It is a time of much fear and frustration. Christians are being targeted as enemies of the state and anything related to Christianity is removed from the public sector -- the Cross, the Ten Commandments, and even pictures of Jesus. God is despised in the name of reason and science. The government dominates the people, ruling with an iron hand. Sounds a lot like today, doest it, but it in't the United States of America; it is the French Revolution of 1789, where a government sponsored and media fueled assault on God preceded chaos and despair.
Now, fast forward to the 21st century and the attacks against God by the mainstream media and the U.S. Government: no praying wanted at public events, no Cross or Ten Commandments displayed in public places, and certainly no mention of Jesus. Humans are the center of the universe. It's a new millennium but the same old mantra: In government we trust.
Several weeks ago, the media was describing the chaos in Walmarts across America when the EBT or Food Stamp system crashed, giving people unlimited credit. Thousands of store items were pulled off the shelves in a frenzy of fear and greed. It was a "Take everything you can!" moment of epic entitlement. The government will feed us; the government will care for us.
No God needed here, no trust in His promise of "Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'...For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (Matt 6:32) History repeats itself again, and like Nebuchadnezzar in his rebellion, life will not get better.
Almost 250 years ago, the United States was a miracle...the first of its kind in the history of the world, fighting for freedom and trusting God to make it happen. On April 16, 1776, Samuel Adams wrote, "They have attempted to subdue us by force but God be praised! in vain. Let us...under God, trust our cause to our swords." Under God -- Samuel Adams was a leader who spoke for many in America and he trusted in God.
On November 16, 1831, the Secretary of the United States Treasury wrote, "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense." He ordered that "In God We Trust" be placed on American coins because it was something to be proud of -- our heritage and our hope.
But the End Times are accelerating toward Armageddon,and we have entered the final days when the restraint of the Holy Spirit is lifted and evil prevails. Christians are now the bad guys, the Bible is a fairy tale, and God does not exist.
America, land of the free, has become the home of the "virtual" slave. The little "g" rules again with an iron hand, using technology to transform the world at lightning speed. The NSA tracks our every move; our phones are monitored; our computers, televisions, cars and even thermostats may spy on us; Homeland Security builds an unconstitutional army on American soil; vehicles can be stopped dead on the freeway with a touch of a button; and drones police the sky like the dark world of the Terminator.
It is a "vale of tears" as someone wrote so long ago, and a world far removed from our heritage of faith.
How can we bear living in such a dark place?
We have this blessed hope that God loves us and He is faithful. We can still choose to trust in Him. He knows those who are His -- He calls them by name -- and He protects them. Even as the secular world turns its back on God to worship the little "g" we still love Him, and He is coming back for us. (Luke 21:28)
In the end, our hope and heritage remains in the Lord, no matter what goes on around us, because we are The Remnant. One day soon everything will change in the twinkling of an eye but as the old hymn says:
But until then, my heart will go on singing, Until then, with joy I'll carry on. Until the day my eyes behold the City, Until the day God calls me home.
Until then, we have His promises: peace and safety in "the shadow of his wings." He will guide our paths and set a table before us in the presence of our enemies. (Psalm 23)
We remain "joyful in hope and patient in affliction" preaching the Word "in season and out of season" because In God We Trust...and we're going home.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
What Happens When You Let Down Your Guard?
While reading the news this week, I am finding the liberal Christians movement leaders — despite how “apolitical” they are, or claim to be — are feeding a repackaged version of evangelicalism to "millennials" for their own radical, political, agenda.
To me, the term liberal Christian is an oxymoron. For those who don't know, an oxymoron (plural oxymora or oxymorons) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. And, when you think what a Christian is, you might understand that it is a contridictory phrase.
The "millennials," also known as Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation, is the demographic cohort following Generation X. There are no precise dates for when Generation Y starts and ends, but many commentators use beginning birth dates from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Those of Generation Y are less likely to practice organized religion than older generations, and are more likely to be skeptical of religious institutions. Generation Y has led a trend towards irreligion that has been growing since the 1990s.
To me, the term liberal Christian is an oxymoron. For those who don't know, an oxymoron (plural oxymora or oxymorons) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. And, when you think what a Christian is, you might understand that it is a contridictory phrase.
The "millennials," also known as Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation, is the demographic cohort following Generation X. There are no precise dates for when Generation Y starts and ends, but many commentators use beginning birth dates from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Those of Generation Y are less likely to practice organized religion than older generations, and are more likely to be skeptical of religious institutions. Generation Y has led a trend towards irreligion that has been growing since the 1990s.
So, you can see why leaders of the so-called liberal Christianity movement are redely accepted with their spreading of their theology (ideology) teaching, which, by the way, is more towards a social gospel
According to the agenda for the conference, the main platform does not include anything to do with the areas of #life #marriage #religiousfreedom, but seem to be promoting plenty of platform for #poverty,#sextrafficking… even #nukes. What a wasted opportunity for those who ‘feel a burden for our generation,’” that the truth of the Gospel will not be heard.
I am also noticing that many so-called liberal Christians today, are sidestepping abortion, gay marriage or socialism issues, and instead of speaking out against "sin," rallying for them.
An example is this year’s Catalyst Atlanta 2013 Conference, a Christian conference gathering together young evangelicals for worship, learning, and sharing their faith in Jesus Christ.
So, why would Catalyst invite Newark, N.J. Mayor and Senate hopeful Cory Booker to speak at this years conference, who is not known for proclaiming his love of Jesus or evangelizing to his fellow politicians and constituents, and whose speaker bio doesn’t even include the word Jesus, Christian, or God, and, according to his political biography, as Democratic National Committee (DNC) co-chair he did advocate for no-restriction abortions and tax-payer funded abortions regardless of infringements to religious liberty, other than to spread their liberal ideology, not theology.
According to the agenda for the conference, the main platform does not include anything to do with the areas of #life #marriage #religiousfreedom, but seem to be promoting plenty of platform for #poverty,#sextrafficking… even #nukes. What a wasted opportunity for those who ‘feel a burden for our generation,’” that the truth of the Gospel will not be heard.
I am also noticing that many so-called liberal Christians today, are sidestepping abortion, gay marriage or socialism issues, and instead of speaking out against "sin," rallying for them.
i am wondering that if the reason is not because many of those in my generation, who are having their children and grandchildren acknowledging they are gay, are finding it difficult to condemn their own family members of the "sin" that a Holy God condemns, therefore, they are rallying around their family members in support.
And, could it be that they have negated their responsibility of "train up a child in the way they should go. In other words they have consistently over the years been guilty of the following:
- They, the parents, have denied the existence, evidence, or truth of God, or contradict it in front of their children.
- They have nullify or cause the Gospel to be ineffective in their children's lives.
- They have been negative in regards to the church program, and or have brought or caused negative results in their children's lives.
- Or they have just flat out not been an example to their children.
And we are increasingly finding these people saturated into our main line churches, spreading their fifth.
In a recent op-ed for CNN.com titled, “Why Millennials Are Leaving the Church,” Rachel Held Evans throws out the false claim that young Christians are leaving the church because Christianity has become “Too political, too exclusive, old-fashioned, unconcerned with social justice and hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.” She advocates for the church to become less concerned with sex (a.k.a. abortion and contraception) and more consumed with eradicating poverty and embracing homosexuality.
What has happened to our country in the past 40 years, is that the Church has been asleep and has let every thing coming down the pike in, to take over our churches, our pulpits, and our pews.
You may ask, "Does it matter?" My answer would be, "Yes it does matter, it matters to me as a child of God, but most importantly, it also matters to God." I can almost hear the "trumpet" sounding right now!
In a recent op-ed for CNN.com titled, “Why Millennials Are Leaving the Church,” Rachel Held Evans throws out the false claim that young Christians are leaving the church because Christianity has become “Too political, too exclusive, old-fashioned, unconcerned with social justice and hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.” She advocates for the church to become less concerned with sex (a.k.a. abortion and contraception) and more consumed with eradicating poverty and embracing homosexuality.
What has happened to our country in the past 40 years, is that the Church has been asleep and has let every thing coming down the pike in, to take over our churches, our pulpits, and our pews.
You may ask, "Does it matter?" My answer would be, "Yes it does matter, it matters to me as a child of God, but most importantly, it also matters to God." I can almost hear the "trumpet" sounding right now!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Don't Be Critical, Hummmm....
This post is being shared on all my pages today, including my blog, but you don't have to read it, if you don't want too.
As Christians, and believers in Christ, we have never lived in a day like we are living in today. There is so much, compromise and sin, not only in the lives of those outside the church, but in the church as well. We cannot continue as we are, and not expect the judgement of God upon us.
And what is so bad, today, is so called “Christians” judging other, Christians, ministers, and preachers, for speaking the truth against the sins of the people, wether it be personal, corporate, national, church or government.
What’s more, if you don’t like what I say, you don’t have to stop, and set on the porch, and criticize me for my post. You in essence are doing the same thing you criticize me for doing.
For some odd reason, there are those who believe that preachers are not suppose to say anything, about anyone, who is doing something contrary to what Scripture says. And then, someone will say we are suppose to “pray” for people.
How do you know that I haven’t been praying; maybe, just maybe, in my daily praying, do you not think that the Holy Spirit may have given me an insight to a truth He wants someone else to know, irregardless of what you might think.
By now, you might be thinking that someone ruffled my “feathers” the wrong way today. (smiling) Yes, I have had several messages in my in-box, and I just wanted to set the record straight, if there were any doubt, about the call that God has placed upon my life as a minister of the Gospel.
And if anyone reading doesn’t agree, you don’t have to read my post. I am not trying to be critical of those who don’t agree, either. I am taking a stand for what I believe in. What, may I ask, are you doing?
I have grown up under great preachers, like Adrian Rogers, Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, W. A. Criswell, Warren Wiersbe, John R. Rice, Oliver Green, John Rawlings, Charles Stevens, B.R. Lakin, Hyman Appleman, Lee Roberson, R. G. Lee, George W. Truett, William Sangster, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Peter Marshall, E. Stanley Jones, Donald Grey Barnhouse, Lester Roloff, Billy Sunday, Harold Sightler, David Brainerd, William Carey, M. R. DeHaan, Mel Trotter, J. Vernon McGee, Jr Hill, Vance Havner, and last but not least, my father, Donald A. Lowe.
I thank my God, that all of these men, and others that are too numerous to mention, have helped shape my theological thinking and background. Can they all be “wrong.”
When I think of being a “watchman, I recall the book of Ezekiel. For the first-time reader of the Bible, the book of Ezekiel is mostly a perplexing maze of incoherent visions, a kaleidoscope of whirling wheels (chapter 1) and dry bones (chapter 37) that defy interpretation. This impression often causes readers to shy away from studying the book and miss one of the great literary and spiritual portions of the Old Testament. The book is named after the author, Ezekiel, whose name means “strengthened by God.” As one reads and studies this amazing book, you begin to draw strength as Ezekiel did from the One who is Himself strength.
Ezekiel grew up in Jerusalem, served as a priest in the temple and was among the second group of captives taken to Babylon along with King Jehoiachin. While in Babylon he became a prophet of God, and his ministry began with condemnation and judgment of the nation Judah. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel’s perspective changed to a glimmer of hope shining through for the future. Ezekiel wanted to help the people learn from their failures and announced impending judgment upon the nations that surrounded Judah and reestablished hope for the restoration of Israel. His vision of the valley of dry bones pictures new life being breathed into the nation which will occur in the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth.
Ezekiel continues to have detailed visions of the New Temple (chapters 40-43), the New Jerusalem (Ezekiel 48:30-35), the Millennium (chapter 44) and the new land in which the people will reside (Ezekiel 47:13-23). Israel and Judah will once again be restored to unity from the ends of the earth as God’s glory also returns and God dwells among His people. These beautiful and unusual visions of Ezekiel concern both the immediate and the long-term plans of God. They help to establish Ezekiel as watchman (chapter 33), not only to warn the people but to be an encouragement. He minces no words and he delivers God’s messages with straightforward language that everyone could understand, whether they listened or not (Ezekiel 2:7). Ezekiel himself received a warning from God that if he did not tell everyone he was sent to about the punishment for not following God, he would be held accountable for the blood of those who died in their sins (Ezekiel 33:8-9). He did not hesitate in his mission and is the one man in the Bible in whom we can find no fault as he steadfastly followed God’s instructions. He had a passionate view of judgment and hope and displayed his closeness to God’s own sorrow over the people’s sins.
The prophet experienced considerable opposition during his own lifetime, yet he doggedly expressed God’s desire that the wicked not die but turn from their wicked ways and live. His periodic speechlessness during his early years was broken when God empowered him to speak, and his tongue was loosened to speak the longest passage of sustained hope in the Bible. The burning, chopping and scattering of his hair represented the fall of Jerusalem and the bringing back of God’s remnant (chapter 5). The hopeful words climax in the promise of everlasting possession of the land, an everlasting Davidic prince, an everlasting covenant, and an everlasting sanctuary in Israel (Ezekiel 11:16-21). He leaps ahead to a time after Israel has been restored to the mysterious invasion from the north which will be brought by Yahweh against Israel, but then will be utterly defeated. This demonstrates that no enemy nation will ever invade the Holy Land again with success, and the glory of the God of Israel returns, entering through the east gate of the temple Ezekiel envisions.
Ezekiel has shown all Christians that we are to be watchmen on this earth, speaking the truth of the gospel to everyone we meet. We cannot possibly turn our backs on the perishing and go our own righteous way without being held accountable for those who die in sin that we could have reached. God told Ezekiel to groan with a broken heart and bitter grief for the coming judgment, and through his dramatic book, Ezekiel is telling us the very same thing. This judgment is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord!
As a minister, if I fail to tell the message, that the Holy Spirit lays on my heart to preach, then I will be held responsible, not someone else. If I have misjudged the Holy Spirit’s leading, than I would rather be responsible for answering to God for being critical of something, then not speaking at all.
From the list of all the great men and preacher that I have listed here, and this list doesn’t begin to list them all, I stand in, amongst a “Great Cloud Of Witnesses.” And I, as most of these, am blessed beyond measure.
As Christians, and believers in Christ, we have never lived in a day like we are living in today. There is so much, compromise and sin, not only in the lives of those outside the church, but in the church as well. We cannot continue as we are, and not expect the judgement of God upon us.
And what is so bad, today, is so called “Christians” judging other, Christians, ministers, and preachers, for speaking the truth against the sins of the people, wether it be personal, corporate, national, church or government.
What’s more, if you don’t like what I say, you don’t have to stop, and set on the porch, and criticize me for my post. You in essence are doing the same thing you criticize me for doing.
For some odd reason, there are those who believe that preachers are not suppose to say anything, about anyone, who is doing something contrary to what Scripture says. And then, someone will say we are suppose to “pray” for people.
How do you know that I haven’t been praying; maybe, just maybe, in my daily praying, do you not think that the Holy Spirit may have given me an insight to a truth He wants someone else to know, irregardless of what you might think.
By now, you might be thinking that someone ruffled my “feathers” the wrong way today. (smiling) Yes, I have had several messages in my in-box, and I just wanted to set the record straight, if there were any doubt, about the call that God has placed upon my life as a minister of the Gospel.
And if anyone reading doesn’t agree, you don’t have to read my post. I am not trying to be critical of those who don’t agree, either. I am taking a stand for what I believe in. What, may I ask, are you doing?
I have grown up under great preachers, like Adrian Rogers, Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, W. A. Criswell, Warren Wiersbe, John R. Rice, Oliver Green, John Rawlings, Charles Stevens, B.R. Lakin, Hyman Appleman, Lee Roberson, R. G. Lee, George W. Truett, William Sangster, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Peter Marshall, E. Stanley Jones, Donald Grey Barnhouse, Lester Roloff, Billy Sunday, Harold Sightler, David Brainerd, William Carey, M. R. DeHaan, Mel Trotter, J. Vernon McGee, Jr Hill, Vance Havner, and last but not least, my father, Donald A. Lowe.
I thank my God, that all of these men, and others that are too numerous to mention, have helped shape my theological thinking and background. Can they all be “wrong.”
When I think of being a “watchman, I recall the book of Ezekiel. For the first-time reader of the Bible, the book of Ezekiel is mostly a perplexing maze of incoherent visions, a kaleidoscope of whirling wheels (chapter 1) and dry bones (chapter 37) that defy interpretation. This impression often causes readers to shy away from studying the book and miss one of the great literary and spiritual portions of the Old Testament. The book is named after the author, Ezekiel, whose name means “strengthened by God.” As one reads and studies this amazing book, you begin to draw strength as Ezekiel did from the One who is Himself strength.
Ezekiel grew up in Jerusalem, served as a priest in the temple and was among the second group of captives taken to Babylon along with King Jehoiachin. While in Babylon he became a prophet of God, and his ministry began with condemnation and judgment of the nation Judah. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel’s perspective changed to a glimmer of hope shining through for the future. Ezekiel wanted to help the people learn from their failures and announced impending judgment upon the nations that surrounded Judah and reestablished hope for the restoration of Israel. His vision of the valley of dry bones pictures new life being breathed into the nation which will occur in the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth.
Ezekiel continues to have detailed visions of the New Temple (chapters 40-43), the New Jerusalem (Ezekiel 48:30-35), the Millennium (chapter 44) and the new land in which the people will reside (Ezekiel 47:13-23). Israel and Judah will once again be restored to unity from the ends of the earth as God’s glory also returns and God dwells among His people. These beautiful and unusual visions of Ezekiel concern both the immediate and the long-term plans of God. They help to establish Ezekiel as watchman (chapter 33), not only to warn the people but to be an encouragement. He minces no words and he delivers God’s messages with straightforward language that everyone could understand, whether they listened or not (Ezekiel 2:7). Ezekiel himself received a warning from God that if he did not tell everyone he was sent to about the punishment for not following God, he would be held accountable for the blood of those who died in their sins (Ezekiel 33:8-9). He did not hesitate in his mission and is the one man in the Bible in whom we can find no fault as he steadfastly followed God’s instructions. He had a passionate view of judgment and hope and displayed his closeness to God’s own sorrow over the people’s sins.
The prophet experienced considerable opposition during his own lifetime, yet he doggedly expressed God’s desire that the wicked not die but turn from their wicked ways and live. His periodic speechlessness during his early years was broken when God empowered him to speak, and his tongue was loosened to speak the longest passage of sustained hope in the Bible. The burning, chopping and scattering of his hair represented the fall of Jerusalem and the bringing back of God’s remnant (chapter 5). The hopeful words climax in the promise of everlasting possession of the land, an everlasting Davidic prince, an everlasting covenant, and an everlasting sanctuary in Israel (Ezekiel 11:16-21). He leaps ahead to a time after Israel has been restored to the mysterious invasion from the north which will be brought by Yahweh against Israel, but then will be utterly defeated. This demonstrates that no enemy nation will ever invade the Holy Land again with success, and the glory of the God of Israel returns, entering through the east gate of the temple Ezekiel envisions.
Ezekiel has shown all Christians that we are to be watchmen on this earth, speaking the truth of the gospel to everyone we meet. We cannot possibly turn our backs on the perishing and go our own righteous way without being held accountable for those who die in sin that we could have reached. God told Ezekiel to groan with a broken heart and bitter grief for the coming judgment, and through his dramatic book, Ezekiel is telling us the very same thing. This judgment is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord!
As a minister, if I fail to tell the message, that the Holy Spirit lays on my heart to preach, then I will be held responsible, not someone else. If I have misjudged the Holy Spirit’s leading, than I would rather be responsible for answering to God for being critical of something, then not speaking at all.
From the list of all the great men and preacher that I have listed here, and this list doesn’t begin to list them all, I stand in, amongst a “Great Cloud Of Witnesses.” And I, as most of these, am blessed beyond measure.
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