The Confusion Over Biblical Zionism & How It Pertains to Today's World

Before we start this conversation, I want to make it clear that the fundamental reason I wrote this post is the personal questions I have when regarding various foreign policies; the social and cultural attitudes they stimulate; the historical implications of such policies and belief systems; and how they all come together to create a mixed bag of imbalance on the global stage. And mind you, it is all my opinion, but it comes from the biblical underpinning of how I look at the world.

The questions I have lead to a long and convoluted discussion; a labyrinth of intricate, involved and complex entanglements that have resulted in the problematic situation we see being played out in the world today. While it's happening in the 21st Century, this crisis has its roots set in centuries-old covenants and God's promises. I think it's time to examine why we are in the mess we're in, and the unacceptable consequences of our false and misunderstood belief systems.  

Let me first say that, while it may appear that politics and foreign policy is at the center of my position in this blog post, I want it understood that it is God and His Truth that I seek for my answers. Ultimately, it requires that man understand Zionism in its fulfilled and Biblical context ... NOT Jewish Zionism, Christian Zionism, or Israeli Zionism ... BUT BIBLICAL ZIONISM! And without intentional study of God's Word, I contend that it is impossible to understand God's plan for the final and fulfilled Zion. 

Let me begin by saying that understanding the truth about who and what Zion is, is a very contentious and debatable topic, and it is at the root of so much conflict between peoples, nations, and governments. Let me further state that it is only God's Truth regarding Zion that ultimately matters as we barrel towards His fulfillment of this Age. And in all honesty, I must admit that my understanding of the term "Zion" and its significance in both secular world history and God's plan of Redemption for all mankind, has morphed throughout my years as a Christian and has undergone a gradual process of transformation. But what I want to share has [I believe] relevance for all people.

Historically speaking, the word Zion has signified so many things ... 1) A stronghold held by the Canaanite tribe who inhabited Jerusalem, called Jebus, before the conquest begun by Joshua and completed by David (2 Samuel 5:6-10). 2) A name for the city of Jerusalem; also signifying "City of God", where God resided (Jeremiah 31:6). 3) Zion also designates the land of Judah (Jeremiah 31:12), and 4) the nation of Israel as a whole (Zechariah 9:13). I find it interesting that Zion occurs over 150 times in the Bible, and it essentially means "fortification", and has the idea of being "raised up" as a "monument."  

From these initial understandings of the word "Zion" in the Bible, we see that it is synonymous with "City of God", and it is a place that God loves and where He dwells with His people. But Zion is much more than a place or characteristic of its geography, as in "Mount Zion", the high hill on which David built a citadel. It is the spiritual heart of Israel, representing God's presence among His people. Zion/Jerusalem became the seat of power in Israel's ancient kingdom. As Biblical time marched on, Zion grew figuratively to mean Israel as the people of God in the Old Testament, who were recipients of God's promise to their Patriarch, Abraham... "All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring [seed] forever."  That's the way I think the world sees Zion today -- the geographical land claimed by the nation of Israel as their inheritance from their ancestor, Abraham. They are seen as the seed of Abraham.

But not so fast! Abraham is revered as a Patriarch in three major religions in the world, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, Abraham is the founding father and first Hebrew patriarch who began the covenantal relationship between the Jewish people and God. In Christianity, he is the spiritual progenitor/ancestor of all believers, whether Jewish or non-Jewish. And in Islam, Abraham is a link in the chain of Islamic prophets that begins with Adam and culminates in Muhammad. Abraham is regarded as the common forefather of both the Arab people through his son Ishmael, and the Jewish people through his son Isaac. 

So, it shouldn't surprise us that Zionism is defined in different ways by the different peoples who claim it for their own ... Jewish Zionism, in its current form, is primarily political, seeking establishment and preservation of a Jewish state in the historic land of Israel. A religious [or spiritual] view of Historical Zion is largely missing from the modern state of Israel. Christian Zionism, [including MAGA Zionism], believes that Christians should support the modern political state of Israel because it represents the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy; at least its physical territorial fulfillment in the Middle East. Biblical Zionism, is its own definition. Its significance is found in the belief that the promises God made to Abraham -- including the promise of land -- have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the singular "seed" of Abraham ... The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds", meaning many people, but "and to your seed", meaning one person, who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16).  

It takes a deliberate and serious study of Scripture to see the complete story that the Bible reveals regarding Zion and Zionism. It begins in Genesis and runs to Revelation. As the fascinating article Biblical Zionism: What Is It, and Why Does It Matter? states, "It [Zionism] moves from creation to covenant, from covenant to kingdom, from kingdom to Zion, from Zion to Christ, from Christ through the Spirit to the nations -- a unified narrative with Jesus at its center." 

All of Scripture points to Jesus as the ultimate seed of God's promises to not only Abraham, but to all mankind. It redirects our understanding of Zionism from territorial disputes over geographical land, and wars between earthly kingdoms, to the Kingdom of God and the King of the Universe. Christ is the true Zion -- and our union with Him supercedes political agendas, changing national leaders and borders. Governments will come and go; national leaders will be replaced, and our rights to inherit the Kingdom of God are unalienable. I want you to read that, not as in "Alien", like "illegal alien." Rather read it as "un-a-lien-able"; a form of security interest granted over something [or "someone"] to secure the payment of a debt. Our right to inheritance in Jesus have been given to us by God, and are not subject to a lien by any king or ruler. And Jesus has paid the debt we owe.

Zionism has been misunderstood in the last couple of centuries and manipulated to fulfill human definitions that meet human agendas. But the promises of the true Zion have already been fulfilled in flesh and blood, and in death and resurrection. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's promised land. He is alive and eternal, and He offers us an inheritance that can never be renounced or abandoned. Can you see that from the beginning to the end, God's promises are fulfilled in Christ? And no matter how many promises the Father has made, they are all answered with a resounding "YES" in Christ! Jesus is our Rock, our Fortress, and our Deliverer! He is Zion in all its Glory! Amen!

Isaiah 2:2-3     "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."    

  

"What's So Good About Friday?"

In the 15 years I have been writing this blog, I have rarely borrowed someone else's words. But every once in awhile someone writes something that is of such profound wisdom and adequacy that my spirit tells me, "This must be shared". This post is that kind of writing; a master stroke. It was written by Dead Hidden and then re-posted by The Biblical Man. I have also found it worthy to be re-posted. I hope you will open your hearts to receive it, and seriously contemplate what is written. It is what I have believed for a long time, and it magnifies the glory of our Lord as He so richly deserves, as we prepare to celebrate Resurrection Day!

There's a single mom in Memphis right now staring at her Walmart MoneyCard. She checked it twice. Same number both times. She checked it a third time because maybe the app was slow. It wasn't slow. There's no money. Won't be any until Monday because the banks are closed. 

Friday ... Good Friday.

Her kids want Easter baskets. The dollar store has plastic eggs for a buck fifty. She doesn't have a buck fifty. She has $2.11 and a quarter tank of gas and a shift she can't work because the office is closed for a holiday named after the day a man got nailed to lumber two thousand years ago. 

Good Friday.

What's good about it?

Some dude in a stained recliner in eastern Kentucky just checked his reloadable card, too. Same story. Direct deposit didn't hit. Won't hit til Monday. Easter is Sunday. His kids are asleep in the next room, and he;s sitting in the dark doing math that doesn't work. He's not thinking about the resurrection. He's thinking about how to explain to a seven-year-old why the Easter Bunny skipped their trailer.

And somewhere, a megachurch pastor is rehearsing his sunrise service in a building that cost fourteen million dollars. Fog machine tested. Choir mic'd. The tomb scene has better production value than most Hollywood sets.

Good Friday.

Here's what nobody told you. It probably wasn't Friday. Jesus said it Himself. Plain. No Commentary needed. "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." -- Matthew 12:40. 

Three days. Three nights.

Count it. Friday evening to Sunday morning is not three days and three nights. It's barely two. A first grader with a calendar can see it. But nobody counts. Because nobody's supposed to count. You're supposed to nod. Sing the hymn. Eat the ham. Move on.

The Jews didn't start their day at midnight like we do. God set up time in Genesis 1. "And the evening and the morning were the first day." Evening first. Then morning. That's a day. God said so before Rome existed. Before the church calendar. Before any man in a black robe got to vote on it. Wednesday evening. That's when He was buried. Before sundown. Because Thursday was a high sabbath -- the first day of Passover -- and the body had to be in the ground before it started.

Wednesday night. Thursday night. Friday night. Three nights.

Thursday day. Friday day. Saturday day. Three days.

Saturday evening when the sabbath ended. He rose. Not Sunday morning. The women came Sunday morning and He was already gone. The tomb was already empty when they got there.  

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." -- Matthew 28:1

They didn't witness the resurrection. They witnessed the aftermath. He was already up. Already breathing. Already walking around with holes in His hands while they were still carrying spices to a body that wasn't there. 

Three days. Three nights. Wednesday to Saturday. Just like He said.

So who moved it to Friday?

Men in robes who thought they knew better than a Jewish carpenter.

Men who changed the calendar. Changed the sabbath. Changed the feast days. Decided what the dirty [their word, not mine] Jews got wrong and what Rome got right. Swapped God's math for their own and slapped the word "Good" on it.

And nobody questioned it. For centuries. Because you're not supposed to question it. You're supposed to sit in the pew and nod and eat the cracker and drink the juice and go home and not think too hard about whether any of it adds up.

It doesn't add up. 

Friday to Sunday has never been three days and three nights. Shut down the post office. And that single mom in Memphis and that dad in his recliner in Kentucky? They get to feel the weight of somebody else's tradition.

But this post isn't about a calendar. It's about what we did to the cross. [The author who reposted the original post wrote something this week, and he says he can't get it out of his head]. He's calling it Crucifix Honey because "that's what Western Christianity does every April. Takes the most violent act in human history and drizzles honey on it until it's sweet enough to swallow."

He goes on to say ...  Every April, they sweeten the cross. Package the blood. Soften the nails. Put a choir behind the screaming so it sounds like music. Crucifix honey.

He died on a garbage hill covered in flies while Jerusalem ate dinner. 

Not in a cathedral. Not in a painting. Not in the stained glass window your grandmother pointed at when you were six and told you that man loved you.

On a trash heap. Outside the city. Where they dumped dead animals. Where the dogs came at night.

That's where God died.

Naked. Bones showing through His back. Mouth so dry His tongue stuck to His jaw. Soldiers underneath Him gambling for His shirt like it was a scratch-off ticket. 

His mother stood there. Couldn't touch Him. Couldn't hold His hand. Just watched the boy she nursed in a barn choke to death on a Roman post while flies landed on what used to be His back.

And the church put a frame around it. Sanded down the wood. Took the splinters out of the cross and made it smooth enough to hang around a pretty neck.

We turned the execution of God into decoration. The Romans drove the nails. We gold-plated them. Crucifix honey.

He sweat blood in a garden because His body tried to die before they could kill Him. And we walk past it every Sunday like it's wallpaper,

He carried His own death up a hill on a back that didn't have skin on it. And we put the cross on a bumper sticker between the stick figure family and the fish.

He screamed. And we made it a holiday.

That's what Good Friday is. A holiday built on bad math and sweetened death. A day the banks close and the churches open, and everybody performs grief for a man they'll forget about by Monday. A day where a mom can't feed her kids because Rome decided centuries ago that this was the day, and nobody since has had the spine to read a calendar and say no, it wasn't.

Jesus didn't die on Friday. He died on Wednesday. And He didn't stay dead. Three days and three nights later, He walked out of that tomb on His own two feet, and the rock was moved not to let Him out, but to let us look in.

The tomb wasn't opened for Him. It was opened for us. He was already gone.

This Easter, before you drink the coffee and post the cross and sing the hymn and eat the ham -- count the days. Read what He actually said. Not what the calendar says. Not what the tradition says. What He said. 

Three days. Three nights.

The math matters. Because if He said it and it didn't happen exactly like He said it, then none of it matters. And if it happened exactly like He said it -- on a day the whole world got wrong -- then maybe the whole world got more wrong than just the date. Happy Resurrection Day! 

_______________________________________________________________________

I am aware that my post may shock and offend some Christians who have never heard nor contemplated counting the days. I remember when I first realized the discrepancy. And I did not want to ignore the questions that arose. If there was more to understand about my Lord and the facts my faith are based upon, I wanted to know it. And I cannot tell you how much my study became enhanced and broadened after I discovered what had been hidden, and  the carefully constructed mask that stole the richness of my Lord's crucifixion story. 

I did not share this post to cause controversy or confrontation, but rather with the hope that even one more person could know God's truth in the matter and celebrate [even more] the love He has for us who believe in the sacrifice of His Son for our salvation and entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. May all who read this understand God's Plan and receive the joy of it's fulfillment in Jesus's obedience. It is finished!

John 8:32    And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.  

   

    

   

 

 

 

What We Need to Know in These Last Days: Jesus Is The Alpha and Omega ... And Everything In Between!

I once again find myself returning to a personal study of the Book of Revelation. But this time, it is with renewed focus on why the Apostle John wrote it, and its directive to us in these significant days. For so long, I have regarded Revelation from the standpoint of the events that accompany Jesus's Second Coming; His return to defeat Satan and Evil from the earth once and for all time, and our being reconciled to our Heavenly Father and receiving His promise of Eternal Life.

Each time I've read the Book it has been opened up a little more to me. This time, though, I am seeing more of Jesus and understanding why this Book is placed at the end -- so that I am prepared for what is coming, why I am here, and how much more I know Him. And from the very first verse of Chapter One, Jesus revealed that He is not simply a character from history; He is more than a myth who lived over 2000 years ago. He is still living and this Book is how He is revealing Himself to us, here in the Last Days. This Book is not just about John seeing in the Spirit and all the bad things that are going to happen on the earth. Jesus is truly "revealing" Himself in all His ways. 

From the first words ... The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all he saw. John is on the prison island of Patmos, the last of the Apostles who "bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ". First of all, JESUS IS THE WORD. John is affirming that he knows who Jesus is and he has first hand knowledge [and can give an accurate testimony) of the man, Jesus Christ. John is a reliable witness! And John declares that what he is about to write will bless those that read it aloud and they will keep what is written in their hearts, "because the time is near". These are the things that he says "must soon take place".

I know that many in the Church have commented on the fact that it is a popular opinion that the followers of Jesus interpreted the time being "near" and that Jesus said these things must "soon" take place, as understanding that those of that generation who walked with Jesus expected Him to return quickly and oust the Romans and take His place as the King of Israel. And therefore, those figures of speech about the time of Jesus's return are now understood as having been incorrectly interpreted by Jesus's followers. But I don't think that's the case. I don't think that is what the Bible is trying to tell us. Can you consider that the unfolding of the events of the Last Days are on God's timetable, and that He sees time differently than we humans? I think it is fair to consider that Jesus wasn't saying WHEN these things would happen ... only that the time being "soon" or "near" indicates how rapidly the events will be executed when they begin. It's the idea that the events Jesus tells John to write about will happen suddenly -- not where on the timeline of man in which they will occur.

And one of my favorite passages in the Book of Revelation is Jesus's greeting to the Seven Churches. I do not think these seven churches are chosen because they are the most beloved or well-known to Jesus. I think He chose to mention them because they are representative of the characteristics across the spectrum of churches throughout the ages. But just read how He describes Himself: the One who is and who was and who is to come; the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead; and the ruler of kings on earth. Let's take them one by one:

• The One who is and who was and who is to come ... This describes the eternal nature of God, who is a timeless Being, and this description connects to the Old Testament idea, or concept, of YHWH. He's the same throughout the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament.

•  The Faithful Witness ... this shows the utter reliability and faithfulness that Jesus has towards His Father and His people. Interestingly, in Greek, the word for witness is the same word for martyr.

• The firstborn of the dead ... Remember that prior to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, no one had been raised from the dead with the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. People went to "the grave" or what was called "the realm of the dead". It was a place of conscious existence and was divided into two realms: one was a place of comfort [where Lazarus was; also known as "paradise"]. The other realm was a place of torment where the rich man of Luke 23:43 was ("hell"). Between Paradise and Hell was a great chasm (Luke 16:26) and no one could cross the chasm from hell to paradise, indicating that, after death, one's fate was sealed. You either were in Paradise or Hell. Jesus was the firstborn of the dead; the first to be resurrected from his dead body to spend eternity in Heaven with God. All those who believe in Him have their own resurrection to look forward to.

• The Ruler of Kings on Earth ... Not that Jesus was King of the Jews while on earth, but that He will be the ruler over all earthly kings. He, in fact, does rule a Kingdom now, but the Kingdom is not yet fully established in this world. That is part of our purpose -- to help establish His kingdom, "on earth as it is in Heaven". So, in that sense, we are already citizens of His Kingdom on earth, working as His servants to advance and increase His authority and power on the earth.

• The Alpha and the Omega ... This title is indicative of the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. Jesus is saying He is the beginning and the end of all things, and everything in between. He can be found in the first Book of the Bible (Genesis) and the last Book (of Revelation). And He is on every page in between. Furthermore, in this title, we see His eternal nature and His divine authority; everything in this world is under His jurisdiction, from the creation to the final judgment.   

But I think the one thing I have loved the most about re-studying this Book of the Bible is the recognition of how John must have perceived it. John is often thought of as a favorite of Jesus; "the one whom Jesus loved: (John 13:23). So John's memories of Jesus are tied to His earthly ministry, and the three years John walked the dusty roads of Galilee with Him, talking, laughing, sleeping under the stars. He knew Jesus, the man, personally and instinctively knew He was divine, but didn't understand the fullness of Jesus, as the Son of Man or the Son of God. Here, in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, Jesus appears to Him in all His supernatural Glory -- his hair white as snow; eyes like a flame of fire (signifying judgment); feet like burnished bronze (from walking through the refiner's fire); and His voice like the roar of many waters (perhaps like standing in the midst of a powerful waterfall). This was not the Lamb of God who taught 12 average men a new way to live, but the King of the Universe! This was Jesus as He truly was, and John became so overwhelmed with this newfound recognition of His Supernatural Glory, that he "fell at His feet as though dead".   

So, as approach our Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, let us contemplate John's experience... the blessedness of knowing the man Jesus and then seeing and recognizing Him in His Divine Glory. As the days of this world grow darker, it would be easy to become apprehensive, scared, and disquieted. But just as Jesus spoke to John, He speaks to us today ....

Revelation 1:17    But He laid His right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 

Understanding the Leaders of Iran, Their Vison of the "Last Days", and How It is Affecting This War

The nation of Iran has a new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was recently killed in an airstrike carried out by the Israeli Air Force, with support from the United States. It is my opinion that the leaders of our country, both politically and militarily, should pay close attention to this Iranian cleric who seems to be a key influence behind the scenes in how Iran's future will play out.

In an article written for Harbinger's Daily, Janatan Sayeh of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Khamenei "embodies his father's legacy and all of the Islamic Republic's defining pathologies: theocratic rule, human rights abuses, destabilizing policy ambitions, and kleptocracy." NOTE: For purposes of everyone's understanding, theocratic rule is defined as a form of government where a deity is recognized as the supreme authority, and the laws are based on religious principles. In such systems, political leaders are often members of the clergy and govern in the name of the deity, with the state's legal system grounded in religious law. Kleptocracy is a form of government where corrupt leaders use their political power to steal wealth from the people they govern. In such systems, corruption is a defining characteristic, leading to significant harm to the economy and society.

In the instance of Iran's theocratic rule, Allah is the deity who is recognized as the supreme authority, and Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new leader, is the cleric chosen by Iran's 88-member Assembly of Experts to rule the nation in the name of Allah. This should concern the nations of the world (especially the U.S. and Israel) because Khamenei has been described by Janer Rajabi, an Iranian exile and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operative as not only "uniquely dangerous" and more radical than his father, but "Apocalypse-Obessed". What does that mean, and what would it look like?

According to Mr. Rajabi, Khamenei believes he is a prophesied figure that would help bring about the return of the Mahdi, an Islamic messianic figure who appears before the End Times. This figure is central to Shia Islam, the state religion of Iran. While 75 percent of the world's Muslims adhere to Sunni Islam, only about 10-15 percent are part of Shia Islam. The main schism between Sunnis and Shias comes down to their interpretation of the rightful succession of leadership after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis believe the Islamic people should be led by a caliph, a role bestowed according to merit and consensus. Shiites believe authority should be passed through the household of Muhammad, and the imams [absolute infallible leaders descended from the Prophet]. Furthermore, most Shia believe that there have been only twelve "true" imams, the last of which has been hiding unseen on earth since the 9th Century, but is anxiously awaited. 

This "Twelfth Imam", known as Muhammad al-Mahdi -- or simply the Mahdi [which is a title meaning "guided one"] -- is anticipated to be the perfect Muslim who will reappear and unite the world under Islam. And the followers of this concept are known as "Twelvers". They believe that the Twelve imams are divinely appointed as both spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, and that they possess special knowledge and authority to guide the Muslim community. All this information, within itself, is the foundation of Islam. But here is where we need to understand the ramifications of the different theological application of these tenets and why it is important to discern the current situation in the Middle East...

In the Islamic faith, Hadith refers to the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as a significant resource for guidance, alongside the Quran, to help Muslims understand and practice their faith. Twelver "hadith literature" describes the period before the Mahdi's return as marked by severe injustice, violent upheaval, and widespread bloodshed. Many of these narrations warn of large-scale conflict in the Middle East and dramatic confrontations preceding the establishment of global justice. The Mahdi's arrival is portrayed as forceful intervention that overturns existing political orders. 

So, I'm sure you can understand that for millions of Shiite Muslims, this war with Iran is not just another war. They are hopeful [and even convinced] that this war is the culmination of all the injustice, upheaval, and bloodshed perpetrated against the Muslims throughout history, and that it will finally bring about the rise of the Madhi. At the same time, we see that millions of Christians are viewing this war as possibly fulfilling Biblical prophecy in Matthew 24. Former IRGC operative Janer Rajabi says that Mojtaba Khamenei believes that his destiny is to "have a special part" in ushering in the return of the Mahdi, which will lead to the Islamic Apocolypse. So, is it foolish for the rest of the world to think that he, or his military leaders, would be interested in entering into talks to bring about peace? Wouldn't their eschatological beliefs benefit more from increasing chaos in the world in order to cause the rise of the Mahdi?

As an article on Theologyinfive states, "Twelver Shiism teaches that history culminates in the return of the Mahdi, [the Hidden Imam], to establish global justice through decisive intervention. The Islamic Republic has embedded that expectation into its governing structure and uses its imagery to reinforce revolutionary legitimacy. By leveraging apocalyptic themes, Iran's leadership turns geopolitical struggle into theological mission. Conflict is not merely strategic competition; it is framed as alignment with sacred destiny. Any serious analysis of the regime must account for how eschatological expectation is used to sustain confrontation, justify sacrifice, and preserve ideological control." 

But I would be remiss, and less than honest, if I did not reveal my thoughts that our own path in this war is dangerously close to being seen as consistent with turning "geopolitical struggle into theological themes". I keep hearing Psalm 82 in my spirit. This is God calling a meeting of the Divine Council; of the gods that He separated and assigned to govern nations in Deuteronomy 32. "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked". But as has happened throughout history, Satan and his army of demonic troops have corrupted the Word and convinced men to go to war for their own legitimacy and legacies. And the rest of mankind suffers. 

It certainly feels like the prophecies of the One True God and those of the lesser gods are about to be realized. I pray that God holds back the Restrainer's hand long enough that we can bring more of the world [and all peoples and nations] into the Kingdom of God. Lord, do not let Chaos reign! Defeat the Evil that would destroy Your plan to reconcile with mankind. And let us not forget to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our fellow man as we love ourselves!  

Psalm 82:8.     Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!  

The War in Iran, and the Competition to Feed AI's Energy Consumption -- PART TWO

 As I wrote in Part One of this two-part analysis of the current war in Iran, the growth of the "AI economy" plays a vital part in this clash of civilizations and the battle over Iran's valuable natural resources. These natural resources are a huge prize for the victor(s) of this warfare. As we move forward in history, new battle lines are being drawn in the global economy.

I would wager that to most citizens of the world, this war is measured in terms of the  following goals: 1) the hope for regime change in Iran (yet to be determined); 2) the termination of Iran's buildup of missile and nuclear weapons programs; and 3) destroying Iran's connections to their proxies in the region, i.e. Hamas and  Hezbollah; and the Shiites, their religious partners [within Iran] who carry out the coercive commands of their Shiite clerics. 

Those are certainly consequential arguments for the war, but there is another objective that is becoming increasingly important to the global economies... the exponential growth of artificial intelligence. The average, every-day user of the internet has no idea how much energy that data centers require. In fact, I doubt many can even define what a data center is. So, in order to comprehend why they are an important factor in the war with Iran, let's start with this fact ... A data center is a facility "composed of networked computers, storage systems and computing infrastructure that organizations and businesses use to assemble, process, store and disseminate large amounts of data." It is the heart of data storage.

As of early 2026, there are approximately 5,427 data centers in the US. Due to the immense demand of needed storage space by online companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta, these companies are rapidly building data centers to serve the AI escalation in the world. In addition, the tech competition between the United States and China is intensifying, and the need to secure reliable and abundant energy resources is just as important as securing our trade routes (think Strait of Hormuz) or maintaining our military partnerships.

This challenge becomes crystal clear when you take into account that North America data center capacity reached a record 8,155 megawatts in early 2025 -- an increase of more than 43% compared to the previous year. A standard AI-focused hyperscale data center can consume as much electricity annually as 100,000 households in America. The next generation of facilities that are under construction today are speculated to consume 20 times that amount! By 2030 that figure is projected to increase more than 130% -- that's less than 4 years from now! 

So how do those facts translate to this conflict in Iran, and how does it all affect the U.S. economy? We (in the U.S.) are already stretching the limits our existing electrical grids can sustain. With the forecast expansion of AI and its associated energy needs, we must answer the question of how and where we can support that technological boom. India is a possibility, but there seems to be some doubt about how quickly their infrastructure can accommodate the needs. So, that turns our attention to the Gulf States (Saudia Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Iran). They possess the critical energy resources (oil, water, the land, and natural gas) that are readily available to underpin the energy consumption in the next generation of global AI data centers.

And I said GLOBAL data centers, because as we all know, the competition between the U.S. and China for superiority in the global economy (including the data centers) is dependent on the ability to feed AI (and its massive energy needs). It should be obvious to everyone that the race is on to see which country can secure Iran's significant oil and natural gas reserves that could potentially support the needed energy for AI and data centers. So that's where the real reason (and consequence) of this conflict becomes clear. The last 9 presidents (from Joe Biden all the way back to Jimmy Carter) have chosen to avoid war with Iran by letting them continue with their secret and stealthy development of nuclear capacities -- until it has become clear that whoever wins the race to Iran's energy resources will be the first to "claim" AI and reign as #1 in the global economy. 

Now comes the biggest obstacle for the U.S. to claim that spot ... It's no secret that China backs Iran. Our hope to secure those resources will be determined by destroying the nuclear sites in Iran that can destroy the data infrastructure that is being built. These data centers are sensitive technological systems. A single strike by Iran can destroy delicate hardware, disrupt network architecture, and cause cascading failures across entire digital ecosystems. When an Amazon Web Services (AWS) facility in the United Arab Emirates was struck, it affected banking networks, payment systems, and an array of digital services across the globe. Nations increasingly share a common dependence on uninterrupted energy flows, stable shipping corridors, and reliable, universal supply chains. And now Iran stands as the biggest spoiler to the U.S. strategy to "own" the AI sector in the global economy. 

Yes, the security of Israel and the Middle East is also a factor in taking this wartime plan of action. But it's also about protecting and establishing a rapidly emerging technological system that produces both economic and national security for our nation. This battle is crucial and hugely consequential. I advise us all to seek the Lord for His will in this time of history. AI will eventually impact us all as it is integrated into every aspect of our digital lives. It is reshaping the world, and it is apparent that it is becoming a convenient tool to lead us down the tempting and deceptive path to the Beast System. Please pray for divine wisdom and discernment!  The Lord will hear your prayers! Trust Him in all His ways!

My knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, its infrastructure and energy needs is dependent on the knowledge of those in the field who have the ability to write informed and insightful articles. I am thankful to Vikrant Bahadur Singh and his article for the information that informed this post.

Psalm 33.    The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.  

 

 

The War in Iran, History's Continued Clash of Civilizations, and the Competition to Feed AI's Energy Consumption -- PART ONE

In case you think I'm going to jumble a hodgepodge of topics into one disarrayed post, let me show you how this all goes hand-in-hand and contributes to a full understanding of what is going on behind the scenes of the latest war in the Middle East. Over last weekend, we saw the United States and Israel join together to ostensibly eliminate Iran's attempt to increase it's nuclear and missile capabilities. While the combined effort of "the Great Satan" (US) and the "Little Satan" (Israel) succeeded in striking 3 nuclear energy sites in Iran, it is still undetermined if the attacks permanently destroyed the Iranian nuclear program or its enrichment capabilities.

Although I have much to learn about all the factors involved in the reasons for this attack on Iran, I am discerning some important details that go beyond the nuclear capability component. Let me categorize these contributing aspects as: 1) The clash of historical civilizations and 2) The competition for resources to sustain the growth of AI in the global economy. So, I ask you to give me a chance to explain how history and technology have played a part in this latest conflict that threatens global peace.

I think I can make an argument that the God of the Universe divided humanity into different nations (Deuteronomy 32:8-9) after they defied His command to spread out, and they, instead, built a ziggurat to ascend into Heaven and attempt to overthrow God's Sovereignty. This was the moment in human history that supernaturally changed the positions of the nations and their peoples. Not only were the boundaries of the nations set according to God's will, but the peoples of those nations were assigned to various other divine beings (gods). God retained only one nation for Himself: Israel. The other nations and peoples came under the jurisdiction of gods like Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Thor, etc. These were not political boundaries. They were spiritual, and they resulted in different religions, cultures, civilizational identities. And throughout history they have spawned religious conflicts, historic injustices, and ethnic incompatibility that has caused violence across the globe.

All that plays into the current situation with Iran. And here is what we need to understand ... the battle lines throughout history have always been drawn around civilizational identity. And periodically [throughout history], those identities clash. Leaders drink from their inflated and empty cups of self-importance, identifying as either a nationalist or a globalist, promoting either "diversity" and "multiculturalism, OR "world domination" and "Totalitarian" philosophies vs Freedom-oriented societies.

But a curious thing happened in the latter part of the 20th Century into the 21st... we began seeing talk of globalism, ecumenicalism, universalism, and multiculturalism. These ideas translate into theories that we can transform our different cultural/civilizational identities into a "one-size fits all" identity. Here's the problem with that ... We cannot ignore the differences between historical civilizations; civilizations that were created when God divided the boundaries, languages, and identities of the nations in Deuteronomy 32. The reality is that the values of those nations mattered to the peoples. Their culture mattered [their customs, arts, social institutions, the achievements and social characteristics of their particular nation]. Their religion and history mattered. Their honor and pride mattered. And they still matter!  

Since the beginning of time, different peoples, nations, cultures, and civilizations have fought and competed for religious dominance, natural resources, land, and economic power. All those aspects are present in this latest conflict with Iran, who was once known on the global stage as Persia. We are seeing the past playing out in the present. And what concludes in this present conflict will illuminate the future. How will this war influence the futures of Israel, the United States, China, the historic Middle Eastern/Biblical nations, Russia? You can be sure it's all part of God's Plan. 

And the root causes of this war are not limited to the international frenzy over Iran's potential nuclear capabilities, no matter what reasons and narrative the heads of state and the media might declare. I hinted at the beginning of this post that the growth of the "AI economy" plays a part in this conflict and the battle over Iran's valuable natural resources are a huge prize for the victor[s] of this warfare. History moves forward as new battle lines in this civilizational war are being drawn. Stay tuned for Part Two!  

Matthew 24:6       And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

 

 

Reflections On the Importance of the Holy Spirit in These Last Days

Have y0u taken the time to evaluate your relationship with the Holy Spirit? I ask because of what I see as a failure of the Church to recognize the important role He has been given by Christ to His sanctified followers. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our Counselor and Helper, who guides us to walk in His teachings and statutes. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and leads us into all understanding of God's Truth. We also read in Scripture that the Holy Spirit comforts us, seals our inheritance, intercedes on our behalf, empowers us to testify of Jesus and God's love, produces spiritual fruit in us, sanctifies our lives and purpose, equips us with spiritual gifts, and dwells within us. Our relationship with Him is exceedingly personal. Yet, how many of us can say we truly know Him?

I must admit that for a large segment of my faith life, I knew of the Holy Spirit, but did not really know Him like I knew Jesus and the Father. And, to be honest, I was a bit jealous of other Christians who had grown up in denominations where the presence and knowledge of the Holy Spirit was vibrant and active, and a relationship with Him was customary and familiar. And I was surprised that as I sought to grow in my knowledge of Him and began to develop an intimacy with Him, I also began to see a distancing or separation from some of my fellow Christians. I was told that the kind of experiences I was looking for weren't possible for today's Believers; that the power and fire that rained down on the First Century Believers was only to jump-start the Church; that the closing of the Canon has left us with centuries of faith in the saving grace of Jesus, and that's all we need.

There's also the flip side of that coin ... the members of the Body of Christ who manipulate and falsely imitate the power of the Holy Spirit. They damage His reputation by impersonating a sanctified, Spirit-filled Believer, and open a spiritual door for the Anti-Christ to convince the Modern Church that His power no longer exists. That kind of thinking has shown me just how misunderstood the Person of the Holy Spirit is in the 21st Century Church. [NOTE: This is where I must declare that I distinguish "the Church" from the "Body of Christ".] For the sake of this discussion, to me, the Church represents those Believers who, like the Pharisees, are clinging tightly to the Doctrine of Cessationism [the gifts of the Holy Spirit were for the establishment of the Church and ceased with the deaths of the apostles]. If this is their belief system, then their interest in developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit will be minimal. And they will point to the recent Church debacle surrounding Shawn Bolz and Bethel as proof that the Holy Spirit is no longer actively present in the Body of Christ.

Yet, within this same Body of Christ there is a sizable [if not equal] number of Believers who walk in Jesus's ways as their model. There is a recognition [and reliance upon] the Holy Spirit to convey the thoughts and will of the Father as it pertains to our purpose in His Kingdom on earth. As for me, I firmly believe that just as God used the Holy Spirit to speak to His followers in the past, He continues to be the same today (as He's been in the past, and will be in the future). He never changes! So, I find myself talking to Holy Spirit as often as I do Jesus because I know that He is the conduit -- the instrument God uses to protect Jesus's transmission of His will for my life. And I can trust Him. In fact, there is so much deception, fraud, lies, and corruption in the world today, that trusting Him is more important than ever. 

There are many Anti-Christ spirits roaming the earth and sowing their animosity and malice among men who hate God. We can see them clearly if we trust that the Holy Spirit resides in us and we trust in His promptings. That's so important because the Bible tells us there will be much deception in the last days, led by the "Man of Lawlessness". When he is revealed, the world better know who they are in Christ, and able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit to guide you through the false teachings and signs that will be manifesting on the earth. We are given clear instructions to neither "be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message of a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come.

Furthermore, the Bible says that day will not come until the rebellion and apostasy comes first -- the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians when the Man of Rebellion is unmasked. Mankind will have wandered so far from righteous living, as Jesus commands, that it will be easy to fall for the false promises of the Deceiver. But God will bring a strong spirit of Delusion over the world so that we must choose whom we will follow. We are currently experiencing economic pressures, fear of war, death, and disease; the pressures of distress and oppression. It's not difficult to see that the financial systems of the world are teetering, and the promise of a one-world monetary system to replace our failing ones is looking more inviting to a world that has lost millions in their buying power.  

But behind that false mask will be a system that will take control and authority over every financial decision and transaction made. So it will be with a one-world religion, as well. The world will, at first, worship the Beast figure because, again, it offers false promises. But the world will soon be manipulated and forced into bowing down to the Beast. As Believers, we must remain true to our Lord and stand firm in our faith, refusing to compromise, even when faced with the worst of trials and persecutions -- even unto our death. And that means our discernment radar must always be turned on loud and clear. And do you know what that radar sounds like? The voice of the Holy Spirit!

We must not fall victim to the distorted and corrupted doctrines of the false christs that lead only to the perverted and depraved systems of Satan's Beast. Let us cling to Jesus until He returns; remaining obedient and steadfast in His Truth. The future looks shrouded in darkness, but we must continue to hope in the Light of Heaven, our Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He said we will suffer for His Name, but He will return for us and deliver us into everlasting Life with Him. There is no person or system on earth [or in the heavenly realms] that can promise us anything superior to that glorious future! So, yes, I fear that there is more bad news coming, but, I will trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Oh, the hope that we possess in our inheritance born of Faith! Listen for His Voice!

2 Timothy 1:14     Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious Truth that has been entrusted to you. 

When the World Gaslights Your Biblical Belief System

 

We're probably all familiar with the term "gaslighting" by now. If not, here is a quick and simple definition that I find explains this psychological manipulation in our modern culture. "Gaslighting" involves the subtle, yet intentional, scheme to convince one that their beliefs, points of view, and convictions on a given topic are questionable or in dispute, causing at the very least doubt and skepticism.

It has become a useful tool in the sphere of politics and corporate maneuvering. The power of social media makes it a willing accomplice among those who seek to control and divide the masses. But now Gaslighting has entered the realm of Faith. Satan has found it useful to introduce not only doubt among Christian believers in their Biblical foundations and worldview, but also uncertainty, questioning, and mistrust. If you are bold enough, in today's world, to declare your unwavering conviction and faith in the truth of God's Word in the Bible, then sooner or later, you will experience some form of spiritual gaslighting. 

Whether inside or outside of our churches, we must suit up with the Armor of God, and prepare to defend our Biblical worldview. That requires a very solid and thorough understanding of the hermeneutical and historical context of the Word, along with a deep-rooted personal relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You see, many of Satan's partners in spiritual gaslighting know the Bible better than those in Christian circles. The goal of these diabolical partners is to challenge your belief system in the hopes they can inject a seed of doubt or uncertainty -- just enough to introduce a subtle difference that will cause you to start questioning what you've long perceived as Truth. 

In fact, they use just enough truth from the Bible or Church doctrine so that their argument sounds plausible, especially when sprinkled with a false, yet reasonable, view of Christ. They will point out Jesus's heart for sinners -- the Samaritan woman at the well; the woman caught in adultery; the Gerasene demoniac; the Prodigal son. The Gaslighters will pronounce the loving heart of Jesus towards these people who were living in ways the Bible condemns, yet Jesus did not spurn them. He loved them and forgave their sins. And then comes the masterful way in which Satan throws confusion into our Biblical understanding. Why aren't you, Christian, showing the same love for these wayward people?

As a Christian, you should point out that, yes, Jesus loved and forgave these sinners, but their forgiveness was based on following His instruction to "Go, and sin no more". Jesus never condones or permits sin. Jesus also makes it clear that only the one who is without sin can cast the first stone, implying that He knows who sins and who doesn't, and judgment is part of His righteous and holy character. We are also told that we are not to judge another's actions, because first of all, we don't know the condition of their heart, but Jesus does. And the judgment we pronounce will be how we are judged. BUT, the Bible tells us we can identify people by the fruit [or lack thereof] that they produce in their lives. 

The gaslighters just want to challenge the steadfastness of your faith, bringing into question the Christian's spiritual depth of character. They are not concerned with the truth of their challenge, only their ability to cause doubt or suspicion of your Biblical worldview in order to bolster their false claims that Jesus loved all sinners. They will use Jesus's admonition to "love your neighbor as yourself " against you in order to prove that you are not loving like Jesus, at all. Again, it is an opening to label you [and the Christian faith] as unloving, religious bigots, hypocrites, haters, and any other label that goes against their unBiblical lifestyles. By convincing the gullible public that Jesus was, in reality, a social justice warrior on behalf of all misunderstood and maligned people, rather than the righteous and holy Son of God, they can gain acceptance for their agenda to promote a Global Beast System that is tragically and despicably Anti-Christ in nature and substance.

As the number of Christians who are willing to stand up for Jesus's True teachings declines, we see the spirit of Compromise overtaking and decimating the strength of God's Word in the world. We Christians of the 21st Century are the inheritors of centuries of the power of God's Word to transform a single life [and the world]. Just because some of Jesus's commands sound too harsh for today and don't align with the Gaslighter's compromised version of God's mercy and grace, doesn't mean we abandon them or soften them. As 19th Century Anglican Bishop J. C. Ryle once wrote, "A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong".  

Yet, in today's world of social and moral relevance, it appears that's just what we've done. The Bible's warning that a Day of Judgment is coming  -- a Day in which all people will stand before God to account for our actions, whether good or evil -- has been exchanged for a lukewarm opinion that "being a good person" is enough to get us through the pearly gates. Sadly, there seems to be no recognition that there's a huge difference between God granting eternal life and condemning one to an eternal fire. 

It is imperative for today's Christian that we do not water down the Righteousness of God as revealed in the Bible. It is equally crucial that we denounce the unrighteousness of people that is increasingly expressed in our daily lives. It is our duty as obedient followers of Christ to show sinners how to avoid the fires of judgment through faith in Christ and genuine repentance. It is our duty, as representatives of Jesus Christ on earth, to forego our own comfort, in favor of snatching the lost out of this world by testifying of our hope in the next. But we must also be cognizant that we will be hated by the Gaslighters and their programmers. Our reputations will suffer and our character will be dishonored. We will experience persecution, but will also receive great joy and blessings as we lead the unredeemed to the knowledge and acceptance of their Savior! 

So, if you haven't been Gaslighted for your Biblical beliefs, yet ... you will. The defiance and rebellion against the fullness of the Word is escalating as we speak. We must guard our hearts and minds, and plant the Truth of the Word in rich and restorative ground. Don't take the bait when the false accusers use Scripture to try and manipulate you into doubting that God's Word is real and life-giving. We can rely on it to provide strength in trying and troublesome times. The lies that come from the mouths of Satan's provocateurs are no match for the truth that comes from the mouth of the Lord and the Spirit. When you are tempted by Gaslighters to alter or compromise your Belief system, trust in the authority of the Word, and obey it always. Jesus is our standard-bearer, and we will not be tempted.

I invite you to read an articulate and well-written article by C. R. Carmichael, entitled The Gaslighting of the Biblical Christian. It analyzes this topic in a deeper context.

Proverbs 30:5     Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Psalm 119:11    Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

   

  

 

When the Pressure Comes, Will You Bear the Weight?

This past week or so, in the midst of the Church scandals, I have found myself scrutinizing my own life. Have I, too willingly, accepted God's Grace and Favor, while measuring my obedience to Him according to man's acceptable standards? We have seen, over the last week, how easy it is to convince ourselves that human acceptability is enough to satisfy God's heart. But here's the thing ... God is very precise, intentional, and deliberate about the work He is doing in us. And there is no room for compromise in the value of His Nature, nor the quality of our character. He judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts to see if He recognizes His own in the way we carry His Name.

There have been good public discussions among the Body of Christ about the failures of Leaders in the Church to abide in their callings as Shepherds and Protectors of the Flock. It has been called to our attention, their efforts to protect themselves and their platforms and reputations. Sadly, some whom we assumed ministered in Divine Gifts, now appear to have been wolves in sheep's clothing. Others that had authentic hearts for God, chose Mercy over Justice, and added more trauma to members of the flock who were left feeling betrayed.

But in the end, Sin is sin. I don't believe God gives us a pass if our sin seems less harmful than another's. What matters is our response to our sin. God is ready to forgive us and begin our restoration, if we declare and show true repentance. No one exemplifies this better than King David. I alluded to this point in my last post ... David was an adulterer; a perpetrator and accomplice to murder; and a man who failed to become all God purposed him to be. His family was a mess, and his desire to build a House of God was denied him by God, Himself. 

But David was still called by God as "a man after His own heart". God acknowledged David's sin, but also recognized that David sought to align his heart with God's; he chased after God's will in his own life, and committed himself to being obedient while demonstrating honest and real repentance. You see, God was deliberate in the work He was going to do in David when He appointed him the ruler over the nation of Israel and its people. And that's one big difference between David and some of the Leaders in our Church today. It was God who appointed David! Too often, our Church Leaders today are either self-appointed, or man-appointed, due to their ability to entertain, or speak in compelling and powerful ways. It must be pointed out that the Spirit of the Lord was evident in David's life as He fulfilled His purpose to lead David in writing the Psalms, and bringing attention to Jesus, David's Savior and ours.

Yes, David had flaws, like all of us. He sinned like all of us. But because he genuinely repented and sought to align his heart with God's, God was not through with him. He could continue His work in David and see the fruit produced by David's obedient faith. It is yet to be seen if the fallen Pastors will rise to the level of repentance and obedience of King David. Their sins cannot be mixed in with their reputations [and diminished], nor can they be glossed over. They must be dealt with according to God's standards before He can continue His work in them. It must be determined if their faith is legitimate; if their obedience is steadfast, and if they have the humility to withstand the pressure God has assigned while He works in them to restore them to His service. 

The simple truth is this: If we call ourselves a child of God, there will be consequences when we sin. David shows us that even great men of faith fall in sin. And that sin damages our relationships; with those we love in this life, and with our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. But our confession of sin, in honesty and humility, will bring our restoration when accompanied by true repentance. It is then that we can see the fullness of God's forgiveness --  His Mercy, Compassion and Justice. When our sins and trespasses have caused harm to another person or Believer, we must expect that God will dispense all three attributes of His Nature if it is necessary to return us to wholeness.

So, as I wrap up my time of discerning what God desires to do in the midst of this latest crisis in the Church, I am left with these final thoughts ... we should work [with and through the Lord] to leave a legacy in this life; a spiritual impact that affects eternity. We are all imperfect people, but when we sin, we can let God work in our lives to encourage others that they, too, can bear the weight of their sin, as they deliberately return to God and trust Him in all their ways. We can be like David -- chasing after God's heart; praising Him in the midst of our troubles and sin; seeking His Presence; living in fearless faith; and trusting God to deliver us out of our darkness into His Light. 

And perhaps most importantly, let us forgive others their sins, trespasses, and iniquities, as God forgives ours when we approach Him with a humble and repentant heart. Let us hold ourselves accountable as we expect the Church and its Leaders to do the same. Remember, we may experience the pressure of God's cleansing and restoring work in us, but we will gain our freedom from sin by growth and endurance [in our faith]. Jesus will not leave us to bear the weight by ourselves. He will bear it along with us. Amen!  

1 Corinthians 10:13     No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.   

   

When Church Leaders Sin

 I want to begin by stating that this post is my opinion (only), and I am not asking anyone to agree with me, nor am I asking anyone to endorse or recommend my thoughts. I am listening to the Lord and Holy Spirit and asking God to lead me to the fullness of His Truth in this matter. Therefore, as more information becomes available, I may find Holy Spirit giving me new revelations, at which time I will be open to new understandings of this situation.

I have spent the last several days contemplating the devastating and disturbing news surrounding Shawn Bolz and his association with Bethel Church and its Senior Leadership. Over the last 20 years or so, the advent of social media has been a vehicle for the promotion of various popular ministries in the Church, especially the employment of the Spiritual Gifts among the Charismatic segment of Christianity. To be clear, Spiritual Gifts are special abilities, talents or capacities given to Christians by the Holy Spirit, with the goal of serving God and the members of the Church. We find those gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, and among them are the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits [discernment], speaking in different kinds of tongues, and also the interpretation of those tongues.   

Interest in the Spiritual Gifts has been like a magnet, drawing the young and un-churched to those in the ministry who could offer something new and exciting for the edification and growth of the Church. In truth and honesty, I am a believer that those Spiritual Gifts are still available to Believers today. But because of the sinful nature of man, Social Media has been a path to gaining millions of followers, money, and celebrity-like status among some of these ministers. And this coincides with what the Bible tells us (in 2 Timothy 3:1-9) will be the condition of the Church "in the last days" ... the Church will find itself in times of difficulty ... people will be (among many things), lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, lacking self-control, reckless, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions; men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. Sadly, these traits have led unrighteous men to immense influence in the Modern Church.

From the recent disclosures about his behaviors and how he operated his ministries, Shawn Bolz has been a classic picture of 2 Timothy 3:1-9. He began his ministry in the early 2000s and quickly became a darling of the Charismatic Church, garnering huge followings for his prophetic "words of knowledge". I will admit that I have always been skeptical of these "performance style" ministers whose prognostications have seemed too often, vague and general in nature. In addition, my spirit has been troubled by what has appeared to be "swarms" of people within the Church [beyond the Charismatic community], eager to gain the same kind of reputation and stature within their Christian denominations. I am quite aware that the Bible warns that in the last days, "many false prophets will arise and deceive many people" (Matthew 24:11).

And then along comes Mike Winger's exposé of Bolz's alleged misconduct. Mike Winger is an evangelical theologian and Christian apologist; a YouTube personality who is well-known for exposing spiritual abuse and sexual misconduct in Christian circles, along with critiquing Christian ministries that he doesn't agree with. So, could there be bias in his reporting of Bolz's alleged sins? Of course! While he chose to reveal his accusations against Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding California, along with Senior Leaders in that Church, he neglected to bare the alleged negligence of Greg Laurie, founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship, to supervise a former pastor, Paul Havsgaard, who allegedly sexually abused children at a shelter in Romania. Like, the leadership of Bethel, Laurie and church leaders ignored the reports of abuse, and did not take appropriate action, allowing Havsgaard to continue to have contact with the children. Why expose one sin, and not the other?  

Here is a simplified summary of Winger's accusations against Shawn Bolz and Bethel Church: rather than receiving divine revelation when prophesying words of knowledge over individuals, Shawn Bolz was leading a ministry of fraud and deception. Specifically, it is alleged that he data-mined social media sites, such as Facebook, for relevant information that he could manipulate to appear as if he heard from the Holy Spirit. Not only was this fraudulent and deceitful, but there are alleged instances where his "word of knowledge" led to physical and spiritual abuse of those seeking God's truth. In addition, there are many victims of alleged sexual abuse by Bolz himself against his own staff. Men have come forth with explicit reports of alleged deviant behavior towards themselves; behavior, that if true, is without question, unholy and obscene. 

While I am unaware of legal investigations [at this time] into these claims, they have now been elevated due to the involvement of one of the best-known movements within contemporary Charismatic Christianity, Bethel Church. Bill Johnson is its Senior Pastor, and is a man who is simultaneously one of the most well-respected, as well as vilified, pastors in the American Church. He often finds himself pitted against the rigid, legalistic and religious segment of the Church, who do not believe in the supernatural acts of God [or the Spiritual Gifts] in today's world. In full disclosure, I have perceived Bill Johnson as an excellent teacher on the Kingdom of God; a man of God who actually does Kingdom work for the Lord. He is a fair, loving and compassionate man. But he admittedly does not like conflict and tends to err on the side of mercy, rather than correction, when it comes to the failures of people under his purview. And that has landed him in this tumultuous, ugly, and very public indictment of him and his Church.

I will also be honest in stating that I don't discern much about Shawn Bolz's actions that can be dismissed. And he continues to deny all allegations. In the case of Bill Johnson, Bill has reached out with a public message, acknowledging that his greatest strength, in this case, became his greatest weakness. "I believe in people when they don't deserve it. In this situation, it became unsanctified mercy. In my commitment to wanting to see Shawn in a place of health, I didn't see what I needed to. I didn't want to believe the accusations against Shawn were true, and it blinded me to reality in my loyalty to a friend, neglecting that there was a real issue that needed to be addressed. I could've chosen to see through the eyes of my team [who were willing to bring correction] and access their discernment, but chose not to. As a result of my inaction, which slowed this process down, more people were affected, and additional injuries in the prophetic, and trauma in Shawn's own team, took place." 

So, how will this all shake out? At the moment, it is very destructive and harmful to the Church. Church Leadership failed their flock. Fraudulent prophets were allowed to continue their deception and perverse activities. Even when Bill Johnson was convinced of Shawn Bolz's injurious sins, he chose to appear on a national broadcast program endorsing Bolz's latest book. You can imagine what that did to the soul and spirit of one of Shawn's victims who had come to Johnson in hopes that he could be trusted to end the victimization. Again, Johnson put his friendship ahead of righteous judgment and action.

While Bill Johnson and his senior team have announced their intentions to recommit themselves to "responsibility, truth, accountability, and transformation in Christ", great damage has been done to their reputations, character, and spiritual identities. Can they ever be trusted again? In the end, Bill Johnson has besmirched the name of Bethel Church, choosing to keep quiet, even when they finally came to agreement of the alleged sins of Shawn Bolz. They left their Church family, other ministries, and other associates of Shawn Bolz susceptible to his perversion and spiritual manipulation. I have no doubt they will humbly repent and change their ways of operation, but the question now becomes how do we, as the Body of Christ and the Church, move forward and recover from this betrayal?

Unfortunately, how God will respond is probably remarkably more holy and righteous than we humans will treat this debacle. The Bible says God desires these traits in the one who sins: humility, profession of sin, accountability, true repentance, transformation, and a purified heart. For those of us in the flock and Christian community, we are to offer prayer, grace, reconciliation, restoration, forgiveness, encouragement, and hope. Of course, each one of these traits must be approached in sincerity and trustworthiness. We must all understand that it is God who is the Author and Lord of Truth and Restoration. We must be willing to overcome our own judgmental natures and biases against opposing denominational differences, and move forward in the Spirit of Renewal and Restoration of the Church. At the same time, we must not compromise, ignore, or look away from those who have sinned. And it must all be done in humility and fear of the Lord. 

Yes, men have gravely sinned; men who were trusted and admired. But I would like to offer you this bit of what I consider great wisdom from an article, by an author who calls himself, The Biblical Man. He writes, "The Church has taught us to perform. Not Jesus. The Church. Jesus sat with tax collectors. Ate with prostitutes. Touched lepers. Called [to service] fishermen who stank like the sea. He never once asked for a résumé. He asked for honesty.... That's all He wanted. That's all He ever wants." 

"David committed adultery. Then murdered to cover it. Then kept the throne. Not because God approved. Because God wasn't finished. Nathan came with a story about a lamb and David broke wide open. I have sinned against the LORD. Six words. No excuse. No explanation. No spin. God called him a man after His own heart. Not a perfect man. A broken one who stopped pretending. Your pastor didn't tell you that part. He told you to be like David the warrior. David the worshiper. David the king. He skipped David the adulterer. David the murderer. David the man so broken he wrote psalms face down in the dirt. Because broken doesn't fill pews. Performance fills pews."

So, I fear the Modern Church has become all about performance... Who is more popular on Social Media ... Who can garner more attention and sell the most books ... Whose ministry is greater and whose reputation is broader ... Who has more to protect from scrutiny? All of which leads to those sins the Bible warns us about in these last days: the love of self, the love of money, pride, arrogance, abusiveness, unholiness, lacking self-control, being led by various unrighteous passions, and being corrupted in mind and soul, thereby being disqualified regarding the [protection of] the faith.

My prayer is that all involved -- from Shawn Bolz [the rebellious one] to Bill Johnson [who chose mercy over protecting his flock] to Mike Winger [who appears to pick and choose who he will publicly condemn] will break wide open and confess, I have sinned against my LORD! May we all remain humble, repent, and seek the Lord's Face for the times we have sinned against Him, and ask for His gracious forgiveness. I don't believe God is finished with Bill Johnson or Bethel Church, and I pray Shawn Bolz humbles himself and drops to his knees in repentance. Because, there for the Grace of God, go you or I.

Psalm 51:17    My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.