Could ISIS Be Anointed By God?

     Now, before you think I've gone completely off my rocker, give me a chance to explain my train of thought.  I've recently written about the Temple of Baal (or Bel) that will soon be replicated in Times Square, the heart of New York City, and in London.  I spared no words in recounting its significance in regards to idol worship in the ancient world.  I also related that this ancient temple was destroyed by ISIS last summer.  The most recent news in the last few days is that Syrian forces have liberated the ancient city of Palmyra and recaptured it, with plans to rebuild much of the ancient artifacts and archeological sites.

Palmyra prior to ISIS

     I suspect much of the world will hail this as a victory and in the best interests of man's archeological heritage.  But is it?  I want to expand on some thoughts that have occurred to me since July of last year, and just keep pricking my spirit.  I can't help but look at this situation through the lens of my Biblical worldview.  And to do that, I need to take some time to share a specific perspective with you; it's a fascinating story from the Old Testament, and one that I think casts valuable insight on God's purpose in all things.
     Remember the story of Cyrus, King of Persia, who conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return from captivity to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem?  Well, as fantastic as this sounds, apparently it was not out of the ordinary for Cyrus.  An excellent post on Cyrus, found at a website called ChurchOfTheGreatGod.org, reports that King Cyrus, as was his policy, allowed his vassal states to retain their cultural and religious identities. He advanced funds for the repair or restoration of public buildings, particularly temples and shrines, and he reversed the Babylonian policy of forced relocation of conquered peoples, allowing their descendants to return to their ancestral homelands.
     What you might find utterly amazing is that God used King Cyrus, to move forward his plan in history.  In fact, God calls Cyrus, His "anointed".  Yes, you read that correctly!  He explicitly says in Isaiah 45:1-3:  "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places. . . . I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city and let My exiles go free, not for price nor reward,' says the LORD of hosts."
     I can hear shocked Christians right now, exclaiming, "But how can a King of Persia, whose country would become a stronghold for Muslims in future centuries, be God's anointed?  First of all, we need to broaden our understanding of what the word anointed means.  The Hebrew word is mashiah, which has come down to us as "messiah" and translated as christos in Greek. Because we now use this term exclusively for Jesus Christ, the Messiah, many of us Christians fail to see its broader application.  Mashiah simply means "anointed" or "anointed one."  At its most basic, mashiah indicates a person God authorizes and sets apart for His service.... regardless of their faith, ethnicity, or background. And the type of service an anointed one might render can vary. Besides being in the service of God, he might fulfill more than one role in his service; but his primary function is to cause deliverance.  You can see how Jesus fulfilled all three of those facets of an anointed one.
     So the question becomes "Why did God raise up a Messiah, or Anointed One, like Cyrus?  The answer is found in the continuing verses of Isaiah, Chapter 45:  "[God will work through you, Cyrus,] that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant's sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things" (verses 3-7).  Very simply, God raised Cyrus up to do His bidding to prove to him and all the world who is the true God! God went before Cyrus, paving the way for his victories and policies so that His will and His plan would move forward.

Palmyra, after ISIS

       So, now I return to my original question, posed in the title of this blog post ... Could ISIS be anointed by God? If we use the criteria that the Bible lays forth regarding the prerequisites for an anointed one, I would say, in one sense, YES!
     (OBVIOUS CAVEAT:  The atrocities and barbaric acts of murder against Christians and non-Muslims is obviously not an act of service to God.  But remember, God is Sovereign, and He is capable of using even evil people to carry out one or more of His purposes.  In this instance, I am only looking at ISIS's acts of destroying ancient temples to idols.)
     And here's how I got there .... As I have pointed out in past blog posts, Palmyra was the site of some of the world’s most valuable Roman-style ruins, including 2,000-year-old towers and temples; among them the Temple of Baal (or Bel), which was the name of the supreme god worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia, and the Temple of Baalshamin, dedicated to the Canaanite sky deity Baalshamin.
     But last year, in its takeover of the city, ISIS blew up both structures, along with the famed Arch of Triumph, which was constructed under Roman rule during the late second century, calling them monuments to idolatry --- which they were!  In case you need convincing, here is some interesting information about the Temple of Baal:  It was known as the temple to the Sun God.  And if you are a student of Biblical and ancient history, then you know that there were many names for the Sun God throughout the pagan cultures.  Some of them are Ra, the sun god of the ancient Egyptians; Apollo, the sun god of the ancient Romans; Helios, the sun god of the Greeks; Mithras, the Iranian and Persian sun god ... and I contend that they are all names for the same spirit of rebellion that existed in the man Nimrod.
     The great-grandson of Noah, Nimrod is the prototype of a rebellious people, his name being interpreted in Hebrew as "he who made all the people rebellious against God".  As you can see by the various cultures and ethnic groups who worshiped the Sun God in his name, he led many peoples into rebellion against the One True God and into idol worship.
     Now, the modern world is lamenting the destruction of the ancient Temple of Baal, the temple of Sun God worship, in Palmyra, Syria.  And I'd like you to get a picture of what worshipping there must have been like to the pagans, as described by Amr Al Azm, a professor at Shawnee State University who served as the director of the Center of Archeological Research at the University of Damascus from 2003 to 2006:  "You would attempt to go and visit the temple at dawn [before it was damaged]. And on the east face, as the sun rises, it would eventually reach that point where, even though it was dark around you — you were surrounded by stone walls — the sun would touch a particular point on the window, and it was like someone switched on a thousand lights. The whole building would light up instantaneously."  He goes on to say, "Unfortunately, we will never be able to experience that again. That’s how significant the loss is, as far as I’m concerned."
     But might I suggest that ISIS got it right?  That it is actually a "monument to idolatry".  And might I further propose that by destroying it, the Muslim jihadis were actually in service to YHWH, liberating that area of the ancient Middle East from a centuries-long fascination and reverence to a false god?  Remember, as in the case of Cyrus, (whom God makes it very clear, did not know Him), God can use whomever He desires to move along his plan in history.  Perhaps God is tired of our interest and preoccupation in preserving these ancient temples of idolatry, and so He put ISIS, who certainly does not know Him, into service to destroy their very foundations.
     And what does the world plan to do?  To rebuild them, of course!  Or, at least in the instance of the Temple Baal, erect duplicates of them in New York City, London, and another 1,000 cities around the world --- all in the name of defiance to ISIS.  But, can you clearly see that, in reality, it is in defiance to YHWH?

The destruction of pagan statues

     And there is another aspect that I want to briefly touch upon before I end my hypothesis.  I will admit that the connecting dots are still a little fuzzy in my spirit, but I can't help but feel there is something here that we need to pay attention to.  The "recapture" of the ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS was conducted by Syrian forces, assisted by Russian troops and airstrikes.  And now the world is incensed by the destruction of the temples and the looting of the artifacts, and archeologists from around the world are rushing to the site to help reconstruct the ancient city.  Is this part of the multiple roles that ISIS could be playing in their service as God's anointed?  Could they be drawing the nations of the world to this area to preserve the treasures of idolatrous worship?
     The world's elite mourned when ISIS ransacked and burned the Mosul Public Library, destroying more than 8,000 ancient and rare books and manuscripts, calling it "cultural genocide"; an attempt to destroy an ethnic or religious group's customs, including its languages, traditional practices and ways, religious institutions and objects, and clergy members, academics, and intellectuals.  I admit that it is difficult to see God wanting the history of whole peoples wiped out.  But what if those histories, and art, and traditions, and religious practices honor gods and ways that are not of Him?  Could we then see the possibility that God could authorize ISIS to serve Him by destroying what He considers idolatry?  Even if they declare a hatred for Him and those who follow Him?
     I know!  It is hard to wrap your head around it, but throughout the Bible God used unbelievers to execute His plan for the world.  All we have to do is look at how He used Pharaoh to liberate His people from their bondage in Egypt; how He used Nebuchadnezzar to take the Jews into captivity in Babylon because of their continued disobedience, yet placed Daniel in their midst to prophecy of the return of His remnant; and how He used the Persian King Artaxerxes to allow Nehemiah to reintroduce His law to the Jews returning to Jerusalem.  And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often worked through unbelievers to carry out God's will and purpose.
     We must remember that He is Sovereign and Immutable ... He never changes and it is often His way to use unbelievers to execute His will.  It is not up to us to question or reason why.  I am not here to suggest that I know God's mind or that my hypothesis is even plausible.  All I'm saying is that I see idolatrous temples being destroyed and the world's desire to rebuild them.  Can we truly say it is all out of a sense of preserving cultural history?  Or is there something more diabolical happening underneath it all?  Keep your spiritual radar turned on and up!

 Isaiah 45:9-10    “Woe to the one who argues with his Maker—
one clay pot among many.  Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making?’ Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? How absurd is the one who says to his father, ‘What are you fathering?’ or to his mother, ‘What are you giving birth to?’ ”

Isaiah 45:20

Assemble yourselves and come;

    draw near together,

    you survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge

    who carry about their wooden idols,

and keep on praying to a god

    that cannot save.

     During my quiet time with the Lord, I am currently finishing up the incredible Book of Isaiah.  I just love the major prophets, and while I have always declared Jeremiah my favorite, I have newfound love and respect for the inspired writings of Isaiah.  In my journaling Bible, I am filling up page after page of notes that seem to simultaneously pertain to ancient Israel and our modern world.  

     It seems that I cannot get enough of Isaiah!  And Chapters 44-50 are piercing my heart with recognition of our national sins.  But even through the stark reminders of captivity and loss and rejection of God, there runs a vein of restoration and hope, and that's what I cling to, and that which is a balm to my soul.

     Chapter 44 gives us affirmation that the Lord will not forsake Israel, even though they chase after foreign gods and make graven images for gods, following their prideful hearts.  Verse 9 says:  All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.  I can't help but see our nation in this description.  We have turned from God and made idols of all we see -- our leaders, our celebrities, our stuff, our families, our churches -- yet none of it will profit us in the Kingdom to come.  But the sad thing is that we don't see it; nor do we even know we are doing it.  And that will be our shame.   Verse 18 reiterates this disparaging state:  Such people do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand.

      Yet, in the midst of this sad state of affairs, Chapter 44 is a prophecy of future restoration and the forgiveness of sins.  The end of this Chapter and the beginning of Chapter 45 gives us a prophecy of God using a Muslim (King Cyrus) to accomplish His will.  (Tune in tomorrow for an interesting take on this concept). But what I love about Chapter 45 is that it is one continuous homage to the Lord as Creator, and Savior of Israel and the world.  He emphatically declares that He is the One True God ... "There is no other god" is a recurring them.  Hallelujah for that affirmation!

     Yet while we receive comfort that God is in control and He will use even those who don't know Him to bring about His will and purpose for those He calls His own, we have today's verse as a stark reminder that all the world's false gods and idols cannot save.  And the saddest part of this verse is that they have no knowledge of the One who can save them!  I shudder at how completely bereft of comfort and deliverance they will be on the Day of the Lord.  It saddens me to know that they had every opportunity to know him -- to be in relationship with the Holy One of Israel; the One who could fill all those empty spaces in their soul -- yet they chose an empty, hollow, and lifeless substitute.  

     Chapter 46 finds the people attempting to make their gods of vanity and uselessness equal to my Lord, but He makes it quite clear that these gods offer only empty, barren promises.  Chapter 47 reveals that the people love living in Babylon; and what was once the cherished woman, has now become a harlot, and God has allowed her to indulge in her lusts.  (It cannot be denied that we have followed that same path).  So God announces that loss and destruction are coming upon her for her worship of false gods, and from turning from her Redeemer.  There is no salvation except in Jesus!  All of the harlot's counsels and prophets and merchants cannot save her.  Oh, how I wish we in 21st Century America would heed this warning!

     Chapter 48 continues the lesson for the modern world.  God declares that He has shown Israel His might and His sovereignty, so that they could not claim the gods they had made had done the work, but still they chose to abandon Him.  So He declares that for His Name's sake, He will bring discipline upon them; to refine and purify them in a fire of chastening to preserve His purpose for them ... to glorify His Name!  Is there still time for us?  Or is He completely through with us?

     Chapter 49 gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus's mission, and it still reverberates today.  His mission was, is, and will be to defend Israel and to preserve their purpose of leading the world to Christ.  He will also be a light unto the Gentiles, who will help restore Israel to their land (happened in 1948), and He will destroy those who seek to destroy His chosen.  Both those living in the current nation state of Israel and those in the Gentile nations should pay heed to this declaration.  I contend that just because the state of Israel exists, it does not mean that every Israelite is God's chosen or remnant; nor that every Gentile is on board with His plan.  But His plan will prevail!

     And finally, the opening verse of Chapter 50 breaks my heart:  This is what the Lord says:  Where is your mother’s divorce certificate that I used to send her away? Or who were My creditors that I sold you to? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother was put away because of your transgressions.  The Lord did not abandon Israel, nor did He sell them.  They left Him and sold themselves. It almost seems hopeless.  Except .... Jesus still helps those who hear Him and seek Him.  He still speaks to those who wish to serve Him.  And so I take great comfort with the opening lines of our Scripture today ....   Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations!  WE are those survivors!  We are the ones who hear Him, and understand what He says to us!  He will reach down and rescue us from the destruction that is coming upon the idolators and the harlots.  Praise Him for His Mercy and Faithfulness!

      

Millennials: Please Take My Advice...

     I remember what it was like ... to be young and idealistic and wanting my generation to make a difference in American politics.  And I would submit to you that every generation since our Founding has felt the same way.  When we're young, we all think that we can do it better than the previous generation, and in this current political season, we see the Millennials taking their stand and hoping to make a significant impact on the future.
     So that we are all in agreement, Millennials are generally defined as being between the ages of 18 and 35.  For this discussion, I want to concentrate on the younger end of that spectrum; particularly those who think that Bernie Sanders is the answer to what ails this nation.
     Remember that Senator Sanders is the only candidate for President calling for a "political revolution". (I guess "Hope and Change" was too mild a cause for him).  The youth in college are well aware of the debilitating debt that will be waiting for them at the end of their matriculation, in the form of astronomical college loans.  And those who have been in the workforce for awhile are barely making it from paycheck to paycheck.  It's natural that they would cleave to a candidate that promised them he will lift the burden off their backs.
     I mean, who wouldn't want free public colleges and universities?  Medicare for all?  Improvements to our infrastructure?  Three months of paid family leave on the birth of a child?  And a $15 minimum wage?  But here's the thing ... It's simply not practical!  What's more, all those benefits are going to cost money!  How do these young people think a President Sanders would pay for all these government programs?  We all know that money doesn't grow on trees, right?  The only answer is that government becomes our provider, and logic tells us that bigger government providing more services will cost more to run; and how does Sanders propose these services will be paid for?
     Well, he says that the free public education will be paid for with a “financial transaction tax” of only a fraction-of-a-percent on "speculative investments", or those investments with a high degree of risk.  Does that make sense to you?  Does that sound like it would be a big revenue maker?  I'm sure he somehow equates it to "taxing the rich", which would strike a chord with every millennial who has ever taken an economics class from a liberal professor.
     As far as the Medicare-for-all promise, this would be paid for with progressive income tax increases, mostly at upper levels.  (Another "taxing the rich" plan).  Elimination of premiums and co-pays would result in a savings of approximately $5,000 per family.  Again, where will all that money come from to support such a program?
     Bernie says that improving our infrastructure will be largely funded by requiring corporations to pay taxes they already owe, but have deferred.  And he mistakenly thinks this will create millions of jobs, driving up wages across the economy.  He obviously has never run a business! And his paid family leave benefit would ostensibly be paid for with a $1.61 weekly tax withholding from every worker's paycheck.  At least that's how I understand it.  So, does that mean every American worker would be subsidizing all new parents, with the distinct possibility that they would never take advantage of the benefit themselves?  Isn't that collectivism?  And, as with all of Bernie's plans, this one doesn't seem to be too carefully thought out.
     This is evident in his promise of a $15 minimum wage, which he says will enable people working full-time to escape poverty, reduce reliance on public assistance programs, and boost local economies as people have more income to spend.  Think about it, Bernie!  By "taxing the rich" to pay for all your social programs, infrastructure and higher minimum wages, have you ever thought that there aren't enough rich people to pay for all your promises?  Or have you thought about the fact that many of those businesses that will be taxed are small to medium businesses and simply can't absorb the extra tax burden?  Or that the minimum wage jobs will likely disappear because the cost of doing business will be too high to keep the doors of the local burger joint open; or that hospitals and nursing homes will have to lay off those minimum wage workers to continue to provide services; or that small businesses that deal in manual labor, like auto mechanic shops, or farms will be unable to hire as many workers.
     If the people Bernie Sanders intends to tax to pay for these entitlement programs cannot afford to stay in business, doesn't that mean more people out of work, more on public assistance programs, and less money being spent in local economies -- exactly the opposite of what he is promising?
     So, Millennials, please take a piece of my advice, and face reality.  You are not the only group of young voters who have been infused with youthful idealism and swayed by the promise of utopia.  Like those who came before you and followed the visions of Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, and Ronald Reagan, you recognize that America needs to take a different path than the one we've been on.  And right now, you're thinking that means the dissolution of capitalism and a drastic move towards socialism.
     But here's what you need to grasp:  Really, it's as simple as Economics 101.  THERE IS NO MONEY!  You will be paying for these programs yourselves in the form of higher taxes, and the services will be of less value! We don't have a balanced budget, and we can't keep spiraling into debt!  This new world order and global world economy that is being touted in your universities will not bear under the weight of the crushing debt that Bernie Sanders and a Socialist United States will bring to your future.  I hate to burst your bubble, but nothing is free.  And all the cost of these programs will be set squarely on your shoulders.
     As a nation, we all need to come to the realization that we've been spoiled.  And it's time we tell ourselves what our parents and our government haven't done for a very long time ... "We can't afford it."

2 Thessalonians 3:7-8    "For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you; we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you."

What Is The True Goal Of Multiculturalism?

     I think we can all agree that at the heart of national and world events is the issue of multiculturalism.  The official definition of multiculturalism is "the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviours, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles."
     The last few decades has seen it become a major political issue, both here in the U.S. and Europe.  The fact is that the world is unraveling; you can see it in the Middle East, in South America, and in Africa, for instance.  Peoples of different ethnicities and races; different religious beliefs; and different social values are clashing in countries where the politically correct politicians are forcing their social agenda views.  The true results of multiculturalism are hidden behind utopian rhetoric that promotes equality and justice and a homogenous society; one in which everyone is seen as identical, similar, and comparable.  Why can't the world see that this can never be!
     Oh, I know, there will be those who say America has always been "the melting pot" of the world; that we are a nation made up of immigrants.  That is true, but there is a major difference between our policies of yesteryear and those of today.  In the past, other cultures were assimilated into ours.  They were not heralded and protected, or labeled as mistreated and abused.  There were no terms like "Irishphobic" or "Italianphobic".  Every nationality that came to America arrived on our shores because they wanted what we had ... the freedom to become all they wanted to be.  And they were willing to become like us; to adopt our values, our standards, and our behavior.  Their faith was a matter of their own conscience, and it served to reinforce the principles of freedom and liberty for the individual -- the backbone of our national existence.

     But that idea of assimilation is no longer applauded.  Today, entire countries are being overrun by huge populations of immigrants, and it is the native citizens that are expected to adapt and capitulate their rights to accommodate the migrants.  Understandably, there is going to be conflict.  And I would suggest that this is really the ultimate goal of multiculturalism; both here and in Europe.
     Can you concede that behind this massive push to open up the floodgates to migrants from the world's trouble spots is a political ideology that wishes to destroy the basis of Western civilization? Are you able to see the puppet masters who are hard at work to dismantle capitalism and free enterprise, and who wish to institute collectivism and communal property?  Can you accept that this chaos and conflict are all about Power?
     As it was so deftly worded on the website, Gothamresistance.com, "Turning Americans into a minority in their own country is the only way to control these pesky, greedy, racist people who are so obsessed with freedom and prosperity."  We're already seeing it happen in Europe.  Entire communities in France and Germany are controlled by Muslim immigrants who refuse to assimilate, and who are outright antagonistic towards Western behavior and values.  Furthermore, this particular population is increasing rapidly (especially with recent policy), and they are younger and angrier than their fellow citizens.
     Both British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both publicly admitted that "multiculturalism has failed".  Well, duh!  As Chuck Coulson explained in a 2011 article at The Christian Post, "The underlying reason for this is that culture reflects beliefs of the people. In fact, cultures are formed by those beliefs. For a society to survive it has to have one culture -- a culture that enjoys the participation and contributions of all of its peoples."  But that implies a willingness to cooperate and compromise.  What about sharia law suggests that this is even a remote possibility?
     And I must agree with the sentiments of Walter E. Williams, an economist, commentator, and the Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University.  Mr. Williams said, "At the very heart of multiculturalism is an attack on Christianity... and also on free market capitalism.  [This is because] Christian nations, which have a great measure of economic liberty, have been at the forefront of the struggle for personal liberty and private property rights for centuries. Personal liberty and private property are anathemas to people who want to control our lives. That is part and parcel of the multicultural and diversity movements infecting the Western world."
     Just listen to the words and look at the actions of the immigrants that come to the West.  Do you see any evidence that they will ever agree with our basic tenets of freedom, whether religious or social?  Just their attitudes about the rights of women should tell you something.  And targeting Christians for torture and death clearly speaks of their hatred for any religion not their own.  That has never been the way of the West!
     I found this observation by Melvin Rhodes at Beyond Today quite compelling:  "There's an interesting verse in the New Testament of your Bible that stands in direct contradiction to the multicultural idea. While “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34), we read in the same book that “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings (Acts 17:26)."
     He goes on .... "It is also interesting to note that Jesus Christ, when asked, “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3), warned that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (verse 7). A kingdom is a political entity. But the word “nation” here is translated from the Greek word ethnos, from which we get the words ethnic and ethnicity. In other words, Jesus was saying that immediately prior to His coming to establish God's Kingdom on this earth, there would be a time of great ethnic conflict—the inevitable result of mingling diverse people groups together."  There's no doubt that this is what we're seeing today!
     Here is what the Politicians and the Elite will never realize ... the only way for the world to truly live in harmony is to come to the One who died to make all of us His own.  And that is the battle that we see unfolding right now.  This conflict is going to continue until every person on earth has made their choice.  I believe the terror attacks and social upheaval are the beginning of the birth pangs that will force the nations to choose who they will follow.  We cannot remain on the sidelines, nor can we compromise to try to win their allegiance.  It is time to face the music ... not only has multiculturalism failed, but it is ushering in the final showdown and the world's day of reckoning.  Are you ready?

Psalm 117:1-2    "Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"


   
   

A Reason To Weep

     Around the world yesterday, millions of Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  That is the point of this blog post ... not to engage in a conversation whether "Easter" is named after a pagan goddess; or the relevance of Passover to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord --- although both are topics I am passionate about.  No, today I am reminded that if not for the hope that lies in Jesus's Resurrection, I would feel despair and defeat.
     Once again, the Adversary of Christ influenced a suicide bomber in Pakistan.  At least 65 people were killed, and over 300 were wounded.  Most of the victims were Christian women and children who had gone to a park to celebrate Easter weekend.  And that was the point ... they were deliberately targeted because they were Christian ... and because it was Easter.
     You see, there is a very real antichrist spirit that is preparing the way for the Man of Lawlessness, which will make it easier for him to control the entire world in that short 7-year period called the Tribulation.  And the Enemy knows how it all turns out.  So it is in his best interest to engender hate among as many of the world's population as he can before his time runs out.  Those whom he can capture in his web of deception and lies will not inherit the eternal salvation that lies in faith in Jesus. So he celebrates victories like those in Pakistan; when he can convince a man that killing innocent children is justified and commanded by his god.  Each person he can convince to hate is one more that he can keep from running to Jesus.

     But he doesn't win them all!  Asad Shah was a 40-year-old Muslim shopkeeper in Glasgow Scotland.  Known for his compassionate nature and hope for tolerance among the world's religions, Shah was killed by a fellow Muslim for wishing Christians a "Happy Easter" on his Facebook page.  Last Thursday evening, he posted "Upcoming Special Event:  GOOD FRIDAY AND VERY HAPPY EASTER; ESPECIALLY TO MY BELOVED CHRISTIAN NATION (in the name of Allah) ... Let's follow the real footstep of Beloved Holy JESUS CHRIST (Peace Be Upon Him) and get the real success in both worlds."  Hours later he was stabbed in the head, and he was stomped to death.  While it might be easy to view this as a win for the bad guys, the spiritual realm cannot deny that Hate was jealous of the Love that Shah showed his fellow man.
     Yes, Asad Shah was a Muslim and he does not worship the One True God.  But it is unmistakable that his life has glorified Jesus and the Love that sacrificed Himself for the world's sins.  While the officials are willing to call his death a "religiously prejudiced" attack, we know it is more than that.  It is part of the cosmic battle for the souls and spirits of men.  The battle is coming into sharper focus, and the sides are being clearly drawn.  What better day than Easter to strike a blow against the Hope of mankind?
     But the attacks and strikes against Jesus aren't always so blatantly violent and savage.  Sometimes they are subtle and involve distraction and diversion; minimizing and diminishing God's Truth.  That was apparent when, as The Blaze wrote, a Fox News reporter took to the streets of New York to ask pedestrians about the holiday on Sunday, and its significance.   Answers ranged from Memorial Day to Passover to Father's Day.  One woman said Easter celebrated when Jesus Christ was born. Another said she’s “honestly not really sure.” And yet another responded with “the beginning of a new mom opening the womb.” Not really sure what that last comment was all about.
     Sadly, many people did not know that Easter celebrated Jesus's resurrection, nor where that event took place.  And the report did not elaborate, but I would not be surprised if many did not know the significance or implications of His death on the cross.  And that is reason to weep.  It is tragic that people are dying in the streets because they want to celebrate the resurrection of the risen Lord.  But I think it is even more devastating when the world is dying from a lack of knowledge of Him.  And that is becoming as effective a tool for the Enemy as a suicide bomber.
     When the world no longer knows that there is a God who loved them so much that He sacrificed His Son, or that a Savior came to sanctify and justify them before the God of the Universe, then all Hope will be lost and Death will rule the day.   There is far too much evidence that the Enemy is making his final moves.  While I weep for his temporary victories, I know my tears will soon be dried and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain; for the the devil's order of things will have passed away.  And that's reason to celebrate, indeed!

Romans 5:8    "But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" 
 

Jude 1:3

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you 

about our common salvation, I found it necessary 

to write appealing to you to contend for the faith 

that was once for all delivered to the saints.

     This has always been a favorite verse of mine.  I feel the passion and the heart of Jude, as he reaches out to his fellow believers.  And, I really love the expanded Greek translation of this verse:

"Divinely loved ones, when giving every diligence to be writing to you concerning the salvation possessed in common by all of us, I had constraint laid upon me to write to you, beseeching you to contend with intensity and determination for the Faith once for all entrusted into the safe-keeping of the saints."  Don't you love that?

     I definitely get the sense that the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, wanted Jude to instruct and encourage the believers... instruct them because He knew that His Truth would need to be protected and defended; and to encourage them that they would have to fight to preserve that very Truth. And I actually noticed something for the first time when contemplating this Scripture.  Jude is actually writing about two separate thoughts in this passage.

     To begin, he reveals that it was his first intention to write to them about the salvation that was common among them.  Perhaps there was already in-fighting over doctrine at the different churches springing up throughout the region.  By agreeing that there is a spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone that deliverance is to be obtained, they could find common ground in their mutual salvation.  Jude was just reminding them that they shared this inheritance.

     Secondly, he relates that he found it "necessary" -- or as I prefer, "I had constraint laid upon me" (in the Greek) -- to beseech them to contend for the Faith.  To me, the constraint laid upon him came from the Holy Spirit; he was given a Divine assignment.... tell them they would have to contend for the Faith.  What does that mean?  The definition of contend is "to fight; to struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger); to engage in a campaign in order to achieve something."  The Greek root for the word "contend" means "to fight" or "to stand for."  Again, what was Jude exhorting them to contend for ... the Faith.  

     According to Strong's Concordance, Faith is the conviction respecting man's relationship to God, and trusting and joining with God in the knowledge that He is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ; it is through belief in Jesus as our Savior that we obtain this eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.   And note that he makes a point of saying that the Faith was "once for all" delivered to the saints.  In other words, there is to be no new definitions of what Faith was; it wouldn't change with the times; it would always be based on trust and confidence in the redeeming work of Christ on the Cross.  But also notice that in the Greek translation, Jude was telling his fellow believers to contend (or fight) for their Faith with intensity and determination.  That tells me he knew it was going to be a battle to maintain God's Truth about Faith and Salvation.  

     When you read the entire book of Jude -- all 25 verses of it -- you know that the Truth of God was already being attacked. False teachers had already crept into the fledgling Church, turning God's grace into unbounded license to do as they please.  The work of Christ was being diminished and there was a very real danger that the Church could follow the ways of unbelieving Israel.  Jude is exhorting the believers to stay spiritually "in shape", to guard against apostasy and to fight for the faith.

     It is no different today.  There is a real battle for God's Truth regarding the place of salvation and faith in the Church.  The Body of Christ is in real danger of disregarding the Truth of the Word as to who God and Jesus are; what they are capable of doing in the life of a believer; and the power and authority they have given us to contend for the faith.  I see far too many Christians who are being pummeled by the Enemy because they are not "in shape" for this spiritual battle, and do not even know the weapons they possess.  The false teachers have infiltrated the Church and convinced many that they are defenseless against the wiles and schemes of the devil; that they are just to wait for Christ to return and swoop them to heaven.  And the result is that many Christians live in fear and ineffectiveness, and never produce fruit for the Kingdom.  

     As far as I'm concerned, here is the reality:  We have been given victory by Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.  That is our inheritance here on earth.  But we're not living as if we are victorious.  That's part of the Salvation and Faith that Jude is telling us was delivered "once and for all" to all the saints!  That includes us!  We've let men, who crept in unawares, convince us that we do not have the power and authority that Christ left us when He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  Oh, we can comprehend the idea of our salvation, but when the lies of Satan descend upon us, and we question if that salvation is real, we don't even know to call upon the power, in Jesus's Name!  

      So, I have to ask you this ... Do you believe your salvation and your faith are worth fighting for? Do you even believe what the Bible tells us about the power of the Spirit?  And if you do, then will you get in the fight with me, and let that Truth be revealed through your life?  Let's show the Enemy that we know the meaning of the word CONTEND, and let's fight as if we know we are already victorious!

Coming Soon To NYC: The Temple of Baal!

   

Ancient god, Baal

     In July of last year, I wrote a blog post about an ISIS video showing the horrific executions taking place in the ancient city of Palmyra in the Syrian desert.  I wrote that the choice of this site by the barbarians was no accident.  Palmyra was an ancient Roman city cited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and noted for its prolific Baal worship throughout ancient history.
    The website GotQuestions.org has done a terrific job of telling us who Baal was... Baal was the name of the supreme god worshipped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. The word baal means “lord”; the plural is baalim. In general, Baal was a fertility god who was believed to enable the earth to produce crops and people to produce children. Different regions worshiped Baal in different ways, and Baal proved to be a highly adaptable god.
     According to Canaan mythology, Baal was the son of El, the chief god, and Asherah (also known as Astarte and Ashtaroth), the goddess of the sea, and Baal was considered the most powerful of all gods.  We Christians are familiar with the land of Canaan as being "the promised land"; where YHWH had promised the Israelites under Moses that they would live in peace in a “land flowing with milk and honey.”  Today, the land of Canaan corresponds roughly to present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel.
     But, if you are familiar with the Bible, you will recall that even before the Hebrews entered the Promised Land, the Lord God warned against worshiping Canaan’s gods, but Israel turned to idolatry anyway.  The Books of Kings, Chronicles and Judges are full of stories of Baal worship in Israel; at the Temples of Baal and around Asherah poles; involving child sacrifice, rooted in sensuality, and involving ritualistic prostitution in the temples.
     About now, you might be thinking that this is all ancient history.  What does it have to do with today, and why should we be concerned about the worship of false gods in ancient temples?  Well, next month has been deemed World Heritage Month by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  And because of the bombings of the ancient temple ruins by ISIS in Palmyra, reproductions of the nearly 50-foot arch that stood at the Temple of Baal in Palmyra, Syria will be erected in New York City and London next month.  And they are just the first of many to be erected around the world!  

     You will hear the deceptive rationale that these monuments are intended “as a gesture of defiance“ towards ISIS (rebuilding what has been destroyed), but ultimately the plan is to share this “cultural treasure” with as many cities around the planet as possible.  In fact, the Institute for Digital Archaeology ultimately hopes to put 1,000 of these arches in cities all over the globe.
      Why is this so disturbing to me?  I'll let Scott Brown of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC -- an organization that proclaims the sufficiency of scripture for church and family life) explain it:

We know that there were usually lots of people gathered, often on a high hill (like a theatre or stadium) to observe public sex, just like we see in movies and television and on the internet. We think that our watching these things is different than the idolatry of old, but this is not so.

The whole community came out and all of the best pagan ideas for success in crops and fertility were promoted, just like a business seminar that promotes unbiblical ideas that justify the worldliness of its origin.

The wicked personalities (promoters and performers) were respected and given the platform (like rock stars and Hollywood’s “People’.) Some of them were great dancers (like Brittany Spears and Madonna) while others were great musicians (like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney). In our day, people who go to our churches celebrate celebrities when they should be doing the opposite. Psalm 101:1, 3 says “I will walk in my house… I will set no wicked thing before my eyes…”

People danced around the Asherah pole, which was nothing more than a phallic symbol. It is quite possible that these poles functioned somewhat like the poles in what are called, “gentlemen’s clubs.” The people also acted out lustful, licentious, bawdy scenes for the enjoyment of all who came.  They had all the different kinds of sexual experiences on display including men with women, men with men and all of the combinations that are popular today in sit-coms, movies and news reports. On top of that, they invited the crowd to participate.

     And sadly, we are no different than the ancient Baal worshippers.  We have become a society that is addicted to watching other people have sex.  In fact, it has been estimated that 68 percent of all Christian men watch pornography on a regular basis.  How are we any different than the ancient kings of Israel and Judah who forsake God to follow after the flesh in Baal worship?  And now we want to bring a giant production of Baal's Temple into Times Square.

     I'm sure you have heard America called the modern day Babylon.  I have to admit that it is difficult to deny that charge when we are putting up a monument of worship to the false god Baal.  Soon, in the heart of one of our most important cities, there will sit a temple, that in ancient times, gave witness to child sacrifices and bisexual orgies at the altar of Baal.
     We can deny that's what we're doing all we want.  But our modern day practices of child sacrifice  (abortion) and sexual immorality (everything from pornography to transgenderism, and everything in-between) give testimony to the fact that our core actions and social philosophies remain eerily similar to ancient Babylon and the worship of Baal. The question now becomes this ... are we able to be restored to a righteous nation, and reject this idol worship, and destroy all the altars we've erected to selfishness and sexuality?  Ancient Israel had moments of clarity and humbleness, but most of the time they only partially destroyed their idols; preferring to think they could appease God with a half-hearted act of humility and submissiveness.   But make no mistake --- just as He warned over 33 centuries ago, when the Israelites were tempted by Baal worship, He will not accept our feeble and cursory offers of obedience.  He wants us all in ... or we will pay the consequences.
     So, when you see the life-size model of the original 2,000-year-old structure, known as the Arch of the Temple of Bel, which will stand approximately 48 feet high and 23 feet wide, know that this nation may very well have committed our greatest offense to the Sovereign Lord.  And if you want to know what to expect from this profane act, just read a few chapters in 2 Kings ... you'll get the idea of what's in our future.

Judges 2:13-15     "They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.  So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.  Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress."
   

Brussels: It's Called War!

   

       I am really getting tired of all the semantics and political correctness that surrounds the present chaos in the world.  In an attempt to offend no one, political leaders in Europe and the West have bent over backwards to be "inclusive" to foreigners -- without securing the safety and well-being of their own citizens.  We have seen the results ... the November 13th attacks in Paris, which claimed 130 lives; 10 months after attacks on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket left 17 dead. And now there are at least 30 more dead, and hundreds injured in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.  These latest attacks are seen as a direct hit at the heart of Europe.
     Here in the U.S., politicians are afraid to link murders to the religion of Islam.  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she prefers to call such incidents "radical jihadist terrorism" rather than evoking the common characteristic, which is the Muslim faith.  She says it would be “dangerous” because it would imply we are at war with an entire religion.
     But what do you call it when you consider the following statistics:
•  14 dead, 17 injured in San Bernardino, CA when a 'very religious' Muslim shoots up a Christmas party with his wife. (12/2015)
•  5 Dead, 2 injured in Chattanooga, TN when a 'devout Muslim' stages a suicide attack on a recruiting center at a strip mall and a naval center. (7/2015)
•  A 74-year old man is shot several times in the head by a 'radicalized' ISIS supporter in Morgantown, NC (12/2014).
•  A Sharia advocate beheads a woman in Moore, OK, after calling for Islamic terror and posting an Islamist beheading photo (9/2014).
•  A 19-year-old college student in West Orange, NJ, is shot to death 'in revenge' for Muslim deaths overseas (6?2014).
•  Two homosexuals are murdered in Seattle, WA, by an Islamic extremist (6/2014).
•  A Muslim man in Port Bolivar, TX, shoots his lesbian daughter and her lover to death and leaves a copy of the Quran open to a page condemning homosexuality (6/2014).
•  A convert "on a mission from Allah" stabs a store clerk to death in Richmond, CA (8/2013).
•  Foreign-born Muslims describing themselves as 'very religious' detonate two bombs packed with ball bearings at the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring over 260 more; causing several to lose limbs (4/2013)
•  A Muslim convert in Ashtabulah, OH, walks into a church service with a Quran and guns down his Christian father while praising Allah (3/2013).
•  A Muslim in Buena Vista, NJ, targets and beheads two Christian Coptic immigrants (2/2013).
•  A 30-year-old Christian convert in Houston, TX, is shot to death by a devout Muslim for helping to convert his daughter (1/2013).
•  Three Jewish men in Waltham, MA, have their throats slashed by Muslim terrorists (9/11/2011).
•  Nidal Hasan, a Muslim psychiatrist guns down thirteen unarmed soldiers, and injures 31 others, while yelling praises to Allah (11/2009).
•  Muslim snipers kill three men and two women in separate attacks over a 15-hour period in Montgomery County, MD (10/2002).
•  2,976 people are killed by radical Islamists in the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA, on 9/11/2001. Over 300 more were seriously injured.
•  Islamic terrorists detonate a massive truck bomb under the World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring over 1,000 in an effort to collapse the towers (2/1993).
•  And statistics go all the way back to 1972 when 10 members of a local mosque phone in a false alarm and then ambush responding officers, killing one, and injuring three.
     Believe me, these are not all of the statistics.  There are numerous cases where a single person was killed in a variety of isolated incidents; but all by Muslim converts, sympathizers, or self-declared jihadists.  Are these all the murders committed in the U.S. between 1972 and 2016?  Of course not!  The point of this enumeration is to show a pattern; a growing pattern of hatred and hostilities and bloodshed and attacks and atrocities on innocent victims.  And that, my friends, is just one of the definitions of war.
     When someone declares "war" upon 80 nations, as ISIS did in a November, 2015 video, then I submit to you that ignoring that declaration, or refusing to admit the intentions, is seen as weak by our enemy.  By refusing to recognize that the Islamic faith is a driving force behind the increasing attacks around the globe is to deny the obviousness of this statement in that same video:  “This is the source of our glory: our obedience to our lord. We are uncompromising in our call to Tawhid [Islamic monotheism]. We only call to Allah, unlike the countless deviant factions raising their false banners."
     How can leaders in Europe and the West continue to deny that there are Islamists who have made it their goal to force obedience to their god?  We can argue from here to Kingdom Come (and how I wish it would!) whether these are "radical" factions or not.  The Truth is that in a world filled with evil people, sometimes war is necessary to prevent even greater evil.  Trying to deny the perpetrators of evil, only allows the evil to grow.

     War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing.  In a world filled with sinful people, war is inevitable.  Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.  We saw war as a necessary reaction to the atrocities of Nazi Germany. We are seeing war as a distinct possibility in response to the increasing attacks by ISIS.  And we will most assuredly see Jesus go to war against Evil upon His Second Coming.  This war will be the ultimate war on the earth, as Christ returns as the conquering commander who judges and makes war “with His justice”.  Because no matter what others might think, I do not believe He is a pacifist.  That label is reserved for a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.  But Jesus, Himself, will come as a Majestic Judge, powerful in His holiness, and coming in wrath to judge all the living and the dead.  His will be a war against Evil and wickedness upon the earth, and He will be a Conqueror King.
     So, as the forces of Evil mount their attacks in Europe and the West, we must at least be honest in our assessment of them.  We cannot appease wickedness, nor should we call it by any other name.  It's time to defend ourselves and defeat the Enemy as best we can.  And that means with physical weapons of war as well as spiritual ones.  We need to realize that the enemy we face has a powerful force of evil behind it, and we will only win by calling on the Power of the Lord.  After witnessing this latest terror attack, I am seeking shelter in the shadow of the Almighty, and am eagerly awaiting His terrible swift sword of righteous judgment.  Come soon, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 19:11    "Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness."

Don't Widen The Plate

I don't often repeat verbatim an internet story, or any of the countless viral emails that we all get in our inboxes.  But every once in awhile, there appears one that penetrates my heart and soul, and is so insightful, that I feel it is to your benefit to share it.  The post today is just such a jewel.  If you have read it before, then pass it on and share it with someone who needs to be inspired.  Enjoy!

     In Nashville, Tennessee, during the first week of January, 1996, more than 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel for the 52nd annual American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) convention.
     While I waited in line to register with the hotel staff, I heard other more veteran coaches rumbling about the lineup of speakers scheduled to present during the weekend. One name, in particular, kept resurfacing, always with the same sentiment — “John Scolinos is here? Oh man, worth every penny of my airfare.”

     Who the hell is John Scolinos, I wondered. No matter, I was just happy to be there.  In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching career that began in 1948. In fact, John Scolinos was a Hall of Fame College Baseball Head coach who coached at Pepperdine University from 1948 to 1960 and Cal Poly Pomona University from 1962 to 1991.  He shuffled to the stage to an impressive standing ovation, wearing dark polyester pants, a light blue shirt, and a string around his neck from which home plate hung — a full-sized, stark-white home plate.
     Seriously, I wondered, who in the hell is this guy?  After speaking for twenty-five minutes, not once mentioning the prop hanging around his neck, Coach Scolinos appeared to notice the snickering among some of the coaches. Even those who knew Coach Scolinos had to wonder exactly where he was going with this, or if he had simply forgotten about home plate since he’d gotten on stage.
     Then, finally … “You’re probably all wondering why I’m wearing home plate around my neck. Or maybe you think I escaped from Camarillo State Hospital,” he said, his voice growing irascible. I laughed along with the others, acknowledging the possibility. “No,” he continued, “I may be old, but I’m not crazy. The reason I stand before you today is to share with you baseball people what I’ve learned in my life, what I’ve learned about home plate in my 78 years.”
     Several hands went up when Scolinos asked how many Little League coaches were in the room. “Do you know how wide home plate is in Little League?” After a pause, someone offered, “Seventeen inches,” more question than answer. “That’s right,” he said. “How about in Babe Ruth? Any Babe Ruth coaches in the house?”
     Another long pause.  “Seventeen inches?”came a guess from another reluctant coach. “That’s right,” said Scolinos. “Now, how many high school coaches do we have in the room?” Hundreds of hands shot up, as the pattern began to appear. “How wide is home plate in high school baseball?”  “Seventeen inches,” they said, sounding more confident.
     “You’re right!” Scolinos barked. “And you college coaches, how wide is home plate in college?” “Seventeen inches!” we said, in unison. “Any Minor League coaches here? How wide is home plate in pro ball?” “Seventeen inches!”
     “RIGHT! And in the Major Leagues, how wide home plate is in the Major Leagues?” “Seventeen inches!” “SEV-EN-TEEN INCHES!” he confirmed, his voice bellowing off the walls. “And what do they do with a a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?” Pause. “They send him to Pocatello!” he hollered, drawing raucous laughter.
     “What they don’t do is this: they don’t say, ‘Ah, that’s okay, Jimmy. You can’t hit a seventeen-inch target? We’ll make it eighteen inches, or nineteen inches. We’ll make it twenty inches so you have a better chance of hitting it. If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say twenty-five inches.'”
     Pause. “Coaches …” Pause.  ” … what do we do when our best player shows up late to practice? When our team rules forbid facial hair and a guy shows up unshaven? What if he gets caught drinking? Do we hold him accountable? Or do we change the rules to fit him, do we widen home plate?
     The chuckles gradually faded as four thousand coaches grew quiet, the fog lifting as the old coach’s message began to unfold. He turned the plate toward himself and, using a Sharpie, began to draw something. When he turned it toward the crowd, point up, a house was revealed, complete with a freshly drawn door and two windows. “This is the problem in our homes today. With our marriages, with the way we parent our kids. With our discipline. We don’t teach accountability to our kids, and there is no consequence for failing to meet standards. We widen the plate!”
     Pause. Then, to the point at the top of the house he added a small American flag. “This is the problem in our schools today. The quality of our education is going downhill fast and teachers have been stripped of the tools they need to be successful, and to educate and discipline our young people. We are allowing others to widen home plate! Where is that getting us?”
     Silence. He replaced the flag with a Cross.  “And this is the problem in the Church, where powerful people in positions of authority have taken advantage of young children, only to have such an atrocity swept under the rug for years. Our church leaders are widening home plate!”
     I was amazed. At a baseball convention where I expected to learn something about curveballs and bunting and how to run better practices, I had learned something far more valuable. From an old man with home plate strung around his neck, I had learned something about life, about myself, about my own weaknesses and about my responsibilities as a leader. I had to hold myself and others accountable to that which I knew to be right, lest our families, our faith, and our society continue down an undesirable path.
     “If I am lucky,” Coach Scolinos concluded, “you will remember one thing from this old coach today. It is this: if we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard of what we know to be right; if we fail to hold our spouses and our children to the same standards, if we are unwilling or unable to provide a consequence when they do not meet the standard; and if our schools and churches and our government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to …”
     With that, he held home plate in front of his chest, turned it around, and revealed its dark black backside. “… dark days ahead.”

     Coach Scolinos died in 2009 at the age of 91, but not before touching the lives of hundreds of players and coaches. His message was clear: “Coaches, keep your players — no matter how good they are — your own children, and most of all, keep yourself at seventeen inches."  In other words, being accountable, responsible, and living our lives within moral boundaries is absolutely necessary if we are going to survive these dark days. 
     And just think how much further down that road we've come since 2009.  These last 7 years have seen us not only widen the plate, but shred it into something quite unrecognizable.  Is it too late? We can feel the forces of evil trying to push us beyond the parameters we have set for ourselves as Americans and Christians.  We see it in our national election process and in the doctrines of our Churches.  Any means is permissible to achieve the end result desired by the Enemy.  It is up to us to hold the line, and we must never, ever agree to widen the plate.


Jeremiah 17:10     “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

2 Timothy 3:1-9

But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!

For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith.  But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.

     This is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to his disciple, Timothy, and it spoke so distinctly to me this week.  I don't know if you are having this experience or not, but as these perilous times advance, I am beginning to gain new and powerful revelations about Scripture passages that I have read dozens of times.  They speak to me anew and in fresh interpretations that are now so clear, I am left wondering why I never understood them before!  These particular verses are a prime example.

     Perhaps it is because of the controversy that I am facing over the understanding of Freemasonry and its infiltration within the Church; or the falling away I am seeing among the Christian youth in this nation; or the hesitation on the part of church leaders to even believe that new revelation is possible.  All I know is that when I read 2 Timothy 3:1-9, I felt my spirit quicken and I knew I had to share my understanding.

     It almost goes without saying that the long description in the first verses affirms the state of society today.  The people of the world are definitely lovers of money, proud, blasphemers, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  But notice how Paul finishes up his letter to Timothy and the description of these people ... holding to the form of godliness, but denying its power.  He is talking about people who profess a faith in God!  He is talking about Believers!  And I have to tell you that it is getting more and more apparent to me that these Scriptures are being fulfilled.

     I have personally come up against such opposition regarding the power of God.  Somehow Christians today see themselves set apart from the experiences of the early Church and the followers of Christ; as if we somehow have gained a special status that prevents us from needing to call on the power of God and Jesus in our present circumstances.  I don't know if we have been deceived into believing false doctrines that teach that our salvation experience makes us immune from the attacks of the Enemy ... that somehow that awesome power Jesus transferred to men in the first century, and to those who would follow Him, does not apply to us.  But is there anyone who thinks that the attacks from the Enemy ended when those who were given the power finished out their lives on this earth?  So does that mean we are supposed to fight our Adversary under our own power?  Because from where I sit, those who do that are not exactly winning the fight!  

     From where I sit, too many modern-day Christians profess faith in God ("holding to a form of godliness") but they deny His power in their lives, and their ability to call upon it to bring His covenantal promises into existence.  Too many Christians think it is just a matter of prayer; and I, by no means, am diminishing the power of prayers.  But He gave us so much more!  He is waiting for us, His representatives, to act using our authority through prayer and spiritual warfare to activate His desired will.  Remember this:  Anything that Jesus modeled while He was on earth can be expected to be realized through us because He said the works He did would also be done by us.  (I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do -- John 14:12).  Can it be any clearer?  How else can you interpret that verse?  To deny it or somehow limit or distort the meaning cannot be justified!

     The second aspect of this passage is a result of the first ... we are always learning, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.  We profess knowledge of what the Bible tells us about God, but once again, I suggest that we see ourselves today differently than the people of the Bible.  And we don't just separate ourselves from the people of the Old Testament.  We somehow set ourselves above the New Testament believers in Jesus Christ, too.  

     We are no different in our actions or character than the disciples or the early Church.  We don't have some special dispensation that allows us to avoid compromise with the world, or to be invisible to the cosmic powers over this present darkness, or the spiritual forces of evil that Paul warns about in Ephesians 6.  Do we think Paul was telling us the truth in this passage?  If so, how can we say it no longer applies to us?  Where is the evidence that says it was only a temporary condition in the first century?  So, we say that we study our Bibles, and we memorize our favorite Scriptures, and we ignore those that speak uncomfortably to us... we are always learning, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

     Finally, there is made mention of Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses.  Who were these men, and how do they relate to this conversation?  According to GotQuestions.org, long-standing Jewish tradition says that Jannes and Jambres were the two chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7. “Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (verses 10-12).

     There are several other stories regarding these two men in the Talmud, but they are not confirmed by Scripture, so therefore I will not relate them.  But I believe that God made sure we would know about them, by inspiring Paul to mention them this one time in His Holy Word.  I believe they are an illustration of a widespread, active rejection of God's truth in the Last Days.  And I believe that at the center of this truth is the power and authority that Jesus gave us to use in His stead ... to help liberate our fellow Believers from the oppression and defeat they experience at the hands of the spiritual forces of evil.  I believe that our commission to spread the gospel and baptize in the name of Jesus would be so much more effective if Christians, who were set free, could share their amazing testimonies.  

     Once again, from where I sit, our attempts to carry out that commission, and to evangelize here in the United States has not produced the amount, or kind, of fruit that I believe our Lord desires.  Our attempts have centered around huge, palatial sanctuaries; stadium seating; bright lights and flashy entertainment.  But is that what the spirit of a lost soul needs?  I have seen what the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit can do in a person's life, and it is done through a quiet, peaceful, and loving invitation for Them to enter a life and heal the wounds caused by the Enemy.  That's the Truth and the Knowledge that we need to embrace!  It's that simple ... and it's that profound!

     Just as the Scripture says, these are Difficult Days.  And they are not going to get any easier.  But we do not need to approach them in a state of helplessness, or hamstring ourselves with diminished authority.  Please ask God to show you His Truth concerning this passage, and to remove the scales from your eyes and the chains from your spirit.  Come into the full knowledge of the Word and seek uncompromised understanding.  Become the representative of His Divine Will that He wishes you to be!