I Stand By the Door...

 

I Stand By the Door - December, 2022

 

 

By the Door 

A video posting on the Homepage Network...

A Spiritual House...

Years ago my brother in law John would wait for someone to make an awkward comment or do something less than appropriate and he’d chime in with “you’re such a piece of work.” He’d then pause just long enough to make sure he had your attention and finish with "...God’s workmanship..." a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (2:10).

A piece of work. God’s workmanship. I have often ruminated on that subject and wondered about how I, or anyone for that matter, would be considered a piece of work by the very One who created this universe and all that is therein.

Peter, in his first Letter writes, encouraging Christians in this way: "As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him, you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:4-5).

We ARE a piece of work. God’s workmanship. Like Jesus, the living stone, we too are living stones being built, modified, shaped into a beautiful spiritual house.

But it’s only by coming to him who is the living stone that we are able to do it. And he bids us, Come!

My wife and I are remodeling an old hunting camp into a year round residence. We’re using pine tongue and groove throughout the house. I love choosing the boards, individually, first at the lumber yard and then as I carefully place them next to the other. The variation in the level of pitch present in the board, the location of the knots and the size of the knots, or even the number of knots determines where each board is put.

There are some boards which take a little more work. In some cases they weren’t milled correctly, or they warped a bit, but they all can be used, eventually. I know. I chose them.  Just as God chooses us, with a purpose (Eph 2:10).  And when I complete a wall I stand back and look at it and wonder, is that what the Temple in His eternal Kingdom is like? Is that what the Lord is doing with me as he builds me, this living stone, into his spiritual house, the house in which His spirit is pleased to dwell?

What about you? Do you wonder what the Lord is doing in your life? Do you sometimes wonder what possible good could come of the situation you are now facing...even today.

Take heart, if you are in Christ, you are a new creation, the old is gone and a new life has begun. The Lord God himself is working with you, a living stone, shaping you through these experiences into a wonderful spiritual house.

One of the most wonderful things about wood, stone and other natural building materials is the patina they take on with age. It’s what gives an old stone church or an antique table it’s character. The scratches and the divots, the scars of a life time of use...So as you face whatever challenges are before you today, take this hope with you – You are a piece of work...God’s workmanship...a living stone being built into a wonderful spiritual home.

Dear Christian...

Dear Christian, 

I am growing increasingly concerned that the LGBTQIA++ movement in our midst, under the guise of educating our children in “welcoming,” is instead sexualizing our children in such a fashion as to actually constitute “grooming.”

While scripture admonishes us to show Christ’s love, so too are we instructed to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord who defined acceptable sexual relationships by saying “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’ and said ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? [Matthew 19:4-5] thereby defining heteronormative behavior as the biblical standard.

The continuing bombardment of our children with a message that runs counter to the faith, once and always delivered to the saints, should be of growing concern to each of us.

What Kind of Pastor?

One of the matters that has long bothered me about the “Office of Pastor” is the pansy like, soft and malleable, gentle and non judgmental aspects of the word “pastor.” The church is filled with pastors who would probably function much better as counselors or even social workers. These “pastors” often spoil their flock by being all things to all members.

I prefer the term “under shepherd.” 1 Peter 5 talks in terms of “shepherding” the flock. A shepherd has authority. Sheep are dumb. Sheep need a shepherd. Of course the Chief Shepherd is Jesus Christ, which makes the office of Elder or Pastor one of an under shepherd.

Sheep don’t know where to find food...or water...or any of the necessities of life. So too, followers of Christ need to be led...to be shown where to find food...in scripture...in fellowship...in right living. I continue to be amazed at the number of self-professed Christians who possess nothing more than a third grade Sunday School level education.

The under shepherd serves to save the sheep when they have found themselves caught in a rift, or when they have wandered astray. Most congregations seek a pastor/under shepherd who knows his stuff, his Bible, real life, the perspicuity of sin, the consequences of it, and the grace of God Almighty. But few want one who will remind them of that and feel free to point out their sins, when necessary.

To that end, I also believe that the office of pastor/under shepherd has long lacked support for the prophetic element incumbent on it. The act of preaching itself is proclamation. IT IS NOT TEACHING. Congregations who focus their services on “worship” and “teaching” completely miss this. Bible Study, Sunday School, etc – Teaching. Preaching – Proclamation. “This IS the word of the Lord!”

The Lord God Almighty says to Ezekiel as he prepares to send him to Israel:

“When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. Ezekiel 3:18-19.

There is an urgency in bringing the word of God to the people of God and this is especially true for the church today.

Along these same lines there comes a time when people need to be left to experience the consequences of their sinfulness. It’s a hard thing to do, but letting go is another part of this puzzle and it applies to pastors as well as to laity.

There are times when, like in the Corinthian Church, we need to turn folks over to Satan “for the destruction of their flesh” (1Cor 5:5). There are times when, like Paul tells Timothy, we are instructed to turn folks “over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme” (1Tim 1:20). There is no shame in turning your back on them.

Even the disciples were admonished as they were sent out: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” (Matt 10:14)

It is time that undershepherds and laity alike, (the very body of Christ) decide that it is living in an apostate age, an age of moral degradation, amongst a perverse people. And many need to feel the discomfort which scripture will being to any and every believer caught in the web of sin...that they might be saved on the Day of the Lord.

 

Effeminate Jesus & Emasculated Men...

 

Netflix "The First Temptation of Jesus" a Gay Comedy

The picture so many congregations have today is of a limp-wristed Jesus. He's always nice. He always speak so softly and kindly.  He just wants to be our friend.  What a bunch of hooey! 

These congregations are filled with pew warming members interested in worshiping their checkbook god. (They ask and he is supposed to deliver, and he will, IF he is God. Apparently "no" is not a part of that god's vocabulary).

They are known for their third grade Sunday School faith that proudly declares "God loves everyone", in spite of biblical evidence to the contrary (Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:13...). 

These congregations are generally governed by emasculated men. They often fear how the community will receive them.

They are encumbered by the fear that people will feel "unwelcome".

Their leaders often want to use reason, logic, and a sappy emotionally laden pseudo-love, rather than agape love, to attract the masses of hardened hearts, which will likely never come anyway. 

These pretenders don't want to worship the broad shouldered chiseled muscle and meek but strong and zealous Jesus who taught:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34 and

“For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—’” Matthew 10:35 and

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 and

"Follow me and let the dead bury the dead." Matthew 8:21-22 and

“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Luke 16:18 and

Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5

There is a harsh side to Jesus, the same Jesus who watched the perversion of His Father's house - a den of thieves - and plaited together a whip. 

The same Jesus who says to one of His own "get behind me satan".  

The same Jesus who reveals himself to John and says: "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

The same Jesus who rhetorically asked “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:48-50

The same Jesus who WILL judge all!

We can neither be friends with the world nor friends with our neighbors and love Jesus as we ought.  We can be friends with those who love the Lord and those who obey Him, but we will always be at odds with those who renounce the authority of God Almighty by following the ways of the world.  We will always be confronted with hatred, accusations, and shunning IF we walk in his ways.

And in the meantime, the true believers are bailing in record numbers, finding "church" to be a matter of relationships with fellow believers and not in a building founded on a compromised faith much less a part of an apostate denomination/assembly. 

REMEMBER:

For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:31

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”

And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.

 

So too, there is a gracious side for those who are willing and able to wrestle with the complexity of God who is wholly other.  But just as Jacob walked with a limp after the encounter with the angel, so too will the one who wrestles deeply and long with God.

His grace is AMAZING. His love is ENDURING. His compassion is IMMEASURABLE. But there are implications to this relationship as there are with all relationships. 

• The Lord God Almighty loves us enough to accept us as we are and too much to leave us there.  
• His plans for us are for a future and a hope, plans to prosper and not to harm.  But we must subject ourselves to Him and to His plan and not our own.  
• Receiving that salvation is easy. 
• Enthroning Him as Lord is far more challenging.  
• He asks all, of us; all from us.  
• He wants to be our economic advisor, our professional consultant, our social secretary, our educator, our lifelong Master.  

And this is what so many find so difficult.  It's not for sissies.  Women are welcome. Men are welcome. Children are welcome.  The broken, the addicted, the adulterer, liar, thief, whore, ALL are welcome into the fold.  But it means giving up any and every other claim on our lives... 

'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

 C.S. Lewis in "The Chronicles of Narnia"

State of the Union (Oh My Soul)

The headline read:"Religious watchdog groups warn secular society causing 'self-censorship' among Christians". And it began:

Christians are practicing "various forms of self-censorship" and find it increasingly difficult to express their faith freely even in countries that have historically been Christian, according to a new study from religious watchdog groups.

The report, titled "Perceptions on Self-Censorship: Confirming and Understanding the ‘Chilling Effect’," was compiled by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians (OIDAC) in Europe, the OIDAC in Latin America and the International Institute for Religious Freedom.

While the report focused on Europe, it got me to thinking... 

To what degree do I self-censor to avoid getting labeled? To what degree do people, even in a country like the USA that claims to be religiously tolerant, self-censor to maintain their employment, to maintain peace in the family, to maintain friendships or social standing? Is it not, at it's core, a question about compromising the gospel? And is not censorship on one's personal faith in school, in the workplace, etc. a form of government overreach?

Recently I have been consciously self-censoring a whole lot less as the LGBTQIA++ movement spreads their cloak of grooming under the guise of "teaching children to be more welcoming" in our small community. 

I've written the local District Attorney regarding the PA State Public Lewdness Statute as it may apply to the upcoming outdoor Drag Queen Story Hour.  I wrote the editor of our local paper expressing concern that the traditional faith and values of the broader community and county are being attacked by such events.  The local children's choir fundraiser to the left is indicative of the plans.

I have contacted many of the clergy and congregational lay leaders in the community as well. And with the exception of two pastors and one elder have not received much of a response, after a week. And I have mentioned my concerns to members of local congregations and other individuals in the area whom I consider to be strong believers. 

The response is often, shrugged shoulders and a "what are ya gonna do?"  Many report they fear being labeled a "hater" if they say something. They don't want to "negatively impact" their standing in the community (as individuals or congregations).

I continue to reflect on the seeming godlessness of so much of America today.  When we returned from serving overseas for 9 years, we returned to a different country.  Between 1999 and 2008, the culture of the USA changed immensely.

(The country to which we returned had congregations with emasculated male leadership, towns with elected leaders more concerned about how they're viewed than whether or not they're doing their jobs, public schools and teachers openly grooming children, and a base of politically conservative cowards and politically liberal fools. But I digress.)

The purpose of this particular post was to ponder whether or not many of those who consider themselves Christian: are more afraid of being disliked by man than they are of displeasing God; if they have decided not to pick up their crosses; if they are unwilling to listen to Jesus words...

As he was being led to his imminent crucifixion, he says:

For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” [Luke 23:31] 

and

"On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say...You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved...If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town....Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell...Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." [Matthew 10:18,22,25,28,30-31]

I guess I am a bit stunned by what I perceive is inertia or complacency.

There are those who will insist along with Demosthenes: "The man who runs away may fight again."

There are those who still believe that a logical discussion will "win them over".  

There are those that seem to think "speaking the truth in love" is the extent of our responsibility.

But to what degree will we lose credibility if we don't stand up now.  If we wait until the matter reaches epic proportions, it will be too late.

And so, I have decided that though I may continue to lose friends, respect, family members, and social standing, I won't be silent.  Who know but for such a time as this...the church may be called.

Since I use FB Purity, I know who "unfriends" me and when.  It's okay. 

I remember some of our Prayer Partners, a former PC(USA) missionary couple, both pastors whom I now believe came on board with ulterior motives and then sought to use our Prayer Partnership requests as evidence to help bring charges that we were "disturbing the peace unity and purity of the church".

We've been black-balled before because we refused to play the game (see misadventuresinmission.blogspot.com). It will happen again.  And I'm good with that.  As long as I may "stand firm to the end".

There are wolves in sheep's clothing all around us.  

It is not a conspiracy. (Well actually it is - Satan's conspiracy.)

It is life. 

And Jesus is still on the Throne.  

n.b. Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 

“We’re All Sinners” – A perversion of Truth

For those who want to deny the word of God as it applies to the sexually perverse movement in our culture:

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." [John 3:19-20]

AND

"Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." [John 8:43-44]

AND

"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." [1 Corinthians 6:9-10]

While

"all have sinned (past tense) and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]

that fact does not obscure the reality that we are called to stop sinning, to take off the old, and to put on the new. Sin which remains unrepented from (stopped, ceased) remains unforgiven. And the sexually immoral, the idolaters, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, the drunks, those who slander and those who cheat are particularly lifted up as EXCLUDED from the Kingdom of Heaven.

To say “we all sin,” while true, is not a biblically defensible position for tolerating sin in others. We are to call each other out from our sins.

To misuse the biblical phrase “judge not” to avoid attending to the condemnation of sin in scripture is to ignore the later part of that same passage that instructs us to FIRST first take the log out of own eye, and THEN WE WILL SEE CLEARLY TO TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF OUR BROTHER’S EYE. (Matthew 7:5) It is not a condemnation on judgement! It is a condemnation on judging others before we have repented of that same sin. The one judging is called a hypocrite not because he or she is a sinner but because they have not first attended to removing that sin from their own life.

This is that to which Paul is referring in Romans 1 and 2 when he addresses those who have not repented of their homosexuality. He is not discussing the state of the church in general. Read carefully:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them… [Romans 1:18-19]

This is NOT an accusation of all the members of the church at Rome. It is meant to reveal to them why and upon whom the wrath of God is being revealed (some of whom are likely in their midst). It is accusative of those who refuse to respond to God's righteous and corrective word. In short those who refuse to obey.

Romans 1:21-22 “their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…Not all of the folks in the church at Rome, just some.

Why? Because they thought they knew better than the Lord God Almighty. 

Just. Like. Adam. And. Eve.

Who are these people? They are the 

“women (who) exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones” Romans 1:26.

They are the men (who)  

also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.” Romans 1:27

What else did these people do? (Romans 1:29-31) They became filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They were full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They were gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invented ways of doing evil; they disobeyed their parents; they had no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 

This is the description of those who refuse to repent of their sexual immorality. Because, often, along with sexual immorality, come these other character traits.

But the judgement really comes at the end of the chapter:

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. [Romans 1:32] 

The condemnation is on their refusal to repent. The condemnation is also upon “those who approve of such things.”

Which brings us to the “sexual revolution” we see in the GLBTQIA++ movement today. The refusal to acknowledge: the cross dressing (Drag Queens); the transsexuality; the homosexuality; the bisexuality; the object sexuality; and the queerness, as sexual sin encourages a refusal to repent which results in their just condemnation.

Christians, those who truly are Christians, accept this as condemnation on all unrepentant sin and dare to announce that God’s judgment is just. They accept the correction directed toward themselves and humbly make the changes they need to make to their lives, so that they are then are able to help other remove the "specks" in the eyes of their GLBTQIA++ friends, family member, colleagues, neighbors, and fellow pew warmers.

To say “we’re all sinners” is an incomplete truth. 

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. [Romans 3:23]

But we are about changing that character weakness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not codifying it as something which needs to characterize our lives...And never something that is to be celebrated!