Tag: Christianity

The Untold Consequences of Sin

As I was reading the book of Numbers chapter 22 awhile back, I came upon an instance that puzzled me. The verse in question is 28, where God causes a donkey to yell at his own rider, Balaam, after he had beaten his donkey three times.

The verse says that the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth. The key word for me here is “opened.” Before sin entered the world, I believe Adam, and eventually Eve, could talk to animals, which may be why a serpent talking didn’t surprise Eve when she was being tempted. When God opened the mouth of Balaam’s donkey, I believe He removed a barrier that allowed the donkey to speak.

I kept that instance in the back of my mind and have since found many more examples of animals speaking (or understanding words) to convince me that they once had the ability to talk. I also believe one more thing… When it says, “…every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11), it means animals too.

Here are some videos I’ve found that enhances this belief (and for your amusement too):

Cat talking

Cat understands “feisty”

Cat understands words

Cat understands “Why are you doing this?”

Cat understands “cat toys”

Cat understands a question

Dog understands barking quieter

Dog understands words from TV

Dog understands math

Why Is A Man Saved?

Similar to my post on “Why Did Man Fall?” I will answer this question the best I can prophesied by Ken Peters back in January 2019.

What is the “why” part of this question? Since I am not asking the question here is my best interpretation of it… What gives someone the right to enter through Jesus into Heaven (John 14:6)?

To answer this question, I believe we must look at two passages: The first is John 9:1-38. The second is Luke 23:41-43. In the first passage, we find a man, born blind, whom Jesus heals. For the purposes of this blog post, verses 1-34 are only for context. After the man has been thrown out of the synagogue in verse 35, Jesus finds him and after brief questions Jesus tells the man the Messiah is speaking to him. The man tells Jesus he believes and goes onto worship Him.

The second passage in Luke is about one of two thieves on the cross traditionally on either side of Jesus. In the short three verses, we find a repentant thief next to Jesus not making excuses for his sins but acknowledging the two criminals deserve to be up there.

We also see that same criminal recognizing Jesus and probably recognizing the sign nailed above Him (see John 19:19-20), But, the criminal is also seeing a very different picture (perhaps from Jesus’ radical forgiveness on the cross) than the criminal the Romans and Jewish leaders wanted to make Him out to be.

Then that same criminal takes a leap of faith and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” to which He replies, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” In both these passages, neither men were baptized but simply believed, one even worshiped Him. I believe these examples of heart transformation are key to understanding what it means to be saved.

As you read this post, you may have questions about how the rest of the New Testament addresses and discusses belief, just as I did. The following is one of those instances: James 2:18-19, “18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe (emphasis mine) that—and shudder.”

Demons can “believe”, or rather acknowledge, Jesus as the Messiah, but I believe they cannot be saved by Jesus’ blood because His blood doesn’t apply to them, as they’re not human but rather fallen angels (Revelation 12:9) and thus salvation is impossible. I strongly believe this is because demons fell through a voluntary association with Satan before man was created whereas humans fell through deception. However, where demons can’t undergo a heart transformation, these two men acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, underwent it, and were given everlasting life (John 3:16).

Money’s Corruptible Power

Not to sound like Captain Obvious, but money is very powerful. It can shape how we make decisions, how we see the world, the jobs we take, how we treat others, how we vote, even our identity. Are these facts good or bad? It depends how we use them. Let’s see what Scripture has to say about both sides.

Many people see money as evil. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” —1 Timothy 6:10 NIV

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for money: “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.” —Matthew 26:14–15 NIV

We also see how money corrupted Israel leaders in the Old Testament, and the subsequent consequences:

“11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,
‘Is not the Lord among us?
No disaster will come upon us.
12 Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” —Micah 3:11–12 NIV

But money is not inherently bad. Whether it be one trillion dollars or simply one dollar, that money is still a tool. Money is a lot like power. In November of 2021, Pastor Ben Stuart of Passion City Church DC gave a great explanation of what power does to a person in a sermon titled, “Inconvenient Obedience.” In it, he says, “Power is an accelerator of what’s already there in you.”

The same is true when we acquire large amounts of money. That’s why the formation of character is so critical before acquiring money because if you don’t know how to control it, it will control you. A more modern example of this corruption is Donald Trump. This can clearly be seen in three different ways:

1) The title of his niece’s book about him, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump, Ph.D.;

2) The decor of his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago: ‘Gold, gold, gold’: A look inside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and $100 million New York City penthouse; and

3) Charging the Secret Service “exorbitant” hotel rates to protect the first family.

So, how can you make money good and pleasing to God? Live by some money principles God has already outlined in His word. Here are 7 Money Principles from the Bible. Also, be content with what you have so that if money or wealth is added to you, it won’t change how you live your life.

Morality

I want to start this post off with a true story that explains why I stress and talk about morality so much. Years ago, I volunteered for a California police department. During my time there, I rode in about 20 ride-alongs. One day in the briefing room, the officer I was going to ride with grabbed a dictionary for the word of the day.

They held it while I closed my eyes. I opened it and, still having my eyes closed, put my finger on the page. It landed straight on the word “moral.” Even before that instance, I remember watching “Walker, Texas Ranger” and being inspired to pursue justice, morality, and righteousness by the theme song. 

So why do I talk about it so much? Because I believe I’m called to talk about it. I truly believe the world in this day and age is sorely lacking in and starving for it. I also believe the church corporately and individually is failing miserably in preaching on the subject and living it out. Because of this, America and the world are suffering spiritually.

What Is Morality?

One definition of morality by Merriam-Webster is, “conformity to ideals of right human conduct.” Another definition by The Oxford English Dictionary is, “of or pertaining to the distinction between right and wrong, or good and evil, in relation to the actions, volitions, or character of responsible beings.” The Apostle Paul gives examples of these definitions in 1 Timothy 3.

While those are good definitions, the one I’ve always remembered (and have strived to live by) is The Golden Rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated,” which is also echoed by Jesus in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…”

What Morality Is Not.

Morality is not legalism. I once attended a Christian church for a few weeks to see what it was like and if I would be a good fit there. I agreed with most of their messages and all of their beliefs until I had one question. I went to the pastor and asked him if the church would ever talk about morality, to which he responded, “No, we will never talk about legalism.” With that, I knew that church wasn’t for me.

While that church did emphasize God’s grace, I can only guess what the pastor defined as morality. But if it’s at all like Merriam-Webster’s definition, they probably thought that “right human conduct” meant abandoning God’s grace for the Law of God only. But I see this as flawed reasoning. God’s grace gives us the power to adhere to His Law when we can’t on our own. He wants us to love Him and obey His commandments without forgetting His Throne of Grace lest we become legalists like the Pharisees.

In chapter four of his book, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters, Sinclair B. Ferguson cites Geerhardus Vos, author of The Self-Disclosure of Jesus and The Kingdom and the Church, who says, “Legalism is a peculiar kind of submission to God’s law, something that no longer feels the personal divine touch in the rule it submits to” (page 82). I think that exactly describes the Pharisees’ conduct (John 9:26–28, John 18:19–24), but what Jesus has freed us from!

It is truly a shame that the Church avoids talking about morality and its companion traits (e.g., character, integrity, honesty, etc.) because the key to understanding the Laws of the Old Testament and Messages of the Prophets (and much of the New Testament) is to first understand morality.

How is this the key? Because the latter part of that verse from Matthew above is, “…for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” And most of the laws of the Bible revolve around the morality of relationships (e.g., our relationship with God, husband/wife, family, workers, neighbors (Luke 10:25–37, Exodus 20:16–17), foreigners, etc.) and practicing the aforementioned companion traits.

Why Is Morality So Important?

It helps us understand the ways of God. What do I mean by that? God is moral. He defines in His Word morality, immorality, and their consequences. Moses saw God perform all kinds of miracles in Exodus but still didn’t know God, so He asked to know Him through His ways. Scripture, and thus God’s ways and thus God Himself, is actually easier for me to understand because I’m seeing His Word through the eyes of morality.

Why Being Gay Is Not From God

I know that title looks bigoted, but it’s not. I’m writing this for the same reason I wrote point number five in the introduction to my previous post, “Who Is The Anti-Christ?”… to warn people of the second death (Revelation 21:8) that awaits them if they don’t turn back.

Unfortunately, many churches, denominations, and religious leaders have accepted the homosexual lifestyle justifying it as “that’s just who they were created to be.” But why would God create a lifestyle that is contrary to His very Word and intentions for humanity? After all, there are numerous verses God gives in His living Word to tell us this was and is not His will for anyone (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:26-27, Jude 7). Another clear example of why homosexuality was never His intention for humanity is what He told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to “Be fruitful and multiply…” Why would He create someone for a lifestyle that is biologically impossible for His very command, and thus would lead to the extinction of humanity?

Around this time last year, I was in Canada on vacation with family. The local news station did a story about a woman of faith talking about how she had been “duped” by mainstream evangelical Christianity into believing being gay and/or the homosexual lifestyle was not a sin (Audio not great, use headphones, apologies): Sadly, she has been duped by today’s culture into accepting homosexuality as natural.

What Should Christians Do?

Many evangelical Christians and the Church did not handle this question correctly. I believe there’s a stereotype around that Christians would just yell at gays that they’re going to hell (see the infamous “Westboro Baptist Church”) or that they’d beat you over the head with a Bible, or any other extreme and ridiculous behaviors that most likely make God weep. I also believe that those evangelicals that didn’t do those things failed to stand their ground when God’s perfect Word said it was unnatural, and they lost the argument. Years ago, I accepted this lifestyle based on my conservative political views until I was deeper into God’s Word and prayer, and He showed me His view of the lifestyle.

What Should Have Been Done?

-In brief encounters, loving prayer for the person trapped in the lifestyle and a desire to seek God’s holy heart, face, and nature.

-Relationships. Being an example to the gay lifestyle that the Christian faith is about life and that Jesus came to give it more abundantly.

Why President Trump Will Never Make America Great Again

It’s been a while since I’ve made a blog post (but I have more in the works…).  Whether or not Donald Trump is removed from office by the Senate after recently being impeached by the House of Representatives and whatever he does in the present, future, or legacy with the highest title in the free world, President Trump will never “Make America Great Again.”  I say this with one thing in mind that most people don’t look too hard into as a reason… his character.  At this point in his presidency, most have come to expect that Donald Trump is going to say or tweet something so abhorrent that it makes us Americans wonder how he made it to the final vote in 2016.

Back when he was initially elected, I tried to make another blog post titled “Morals over Money.”  However, I never published it simply because his lack of morals, integrity, character, etc. is so screwed up that I felt I couldn’t do any type of justice with mere words in any post I wrote.  (Even “screwed up” falls vastly short.)  That being said, if I can’t address his morals specifically or in detail, I can try to write about his most well-known slogan on his red hat… “Make America Great Again.”  Whether he wins or loses in the 2020 presidential election, one thing I’m sure of—he can never make this country great again.

Some of his supporters might say, “Look at the economy or the strengthening of the military” while others might simply ask, “What are you talking about?” I’m talking about something different… righteousness.  I believe America is tearing apart at the seams because of a lack of God, and no policy, politician, or law can fix it.  The problem lies in our very hearts, hearts only the Lord Jesus Christ Himself can mend by the blood of His forgiveness, essence of His unconditional love, and power only He possesses (2 Chronicles 7:14).

If President Trump spoke any form of truth or righteousness, people would take notice. But as it is, he only brings forth evil (Matthew 12:35) and every fruit contrary to that in Galatians 5:22-23.  The last Scripture I want to give is why America, or any nation, is not immune from God’s wrath… “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”-Proverbs 14:34 NIV

For a deeper look at the gross immorality of President Trump, and why his immorality is incompatible with Christian principles, please see the much-discussed lead editorial by Mark Galli of Christianity Today titled, “Trump Should Be Removed from Office.“

Faith and Endurance

I’ve been wanting to write on this topic for a while, especially in these times when America’s future is uncertain and morality and true faith are a breath of fresh air.  When times (personal or external) are tough and you feel like one thing after another is causing you heavy burden, the most precious thing we have to hold close is faith!

Now, I know that may sound much easier said than done, but when trying times burden my heart (making anxiety even worse with my OCD), I still know the Lord loves me and my future is in His all-powerful Hands.  Before I came to know the Lord through His Word and a personal relationship with Him, faith was hard because without a relationship with God or a grasp of His character, faith is baseless.  I’ve had a relationship with the Lord for a few years now, but only made this relationship connection a few months ago, and ever since then trusting in God has given me peace where I would not truly have it!

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT):

“You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in You,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”

But Psalm 34:19 and John 16:33, respectively, told us trials would happen… “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them from them all.” (ESV) and “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

What is most important is how we react (who we lean on and trust in) when these trials come!  But when we do come out unscathed on the other side (Daniel 3:28-29 (visual)) and, eventually meet the Lord when He either calls us home or calls His church home, our faith will be tested by the fire and glorifies the Lord Jesus to the world (1 Peter 1:7).

The Apostle Paul also tells us to be “…joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”—Romans 12:12 (NIV) and that we should “3 rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”—Romans 5:3-5 (ESV, visual)

In his last letter and when he knows he’s about to die, Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) what awaits those who endure to the end in victory… “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.”

One of my favorite lines about faith came back in 2013 when “The Bible Series” aired.  In the first episode, right before God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, the narrator says, “After years of struggle, Abraham has learned that to be chosen by God is a blessing—and a test. He must prove his faith—again, and again.” (The Bible Series (2013),”Beginnings, Part 1,” 34:26 time marker)

If you needed any more reason to have faith in trials, there is a reward.  In Revelation 3, Jesus has nothing to correct or discipline with the church in Philadelphia, but commends the church that they’ve “kept His command to endure patiently” and promises to “keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (3:10), which is most likely the Great Tribulation, or “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

The Apostle John, also called the “Beloved Disciple” (John 20:2), had “patient endurance” (Revelation 1:9) and was given the privilege of seeing and writing what God had concealed for ages.  I truly believe that enduring patiently (trusting God and having faith) is the other side of the reward coin God promises!

Why I Can No Longer Sing or Listen To “God Bless America”

This may seem bold or un-American, but I’m aware of what I’m saying. I was born and raised in America and grew up playing, watching, and loving the nation’s pastime… baseball. I loved listening to beautiful renditions of “God Bless America” during major sporting events and holidays. But recently, I haven’t been able to sing or listen to it because I don’t believe it matches with our current reality.

Why do I believe this? Our Pledge of Allegiance contains the words “under God,” and if a nation wants God’s blessing, He expects them to take His laws seriously. If they don’t, they will be under a more severe penalty than of a nation that doesn’t claim allegiance—the more guilty nation did not fear Him or His laws as its people claimed.

But America has committed abominations—the legalized murder of innocents, legalized covenants of perversion and sexual immorality, and idolatry of presidents, to name a few. America has ignored the eternal laws of God engraved on the buildings of our highest courts. And if He doesn’t drop the hammer down, we’ll end up destroying ourselves.

We have abandoned our trust in God in favor of trust in presidents, politicians, money, and government. Many Americans, including the mainstream news, can’t believe how bad the leadership is under President Trump. We have turned away from the God of this nation. He is the only One who gives us a firm and uncompromising basis for morality and truth—both of which cannot be separated from Him and still work. Because we have compromised on truth, morality, and love, our only basis of reference for what was once good is history and traditions.

Like Moses calling his people back to their God after four hundred years of slavery, we need a mass spiritual revival—starting with God’s anointed and holy church.

I believe many things need to happen for the judgment of God to not come upon America, but these are just a few major issues America must see. This list is by no means comprehensive.

  1. For Americans, especially those in high power and authority, to love the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
  2. Repealing the 2015 legalization of same-sex marriage. (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26–27)
  3. Total abolition of Roe v. Wade, on national and state levels. (Matthew 2:16–18)
  4. God’s church adhering to and proclaiming His Word in His house.
  5. Great repentance by the nation and call of prayer to seek His Holy face.

I have loved this country and what it stood for, but I can’t ignore blatant wickedness, perversion, and corruption. I do hope America repents of her wickedness and major wicked laws listed above, but my allegiance is now to the Lamb of God and His eternal Kingdom. Glory be to His Name and His Kingdom, now and forevermore!

Counting the uncountable: God’s love for us!

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve longed for friendship with people.  If someone mentioned or talked about me in a good way, it always uplifted and made me feel warm.  Why wouldn’t it?  This mentality even extended into areas one might not think of.  If my name was used as a character’s name in a book, I would get giddy because I would think if someone I knew by chance read my name, they might think of me.

But I’ve come to realize that my priorities were out of place.  Even that last example was a far stretch because it was “by chance.”  Even if we consider our spouse, significant other, parents, or kids who think about us all the time (or vice versa), the quantities and depths of thought and love they give us is absolutely minuscule compared to the way God feels and cares for us.

In Psalm 139:17–18 (NIV), David says:

17 How precious to me are Your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with You.

That’s the love God has for us!  The gravity is overwhelming and the amount is incomprehensible—and the only natural and proper reaction is to fall on our face and worship at His nail-pierced feet!

Photo by Khadeeja Yasser on Unsplash

Praises rebuke the enemy!

A short but important realization: On Sunday night, I was home trying to get homework done when the enemy started to attack me in my thoughts. I’m vulnerable there because my OCD causes me to doubt many things, including the assurances of God. But I remembered some of my other friends in Christ have said the enemy can’t be around when we sing praises to the Lord. “Shout to the Lord” by Hillsong Worship (one of my favorite worship songs) was in my head, so I started singing silently. I immediately felt the peace of God as the thoughts of doubt quickly fled! I hope this message gives you a weapon from the Lord to defend against the enemies attacks!

Scriptural References:

Ephesians 6:10-18 – resist the devil by taking up God’s armor in prayer (which includes praise).

James 4:7 – resist the devil by submitting to God, which we do when we sing praise and gratitude to God.