September 20 2018 – Click here to listen
I attend a mega church which is comprised of thousands and thousands of mostly young people. Recently I visited Atlanta and attended another mega church with one of my sons and his family and experienced the same thing. It was a delightful experience and I noted in both churches there was excitement in the air and they sang praises and held their hands in the air with huge smiles on their faces.
Many decide to follow Jesus and baptisms are a regular occurrence in these churches. In fact, there are so many baptisms I would imagine my tithe might not be enough to pay the water bill for them all. It is a heartening experience to be a part of it and see so many happy people worshipping our Lord.
Isn’t it weird how some folks in society view those who worship God. Former Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke at a Washington, D.C. dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT civil rights organization. He launched a tirade saying: “These forces of intolerance remain determined to undermine and roll back the progress you all have made. This time they – not you – have an ally in the White House. This time they have an ally. They are a small percentage of the American people – virulent people – the dregs of society,” he declared to applause from his adoring fans.”
Hmmm . . . According to Biden I’m a deplorable dreg of society for believing in God and the Bible and wanting to make America great again. And why exactly do the LGBT crowd and their supporters despise Christians? Because the Bible states among other things that homosexuality is an abomination and that marriage should be between one man and one woman. I didn’t write that in the Bible, so why the hatred toward me. Because I believe the Bible when it defines sin? If I believe the Bible I must be a dreg of society?
I believe the Bible when it states that homosexuality is a sin just like I believe it when states that adultery is a sin. Corruption is a sin. Lying is a sin. Lusting is a sin. Intolerance is a sin. The LGBT crowd and their supporters are the least tolerant people in the world and condemn and want to destroy those who don’t embrace their lifestyle.
All of humankind sins in one form or another and we need forgiveness to be reconciled to our holy God through Jesus Christ. This is contrary to what the world demands. We must be silent and never dare to openly express what the Bible reveals about sin. To do so mandates that you be labeled a deplorable dreg, homophobic, etc. You must drink the poison of sin as defined by the “anything goes” – “If it feels good do it” crowd or be persecuted.
The Bible is not written to make us miserable and demand that we goosestep like Nazi soldiers and if we make a mistake we will summarily be tortured and shot. God loves us! He gave us the Bible in order that we might become reconciled with Him and to help us avoid the snares and pitfalls of sin and the snares of Satan so that we can know peace, joy, and experience genuine love. Ask yourself if lying, murdering, committing adultery, stealing, drinking to excess ever bring us peace, joy, and love? The Ten Commandments speak to this and yet society will not allow us to even display this good advice where people can see it.
No sin can bring anyone lasting happiness, much less true joy, or peace or love. Anxiety, suicide, violence, depression, wars are due to sin. No Mr. Biden we are not dregs, we just don’t want any part of the misery we see all around us. Televangelist Jim Bakker says the world is entering Revelation 6:3 (KJV) right now. “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see,” John wrote. “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” Bakker says he believes this will happen before the end of the year.
I am concerned about the condition of the world, but I am encouraged by what I see every Sunday when I go to church. I’m not sure Jim sees enough of the good things happening with revival to make this declaration at this time. The Bible tells us not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. There is a remnant that is solid and mightily growing and loving the Lord. We cannot forget that the wheat is growing amongst the weeds, (tares) and one day God will make all things right, but I wonder if He will do it when so many people are coming to know Him. I think not. Regardless we are to boldly preach the Gospel and disciple the nations until we run out of air. By so doing we bear fruit . . .
Gal. 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness . . .