Are You Following The Compass or Going Your Own Way?

It is my belief that we, as Americans, are living in a post Christian culture. Here is what I mean by that -- No longer do Judeo-Christian ethics (Old Testament, New Testament values) serve as the compass that guide our national leaders, national laws, personal beliefs and personal conduct. While it is true that in times of trouble lip service is paid to the Lord God of Heaven, it is as our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 15:8 "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."


While I do not deny that there are still multitudes that profess that they are Christians in America today, it is my contention that far too many do not hold a genuine Christian world view, but, by and large, they either have adopted, the mindset of today’s secular culture, or they are oblivious to the paradigm shift that has taken place in America. So, what is the mindset of our culture today? It is a radicalized idea of freedom, that is, that freedom means the freedom to do what you please. [In reality, when everyone does that which is right in his/her own eyes, that is anarchy]. It is the idea that everything is equal, and all types of behavior are equal. As one person put it –

"The goal of equality has supplanted all other cultural and moral values and become the sole legitimating principle of this society. Today we have notions of absolute "life-style" equality [i.e. homosexuality and heterosexuality are equal options. However the Bible says marriage is honorable – Hebrews 13:4; homosexuality is vile – Romans 1:26-27]; absolute cultural equality (as in multiculturalism) [In God’s eyes, all cultures are note equal. See Leviticus 20:23-24]; absolute equality of the races (as in the demand for statistical equality of results) [The Bible rewards on the basis of diligence of the individual. See Proverbs 13:4] ; and absolute sex equality (as in the feminization of the military) [Ephesians 5:23; Titus 2:4-5]. When you press people on these issues, you find that they have an implicit feeling that normative distinctions, upon which civilization just happens to be based, are inhumane. In order to avoid being inhumane to out-of-wedlock mothers, we must say that illegitimacy is as worthy of respect as legitimacy; and we end up with a nation of fatherless children. In order to avoid being inhumane to illegal immigrants, we give illegals virtually all the privileges of citizenship; and so on."

Our Nation is in DEEP TROUBLE!!! So what is the remedy? Is it the Republicans? Is it the Tea Party? As my friend wrote - The “conservative” political movement does not and cannot address this, since the vast majority within the conservative coalitions have little or no problem with these sins and lack spiritual discernment.


The only hope for America or any other land is REVIVAL, Christians living like true Christians according to Biblical values and a return to the God of the Bible. --“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

America Is Going Back to Babel!

When I was in first grade, we began each class day by reciting The Pledge of Allegiance. We would stand and say…

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Previous to 1954, the phrase under God did not appear. But in June of 1954 an amendment adding two words, under God, was made to the 1942 act of Congress establishing the Pledge of Allegiance in this Nation. Then President, Dwight David Eisenhower said this about adding "under God" to the pledge.

"In this way we are affirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war."

President Eisenhower recognized something that too many Americans have forgotten. That is that our heritage has been that we were, from our inception, ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Our founding Fathers recognized the profound truth that rights, yea, freedoms comes from God. This truth is acknowledged in The Declaration of Independence…

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Thrice more in The Declaration God is referred to! It says in the first paragraph, "the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God." Then, God is called "the Supreme Judge of the world." Finally, in the closing sentence it says, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

The leaders of this nation would do well to ponder carefully the words of Benjamin Franklin…

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men…We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages."

Franklin was correct! Today, our Nation is divided by partial local interests, our projects are being confounded and we are becoming a reproach and a bye word. Our congress is succeeding no better than the builders of Babel. Why? Our leaders and many of our citizens have forgotten the truth that of Psalm 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it..." Christian, be Salt and Light! Get busy sharing the Gospel, praying for our leaders and practicing biblical Christianity. 

Believers Are NOT Public Relations Agents!

Ponder This Christian: We who preach the Gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, or the world of sports, or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whosoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him…Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.

Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Savior, and from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ. (A. W. Tozer)

Is God Judging America?

On August 22, 1787, George Mason (1725–1792), Father of the Bill of Rights, made this statement during the debates of the Constitutional Convention – "As Nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins, by national calamities."

As I ponder Manon's words, I believe Mason was right! I further believe that for many years God has been slowly withdrawing his hand of blessing on this nation. Now, it seems apparent to me that God has begun to judge this nation or at least withdraw His hand of protection.

That's my 2 cents worth, what are your thoughts?

Parson Brown

Am I A Legalist Because I Call For Holy Living?

Legalism is a term wildly thrown around in many Christian circles today. Often Christians who desire to maintain holy standards and who are zealous for pure doctrine as set forth in the Word of God are accused of being legalists and Pharisees. Walking obediently before God and urging others to do the same often brings harassing accusations of being a grace killer, a Puritain, a legalist and a Pharisee.

The modern church shouts at the top of their lungs, “we are not under law, we are under GRACE!” But they have a very unbiblical view of what grace is. One high profile evangelical writer writes -- [Grace] “means I'm free to choose righteousness or disobedience… Christ's blood has cleansed us from our sin, we are gloriously free - free to please Him. But we don't have to.” He goes on to say, “Life is like a menu in the Grace Restaurant. In this new establishment you are free to choose whatever you want.” (Charles R. Swindoll, The Grace Awakening; Nashville: Word Publishing, 1990)

The promoters of this “choose whatever you want” grace “cherry pick” proof texts that seem to support their idea that the grace of God allows the believer to live like he or she wants to, which in truth is “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness….” (Jude 1:4).

For the believer, God’s grace is the enablement God gives Christians to say no to sin and to make them able to live for and serve Him. It is God giving the believer the desire and power to live the Christian life and serve Him (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:10).

One verse used to support the false grace being promoted in our day is a portion of Romans 6:14 which says “for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This is one of the passages quoted to support the anti-law, anti-standard thinking that pervades the modern church. However, they have jerked this verse completely out of context! This passage is NOT supporting the “live like you please” mentality. Let’s examine the context - Romans 6:12-18 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

God’s Grace gives the believer NO license to choose to live as we please! This is very clearly stated in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

Let's quit fiddling with religion and do something to bring the world to Christ. Evangelist Billy Sunday

I am starting a blog!

What ever possessed me to do this I am not sure. However, I view at this as another opportunity to obey the Lord's command to be Salt and Light because I see the truths of the Bible being too often walked on, walked around or totally ignored. The verses I took the Blog title from are found in Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Just another quick thought before I close this first posting. When Matthew 5:13-16 was written Salt was the primary preservative. There were no freezers and canning food as we know it was non-existant. Therefore, as believers we are to live and articulate our Biblical Values because they preserve the our culture. Second, light has not changed. Oh yes, it has gotten bigger and brighter, put the purpose of light has always been to give direction in the dark. We are to boldly speak the truth so that others may know what is right, what is not right, how to get right and how to stay right!

Take Care and God Bless!