)

I've no doubt there was such a party in Heaven! It goes on still. Christ, Who's choices, Who's actions had separated Him from His Father, was welcomed Home as a Son. The first Son!

Sin was dead! Christ was alive!

The old man was dead.  The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world is risen!

Yes, all the parallels become more obvious as I look over the Scripture. The more I think and pray on it, the more I'm convinced the Lord gave me something here. (Though, I won't blame Him if I'm wrong.)

Both men did what they did for differing reasons. Yet, their journeys were, I think, undeniably images of the other.

Christ, our Brother, left His Father, left His inheritance, gave all He had for us, was counted as one of us, was dead, now lives and is the preeminent Son of the Father. Yes, the party is for Him. But we are invited.

Many of us are so jealous at the good fortune of others, that we stand outside, pouting and angry and, worst of all, missing out on the party inside.

Won't you come inside and join the celebration? I promise, it'll be fun!







Luke 15:11-32 KJV
[11] And he said, A certain man had two sons:
[12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
[13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
[14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
[16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
[17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
[18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
[19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
[20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
[21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
[22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
[23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
[24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. [25] Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
[26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
[27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
[28] And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
[29] And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
[30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
[31] And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
[32] It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

To Eschatology or not to Eschatology!

I was asked a question regarding a question of eschatology on Facebook. I had to pray a lot about it and this was the best answer to a question I've been mulling over for years.

The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 

*****************************************************************************

Brother, speaking of eschatology what is your view point on that subject? My views have changed dramatically since I've been doing some research and study about it. I am prayerfully asking God to settle me on that issue. I am no longer pre-trib, mid- trib or even post-trib anymore. Could you PM me and bless me with a little of the [Aaronism] knowledge and I will share with you my Tonyism thoughts. Philippians 2:12 my brother ??

Have you ever danced with the devil in pale moonlight? Well, asking my opinion on a matter, any matter, perhaps especially eschatology, is a little like that! 

In my very young days, I thought I could speak for Christianity. I was wrong.
I was still foolish enough to try to speak for Southern Baptists. They proved me wrong.
Once upon a time, I may have even feigned to speak for the Davis family in general. Time, though, has made a change in my family.

So, I'll just talk about what I think. I'll preface this with the obvious: I don't have all the answers. Still, I know enough to generally recognize when something is wrong. Obviously, you are seeing errors in things you have heard preached for decades. To publicly say you are not "pre-trib" is anathema to Fundamentalists today. I never heard what is often called pre-millinialism preached as I was coming up, but I was fortunate enough to have my father as my pastor. I can also testify that my brother Joe, who was my pastor for several years, easily found meat from the Gospel that was fresh and neither stale nor rotten. I can further testify that my grandparents, who lived in the post-bellum South, testified to me that neither they nor their parents believed it, neither was it preached from pulpits of their churches. Further, if a preacher had tried to preach pre-millenialism back then, even up into the sixties locally, he would've been escorted by the pastor/deacons to the pew to learn or out the door. My how things have changed!

That little story is almost unimportant, but, dealing with this delicate matter, I thought it might be important to let you know where I come from. Having said all that, as my dad taught me, I had to examine these things, "work out my own salvation," for myself. Time and study has, for me, confirmed my perspective.

Now, to the point:

The Book of Revelation is, in my never to be humble opinion, one of the most read and studied and most misunderstood books of the Bible. Yet, it is one of the most beautiful!

I've sat through so many sermons, attended study courses, read books on the matter from the "pre-trib" perspective and, frankly, all I hear is a bunch of hooey! I hear no hope for the Church or salvation for the lost in the any of it.
Let me sum up:

A couple of verses, not to diminish others, in Revelation are the two keys to having any understanding of it. 

Revelation 1:1 KJV
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Christ Who was revealed to us through the man Jesus. Who revealed Himself to John in a vision on Patmos. We know so much about Him, but we understand so little. 

Preachers drone about computer banks, plastic strips on credit cards, Russia and the "state of Israel," quickly forgetting that John said, first thing, that this book is about Jesus Christ! To even hope to begin to understand that revelation, we must not lose sight that it is He we should be looking for.

Actually, there is another that we should look for in this book. Someone who, sadly, is repeatedly overlooked and passed over. Someone whose idea and image has been distorted by both ignorance and intent for nearly two millennia now. This One is the second key.

Revelation 21:9 KJV
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

"The Lamb's wife." We see the angel specifically introduce to, or "shew," John the Lamb's Wife, the Bride. The Bride of Christ!

Preachers fill their congregants' ears with talk about Heaven and streets of gold, jasper walls and gates of pearl completely ignoring that the angel is not showing John Heaven, but the most important Person in Heaven. The One that the Bridegroom gave His life to purchase, to prepare and, as any loving husband, spend an eternity with. It's like attending the wedding of strangers and when someone there points out the bride, we only see the flowers and candles, but never the pretty lady in the white dress.

We have eyes, but we don't see. Like the Bible in general, I believe more especially the Book of Revelation, this is a love letter from the greatest lover in history to His One and Only! Without this, I believe we can never even begin to grasp the love story that our God and Father is desperately trying to get us foolish souls to ever so slightly comprehend. 

We are so caught up in looking at the hands of God, we never look up to see His face or that of His Bride. We see the dragons, the plagues, the wars and the seas, but we miss the wedding party.

Tragically, I hear very few preachers talk about the "Bride of Christ." They only speak of the Church as if it's a different entity. It's all about Her identity! 

One more thing: I'll paraphrase my Uncle Ulis who, referring to the Wedding Supper spoken so much of by so many preachers, said, if there has not yet been a wedding, that makes us all bastards!

Well, I confess I am a little short on specifics here. My point is always, when asked this basic question, to try to help the questioner find a way to come closer to the truth than to continue to hobble along with those who seem to be, well, missing out on the party.

Yes, I have been long, but you did ask! ha! ha!

p.s. I'm going to tag you in a link for Youtube. It's a sermon by Mark Rutland. It's ninety-plus minutes, but well worth your time!

Back to the Shack

One day, a couple of years ago, while scrolling through a free movie weekend on HBO, I came across the movie, "The Shack." The family was asleep in bed, so I thought that this would be a fun and interesting movie to watch. I knew nothing about the movie other than it was supposed to be a Christian movie and the idea was that a man meets God in a shack. I expected something a little light-hearted and humorous that would inculcate some useful and important homily. Boy, was I mistaken!

I was not prepared for what happened. This movie was an emotional roller-coaster ride that took me places that, frankly, I didn't care to go. (Yes, I just used a cliche, but it fits so well.)

By the time I had finished this, er, movie, my theology had been, no hyperbole, shaken up. I have ever so rarely come across anything that effected me in such a manner. 

After it was over, I immediately went to Amazon and downloaded the book. Something I'd never done in response to a film before.

I've had so many discussions on-line and with people I know concerning this movie and book. (The book was pleasantly similar to the movie.) Discussions I've renewed repeatedly. I've thought about it and prayed about it and struggled over it. Why? Because, though I highly recommend it, there is something about it that didn't set quite right with me.

If, as I can't imagine, someone who hasn't seen the movie or read the book was to read my thoughts on this, it seems only fair to give fair warning. (Frankly, I cannot imagine anyone other than my immediate family even seeing this post.)

SPOILER ALERT!

Now, the things that bothered me did not necessarily include presenting God as a black woman and the Holy Ghost as an Asian woman. That was explained as, well, real, but also a vision, I suppose. Besides, I decided to treat it as metaphor and just went with it.

The thing that has really vexed me for so long, though, is what the author was trying to say about forgiveness. I understand why people claim he was pushing universal salvation. Though, I didn't really think so myself. Besides, "Papa" kept reiterating that she doesn't like slaves.

Though, a YouTube interview I saw recently with Paul Young seemed to indicate the possibility that he may actually subscribe to a form of "universalism." In short, and trying to paraphrase fairly, he said that he wouldn't be surprised if God was the kind of God who would make a way for all mankind to ultimately come to Him and share His love. 

Personally, I would think one would have to ignore a lot of verses in the Bible about Hell. That would include much preaching from our Lord. To believe that there is any possibility that all will ultimately live in the eternal bliss of Glory flies in the face of everything the Holy Scripture says about the Justice of God. And, yes, God is just!

One scripture reference here: John 3:16. Why would Christ talk about those who believe "would not perish" if, after all is said and done, none perish?

Anyway. Back to the shack!

In the end, the real, ultimate problem was that "Papa" wanted the man to forgive. Okay, but even to the point of forgiving the man who had destroyed his daughter? (Kill is not strong enough of a word.)

Now, honestly, this entire thing is very emotional for me. As a father of a daughter, or, I suppose, for a father of any child, for that matter, the idea of a man hurting my baby is more that my mind wants to ponder. Hurt me, okay. We'll deal with that. But my child? That's quite a different story.

I probably don't need to quote a bunch of Bible verses to make the point that God wants us to forgive one another. (And even ourselves.) He wants us to forgive others. Others who have hurt us. Yes, even hurt us terribly. But with no qualifications?

A year or two ago, there was a shooting at, of all things, a Texas church. Several were killed. Even the pastor's small granddaughter. It was dreadful. Horrible!

One of the most asinine reporters I've ever seen on television was asking questions of the pastor and his wife just a couple of days after the shooting. I can't remember all of his questions, but one really stood out as historically stupid. The man coldly asked, "Have your forgiven the shooter?"

The pastor feebly answered in the affirmative and the clip cut back to something else related to the story. 

Me? I only wished that that idiotic reporter could hear the things I called him!

Why, in the name of all that's holy, would he ask such a heartless question? The poor couple's granddaughter was not even in the grave yet and some jack ass is asking him about forgiveness?

I can guarantee you that if they had not been Christians, if he had not been a pastor, no one would've asked him if he had "forgiven" anyone. But since they were believers, at least with the world, it's perfectly fine to be a thoughtless cad to the recently bereaved. Sheesh!

Now, at that time, I can remember thinking, "Who said the shooter wants forgiveness?" (I can't recall, but I think he was taken alive.) Did anyone ask him if he wanted to be forgiven? Did he ask to be forgiven? Did he think he did anything wrong?

To me, it just seemed like the same old drivel I've heard time and again about "forgiveness." It's almost like the word is magical and somehow saying, "I forgive you," grants as much to whomever we consider the offender.

More later.

Back to "The Shack."

Here is a story about a man, "Mack," who lost his little girl in the worst way imaginable. And he is supposed to forgive this serial killer who doesn't think he's done anything wrong? Someone tell me how that works?

I'm not sure how much time I should spend discussing here what it means to be a reprobate. I could  ask why the Bible talks about them if there is no such thing? People seem to give the concept pretty much no thought.

More later.

I've heard story after story of people "forgiving" those who've hurt them. Those who, at least in their minds and maybe truly, have hurt them in ways that will be with them until their dying day. But, they say they've forgiven them. How?

How do you forgiven someone who thinks they've done nothing wrong. In other words, how do you grant forgiveness to the unrepentant? Can you?

I won't try to quote the number of Bible verses that explain that God's forgiveness is ready and waiting, but we must repent, admit our wrong, and ask forgiveness for the sins we've committed against Him. It's not complicated. He freely grants mercy to those who ask for it. 

What of those who don't repent? Who don't confess? Who don't, who won't, ask for forgiveness? Again, there are a lot of verses about Hell in the Bible too.

There is an almost, methinks, equally important part to this conundrum. How do we deal with the hurt, the pain, the confusion, the anguish when someone doesn't want forgiveness when they've wronged us?

Perhaps we earnestly desire to forgive them. Sometimes it's for our own desire to be relieved of the struggle of not knowing what to do. Sometimes the pain and frustration is so bad, we'll do or believe anything to relieve it. Sometimes people just fake it.

The author described the grief the family was stuck in after the disappearance of the child as the "great sadness." What an apropos name. The guilt, the shame and the loss the family endured was something to which all too many can relate. I thank God I cannot!

Firstly, bearing in mind that it's impossible for us to be unbiased and we, being human, tend to think first of ourselves and our own needs. Still, we must be sure as we can be that we are the injured party and not just suffering from our own poor choices. (This part requires much prayer and fasting.) Alas, we do tend to conflate the two.

That is one thing the author did brilliantly, he chose a hopeless scenario where there could be no doubt about who was at fault. Yes, the parents, being good parents, felt guilt for the mistakes, that they imagined, incorrectly, they made. They, no doubt, were actually, certainly the innocent, injured parties. Theirs was a hurt that they did not ask for in any way.

The awful thing the perpetrator had done had showed him as someone certainly on the road to Hell. The dichotomy between himself and the family was a clear demonstration that he was as guilty as they were innocent. He was certainly a man in need of forgiveness.

So, how do we cope when people just ain't interested in our forgiveness? They don't believe they've done wrong or they just don't care. Even with someone so lost as a sociopathic killer.

There is a question worth actually considering: What if the offender is a reprobate. Certainly, in my mind, the serial killer in the story is such. Reprobate means, simply, abandoned of God. To paraphrase that, I would  say that such people are so cold and numb to the Holy Ghost that God doesn't even trouble Himself with them. (How horrible would it be to be so depraved?)

These people would be rare, of course. Quick names like Hitler, Stalin and Mao come to mind. Still we don't have to look any farther than our own Congress to find such people. A politician who thinks it's perfectly fine to murder a defenseless baby for simple convenience and would campaign on as much betrays a diabolical lack of heart and conscience. The abortion doctor, the serial rapist and pedophile are so far in the flesh, I don't know if there is any hope for these people. 

God's mercy is deep and wide, so, occasionally, I find myself praying for them. Hope springs eternal?

We so struggle with what is often today called "closure." (I hate that term!) The word was used in the movie. 

We want to escape the pain, whoever may be at fault. So we search for any means to mollify or alleviate it. We just want it to go away. We want release. The problem is, what do we do when the pain just won't go away?

Pain is only a part of life. It is inevitable. We feel it in our tummies whenever we've missed a meal. We feel it in our bones as the years pass and we grow old and grey. We feel it in our hearts when we lose something or someone we love. Pain is just pain.

We seek our escape, but it follows us wherever we go. It's there like an old friend, or enemy, who never lets us get too far removed. It holds onto us and wakes us in the night to tell us the most unpleasant stories of days gone by. It even haunts us in our dreams. It's wherever we are. It's part of us. It just is.

We like to say we forgive those who've hurt us because we think it will give us peace. The problem is, it does not. We may live in denial, but the pain is still gnawing at us. We can't get shed of it. At least not so easily. 

Christ taught his disciples to forgive "seventy times seven." Obviously, this is not literal, but a principal. We are to be forgiving to our brother no matter how many times he hurts us.

Scripture says that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "Confess" being the operative word. (Yes, I did just reference a particular verse. Finally!)

The question remains: Can we forgive those who do not confess? Those who do not repent? Those who, in their own eyes, have done no wrong? Can we? 

Can God?

Entire Christian denominations are founded on the principal of what is aptly, if over-simply, called "irresistible grace." The idea is that we have no part in our salvation; we don't, can't, even choose God. He strictly and simply chooses us. We are saved because a Holy God, in His wisdom and righteousness, makes us so. We can't lose our salvation because we never claimed it. It was simply granted to us. It is irresistible.

Now, remember, Papa doesn't like slaves. ("Papa" said "prisoners." "Jesus" said "slaves." We are, in my mind, most definitely slaves if we have no choice who we love. Choices can, regrettably, be bad, but they must be ours and we must be free to make them. Otherwise, there is no such thing as free will. 

The Calvinist believes grace is irresistible. The Armenian believes, even after accepting it, grace is rejectable. Both are wrong. The former believes that we cannot love God while the latter believes God cannot love us. Love is a choice and it is everlasting or it isn't love at all. Otherwise, It's just some unpleasant thing that controls us as opposed to us controlling it.

So, again, can I forgive those who stubbornly refuse to ask? I certainly don't mean that they must come crawling to me, begging my forgiveness and that I will then condescend to grant it. No, I mean that their heart and mind must agree that they've done wrong and they must desire forgiveness with sincerity. We too must be ever ready to receive them and love them with a contrite heart and with no haughtiness or pride. We must, at the first sign, be ready to freely give the forgiveness they desperately need and we desperately need to give.

Now, can God forgive the unrepentant. The Holy Scriptures cry out, "NO!"

God's mercy is deep and wide, but if we simply refuse to drink the water, we will die of thirst. Remember the old adage about leading the horse?

Christ became our intercessor on the cross. He died that He might be the propitiation between God and man. He prayed, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do." With that prayer to His Father, He granted forgiveness to every sinner who had ever breathed and those yet to draw breath. But what if we simply don't want His forgiveness? Is it possible to refuse the God of the Universe?

Studies by smarter men than me calculate that every time we inhale, we inhale a molecule of oxygen that Christ exhaled with His dying breath. Mind boggling! 

Imagine if a man simply refused, for whatever reason, to inhale. If he could somehow just stop breathing. He would die and that very quickly!

It's a simple and inadequate metaphor, but so many treat God's grace the same way. It's there for us to simply inhale, but pride, earthly desires, lusts, anger and a myriad of other devices lead men to hold their breaths like spoiled little toddlers until it's too late. They refuse to breath; so they die.

Hell is full of those who refused the offer of salvation. 

Yes, it's a heady thought, but we can actually refuse this great gift of mercy and forgiveness. We can refuse God's love. We can refuse His forgiveness. We can refuse to love God. Otherwise, it just wouldn't be love, would it?

If you believe you can forgive the unrepentant, aren't you saying you have power that God on His Throne does not? No Christian would say that God forgives without confession and repentance, so, why do we say we can? Why do people stubbornly hold onto the idea that we can forgive those who have unrepentantly wronged us? 

After years of prayer and study on the matter, I believe I've come up with an answer. It may not be THE answer, but if I had to say yes or no, I'd say it is. 

If you can forgive me without my confession and repentance, then it follows suit that God can do the same for you. No confession. No repentance. No change in attitude. Just forgiveness. Unrequested and irresistible. And very, very convenient!

Now, isn't that a way to live? No repentance and no remorse. Just go on with your life as you always have and God will just forgive and forgive and forgive. That, my friend, is the way to Hell!

Sure, no one who believes in one-sided forgiveness is going to agree with my assessment, but two plus two still equals four. If I don't need to repent, then neither do you. Anything else is illogical and denial of intent.

Papa encouraged Mack to repeat the words, "I forgive you," to the perpetrator, who wasn't even around to hear the words. He told him that he would have to say it many times until he could truly forgive, but that that was the way to begin. Ya know, as if the words are a mantra and, if oft repeated, will help you reach nirvana.

Papa even explains, in, I'll call it, the discovery scene, that "forgiveness doesn't create a relationship." Really? How can someone have a relationship with me when I've hurt them and won't admit it? In all fairness, the movie doesn't explain this hypothesis as well as the book. Still, though forgiveness is certainly the first step in a relationship, it is the most essential part of it. I cannot be an unforgiven child of God and neither will God force His forgiveness on me.

Words mean things. Or they mean nothing.

Forgive means forgive. Forgiveness is not about me; it's about the sinner. The offender. It's not about making me feel better; it's about granting pardon to a wrongdoer.

Forgive! Forgive freely, readily and quickly. 

Most of all, pray. Pray! And then pray some more. Maybe after enough prayer, you'll shut up and start listening. 

Then, when things make no sense and the pain just seems to continue, if you look around you'll see One on a cross beside you promising He'll be with you to the very end. 

And then...Paradise!

p.s. In writing something of this nature, the hardest part, perhaps, is looking inward. I try to sincerely ask myself if I'm only giving reasons in vain hope of begrudging forgiveness to those who've hurt me and mine. 

All I can do is pray and hope that I'm being open and honest. I'm only trying to point out that, for us lowly humans, forgiveness is difficult at best. And it needs to be the real deal!

Father God, on the other hand, is an expert at forgiveness. Of course, that's what makes Him special.

Yeah, if you think forgiveness was easy for Him, allow the Holy Ghost to remind you of just what it took to enable Him to forgive us pitiful sinners.